Recall 21V127 affects 4,696 2019-2020 Hyundai Kona Electric and Ioniq Electric vehicles for battery short-circuit fire risk. Park outside. Free repair once Hyundai opens it.
An electrical short in the Li-ion battery raises the fire risk. Keep the vehicle parked outside and away from structures until the interim action is complete. If you see smoke, smell a burning or melting odor, or see the MIL or battery light, stop using the vehicle and call a Hyundai dealer. Repair will be free at any franchised Hyundai dealer once Hyundai opens it.
Hyundai is recalling 4,696 2019-2020 Kona Electric and Ioniq Electric vehicles because the lithium-ion battery can short-circuit. An electrical short increases the risk of a fire, so owners should park outside and away from structures until Hyundai opens the final dealer repair, which will be free.
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What's wrong?
The Battery System Assembly in the 2019-2020 Hyundai Kona Electric and 2020 Ioniq Electric is the lithium-ion traction battery that stores energy for driving. It feeds power to the electric propulsion system, so the battery cells have to stay electrically separated and insulated while the pack charges, discharges, and handles heat.
In affected vehicles, anode tabs inside some battery cells were folded during manufacturing. Those tabs are part of the cell's internal electrical path. When folded out of position, they can create a short circuit inside the lithium-ion cell. Hyundai's remedy uses a battery with insulation coating on the cathode inside the cells, which separates the internal battery parts more securely.
Owners can notice smoke, a burning or melting odor, or warning lights before the battery problem becomes obvious. The warning lights include the malfunction indicator lamp or the battery light.
Who's affected?
Covers the Kona Electric and Ioniq Electric across the 2019 and 2020 model years, all tied to the same high-voltage traction battery.
| 2019 Hyundai Kona Electric | high-voltage traction battery |
|---|---|
| 2020 Hyundai Kona Electric | high-voltage traction battery |
| 2020 Hyundai Ioniq Electric | high-voltage traction battery |
| Units affected | 4,696 |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle.
What's the safety risk?
An electrical short in the Li-ion battery raises the fire risk. Keep the vehicle parked outside and away from structures until the interim action is complete. If you see smoke, smell a burning or melting odor, or see the MIL or battery light, stop using the vehicle and call a Hyundai dealer. Repair will be free at any franchised Hyundai dealer once Hyundai opens it.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2019-2020 Hyundai Kona Electric or Ioniq Electric is included in this recall.
- Park outside and away from structures until Hyundai's interim battery update is complete.
- Follow Hyundai's interim battery-update instructions through the vehicle infotainment system, or contact a franchised Hyundai dealer to have the update performed free of charge.
- Call Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460 with questions and reference recall number 21V127 and Hyundai recall 200.
- Keep the owner letter with your service paperwork, and ask the Hyundai dealer about the Battery System Assembly inspection and replacement path.
What happens at the repair
Until the interim action is complete, keep the vehicle parked outside and away from structures. Hyundai's interim action is a battery update through the vehicle's infotainment system, or a Hyundai dealer can provide the update. Once parts are available, a Hyundai technician will inspect the Battery System Assembly and replace it if replacement is needed. Parts and labor are free under the recall. If you already paid for a related repair before the recall notice, Hyundai's reimbursement plan covers qualifying repairs. Bring documentation to the service desk or contact Hyundai customer service about the claim process.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| March 1, 2021 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| April 30, 2021 | Dealer notification began |
| April 30, 2021 | Dealer notification ended |
| April 30, 2021 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| June 17, 2021 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 21V127?
Recall 21V127 covers 4,696 2019-2020 Hyundai Kona Electric and 2020 Hyundai Ioniq Electric vehicles with a lithium-ion battery that can short-circuit. An electrical short increases fire risk. Hyundai's interim action is a battery update, followed by dealer inspection and Battery System Assembly replacement if needed.
What should I do if my 2019-2020 Hyundai Kona Electric or 2020 Hyundai Ioniq Electric is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 21V127. If it is, park outside and away from structures, follow Hyundai's battery-update instructions, or ask a franchised Hyundai dealer to perform the update. Reference recall number 21V127 or Hyundai recall 200 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the safety defect at no cost, and Hyundai says the battery update, dealer inspection, and Battery System Assembly replacement if needed are free at a franchised Hyundai dealer.
Is it safe to park my Hyundai electric vehicle in a garage?
No. Hyundai advises owners to park outside and away from structures until the interim action is complete. The recall involves a lithium-ion battery short-circuit risk that increases the risk of fire, so follow that park-outside guidance even before your dealer appointment.
When were Hyundai owners notified about recall 21V127?
Hyundai mailed safety-risk and interim-action letters on April 9, 2021. Final owner notification letters were mailed on June 17, 2021. If you bought the vehicle used or missed the letter, check your VIN and contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460 or a franchised Hyundai dealer.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/21V127000 |
|---|---|
| Hyundai customer service | 1-855-371-9460 |
| NHTSA recall # | 21V127 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 21V127000 |
Source documents
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Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Misc. Document (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 23, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →