It all starts with improperly heat-treated oil rings which are too brittle and can easily chip, leading to scuffs and scratches on the cylinder walls. This allows oil to sneak past into the combustion chamber where it is burned off, leading to excessive consumption and early wear on parts like the connecting rods, which can then seize and damage the engine block.
Which is all to say that humble little oil rings can lead to eventual catastrophic failure of the 2.0L Nu MPI engine.
As part of the recall, Hyundai will inspect and replace any damaged engines and also install piston ring noise system software to monitor for abnormal engine performance from damaged cylinder bores in the future.
Hyundai reached out to their seat assembly supplier after multiple warranty claims. The supplier wasn't convinced there were any welding issues, but also admitted needing to swap out parts in one of their welding machines after discovering defects in October 2020. 🧐
Also included are some Ioniq EVs and Electric City buses that have also run the risk of being torched. The recall will begin in South Korea before expanding to other countries. There is no official word on a North American recall, but it's only a matter of time.
An investigation found that the fires may not occur if the operating current in the ABS module traveled through a lower amperage fuse
so they want to swap the system's current 40-amp fuse for a 25-amp version. I'd personally like a little more certainty than "may not occur," but that's just me.
Only 83% of the vehicles originally recalled were ever repaired and of those roughly 1% of the vehicles suffered from gasket leaks about two years later.
Hyundai extended the warranty for the 60,000 affected vehicles hoping that would be enough, but the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) ordered them to recall the problem ... again.
The recall (#197) is expected to begin on January 8th, 2021.
]]>Hyundai plans on sending out recall notices by the end of March 2019.
]]>Hyundai still won’t admit the sunroof is defective, but they’re sure acting like it is.
]]>This was supposed to be Hyundai’s opportunity to right the wrongs of their gasoline direct injection engines with massive oil flow problems. Those engines were notorious for knocking, seizing, and were eventually recalled in multiple campaigns. These were the replacements and now because of an installation snafu they’re catching on fire.
This recall covers certain 2011-2014 Sonata and 2013-2014 Santa Fe Sport vehicles.
Hyundai has been scrutinized for their handling of these recalls and is currently under investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to see if they’ve done enough to cover all affected vehicles in the past. However, with the government shutdown in place, US consumers now have to trust that the automaker is casting a wide enough recall net on their own.
Kia has issued a recall for 68,000 vehicles with the same problem.
The system won't detect if a finger, head or other objects are in the way of the closing glass and won't immediately retract.
Resist the urge to stick your head out of the sunroof until the recall begins in February 2019. Actually, just go ahead and resist that urge in general.
]]>The Center for Auto Safety (CAS) has put together a list of vehicles that they say should be taken off the road until a pending government investigation ends with a comprehensive recall.
CAS says Kia and Hyundai have done nothing but provide empty statements about working directly with vehicle owners who report fires. In addition, both automakers seem to be waiting for NHTSA to conclude its investigation to determine if additional actions should be taken.
About half of these vehicles have already been recalled for multiple problems with the troublesome Theta II engine, but CAS says more needs to be done. Not only did the previous recalls exclude at-risk vehicles, but “repaired” cars are still catching on fire anyway.
]]>A new recall may be even more important considering CAS knows of at least 12 fires that occurred in vehicles that had already been recalled due to engine-related problems.
Automatic emergency braking uses a combination of radar, lidar (reflected laser light) and cameras for a forward collision warning system that gives a driver audio or visual warnings that a forward collision is near.
Hyundai, however, has a long way to go to live up to their promise. In reviewing the 2017 model year lineup, only 9% of Hyundai’s passenger vehicles have AEB as standard equipment. Compare that to Honda (30%), Toyota (56%), and Volvo (68%).
Although the government talks in terms of automakers making progress, auto safety advocates say leaving important lifesaving technology to "voluntary agreements" is proof the automakers control NHTSA, the agency tasked with protecting the safety of vehicles and occupants.
Three consumer advocacy organizations have petitioned NHTSA to mandate and enforce the AEB implementation, rather than leaving it up to the automakers to decide when and how to implement the technology.
