Fountain Valley, CA — March 8, 2016 — On February 29, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration received a report of a pair of Hyundai recalls based on the same issue. According to this document, 18,700 Genesis and Equus vehicles, both of them four-door light vehicles with gas powertrains, may be subject to an issue that affects windshield wiper functions.

The majority of the autos in this recall are Genesis models manufactured between 2011 and 2012. The source notes that the cover seal for wiper motors is at risk of corroding, potentially slowing the wiper or preventing it from functioning at all. For the Equus vehicles included, model years range between 2011 and 2013. VALEO Wiper Systems, a German company, was listed as the component manufacturer.

“If the windshield wipers become inoperative during inclement weather, driver visibility could be reduced, increasing the risk of a crash,” the report said. Though no recall timeline was listed, dealers and owners are scheduled for notification on April 22.

Dealers will solve the problem by resealing the cover of the wiper motor to lower chance of circuit board corrosion. Hyundai officially decided to conduct this recall on February 16, six years after it first learned of possible delays in wiper performance for the Genesis vehicles.

In October 2015, General Motors also launched a recall based on difficulties with windshield wiper motors. That action involved concern over a possible fire risk from overheating systems. Unlike this Hyundai recall, the GM order concerned three different 2016 models: the Buick Enclave, the Chevrolet Traverse and the GMC Acadia.

As a Car and Driver article from that time described, 31,00 vehicles were part of the recall, although only 6,400 were with customers at the time of the recall.

Fountain Valley, CA — March 01, 2016 — A total of 11,176 2011 Hyundai Tucson vehicles are part of a recall action submitted late last month. Models manufactured between July and October in 2010 are subject to a possible transmission fluid leak, due to badly produced hoses. Although the official recall began only recently, it represents five years of investigations and response actions, with the first notifications coming from a dealer in September 2011.

Owners and dealers alike have a few symptoms to help them determine whether or not a particular vehicle is at risk. According to the Part 573 Safety Recall Report, affected models are light SUV’s with automatic transaxles. If the transmission hose is visibly leaking fluid, the Malfunction Indicator Lamp is on or the vehicle is shifting unusually, the driver might be at risk.

The vehicle manufacturer will notify owners beginning March 25, with dealers notified on the same date, though the official schedule for the recall was not reported. However, this document did describe some of the observations uncovered in previous investigations.

“The investigation revealed that certain hoses manufactured from August 2010 through October 2010 might have been improperly cured during the manufacturing process, lowering the hose rubber durability and creating the potential for the hose to rupture and split,” the document said. Faulty hoses could potentially leak enough transmission fluid to put the vehicle in danger.

In 2015, Subaru also recalled thousands of vehicles for transmission fluid leak concerns. Instead of a hose, this effort was prompted by a “deformed” seal cap inside a propeller shaft yoke that could have leaked fluid onto an exhaust pipe. The repair required dealers to replace the entire propeller shaft assembly following a stop sale order.

Fountain Valley, CA — January 26, 2016 — Hyundai will launch a recall for thousands of Elantra vehicles that could lose engine power as a result of a faulty control system. While owners will officially be notified on February 19, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has already posted information on the reasons behind the action, including what users can expect to see when this issue is present.

“Due to an electronic stability control (ESC) sensor malfunction, the brakes for one or more wheels may be applied unexpectedly and the engine power may be reduced,” the organization’s recall summary states. “These symptoms will be accompanied by illumination of the ESC indicator lamp in the instrument cluster.” This statement also mentions the risk that comes with applying brakes “inappropriately,” which could make it harder to correctly steer the vehicle.

According to Edmunds.com, the recall concerns 155,000 sedans, all of which were built between the Octobers of 2010 and 2011. The source advised owners to start contacting dealers even before the recall launches in case of serious issues. The model years for the affected vehicles are 2011 and 2012, and there are currently no injuries connected to this problem.

The ESC is especially at risk of malfunction in these vehicles when users attempt to make a turn. Normally, the sensor will activate the control to counter sliding in an improper direction, but in this case, the system activates unnecessarily. The remedy will involve an inspection and update, in which dealers change the calibration as needed. Earlier Hyundai recalls included 2011-2013 Elantras for difficulties with the headliner support brackets.

Fountain Valley, CA — January 20, 2016 — As of late last month, Hyundai will recall more than 11,140 vehicles to address an issue in the tire sidewall. Tire sidewall in the affected vehicles could lose air as a result of cracks and rupture, and the manufacturer will officially begin the action on February 19. Dealers will fix the problem by simply replacing the factory-issues Hankook Ventus S1 noble2 tires.

The Genesis vehicles targeted in this recall, number 138, were produced between March 2014 and February 2015, with the 2015 model year, according to a press release included with an article in Autoblog. Owners are encouraged to contact the manufacturer’s customer service line for more information.

This possible danger comes at a conspicuous moment for Hyundai, given the important predictions made for the Hyundai line in the coming years. A different article from Autoblog reports that Hyundai expects to expand the Genesis line over the next few years. Autoblog’s Steven Ewing describes the company’s plans for this brand.

“The official transition from Hyundai Genesis sedan to Genesis G80 happens this summer, with the 2017 model year car,” he said. “We don’t expect the G80 to be too different from the existing 2016 sedan, though Hyundai officials tell us some more Genesis announcements will take place at the New York Auto Show in March.” The upcoming G80 is said to be a new version of the current Hyundai Genesis, and the G90 is considered the first vehicle in the new seris.

