Car will take a year to repair - what can I do?

Alanp

We had a ford puma that developed a strange engine noise, the dealer said it needs a new part but couldn’t source any as they weren’t on back order and couldn’t give a timescale on when they could even order them, ended up fitting a brand new engine as it was quicker, luckily all covered under warranty, just..

Mildly_Miffed

prowla said:

But a year for replacement batteries?

We aren't talking about a generic 12v lead-acid battery, though.

We're talking about a very complex (and physically large/heavy) component that's not a consumable, so it's not something that they'll generally keep stock of - not just at a dealer, but Kia UK or quite possibly Kia Europe. The EV6 hasn't sold well - there's only about 15k gone onto UK roads in nearly four years. To put that into perspective, Kia/Hyundai sold 200k cars in the UK last year, over a million across Europe.

So you're waiting for a niche part to be supplied from Korea, and shipped (not air-freighted) across the world. Logistics probably have it going to the European HQ in Frankfurt, then onwards to the UK.
That's at LEAST six weeks elapsed, probably two months - even if the part was in stock and left tomorrow.

Now, the EV6 is still in production, but there's been changes during production that mean even if somebody walked down to the factory and re-assigned a battery that was about to go into a brand new car, it wouldn't fit/work in yours. The EV6 had a refresh last autumn, with a larger capacity battery and new charging management, so current-spec won't be a drop-in replacement.
https://www.kiapressoffice.com/releases/1738
I'm presuming yours is pre-refresh, by the fact it was sold outside the dealer chain at a time even the first refresh models would be no more than a couple of months old.

All that means that you're waiting for a batch of old-spec batteries to be manufactured, if there's none in stock in Korea, before the shipping. So a year? Unsurprised.

If the car was out of warranty, then looking into battery repair may be a possibility - but it isn't. If you go down that road, not only are you picking the bill up, you're voiding any future warranty on the battery and - quite likely - the entire powertrain and electrical system.

Taggo

Mildly_Miffed said:

prowla said:

But a year for replacement batteries?

We aren't talking about a generic 12v lead-acid battery, though.

We're talking about a very complex (and physically large/heavy) component that's not a consumable, so it's not something that they'll generally keep stock of - not just at a dealer, but Kia UK or quite possibly Kia Europe. The EV6 hasn't sold well - there's only about 15k gone onto UK roads in nearly four years. To put that into perspective, Kia/Hyundai sold 200k cars in the UK last year, over a million across Europe.

So you're waiting for a niche part to be supplied from Korea, and shipped (not air-freighted) across the world. Logistics probably have it going to the European HQ in Frankfurt, then onwards to the UK.
That's at LEAST six weeks elapsed, probably two months - even if the part was in stock and left tomorrow.

Now, the EV6 is still in production, but there's been changes during production that mean even if somebody walked down to the factory and re-assigned a battery that was about to go into a brand new car, it wouldn't fit/work in yours. The EV6 had a refresh last autumn, with a larger capacity battery and new charging management, so current-spec won't be a drop-in replacement.
https://www.kiapressoffice.com/releases/1738
I'm presuming yours is pre-refresh, by the fact it was sold outside the dealer chain at a time even the first refresh models would be no more than a couple of months old.

All that means that you're waiting for a batch of old-spec batteries to be manufactured, if there's none in stock in Korea, before the shipping. So a year? Unsurprised.

If the car was out of warranty, then looking into battery repair may be a possibility - but it isn't. If you go down that road, not only are you picking the bill up, you're voiding any future warranty on the battery and - quite likely - the entire powertrain and electrical system.

Yea I understand it all, I'm happy enough to be getting a new battery. I like that car and starting g again with 100% battery is a positive.

Having an e niro for a year isnt ideal tho, I'm paying for an EV6 and it would be good to be get something with that performance comfort and range for the year.

I've had 8 Kia's so I'll be sure to email Kia UK and have a grumble and see if there is any goodwill there. 