]]>This is the same problem affecting Kia and Ford vehicles. The affected SUVs were built between 09/05/17 and 11/30/17.
]]>Hyundai noticed an increased warranty claim rate for Elantras that weren't included in the 2016 recall. Brake pedal stopper pads were collected from the vehicles that were built between 2012 and 2014.
The brake pedal stopper pad sits between the brake light switch and the brake pedal arm. Hyundai issued a recall last year after discovering the stopper pad was deteriorating, allowing the brake lights to stay on even when the pedal wasn’t being pressed.
Turns out that recall didn’t reach far enough.
]]>NHTSA continued the investigation after the first recall because safety regulators believed a better fix should be applied by dealers. Regulators were concerned about how the connectors were built to be removed from the pretensioners when working on the cars. But the connectors could release in a crash if they weren't properly reconnected during maintenance.
The second recall added a label to the connector with graphics and instructions how to properly lock the connector if someone works on the car. No word on if that label said for the love of everything, don’t forget to put this thing back to together.
]]>Although the condition of a partially latched anchor pretensioner was fixed through the recall campaign, the condition could potentially happen again if the anchor pretensioner was intentionally disconnected and then improperly reconnected by consumers or repair facilities.
After the first recall Hyundai and their supplier talked with NHTSA about possible problems from the recall repairs.
]]>The automaker says the front coil springs may not have been manufactured correctly and can break under certain loads. This is another in a long-line of manufacturing issues for Hyundai. The automaker is still dealing with manufacturing issues in the Theta II engine that have forced multiple recalls.
]]>The automaker says the crankshaft assemblies may have been manufactured with irregularities in the crankshaft pins, something that can cause the engine bearings to wear down. If the SUV continues to be driven with a worn engine bearing, the engine could become damaged to the point of stalling.
Hyundai is blaming the problem on a heat treatment coil that wasn’t in the right place during manufacturing from January 26, 2017 to February 13, 2017. This led to insufficient heat treatment on the pins.
]]>Antifreeze is entering small voids in the Ioniq’s electronic power control unit (EPCU), shorting the circuit board and causing the car to stall.
]]>Hyundai has marketed the Smart Trunk as a feature that automatically opens the trunk fully, or at least enough for a person to put large items into the trunk. But according to the lawsuit, the trunks are defective because they fail to open more than a few inches, or sometimes not more than a small crack.
I never saw the appeal in this feature, especially given its $950-$1,900 price.
]]>The judge said this dismissal is with prejudice because the plaintiffs keep repeating the same allegations that were already dismissed.
In other words, the plaintiffs had their chance and blew it. The original lawsuit alleged that Hyundai’s paint falls apart as the polymers break down and make the paint susceptible to peeling and flaking.
]]>The Hyundai lawsuit alleges the automaker denies there is a problem by using the soy-based wiring and since no defect exists, any replacement parts will also consist of soy products.
The soy-based materials are more biodegradable and generally cost less than their plastic counterparts.
When an owner takes the vehicle for repairs due to the chewed wires, Hyundai merely removes the gnawed materials and installs the same soy-based wiring and engine-related components, resulting in a continuous cycle of failures. Because the damage isn't covered under warranty, owners can be left with spending up to thousands of dollars to replace wiring that rodents will once again attack.
Honda, Toyota, Kia, and Subaru are all facing similar lawsuits.
]]>IIHS found that all the headlights that were rated good and acceptable have projector lenses and the three good-rated headlight variants are HID. However, researchers say having HIDs and/or projector lenses doesn't guarantee good or acceptable ratings.
The 2017 Santa Fe Sport, meanwhile, received a “poor” rating.
]]>The plaintiffs say the cars lose power steering without warning and make it impossible to safely drive, an allegedly similar problem that caused Hyundai to recall 173,000 Sonata mid-size cars in 2016. The lawsuit alleges the automaker has long known about the steering problems but has neglected to warn consumers or take actions to fix the loss of power steering.