Vehicles that suffer the sidewall cracks associated with this recall could be more likely to lose control, sending the occupants into danger.

Fountain Valley, CA — December 16, 2015 — Manual Genesis Coupe vehicles produced between 2011 and 2015 are included in a new Hyundai recall scheduled to start January 11. According to documents filed with the the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the rear driveshaft in these autos could detach from differentials.

The problem specifically affects both the differential units and rear suspension in 10,800 vehicles. The official manufacturer’s report dates to November 13, and the source states this was due to systems not being properly aligned when assembled. Model years for this recall range from 2013 to 2015.

This NHTSA letter includes a description of the affects of this loose alignment, as well as hints of what will happen once the recall begins.

“If the rear differential loosens from its mounting position, the driveshaft may disconnect from the differential, resulting in a loss of propulsion and an increased risk of a crash,” it says. “Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will verify the proper assembly of the differential, free of charge.”

September saw other Hyundai recalls, including one for 470,000 Sonatas for a failure that could lead to possible fires. During that announcement, the manufacturer was unable to give a specific date due to a lack of engine parts. Debris in the engine of these vehicles reportedly made it harder for oil flow to pass through.

These Sonatas were produced between 2009 and 2012, and stems from warranty claims related to “loud noises and engine lights illuminating,” as Car Complaints reported. This came around the same time as a recall for the Hyundai Accent.

Fountain Valley, CA — December 04, 2015 — Hyundai Sonata vehicles with model years 2011 and 2012 are part of a recall action sparked by concern over brake light functionality. Because of faulty material in the brake pedal stop pads for target vehicles, drivers could accidentally find themselves with brake lights that stay on continuously. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration calls this a possible hazard for those in and around the car.

A total of 304,900 vehicles are said to be involved, with 1 percent estimated to have the defect. The Manufacturer’s Report Date was November 13, and the vehicles involved were produced between December 11, 2009, and June 30, 2011 at a plant in Alabama, according to a Part 573 Safety Recall Report.

While there is no “root cause” identified for this issue yet, and no accidents attached to it either, the same source describes the problems associated with the brake light.

“A deteriorated pad can result in the stop lamps illuminating continuously, illumination of the traction control warning lamp, the ability to move the shift lever without depressing the brake pedal, or activation of the engine management system’s brake pedal override feature,” the report states.

A letter from the NHTSA notes that the recall is currently intended for January 11, 2016, which is also the planned dealer notification date. To remedy the situation, “dealers will replace the brake pedal stopper pad with an improved part,” the NHTSA letter adds. Warranty claim rates have reached as high as .5 percent this September, building off of initial claims investigations in 2014.

Fountain Valley, CA — November 2, 2015 — Starting November 30, Hyundai Motor America is expected to recall as many as 27,700 vehicles produced between 2009 and 2011. According to information from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the recalls apply to Elantra and Sonata models and are registered in 21 different states, including the District of Columbia. Front coil springs in these vehicles could be subject to fracture.

This not only poses a risk to the suspension itself, but to the tires that come into contact with it an get punctured. The condition is especially problematic in the winter, when excessive road salt can weaken the spring, and could play the biggest factor in the “salt belt” states spanning the east coast and stretching over into the upper Midwest as far as Iowa. However, the defect is not limited to this time of year: the first notifications of the problem appeared in June, when multiple complaints emerged connected to the Sonatas.

Dealers will fix the issue by replacing front coil springs without charge. The chronology of this recall, also published by the NHTSA, describes the efforts the manufacturer has made in recent months. The document also notes that previous tests determined a driver could still stay stable in a vehicle suffering this condition, although this did not deter the final Hyundai recalls.

“On September 30, 2015 Hyundai made the determination to proceed with a safety recall campaign, even though there have been no accidents or injuries, or reports of significant loss of vehicle stability or control,” the chronology reads.

Ulsan, South Korea — July 9, 2015 — The newest Hyundai recall concerns a safety problem in recently produced vehicles. Reuters reported on this action, which will recall 140,000 Sonata sedans across North America and will reportedly come with an easy and quick fix, provided owners bring their car to the dealer and understand the seriousness of the situation. Fortunately, the failure will trigger a dashboard light, helping alert drivers to its presence.

In the affected Sonata sedans, seatbelts could break and become impossible to secure. The source says that the metal tongue of the seatbelt has to be inserted correctly to avoid jamming the buckle and rendering the belt inoperable. Although these Sonatas were built in 2014, between April and December, they were given the model year 2015.

Other recent recalls have affected Hyundai Sonatas within the past year, but these generally concerned external faults as opposed to features that immediately impacted the driver. Some of these other recalls were for conditions like an incorrectly installed left axle that could separate, as well as brake calipers that may fracture.

The former was listed as an assembly error on the official National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recall website, while the latter was attributed to a “manufacturing error.” The past few months have also seen complaints filed against the Sonata as well, multiple of which concerned engine or electrical systems issues.

Address recalls quickly and comprehensively with programs that are effective and will take dealer and owner actions into consideration. It’s also important that everyone involves understand the severity of an issued recall and how it differs from complaints or ongoing investigations.