U.S. auto safety regulators on Monday said they had opened a probe into 16 separate recalls issued by Hyundai (005380. K.S.) and Kia (000270. K.S.) covering 6.4 million vehicles relating to brake fluid leaks that could result in fires. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is evaluating the timeliness of the carmakers’ defect decision-making and their adherence to reporting requirements in these recalls, as well as understanding the varying defect descriptions and remedies provided in the multiple recalls.
In September, the affiliated Korean automakers issued a combined 3.37 million recalls in the U.S., telling owners to park their vehicles outdoors and away from structures until they were fixed. The companies cited the risk of fires due to leaking ABS and HECU modules manufactured by their parts supplier, Mando. The vehicles involved in the recalls include the Sonata, Santa Fe, and Tucson SUVs and Optima and Sorento minivans.
The companies’ initial recalls in September accounted for about 572,000 of Hyundai’s Sonata and Santa Fe Sport vehicles with “Theta II” engines, as well as about 1.73 million Kia Borrego, Cadenza, Forte, K900, Sportage, Optima, Soul Rio and Rondo models with similar engines. The automakers’ supplemental recalls in October and November accounted for the rest of the affected vehicles, including Elantra, Veloster, and Genesis Coupe models from 2010 through 2021, Accent, Sonata Hybrid, and Azera sedans from 2011 through 2021, Tucson Fuel Cell and Tucson SUVs from 2012 through 2023 and the Kia Carnival minivan from 2022 to 2023.
In the latest recalls, Hyundai and Kia will replace faulty tow hitch harnesses, which can be damaged by contact with metal pieces inside the engine compartment. The automakers are also replacing the HECU modules and adding an electrical power relay to prevent short-circuiting. Reuters has learned that a total of 21 engine compartment fires, 21 thermal incidents, and six localized melting incidents have been reported by owners. There have been no injuries, crashes, or fatalities related to the issues.
Hyundai and Kia will issue software upgrades for the affected vehicles, allowing owners to turn off their engine starters when not driving. The automakers will also provide a dashboard warning to drivers and a window sticker noting that the vehicle is equipped with an engine immobilizer.
The new recalls follow data released by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety showing that theft claims in the United States rose more than 30 times on Hyundai and Kia vehicles compared with other carmakers in 2022. The Institute said that following a wave of media coverage in Wisconsin, where the thefts were uncovered, the rate of such claims soared even more nationally.