by It happens that a car just breaks down. And sometimes it breaks down, sits for two months, gets stolen, wrecked, and leaves you with problems. This is the story of how a failed repair of a Hyundai Ioniq 5 turned into a warning about the shortage of spare parts for electric vehicles, the unreliability of dealerships, and the consequences when everything goes wrong.
On March 16, almost two months ago, Massachusetts resident Ethan Blount’s car suddenly stopped working. The cause was the ICCU – a component already known for its unreliability in Ioniq 5 models. After the breakdown, Blount was forced to send the car by tow truck to a local dealer.
Back then, he had no idea he was seeing his car intact for the last time. On May 2, the car was stolen from the dealer’s premises. When the police found it and tried to intercept it, the chase ended with the total destruction of the Hyundai, and Blount found himself in a difficult situation.
The Problematic Component
The ICCU (Integrated Charge Control Unit) plays a key role in the Ioniq 5’s electrical system. It controls bidirectional charging between the 12-volt battery and the main high-voltage battery, which powers the main systems, external devices, and even other electric vehicles.
Its failure completely paralyzes the car. In Blount’s case, the repair delay was due to a parts shortage – new components were in a queue for delivery. So his electric car sat for almost two months without repair and proper protection.
He says he knew about ICCU issues and suspected it immediately when he heard a loud click. “I had only driven a kilometer when the power dropped sharply, and I managed to pull off the main road. I contacted the service, and they sent a tow truck that delivered my car to the nearest dealer,” Ethan recounts.
A Strange Notification, and Then Silence
On May 1, he received a notification through the Hyundai app that the car was left on and idling. That’s good news, he thought, because that’s impossible without a repair. But the next day, everything fell apart. The dealer called and confirmed the car had been repaired but couldn’t be found.
Ethan opened the app and tracked the car’s location. It was in Boston, far from the dealership. He notified the police, who tried to intercept the car but to no avail. The thieves began to flee, soon lost control, crashed into a hydrant, and then into a church. The impact was so strong that the Ioniq 5 sustained serious damage: the airbags deployed, and the front end was completely crushed.
Boston police detained three people at the scene, but Blount found himself in a predicament. “Due to the car’s rapid depreciation, I’m worried about the amount the insurance company will offer, as they declared it a total loss today,” he said. “I’m afraid I might be left with debts and without a car.”
However, there is good news: Hyundai contacted him two days ago and promised to help. Perhaps this story will still end happily, as Blount wants.