If they would buy it back outright I'd probably buy another. !!!!!! happens but I've enjoyed the car.

born_again

Ibrahim5 said:

Parts are either in stock or they will arrive on the van in a couple of hours. They don't take a year. LOL.

Manufactures do not have battery packs sat on the shelf. 

Why do you think there are still longs waits for new cars. Clearly it is not a shortage of vans & drivers 🤣

born_again

Taggo said:

I've had 8 Kia's so I'll be sure to email Kia UK and have a grumble and see if there is any goodwill there. 

If they would buy it back outright I'd probably buy another. !!!!!! happens but I've enjoyed the car.

What do you think Kia will do?

Kia at the moment are on a major downward trend.
Still can't fix the ICCU issue on the E-GMP platform that Hyundai can't get to grips with across their 3 brands over at least 2 years.
Even effecting new EV3.
Can't sort out basics app features such as displaying miles instead of KM & even worse over 6 months late on navigation update to head units.

Taggo

born_again said:

Taggo said:

I've had 8 Kia's so I'll be sure to email Kia UK and have a grumble and see if there is any goodwill there. 

If they would buy it back outright I'd probably buy another. !!!!!! happens but I've enjoyed the car.

What do you think Kia will do?

Kia at the moment are on a major downward trend.
Still can't fix the ICCU issue on the E-GMP platform that Hyundai can't get to grips with across their 3 brands over at least 2 years.
Even effecting new EV3.
Can't sort out basics app features such as displaying miles instead of KM & even worse over 6 months late on navigation update to head units.

Well, I think they'll replace the battery.

Aside from that, shy kids get no cake so I'll do lots of emails and see where I get.

Mildly_Miffed

Taggo said:

born_again said:

Taggo said:

I've had 8 Kia's so I'll be sure to email Kia UK and have a grumble and see if there is any goodwill there. 

If they would buy it back outright I'd probably buy another. !!!!!! happens but I've enjoyed the car.

What do you think Kia will do?

Well, I think they'll replace the battery.

Yes, they will... Eventually. But you don't want to wait a year.

I think if they do anything, they'll offer to buy the car back, but the price won't be generous.

Ibrahim5

My mummy used to give me cake.

Taggo

Mildly_Miffed said:

Taggo said:

born_again said:

Taggo said:

I've had 8 Kia's so I'll be sure to email Kia UK and have a grumble and see if there is any goodwill there. 

If they would buy it back outright I'd probably buy another. !!!!!! happens but I've enjoyed the car.

What do you think Kia will do?

Well, I think they'll replace the battery.

Yes, they will... Eventually. But you don't want to wait a year.

I think if they do anything, they'll offer to buy the car back, but the price won't be generous.

I don't, but I may have to. If the buyback is low well I just can't do it.

If I can talk my way into a decent hire car for the year though that's fine.

born_again

Taggo said:

born_again said:

Taggo said:

I've had 8 Kia's so I'll be sure to email Kia UK and have a grumble and see if there is any goodwill there. 

If they would buy it back outright I'd probably buy another. !!!!!! happens but I've enjoyed the car.

What do you think Kia will do?

Kia at the moment are on a major downward trend.
Still can't fix the ICCU issue on the E-GMP platform that Hyundai can't get to grips with across their 3 brands over at least 2 years.
Even effecting new EV3.
Can't sort out basics app features such as displaying miles instead of KM & even worse over 6 months late on navigation update to head units.

Well, I think they'll replace the battery.

Aside from that, shy kids get no cake so I'll do lots of emails and see where I get.

You have already been told it will take a year. Kia UK can do nothing more. As battery will come from Korea. 
Going to take a guess that this is at least 3 year old car?
So could well be a special order from battery supplier. Who will have to find a way to produce a one off battery, unless kia are going to order a few.

There are some on ebay for sale. So maybe try & persuade them to fit one of them.
Either that or try & find a co to repair the battery & see if Kia will then pay for that?