Hyundai Recall to Resolve Engine Failure, Fire Risk in 130,000 Vehicles

Hyundai recall

Hyundai issued a recall last month for roughly 130,000 vehicles in the United States because the engines are at risk of failure.

Just one week after the automaker was fined millions by regulators for delaying safety recalls, Hyundai has recalled certain Santa Fe SUVs, Veloster cars and Sonata Hybrid cars.

The Korean auto manufacturer has been plagued by engine failure and fire problems with Hyundai and Kia vehicles. Over the last five years, roughly 8 million owners have experienced engine problems.

Specifically, the latest recall covers some 2012 Santa Fe SUVs, 2015 and 2016 Veloster cars, and cars made in 2011 to 2013 and 2016 under the Sonata Hybrid models. The affected vehicles are equipped with 2.4-liter, 2-liter or 1.6-liter engines.

Manufacturing Defect Results in Engine Failure

A manufacturing defect may cause the connecting rod bearings to wear down. Hyundai says this could lead to engine failure. Due to this, a damaged connecting rod bearing might fail and therefore puncture the engine block.

If this happens, the vehicle’s engine is likely to stall and put the motorist at risk of being in a collision. Additionally, the malfunction may also permit oil to leak out of the vehicle. There is an increased risk of fire if oil spills onto hot surfaces.

Hyundai reports that machining debris may have led to the issue and that this was what led to restricted oil flow. The NHTSA’s website reports that Hyundai owners heard “abnormal knocking sounds from the engine.” Also, they did not see any warning lights before these failures or fires.

The non-profit Center for Auto Safety filed a petition with the NHTSA after it heard hundreds of complaints from car owners. In 2019, the federal investigators sought to find out what was the cause of these engine fires and failure. There has been one death, 103 injuries and 3,100 fires due to the defect.

Hyundai to Notify Owners on January 22, 2021

Hyundai owners will be notified about the recall later this month around Jan. 22nd. Dealerships are going to inspect the engines and replace any damaged bearings. Additionally, a knock sensor system will be installed on affected vehicles. This would alert motorist of any symptoms that would precede engine failures or fires.

Hyundai, and Kia auto manufacturing, had to pay the $137 million fine as well as agree to make safety improvements. This was due to a previous slow response at recalling more than one million vehicles with engines that could fail. This resolves a government probe that spanned three years over recalls dating back to 2011.

Besides the fines, Hyundai has agreed to pay $54 million and invest $40 million to improve safety operations. Additionally, some $46 million in penalties will be deferred. However, the Korean manufacturer will pay this if it does not meet safety conditions it agreed upon with the NHTSA.

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Attorney James Johnson Founder of Johnson Attorneys Group

Motorists who are grappling with ongoing problems with their Hyundai, Kia or other vehicle, could be eligible for compensation under California and or Federal Lemon Laws.

Johnson Attorneys Group is dedicated to serving thousands of clients experiencing problems with their cars over the years. We handle both lemon law and personal injury cases. We helped our clients resolve their cases and we can help you.

Call us for a FREE CONSULTATION at 855-703-4186. In lemon law cases, our attorneys fees do not come out of your settlement. Instead, the manufacturer pays attorneys in a separate, direct payment as required under California Lemon Laws. However, in cases involving personal injury claims, our fees are paid only if a settlement is obtained for you.

James Johnson ESQ