This article is by Sarah Chea and read by an artificial voice.



[EXPLAINER]

The Korean government is weighing a subsidy cut for Tesla over unresolved battery errors that have rendered some three-year-old models unchargeable, escalating scrutiny of the EV giant's commitment to consumer protection.

This comes as Tesla owners in Korea grow increasingly furious - first over the battery errors, and again over what they describe as the EV firm's "irresponsible" response.

Owners have begun rallying online, demanding recalls or free battery replacements, and have even filed a petition with the National Assembly, garnering over 14,000 signatures, which has prompted Korea's transport and environment ministries to monitor the issue.

"We cannot continue offering subsidies to vehicles that disadvantage consumers; We will even consider pulling subsidies depending on Tesla's countermeasures," an official who heads the EV subsidy program at the Environment Ministry told the Korea JoongAng Daily.

"We've asked Tesla Korea to provide a detailed explanation, but have failed to receive a response so far."

Tesla sold 29,750 units in Korea last year, making it the third-largest imported car brand, behind BMW and Mercedes-Benz. Notably, in the first half of this year, the Model Y was named the country's top-selling EV, with 15,432 units sold, even beating the EV6 and Ioniq 5 from homegrown brands Kia and Hyundai Motor.



What's the matter?

Tesla owners in Korea - mostly those driving Model 3 and Model Y Long Range variants produced in 2020 and 2021 - are increasingly vocal about a recurring issue: the BMS_a079 error, which limits the battery's maximum charge level to some 50 percent.

This error, accompanied by the message "Unable to charge - maximum charge level reached," occurs when Tesla's Battery Management System (BMS) detects a fault within the high-voltage battery. To prevent battery overload and reduce the risk of fire, the system restricts the maximum charge to 50 percent.

The BMS, often described as the "brain" of an EV, monitors critical factors such as voltage and temperature to optimize battery performance and alerts users of any anomalies that require prompt attention.

However, the severity and manifestation of this issue vary widely, with some owners experiencing charge limits as low as 20 percent or 30 percent, while others are capped at roughly 50 percent. In some instances, the error triggers an immediate restriction, and for others, the limitation develops gradually over time.

With the issue now also appearing in the recently launched Juniper Model Y in April, concerns are growing that it may affect an increasing number of Teslas in the future.

The problem was formally raised through a public petition submitted to the National Assembly, garnering support from 14,008 people between Aug. 12 and Sept. 11.



A patchwork fix

What has angered many owners even more is how Tesla Korea has handled the issue - customers are offered "remanufactured" batteries as replacements.

A Tesla remanufactured battery is rebuilt using salvaged cells from older packs to restore functionality, often meeting factory specs. While offered as warranty replacements or cheaper alternatives, concerns remain about reduced capacity, shorter lifespan and inconsistent quality.

"The error warning first showed up on June 27, and my car's battery was replaced with a remanufactured one. But the same error returned just three months later," said a Model 3 owner in Korea's largest Tesla owners' community, which has over 330,000 members. "After the first replacement, my full-charge range dropped from 450 kilometers to 408 kilometers."

"With this current issue, Tesla feels like a bad-faith company now," another user wrote. "Back in 2020 and 2021, when trust in EVs was still fragile, we supported Tesla with a purchase. And now, they're pushing early production defects onto customers and walking away."

For vehicles no longer under warranty, customers must bear the full cost of...