A car journalist who embraced Hyundai Motor Group’s electric lineup says his family’s two leased EVs — a 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5 SEL AWD and a 2024 Kia EV9 GT-Line — have delivered plenty of excitement, but also serious battery-related headaches. He and his wife chose the vehicles in 2024 for their value, features, and electric credentials, using a lease strategy that made sense at the time amid uncertainty about EV resale values and the federal tax credit landscape.
The Kia EV9, while praised for its styling, space, comfort, and cabin tech, suffered repeated battery troubles almost from the start. Shortly after delivery, the second-row “relaxation” seats froze after the 12V battery had been jump-started, leading to a weeklong dealer process to diagnose and reset the system. For more than a year, the SUV was largely uneventful aside from routine service and recalls, but major problems returned in December 2025 when the traction battery stopped charging at 67% and dropped further while parked. After diagnostics, Kia said the battery management system needed a new control module, but the repair dragged on through the holidays. In March 2026, another critical battery error appeared, and a third dealership determined the EV9 needed a full high-voltage battery replacement. Even after the swap, coolant-system issues forced another tow truck visit before the vehicle was finally returned in late April 2026. The writer says Kia has not commented on the case, but notes that battery replacements remain rare across the EV market.
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 also developed recurring 12V battery issues. On New Year’s Eve 2025, the car refused to start and blocked a driveway until Hyundai roadside assistance used a portable jump pack. After that, the owner bought his own jump starter and kept the car charged more carefully. The issue later returned sporadically, possibly linked to a known integrated charging control unit fuse problem or a parasitic drain. With only days left on the lease, he chose not to pursue a dealership repair and instead managed the problem with a jump starter and home charging. The vehicle stranded him at home only once more, when both the car and jump pack were uncharged.
Despite the troubles, the writer says he would still consider another Hyundai EV. He values the brand’s products and local dealer experience, and says the Ioniq 5’s problems were limited compared with his overall satisfaction. But his family has already moved on from the EV9, replacing it with a Toyota 4Runner hybrid, citing changing needs, weak winter charging infrastructure in northern Michigan, and the appeal of a gasoline backup for ski trips and long-distance travel. The EV9, he says, will not be replaced by another EV9.
