Electric vehicles are gaining traction in India. Even today, many believe that EVs are expensive to fix. They are right to some extent. In many previous cases, we have seen shocked EV owners taking to social media with bills quoting large sums. Recently, a Hyundai Kona owner surprised netizens by sharing a contrasting experience. His electric SUV developed an issue with its motor for which the dealer quoted Rs 5 lakh for a full motor replacement. After doing extensive research, he got it fixed for just Rs 780. He took to X (previously Twitter) explaining the details of the fix.
Mr. X, a resident of Tamil Nadu, bought this 2020 Kona from the pre-owned market for a price of Rs 4.2 lakh. Back in its day, the Kona had an ex-showroom price of around Rs 24 lakh. It now has 72,000 km on its odometer. The previous owner had sold it off for due to fear of repair costs.
X says that it recently developed the ‘Wheel of fortune’ issue- something that’s familiar to Kona/ Niro owners. In simple terms, it is a clicking, whirring, or knocking noise that the vehicle makes while driving. It often increases with vehicle speed and is a result of an issue with the drive motor. It is often related to faulty bearings inside the reduction gear/motor assembly.
The dealer diagnosis, X says, was to replace the entire traction motor assembly. This would cost approximately five lakh rupees. After careful examination of the vehicle, X identified the issue- the rotor bearing had worn out.
Full assembly replacement was one way of solving it. Replacing the bearing was the more practical, cost effective alternative. But this had to be done with caution. The right components had to be used and the installation had to be fool-proof.
Mr. X carefully disassembled the motor, removed the rotor and replaced the bearing. He has also given details of the part used- SKF 6007-2RS1 with C3 clearance. In bearings, C3 clearance means a radial internal clearance greater than standard (CN or C0). This is designed to accommodate thermal expansion, high temperatures, and heavy interference fits. C3 compliance is required for use in heavy-duty motors.
In this case, it is required due to high RPM and thermal expansion that occur in electric vehicles. The post explicitly mentions that Standard 6007 compliance won’t suffice for the Kona. After replacing the bearing, the motor was reassembled with proper sealing and the coolant was topped up.
The post mentions that electric motors are serviceable machines, if one understands them and says the repair cost in this case was just Rs 780. The motor was refurbished to original silence.
It also says that the vehicle continues to have an ICCU issue and the team is brainstorming to find workarounds to get the same fixed. The user also says that the ‘Wheel of Fortune’ issue is global and worries many Kia Niro and Hyundai Kona owners. If done right, this simple hack can get it solved.
In India, the Kona was brought as CKD (Completely Knocked Down) kits and assembled at the company’s Chennai facility. This has played a key role in making parts and replacements expensive.
Cases like this are reminders that people should never compromise on vehicle warranties. Opt in for maximum coverage and do not say no to extended warranty for marginal savings in initial costs, especially while buying EVs. And for insurance, it is highly recommended that you opt in for add-ons like Return to Invoice (RTI) and ensure maximum coverage.
The dealer preferring a complete replacement of the assembly instead of repairing the motor may have to do with their Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), since the vehicle itself had CKD roots. In 2026, the Kona is no longer on sale in India.
The person in this case was able to pull off the replacement successfully. It may not, however, be possible for every other mechanic to do the same with precision. Many mechanics are still very new to electric vehicles. This has, in fact, affected their resale value adversely.
Beyond concerns around actual battery health, users looking for pre-owned EVs also worry about ‘hidden repair costs’ and unpredictable long-term ownership costs. The electric powertrain- motor, battery pack and power electronics- is often seen as a Black Box that only the dealer can access.
All these said, many companies continue to prioritize full component replacements over repairs, often charging the owner for the same. Jagdish Khattar, ex-Maruti Suzuki MD who now runs and independent spare parts and repair shop called Carnation, had previously raised voice against these restrictive practices, particularly the carmakers’ refusal to supply spare parts and technical information to repair cars to independent players.
Even within dealerships, repairs need to be prioritized over full-replacements. The ‘right to repair’ is mandated in many countries. France was one of the pioneers in this movement. European Union adopted the Right to Repair Directive in 2024. It is high time that India makes a similar move as well.
In the case of electric vehicles, choosing repair over replacement can benefit the environment as it reduces electronic wastes.