The lawsuit covers the 2013-2016 Hyundai Accent and Elantra.
]]>The latest recall includes 2017 Santa Fe Sport SUVs to fix issues with the driver's side seat belt anchors that may not have been tightened properly during assembly. Bolts that aren't tight enough may cause the seat belts to detach from the anchors during a crash.
In case you missed it, the same vehicles were recently recalled for hoods flying open while driving. The 2017 Santa Fe sounds like a real hoot to drive.
]]>]]>Hyundai says the 2013-2017 Santa Fe and Santa Fe Sport SUVs have secondary hood latch actuating cables that can corrode and bind, causing the secondary latch to stay unlatched when the hood is closed.
According to Hyundai, the warning light used to indicate when the parking brake is applied may not illuminate due to corrosion of the parking brake switch. This could cause a driver to possibly leave the parking brake engaged while trying to drive the car.
The affected cars are from the 2015 and 2016 model years.
]]>Whether Hyundai knew the paint was defective was a question because the automaker said third-party websites talked about the problems, but customers weren't complaining directly to Hyundai. In other words, if customers don't complain directly to Hyundai, no one can prove the automaker had prior knowledge of alleged problems.
This is a terrible argument. Third party websites, like CarComplaints.com, are not only useful for venting. Complaint data is collected, compiled, and shared to other owners who might be having the same problem. Seeing how many others are facing a similar issue can be a catalyst for action.
Meanwhile, sending a complaint directly to an automaker can feel like firing a thought off into the void.
However, in her ruling, the judge left the door open for the plaintiffs to amend and refile their complaint.
So you’re telling me there’s a chance.
]]>NHTSA says it took action to "investigate both the timeliness and scope of Hyundai's Theta II engine recalls, and Hyundai's compliance with reporting requirements.
Timely and compliant? Not if you ask this lawsuit. Or this former Hyundai engineer. To date, nearly 1.7 million Hyundai and Kia vehicles have been recalled.
]]>damaged electronic power steering connectors are the cause of the problem, a problem that won't be fun if it happens while driving at slow speeds or around a curve.
The recall is expected to begin soon.
]]>Hyundai says machining errors occurred when the engines were built and those errors can cause the engine bearings to wear out early. Those prematurely worn bearings will cause the engine to lock up, something a dealer will need to fix by replacing the engine short block.
Hyundai admits that two errors made during manufacturing are responsible for this problem.
From there it’s only a matter of time before the debris is grabbed by oil → the oil starts to clog up → the reduced flow affects the connecting rod bearings → heat and friction rise → the bearings wear out prematurely → horrible knocking noise ensue.
Kia is recalling 618,000 vehicles for the same problem.
]]>The class-action lawsuit was filed by lead plaintiffs Julia Reniger and Greg Battaglia who claim their SUVs kept stalling without warning, causing problems with trying to steer and stop the SUVs.
For years, owners have been complaining that their engines can stall at any speed.
With the 2010-2012 Hyundai Santa Fe engine stall class-action lawsuit finalized by the court, the automaker agrees to reimburse customers on a claims-made basis for out-of-pocket costs if the customer's SUV experienced a documented stall. In addition, a software update will be available for free for 10 years after the date the SUVs were sold as new.
Additionally:
Hyundai and the seat belt supplier inspected the vehicle and the supplier recovered the parts in December 2016. Both companies started internal investigations, but neither has been able to determine what is causing the seat belt failures … The automaker says to ensure the safety of consumers, the recall will include 2011-2014 Sonata and 2011-2015 Sonata Hybrid cars.
The recall, which covers most of the 6th generation Sonata and Sonata Hybrid, follows an investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened earlier this year.
]]>Safety regulators knew that Hyundai had issued a technical service bulletin to dealers in May 2016 about problems with the electronic parking brake systems and NHTSA wanted to know if the proposed repairs did indeed fix the cars.
The optional electronic parking brake uses an electric motor to push the rear brake pads against the rotors. The brake is supposed to disengage when the transmission is shifted into gear with the ignition on.
