Korean automakers Hyundai and Kia have announced a very large-scale recall, which affects a total of 1.9 million vehicles in the United States. Of the total figure, 1.06 million of the recalled vehicles are Hyundais, while Kia has called back some 623,000 cars in total, all of which share the same electronic problems.
Kia has also issued a separate recall for an additional 190,000 Elantra sedans, built between the 2011 to 2013 model years – thus, pushing the total number of recalled vehicles to over 1.9 million.
The first recall is for Kia’s 2007 to 2010 Rondo, the 2007 Sedona, 2011 Optima, 2007 to 2011 Sorento, 2010 to 2011 Soul and the 2007 to 2010 model-year Sportage. The very same issues plague the 2011 model-year Hyundai Sonata, 2007 to 2009 Tucson, 2008 to 2009 Veracruz, 2007 to 2009 Accent, 2007 to 2010 Elantra, 2010 to 2011 Genesis Coupe and finally the 2007 to 2011 Santa Fe SUV.
The problem faced by all of the cars mentioned above is of an electronic nature. Hyundai says that the issue, “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,” – the latter being the subject of three earlier recalls, according to The DetroitNews.
The recall issued for the 2011 to 2013 Elantra tackles a different problem. Apparently, a bracket that holds the headliner in place can dislodge during severe side impacts, thus increasing the risk of injury.
Officials say that a total of three crashed vehicles were discovered in salvage yards with the aforementioned faulty bracket. All 190,000 Korean-made Elantras will be called back to the dealerships to have adhesive strips placed on the headliner, to further strengthen its bond to the body shell, and thus put less pressure on the bracket, making it harder for it to move.
By Andrei Nedelea
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