Software fix will keep Ioniq 5 and EV6 in place when in Park.

PARK should mean stay … and there’s the problem for Kiwi popular conjoined Hyundai Group electric models, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV 6. They might not.

Distributors have issued recalls for the five-door hatches, concerning an issue that could result in each car rolling away while in ‘Park’.

The issue stems from a problem with the shift-by-wire system and shift control unit, unsurprisingly common to both as they have the same E-GMP architecture.

 The recall is a global action and concerns all models, regardless of specification and is remedied by a software update dealers have to install. And, no, a Hyundai dealer cannot sort a Kia, or vice versa. There are 550 Ioniq 5s implicated in NZ and an unknown count of EV6s.

Hyundai’s recall notice has been published by the Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency. Kia has acknowledged the same applies.

 “This recall relates to a potential concern with the vehicle’s Shift-by-Wire (“SBW”) system and in particular the vehicle’s Shift Control Unit (“SCU”) and Electronic Parking Pawl Actuator (“EPPA”),” the notice says.

“Hyundai Motor Company have identified, that if a slight voltage fluctuation were to occur within the system, while the vehicle is off and in the Park (P) position, it could interrupt the command signal from the SCU to the EPPA.

“If the command signal were to be interrupted, it could result in momentary disengagement of the EPPA, increasing the risk of a vehicle rollaway incident, if parked on an incline, with the Electric Brake Parking Brake not engaged.”