Hyundai’s Recent Ioniq 5 N Recall May Have Made Things Worse

Following a recall of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N due to a problem with the Left-Foot Braking mode, multiple owners that have the software fix installed are experiencing unintended acceleration. According to owners that experienced the problem and a video demonstrating the issue, it happens when N mode is engaged and the car keeps accelerating after coming off of the accelerator pedal.

This would be a dangerous issue in any vehicle, but given the Ioniq 5 N is a blisteringly fast car and N-shift mode is the electric SUV’s Sport mode, it could be downright terrifying.

Full Acceleration Without Driver Input Is Not A Feature

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Yet another owner has submitted a complaint to the NHTSA while another has gone to Hyundai directly. Carscoops reached out to Hyundai as well, but we suspect there won’t be a direct response until Hyundai has completed a thorough internal investigation.

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Fixing The Problem Could Be Problematic

This is where things could get a bit sticky. Assuming it is a real problem and Hyundai acknowledges that, it will be very careful about what it says for legal reasons. A voluntary recall is likely, but figuring out what the problem is will be its own problem. It looks like a programming issue, a bug, really, following the left-foot brake fix, which could be incredibly tough to track down, or a glaringly obvious error that got through. Either possibility is open in a car with increasingly clever OTA updates.

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The Ioniq 5 N has a lot of modes and is, from a programming sense, incredibly complex. Given this appears to be a problem that has stemmed from a problem, it may be too complex. If it takes time to fix and get the recall out to dealers, there will likely be a notification to not use the relevant mode, or even a quick temporary update to disable the mode. From a legal point of view, unintended acceleration is something that can get incredibly expensive. From an owner’s point of view, it can be deadly.

The original software update was to fix the ABS (Anti-Lock Braking) system from depressurizing when using the left-foot braking mode, which was an issue with danger attached. While it appears to have fixed that issue, it appears to have caused another and owners are reporting that the augmented shifting system has become smoother and the sound effects quieter. Neither of which are what they were sold on with the modern all-electric equivalent of a performance hot hatch.

Source: Carscoops