Electrical reduction gear of the Ioniq 5 failed at 64,000 miles, causing the rear tires to lock, with the dealer now requiring a two-week wait while the owner covers rental car expenses.
The Hyundai Ioniq 5, a groundbreaking electric vehicle that won the TopGear Electric Award for Best Design, has been causing some inconvenience for its owners due to unexpected repairs. One such case involves a user named kuueon, who experienced a critical drivetrain component failure.
The failure in question was a Reduction Gear, a critical and low-maintenance component that converts the electric motor’s speed to usable wheel speed. This component failed and locked the rear tires, causing significant issues for kuueon. The failure occurred before Hyundai’s recommended 80,000-mile replacement interval for its fluid, and kuueon had previously reported noise concerns at 35,000 miles which were allegedly dismissed by the dealership despite Hyundai’s manual recommending inspection at that mileage.
The good news is that the repair or replacement of the Reduction Gear was covered under Hyundai’s warranty. However, kuueon faced significant out-of-pocket expenses related to rental cars, rideshares (Uber), and unclear diagnostic fees, adding frustration to the situation. The dealership reportedly gave minimal support, with service representatives advising the owner to "call corporate," showing a lack of proactive customer service or solutions.
This situation is not unique to kuueon. There is a known common issue with the reduction gear bearings even at relatively low mileages, suggesting potential premature wear or design challenges. An available reduction gear box repair kit is being used by some owners to address common bearing failures.
This highlights a disconnect between Hyundai's maintenance recommendations and actual dealership practices. The reluctance or inability of dealerships to effectively address early warning signs and support owners during failures has been a source of dissatisfaction among Ioniq 5 owners.
In summary, while Hyundai supports repairs under warranty, the peripheral costs and dealer service experiences can significantly affect overall customer satisfaction. Clear communication between Hyundai, dealerships, and customers, as well as adherence to factory inspection intervals to potentially catch early signs of failure, are key to improving the ownership experience for electric vehicle enthusiasts.
[1] Source: https://www.hyundai-ioniq.com/owners/maintenance/ [2] Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/ioniq5/comments/v379b2/reduction_gear_replacement_costs_and_experiences/
- The Hyundai Ioniq 5, a notable electric vehicle that excels in design, has been experiencing issues related to car-maintenance, with particular focus on the Reduction Gear component.
- The failure of the Reduction Gear, a critical and low-maintenance component in electric-vehicles, can lead to significant inconveniences, as demonstrated by kuueon's experience with locked rear tires and additional costs for rental cars and rideshares.
- The ongoing blame game between Hyundai's maintenance recommendations and actual dealership practices has been a source of dissatisfaction among Ioniq 5 owners, indicating a need for improved communication and adherence to factory inspection intervals.
- To address common Reduction Gear bearing failures, some owners are using repair kits, suggesting potential premature wear or design challenges with this component in the automotive industry, particularly in the realm of sports cars and lifestyle vehicles.
