Hyundai, Kia Recall More Than 1.9M Vehicles in U.S. for Electronic Issues

 

Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Motors Corp. are recalling more than 1.9 million vehicles in the United States in three recall campaigns, one of the largest ever call-backs of vehicles by the Korean automakers.
Hyundai said it is recalling 1.06 million vehicles for electronic problems after it had issued a 2009 recall for the same problem for earlier model vehicles, while Kia is recalling 623,000 vehicles to address the same problem. Hyundai said the "condition could potentially result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, intermittent ability to remove the vehicle's shifter from the park position, illumination of the "ESC" (Electronic Stability Control) indicator lamp in the instrument cluster, intermittent interference with operation of the cruise control feature, or intermittent operation of the stop lamps."
Since the 2009 recall, Hyundai has made three separate improvements to its stop-lamp assembly.
The new recall was prompted by an investigation by Transport Canada, the Canadian auto safety agency, which notified Hyundai in November it had nine complaints for vehicles outside of the production range of Hyundai's 2009 Canadian recall to replace the stop lamp switch. Hyundai will replace the stop lamp switch assembly "with one incorporating the most recent production refinements," but won't notify owners until June, when it expects to have enough parts on hand to complete the repairs.
The Hyundai recall covers the 2007-09 Accent, 2007-10 Elantra, 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, 2007-11 Santa Fe, 2011 Sonata, 2007-09 Tucson and 2008-09 Veracruz. The Kia recall covers the 2007-10 Rondo, 2007 Sedona, 2011 Optima, 2007-11 Sorento, 2010-11 Soul, 2007-10 Sportage. Kia said it is not aware of any injuries connected to the problem. Kia will notify owners in May.
Hyundai and Kia operate largely as independent automakers, but share a technical center in Ann Arbor and are controlled by the same Korean firm.
Separately, Hyundai said it is recalling about 190,000 2011-13 Elantras for possible airbag problems after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration upgraded an investigation last September. Hyundai said that during deployment of a side curtain airbag, a support bracket attached to the headliner can become displaced if the support bracket has been previously dislodged. This condition may pose a risk of injury to the vehicle occupant if contact is made between the occupant and the headliner support bracket during a side impact collision. The investigation was prompted by an injury to a driver of an Elantra from a part that dislodged during an air bag deployment that resulted in a laceration to the driver's left ear.
Hyundai found three vehicles in the United States in salvage yards with the same possible issue that were equipped with port-installed electronic "auto-dimming" rear view mirrors that are exclusive to the U.S. market.
"During the installation of the mirrors the technician could interact with the headliner in a manner that partially dislodges the bracket, allowing the side curtain airbag deployment subsequently to force the bracket to displace during the course of a collision," Hyundai said. "Further research and testing revealed that industrial manufacturing adhesive strips placed over the bracket prevent displacement of a dislodged bracket during side curtain airbag deployment."
Hyundai will install industrial manufacturing adhesive strips to the headliner to further secure the bracket to the headliner on certain 2011-13 Hyundai Elantra vehicles manufactured in Korea. Hyundai will also install industrial manufacturing adhesive strips to the service part headliner assemblies in U.S. inventory.