Owners report that the brakes aren’t getting enough clearance after disengaging, causing premature wear and – in at least one case – a fire.
]]>Hyundai was notified in December 2016 that a supplier was receiving an increase of orders for replacement brake boosters for 2017 Elantras … The supplier determined the diaphragm in the brake booster may come loose and cause a vacuum leak.
Without the power assist, it becomes much harder for owners to press the brake pedal prompting the recall of 33,800 Sonatas. The affected cars were built in Alabama from September 12, 2016, through January 18, 2017.
]]>The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is looking into possible problems with the front passenger seat belts in 2013 Hyundai Sonata cars after two reports were filed concerning seat belts that failed.
Multiple people have been injured in crashes, as you might imagine.
]]>A Hyundai Sonata class-action lawsuit will receive final approval after U.S. District Judge Beth Labson Freeman said she sees no problem with the settlement terms and believes the agreement is excellent for Sonata owners.
Hyundai was accused of concealing defects with their Theta II GDI engines, and the settlement helps owners of the 2011-2014 Sonata with either the 2L or 2.4L variant.
One important distinction – if an eligible Sonata has more than 120,000 miles, owners will only have 90 days to get the cars into dealerships for repairs.
]]>The judge previously threw out some claims concerning unfair profit but allowed fraud claims to continue. Hyundai then asked the judge to whittle down the lawsuit even more by throwing out claims based on unjust enrichment, a request denied by the court.
Hyundai also argued claims of an owner who said the vehicle was unmerchantable within the warranty period should be tossed, but the judge denied the request.
Hyundai has had problems with sunroofs dating back to a 2012 investigation for the Veloster.
]]>South Korean engineer, Kim Kwang-ho, says Hyundai knew the Theta II engines have problems that cause knocking, noise and a loss of power. Kwang-ho blew the whistle by contacting the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), an act that caused Hyundai to petition a court to close the mouth of the engineer.
My Kwang-ho worked for the automaker for 25 years and now faces accusations of leaking company secrets by Hyundai’s disciplinary committee.
]]>The SUVs are equipped with 7-speed EcoShift dual-clutch transmissions that use transmission control modules to constantly monitor data to help with gear shifting. The problem enters the picture when higher ambient temperatures are combined with certain driving conditions.
To make matters worse, Hyundai developed a software update to fix this problem a while back. However, instead of issuing a recall they sent it out as a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) to dealerships. It wasn’t until a meeting with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that the automaker did the right thing.
]]>Hyundai filed to dismiss the shattering sunroof lawsuit and the judge agreed to dismiss almost all the lawsuit except claims based on fraud…
The judge said the plaintiffs can move forward based on claims of fraud and can amend the complaint if they want the judge to reconsider violations of consumer protection laws and unjust enrichment.
The lawsuit Billy Glenn v. Hyundai Motor America et al. still has life, but it’s up to the plaintiffs now if they want class-action certification.
]]>The plaintiffs say the self-healing process won't work if the scratch is deeper than a surface scratch, such as a chip in the paint caused by a rock flying off the road and hitting the car. Further, there is a concern that if the self-healing process does not occur, the scratch or chip may cause further breakdown of the paint’s molecular structure, in essence triggering the technology to operate in reverse.
Hyundai’s “self-healing” paint is advertised to heal minor scratches. A chemical compound called scratch recovery clear contains a polymer which, when exposed to ultraviolet light, becomes molten and fills gaps in paint.
That sounds great, but the plaintiffs claim that long-term exposure to ultraviolet light eventually breaks the polymers down, turning the paint into an ever-molten state that allows it to peel off in sheets.
]]>“Hyundai says manufacturing problems could have left metallic debris around the engine crankshaft and cause problems with oil flow. The pieces of metal could interfere with the oil flow through the connecting rod bearings and damage the connecting rod.”
At first, the factory was using a mechanical “deburring” process to clean up the metallic debris. In April 2012, they switched to a high-pressure “wet blast” cleaning process.
