The digital side mirror aims to enhance aerodynamics and design by replacing bulky side units with cameras. These cameras improve efficiency by cutting through the air and projecting the road image onto an interior screen. However, some owners in the UK, where the technology is a standard feature on the Hyundai Ioniq 5 Namsan Edition, have noticed a concerning problem. They are complaining that rain is affecting their visibility.
In June, a thread was started by user Nwp stating that they noticed condensation inside the digital mirror lens when getting into their vehicle after rain. Other users chimed in, confirming that they experienced the same issue, which has worsened with colder weather.
“Yes! I have the same [issue], barely got my Namsan at the end of June and I keep having this every time it rains. I live in the UK so that is very often unfortunately,” wrote user Adela. “I came on here especially for this, to see if anyone else experienced this.”
Another user, Welshwizard, mentioned that they have also faced this problem and are thinking about discussing it with the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). They explain that the combination of condensation and the absence of a rear windshield wiper makes it challenging to reverse on rainy days.
Luckily, the issue seems to resolve itself after a few minutes of driving. According to many owners, the digital side mirrors clear up again after around five or 10 minutes. Some argue that even a brief reduction in visibility is a significant concern while driving.
Additionally, a forum user reported that their cameras got stuck in the downward position meant for parking. This significantly limits visibility at the back and can create substantial blind spots for drivers.
Some owners have mentioned that Hyundai will replace their digital side mirrors. However, it's still uncertain if this will be a permanent fix. It's not clear if this issue is limited to certain parts or if it's a common design flaw in all Ioniq 5s with this feature.
The DVSA and Hyundai UK have not yet provided any comments regarding the alleged issue.
Source: Carscoops