Photo: Car Gurus on YouTube/ LankyGuitar6528 / autoevolution edit
A Canadian Hyundai Ioniq 5 owner wanted a two-inch hitch. They asked around for recommendations, bought one, and asked a shop to take care of the installation. However, it didn't go according to plan. Here's how they could've ended up with a hefty bill.
Luckily, this EV owner bought comprehensive insurance from a Canadian company that covers even very specific situations like this one. The corporation footed the bill without hassle and even paid for the Mercedes-Benz rental unit given to the begrudged customer. It may lead to a premium increase, but it's certainly worth it when everything goes so smoothly.
The Ioniq 5 owner decided last year that they needed a two-inch hitch. After asking some professionals about what good options were available at the time, they were told to buy something made by Draw-Tite. More specifically, the Draw-Tite 76589. It was specifically made for the Hyundai Ioniq 5, so it should've worked out nicely. It cost around $240. They decided to go with it even though it needed a not-so-discreet bumper cutout.
After the technicians installed the hitch, the Hyundai owner went about their usual schedule. But they discovered later that the part wasn't exactly what they needed. They noticed some wobbling after having a drive with some e-bikes on a rack while on a trip. They looked into it and discovered the hitch was attached to a thin aluminum panel instead of the vehicle's frame. Using it as intended would've cracked that panel, which has happened in this case.
The bewildering part, however, is that the shop workers had to remove the shock-absorbing part found on the Ioniq 5's rear. That made the entire bumper virtually unusable because it got turned into an unsafe piece of equipment.
The EV was taken to another shop, where technicians told the owner they needed a new aluminum panel, a new bumper, and the rear shock-absorbing part. Moreover, more minor parts and pieces and more work like coating and rustproofing were also added to the bill.
Making sure not to go through this again, they elected to do what the new service experts recommended and pick a new hitch that installs onto the frame. Even though Draw-Tite updated the design of their product, this person decided to go with a Curt hitch this time around.
All in all, this happening in Canada, it cost this Hyundai EV owner around CAD5,000 (USD3,780), cost of the Merc rental included. Fortunately, Wawanesa is covering everything, as the disgruntled owner confirmed on Reddit.
They also advise those looking to install an aftermarket hitch on their vehicles, "I can't stress this enough - take your car into a reputable hitch shop for an inspection and NOT the shop that sold you the hitch."
The Ioniq 5 owner decided last year that they needed a two-inch hitch. After asking some professionals about what good options were available at the time, they were told to buy something made by Draw-Tite. More specifically, the Draw-Tite 76589. It was specifically made for the Hyundai Ioniq 5, so it should've worked out nicely. It cost around $240. They decided to go with it even though it needed a not-so-discreet bumper cutout.
After the technicians installed the hitch, the Hyundai owner went about their usual schedule. But they discovered later that the part wasn't exactly what they needed. They noticed some wobbling after having a drive with some e-bikes on a rack while on a trip. They looked into it and discovered the hitch was attached to a thin aluminum panel instead of the vehicle's frame. Using it as intended would've cracked that panel, which has happened in this case.
The bewildering part, however, is that the shop workers had to remove the shock-absorbing part found on the Ioniq 5's rear. That made the entire bumper virtually unusable because it got turned into an unsafe piece of equipment.
The EV was taken to another shop, where technicians told the owner they needed a new aluminum panel, a new bumper, and the rear shock-absorbing part. Moreover, more minor parts and pieces and more work like coating and rustproofing were also added to the bill.
Making sure not to go through this again, they elected to do what the new service experts recommended and pick a new hitch that installs onto the frame. Even though Draw-Tite updated the design of their product, this person decided to go with a Curt hitch this time around.
All in all, this happening in Canada, it cost this Hyundai EV owner around CAD5,000 (USD3,780), cost of the Merc rental included. Fortunately, Wawanesa is covering everything, as the disgruntled owner confirmed on Reddit.
They also advise those looking to install an aftermarket hitch on their vehicles, "I can't stress this enough - take your car into a reputable hitch shop for an inspection and NOT the shop that sold you the hitch."
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