- Hyundai is recalling 7,349 Elantras, 2,364 Venues, and 3,798 Konas from the 2024 model year.
- The vehicles may have been equipped with a bad exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve sensor that can short out and cause the engine to stall.
- The automaker will replace the EGR valve assemblies in all 13,511 vehicles, at not cost to the owners.
We’ve noted before that making cars is very hard work, but assembling them correctly is also very fiddly, requiring a staggering amount of precision. Even something as small as a bit of solder flux seeping into the wrong spot can cause the whole machine to break down, as Hyundai recently learned.
The automaker is recalling 13,511 vehicles in the United States over a problem with a sensor located deep in the bowels of the vehicle. The electronic component controls the exhaust gas recirculation valve assembly, and may have been contaminated with flux while it was being made by Hyundai’s supplier, BorgWarner.
Read: 95 Kia Sorentos Recalled Over Power Steering Failure
That’s bad news because the soldering aid could oxidize over time, which increases the chance of an electrical short occurring. If that happens, the exhaust gas recirculation valve will malfunction, potentially resulting in a sudden loss of power, which could leave drivers stuck on the road and in danger.
The issue was first brought to Hyundai’s attention in March, after it received reports from customers about their vehicles unexpectedly grinding to a halt. In its investigation, the automaker determined the short cuts power to the crankshaft position sensor, causing the engine to stall.
Hyundai is aware of 14 incidents that can be attributed to this issue in the U.S. but, fortunately, it has not learned of any crashes, injuries, or fatalities as a result of it. The automaker reports that 7,349 Elantras, 2,364 Venues, and 3,798 Konas from the 2024 model year are affected by this recall.
In order to remedy it, Hyundai will start reaching out owners on June 28, and will ask them to return their vehicle to a nearby dealer where the exhaust gas recirculation valve assembly will be replaced free of charge.