After a few years, warranty claims about engines that had been deburred started to increase, a class-action lawsuit was filed in California, and questions from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) rolled in.
The affected Sonatas were manufactured between December 11, 2009, and April 12, 2012.
]]>[The plaintiff]_ brought [her] Sonata to a dealership and was told a piston had blown out. Mendoza asked for her car to be repaired under warranty, but the dealership refused to make the repairs. However, the dealer said the engine could be replaced for $4,500. Mendoza said no and took the Sonata to a mechanic and had the engine replaced at a cost of $3,000.
The plaintiff says she followed Hyundai’s recommended maintenance intervals and there was no reason her engine should have seized, you know other than the whole “doomed from the start” theory.
The lawsuit accuses Hyundai of concealing defect information about the connecting rods and metal shavings in the brand new engine.
The class-action covers 2011-2012 (6th generation) Sonata owners in California, but could set the groundwork for future litigation.
]]>The plaintiff claims on or about January 7, 2015, Hyundai notified owners of its Blue Link vehicles whose Blue Link subscriptions had been inactive for more than one year. Hyundai told owners, “If you do not reactivate your Blue Link services by January 28, 2015, your current Blue Link system in your vehicle will be permanently disabled.
Except, permanent didn’t mean forever if you’re willing to pony up the cash. The Blue Link handbook mentioned that disconnected services could be easily restored for a “nominal reconnection fee.” They just didn’t say what it was.
Hyundai told owners the service could be reactivated, but the hardware would need to be changed and installed by a Hyundai dealer. The automaker said the job would cost a minimum of $500 to replace the Blue Link unit in addition to the new subscription fees.
Nothing says we value you as customers like some good, ole-fashioned extortion.
]]>The lawsuit claims the dealer notification letter admits the SUVs can stall because a heavy load on the alternator can cause a drop in engine rpm. The letter says even if the engine stalls it can be restarted immediately. Furthermore, the dealer letter says a "specific set of operating conditions" must occur before the Santa Fe stalls, but the lawsuit says that is false because Hyundai owners complain the problem can happen at any time.
The “dealer notification letter” was part of a service campaign by Hyundai which owners say did nothing to fix the actual problem.
]]>Plaintiff Billy Glenn filed the exploding sunroof lawsuit after the glass in his 2014 Santa Fe Sport exploded just months after purchasing the Hyundai. The sunroof was replaced, but Glenn claims the replacement sunroof also shattered and sent glass into the vehicle.
This is a Hyundai-only lawsuit, but not a Hyundai-only problem. Glass is heavy, temperamental, and doesn’t bend when you go over potholes. So until automakers stop replacing their roofs with glass, I don't see this problem going away.
]]>Hyundai originally recalled vehicles equipped with panoramic sunroofs and manufactured November 1, 2011, through April 17, 2012. The recall now includes vehicles manufactured July 4, 2011, through October 31, 2011.
The total number of recalled vehicles is around 20,000.
]]>According to official documents, Hyundai believes the sunroof glass may have been damaged during mechanical installation at the factory. Any damage to the glass can cause it to fracture and fail under pressure.
It could be an installation problem, but it could also just be an unfortunate side effect of modern car and glass design.
]]>The EPA said Hyundai and Kia will lower their fuel economy (mpg) estimates for the majority of their model year 2012 and 2013 models after EPA testing found discrepancies between agency results and data submitted by the company.
These types of discrepancies aren’t uncommon. Only 15% of new models are tested by the EPA before they’re available for sale. That leaves the estimates up to the automakers who might be a little more generous with the MPGs than the government’s notorious lab-based testing.
However, the EPA says this is the first time a large number of vehicles from the same manufacturer have overshot their estimates.
]]>The Office of Defects Investigation, a part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, is taking a close look at the 2012 Hyundai Veloster after receiving 11 complaints that the sunroof exploded.
One Veloster driver said their sunroof exploded while driving and the next thing they knew, shards of glass were pelting them in the head and face.
The ODI only investigates safety-related issues. And I'd say that glass falling into people's faces while driving definitely qualifies.
]]>