I’m a veteran and new EV owner, leasing a 2024 Hyundai Kona Electric since May thanks to Colorado’s tax incentives. The car has been great—no issues until I brought it in for a routine 5,000-mile inspection. Initially, the dealership recommended a tire rotation, which I agreed to. However, when I picked it up, they also recommended replacing the battery… for over $32,000!
Their reasoning? Scratches on the battery’s protective plate, likely from a dirt road I carefully navigated during a hiking trip. I’ve had zero warnings, charging issues, or performance problems since. The dealership said the scratches might indicate battery damage, but they admitted they can’t confirm without replacing the entire battery. They also claimed the protective plate couldn’t just be replaced.
I contacted my insurance, but the adjuster warned me they might declare the car a total loss. I’m now stuck, unsure how to proceed. If I let the claim go through, I may be free of the lease due to my full coverage and gap insurance, but it’ll hurt my premiums, and I’ll be back at square one needing a new car. On the other hand, if I ignore their recommendation, I’m worried about being hit with the $32K bill at lease-end.
This seems absurd. Isn’t the protective plate designed to take minor impacts? Why isn’t there a way to confirm battery health without outright replacement? It feels like this goes against the spirit of EV adoption incentives. Drivers shouldn’t face such huge risks for routine scrapes or debris.
Has anyone else dealt with something like this? Is there a way to verify if the battery is fine or if the plate did its job? I’d appreciate any advice or thoughts!
Tell the dealership to kick rocks. That’s what the protective plate is for—to take damage and protect the battery! If something were wrong with the battery, you’d have error codes by now.
Nathan said:
Tell the dealership to kick rocks. That’s what the protective plate is for—to take damage and protect the battery! If something were wrong with the battery, you’d have error codes by now.
Absolutely agree. Dealerships make their money on service, not sales, and EVs don’t need as much service as ICE cars. This could just be a money grab. They’d probably resell that battery as refurbished to someone with an actual issue. Stand your ground and don’t let them rip you off.
Nathan said:
Tell the dealership to kick rocks. That’s what the protective plate is for—to take damage and protect the battery! If something were wrong with the battery, you’d have error codes by now.
This sounds fake. There was a similar story in the media recently where a Hyundai owner claimed the same thing, but it turned out they’d been in a collision that damaged the chassis and battery coolant system. They were just trying to dodge an insurance claim.
Nathan said:
Tell the dealership to kick rocks. That’s what the protective plate is for—to take damage and protect the battery! If something were wrong with the battery, you’d have error codes by now.
I’m leasing the car, so my concern is what happens at lease-end. If I ignore this now, could they charge me for it later? This is my first lease, and I’m not sure how that process works.
@chozen
You can return the lease to any Hyundai dealership, so try one with different ownership. If that fails, threaten to file a complaint with Hyundai corporate. Also, check with your insurance—they might be able to help, especially if you have comprehensive coverage.
@chozen
If this story is true, you should have pictures of the damage. Dealers don’t just recommend battery replacements for scratches. That’s not how this works.
I’d love to, but I’m struggling to find a place that can do a proper diagnostic. Most shops just say they can look underneath but can’t determine battery health. What should I be searching for?
@chozen
Honestly, the dealership you went to couldn’t confirm battery damage either. Unless the plate is bent inward or crushed, scratches alone shouldn’t be an issue.
I’d check the plate myself. If it’s just minor scratches, I’d ignore the dealership. They can’t prove the battery is damaged now, so how could they prove it at lease return? If you’re in Colorado, consider reaching out to Kyle at the ‘Out of Spec’ YouTube channel. He might be interested in your story and could help arrange a second opinion.
They’re lying if they say they can’t tell if the battery is damaged. The car’s BMS would throw errors if there were internal issues like punctured cells or coolant leaks. Insist on seeing their diagnostic report or ask them to remove the plate and inspect underneath. If they can’t prove damage now, why are they recommending a $32K replacement?
This is ridiculous. It sounds like they’re trying to get the car back to resell it. Scratches on a skid plate shouldn’t total a car unless the battery is physically damaged. Also, doesn’t Hyundai offer a 10-year battery warranty?
Hyundai really dropped the ball if this is true. Tesla dealt with this years ago by adding titanium skid plates to protect the batteries. Why aren’t other manufacturers learning from that?
The bigger issue is that the dealership has now flagged your car as having potential battery damage. Hyundai could use this as a reason to deny future warranty claims. Contact Hyundai corporate directly and push them to inspect the car. If the scratches are superficial, get it in writing that the battery is still under warranty. If Hyundai won’t help, consider going through your insurance and letting them total it out. It’s not ideal, but at least you’d be covered.