Ignoring this recall notice could result in your house burning down. Over 390,000 Hyundai vehicles are being recalled for two separate problems which can cause spontaneous engine fires. They got drastic with the notice to owners of one model. If you own a Hyundai Santa Fe Sport SUV from model years 2013-2015, park it outdoors and away from structures, trees and objects until you get it fixed.
Recall notices for two models
Hyundai isn’t real happy with their engineering department these days. They have to drag 390,000 cars back for mandatory recall repairs. The biggest of the two affects “more than 203,000 Santa Fe Sport SUVs from 2013 through 2015.” The suits are really furious because “some are being recalled a second time.”
The danger is that brake fluid “can leak into the anti-lock brake computer, causing an electrical short that can lead to fires.” Owners, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration warns “should park outdoors and away from structures until the problem is fixed.”
They aren’t going to do anything to keep the leak from happening, or from it getting into the computer. Instead, dealers “will replace a fuse and replace the computer if necessary.”
Owners will be getting a recall notice in June but don’t park in the garage while you wait for it. “The brake computer problem has caused 18 fires in the U.S., but no injuries.”
This fuse replacement, Hyundai notes, “enhances the remedy” they already performed, which didn’t work in September of 2020.
They kept digging though, the company assures “it kept investigating after the September recall and found that replacing the fuse would reduce the safety risk.” The other problem affects 187,000 of their newer models.
Concerned for customer safety
They want customers to think they’re concerned about their safety. “Hyundai is conducting this new recall to ensure the safety of its customers,” they insist.
That’s why they are also sending recall notices to the owners of “187,000 2019 and 2020 Elantras, and 2019 through 2021 Konas and Velosters.” Each of those cars comes equipped with a 2-liter engine.
In those, the engineers didn’t mess up but the part manufacturer did. The “piston rings may not have been properly heat-treated, which can cause engine damage, oil leaks and possible fires.”
The reason for the recall is “the rings can be too hard and can be chipped, scuffing the engine cylinder.” That can get dangerous. “The piston problem has caused five fires but no injuries,” official documents confirm.
On that one, the company is really on the hook for big bucks. “Dealers will inspect and replace the engine if necessary. They’ll also install piston noise sensing software.”
Owners can expect their recall notice in late June. Kia hasn’t had much better luck avoiding engine fires. More than 8 million of their vehicles were likewise affected. Last month “Kia recalled over 147,000 2020 and 2021 Soul and Seltos SUVs due to the piston ring problem.”