From some of my previous posts, you may remember that I purchased a 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5. It was an absolutely fantastic car to drive, but it was let down by battery management issues and some of the worst dealership customer service I’ve experienced.
At around 4,500 miles (about three months of ownership), a BMS (Battery Management System) warning appeared on the dashboard. While I was driving to the dealership, I called Hyundai’s roadside assistance/connected services (their equivalent of OnStar). After nearly 45 minutes of back-and-forth, I was told there was nothing to worry about and that I could bring the vehicle into the service center whenever it was convenient.
I wasn’t comfortable with that advice.
I drove to the dealership where I had purchased the vehicle, only to wait almost an hour without anyone helping me. Eventually, I gave up and left. I contacted a friend who also owned an Ioniq 5, and they recommended a service advisor at another dealership. I took the car there, where they kept it for a day running diagnostics. Their conclusion? The high-voltage battery needed to be replaced. Oh yeah! And the advice to take it in whenever was really bad as it could have stranded me at any time.
When I asked how long that would take, I was told… about nine months.
At that point, I contacted Hyundai Customer Care to see what could be done. Their response was immediate: they would repurchase the vehicle under California’s Lemon Law.
That wasn’t the outcome I was hoping for.
In September, Hyundai completed the buyback. To their credit, they provided me with a loaner vehicle throughout the process, waived all mileage charges and fees, and ultimately I had the use of a vehicle for about four months at no cost.
I genuinely loved the Ioniq 5. It’s one of the best EVs I’ve driven. Unfortunately, the dealership experience and the complete lack of meaningful troubleshooting completely changed my opinion of owning one. Based on my experience, I can’t recommend buying one—not because of the vehicle itself, but because of the service network behind it.
Personally, I think manufacturers need dedicated EV service centers instead of relying on traditional dealerships. Many dealerships don’t seem interested in servicing EVs, and customers end up paying the price. Separating EV service from the dealership model would likely improve the ownership experience considerably.
In September, I leased a Rivian truck and was able to take advantage of nearly $15,000 in incentives. So far, I’ve been very happy with it. There have been a few issues—mostly software bugs—but the Rivian service center has been responsive and genuinely interested in resolving them. I still have a few outstanding problems and another service appointment next week. My message to them is simple: find the root cause, or don’t give me the truck back until you do.
Despite those issues, from both a capability and range perspective, it’s the best truck or SUV I’ve ever owned, and I’m looking forward to seeing how the ownership experience continues to evolve.
