Hyundai Issues Major Recall for Australian Electric Vehicles Over Fire Hazard
Thousands of Australian drivers are being urged to check their electric vehicle batteries as part of a significant global recall affecting over 100,000 cars. Hyundai announced a local recall for almost 5,000 vehicles on Friday, citing a critical fault in the battery management software that could potentially lead to a fire while the car is recharging or even when it is parked.
Affected Models and Timeframes
The recall specifically involves two popular Hyundai electric models: the Kona EV manufactured between 2018 and 2023, and the IONIQ EV produced from 2018 to 2022. This announcement follows a worldwide warning issued by the company in March, and it comes nearly five years after Hyundai IONIQ vehicles were previously recalled in Australia for a separate battery-related issue.
Official Recall Details and Risks
The federal transport department has confirmed the recall of 3,478 Hyundai Kona electric cars and 1,402 IONIQ EVs. Drivers of these vehicles will be contacted directly by the manufacturer to arrange an assessment. According to the official recall notice, 'A software issue in the Battery Management System may cause an electrical short circuit while charging or parked, leading to a vehicle fire.' The notice further warns that 'A vehicle fire could increase the risk of injury or death to vehicle occupants, other road users and bystanders.'
Remedial Actions and Global Context
Australian Hyundai dealers will conduct thorough diagnostics on the affected car batteries and implement either a software update or a hardware fix to resolve the fault. This local recall arrives just weeks after the South Korean automaker issued a global warning for 104,011 models potentially impacted by the same defective battery software. Notably, batteries in the IONIQ model were also recalled and replaced in 2021 due to a manufacturing defect discovered earlier.
Electric Vehicle Fire Statistics in Australia
Despite growing concerns about potential risks associated with battery-powered cars, data from EV Firesafe indicates that only 13 electric vehicles have been involved in fires in Australia between 2021 and March 2026. Of these incidents, two were confirmed to be caused by arson attacks, four resulted from high-speed collisions, three were attributed to external fires, and the remaining cases are still under investigation.
