Fountain Valley, CA – May 19, 2021 – Hyundai (NASDAQ:HYMTF) is recalling 151,205 vehicles because of a short circuit risk within the anti-lock brake (ABS) system. The short circuit may result in a fire, increasing the risk of death and injury for the occupants of the vehicle.
The affected component is the ABS module, with part numbers that start with 58920. The recall includes certain 2013-2015 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport SUVs.
Recall summary
The ABS is a safety system that prevents wheels from locking up during braking, which gives the driver better control over the vehicle. Due to a supplier error, a brake fluid leak can occur within the ABS, which can cause the unit to short circuit and lead to an engine fire.
This may happen both when the vehicle is parked or while it is in motion.
Warning signs
The illumination of either the malfunction indicator light (MIL) or the ABS warning light can alert the driver to the electrical short within the unit. In the event of a fire, the driver may smell something burning or see the smoke coming from underneath the hood.
Risks
A fire can be a serious safety concern if it happens while driving. Potential hazards range from failure to stop and evacuate the vehicle in time to being a threat to other drivers and their passengers. In addition, a burning vehicle may damage surrounding structures and vehicles.
Safety tips
For safety tips – including where to park your vehicle before it is repaired, please see this recent Kia Sportage and Cadenza recall article.
If a fire breaks out during the journey, the driver and all occupants should follow these steps to get themselves to safety quickly.
Other Hyundai ABS recalls
This recall is a part of ongoing fire-related issues that both Kia and Hyundai vehicles are suffering from. Recently, Hyundai recalled nearly 180,000 Tucson SUVs and almost 95,000 of certain Genesis models over the similar fire risk caused by faulty ABS components. Kia – which is part-owned by Hyundai and builds vehicles on its platform – recalled over 300,000 cars because of a risk of a fire inside the engine compartment caused by a defective ABS module.
Separately, the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe was among cars recalled in 2018 for a fuel leak that could lead to a fire.
The repair
To fix the issue, dealers will replace the ABS fuse with one that is less prone to shorting or potentially replace the whole ABS module. The repair is free and the recall is expected to begin on June 25.
Is your vehicle part of this recall?
Over 150,000 vehicles are included in this Hyundai Santa Fe recall. To do a Hyundai recall check, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.