Battery Backorder? Since Nov '21

[SeattleLou]

Is anyone else on here awaiting a warranty battery? My 2016 EV+ has been at the dealership since before Thanksgiving, 25% SOH, with no schedule for replacement on the horizon. Both dealership and Kia Consumer Assistance have the same info - that is to say, none. Am I alone? Any word out there in the forum world on Kia building replacements? Supposedly I am "in line" for a brand-new (not reman) battery.

[Calaveras]

I am in the same boat. It has only been 6 weeks, but no contact and no follow up yet.

[SeattleLou]

My latest update (today) was the same as previous - no schedule, still on backorder. Meanwhile, my car just sits sadly outside at the dealership. Should I take it home and use what little battery I have? Kia says they need to hold onto it to keep it under warranty...

[IanL]

If it means you lose the warranty and a free new battery, I would recommend not taking it away.

[EVDee]

I'd ask your dealer why everyone else didn't have to do that but you do? Frankly if the warranty work has been approved - they don't need your car until the part arrives. So unless they found the battery pack to be unsafe, go get your car.

My latest update (today) was the same as previous - no schedule, still on backorder. Meanwhile, my car just sits sadly outside at the dealership. Should I take it home and use what little battery I have? Kia says they need to hold onto it to keep it under warranty...

[EVDee]

I'd ask your dealer why everyone else didn't have to do that but you do? Frankly if the warranty work has been approved - they don't need your car until the part arrives. So unless they found the battery pack to be unsafe, go get your car.

My latest update (today) was the same as previous - no schedule, still on backorder. Meanwhile, my car just sits sadly outside at the dealership. Should I take it home and use what little battery I have? Kia says they need to hold onto it to keep it under warranty...

Edit: Maybe more important, ensure they aren't lying about how far along your car is in the process. Mine was pending approval forever until I wore them out by stopping by Mon-Wed-Fri for a couple weeks only to be pushed off to corporate who basically couldn't understand why the dealership hadn't done their part because they had approved it weeks ago..

[BEC]

Yike! I guess I'm glad mine is holding around 70% SOH and seems to have flattened out in its deterioration, so the car is still usable.

Is yours the white one sitting outside at Kia of Puyallup?

[biffidum]

My battery replacement was approved and ordered from the factory on Oct 13 2021. I have less than 25% SOH but I am driving it around. Still no ship date for a replacement battery. I got head office involved and they confirmed that there is no indication of when a new battery is coming. I'm thinking COVID supply issues strike again! This will likely take many more months. I'm thinking of negotiating a new Soul out of the deal...

[SeattleLou]

Edit: Maybe more important, ensure they aren't lying about how far along your car is in the process. Mine was pending approval forever until I wore them out by stopping by Mon-Wed-Fri for a couple weeks only to be pushed off to corporate who basically couldn't understand why the dealership hadn't done their part because they had approved it weeks ago..[/quote]

It did not take long (maybe a week) for warranty approval. And now I recall that under certain conditions (heavy braking downhill, for example), the entire vehicle will shut down, and I have to restart. So I think that brake issue may be battery related, or at least they said a new battery is needed and related. Not exactly sure how, but it is listed on the work order.

[SeattleLou]

My battery replacement was approved and ordered from the factory on Oct 13 2021. I have less than 25% SOH but I am driving it around. Still no ship date for a replacement battery. I got head office involved and they confirmed that there is no indication of when a new battery is coming. I'm thinking COVID supply issues strike again! This will likely take many more months. I'm thinking of negotiating a new Soul out of the deal...

Yes, mine is also approved and ordered from the factory, since around Thanksgiving. It certainly could be a negotiation chip on a new one, would love to hear your thoughts on that. Negotiate prior to arrival/installation of battery? Used car values have been pretty high the past several months, maybe more so now for EVs given current oil prices...