92,000 Hyundai and Kia Recall - Park Them OUTSIDE
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Updated 8:26 AM EDT, August 3, 2023
DETROIT (AP) — Hyundai and Kia are telling the owners of nearly 92,000 vehicles in the U.S. to park them outside because an electronic controller in an oil pump can overheat and cause fires.
The affiliated Korean automakers are recalling the vehicles and also are telling owners to park them away from structures until repairs are made.
The recalls cover certain 2023 and 2024 Hyundai Palisades, as well some 2023 Tucson, Sonata, Elantra and Kona vehicles. Affected Kias include the 2023 Soul and Sportage as well as some 2023 and 2024 Seltos vehicles.
The companies say in documents posted Thursday by U.S. safety regulators that a capacitor on a circuit board in the oil pump assembly for the transmission may have been damaged by the supplier during manufacturing. That can cause a short-circuit and increase the risk of a fire.
Kia says it has six reports of melting components but no fires or injuries. Hyundai says it has confirmed four “thermal incidents” and no injuries.
Dealers will inspect and replace the oil pump controller if necessary. Hyundai owners will be notified by letter on Sept. 25. Kia will notify owners starting Sept. 28.
Hyundai and Kia recall nearly 92,000 cars and urge outdoor parking due to fire risk
Over 52,000 Hyundai vehicles and 39,000 Kia cars in the U.S. are expected to be affected in the recalls. The logo of the Hyundai Motor Co. is displayed at the automaker's showroom in Seoul, South Korea, on April 26, 2017. Lee Jin-man/AP hide caption
Over 52,000 Hyundai vehicles and 39,000 Kia cars in the U.S. are expected to be affected in the recalls. The logo of the Hyundai Motor Co. is displayed at the automaker's showroom in Seoul, South Korea, on April 26, 2017.
Lee Jin-man/APHyundai and Kia are recalling nearly 92,000 cars in the U.S. over concerns that the electronic controller in the oil pumps can overheat and cause fires. Both automakers have asked owners to park their vehicles outside and "away from structures" until repairs can be made.
Hyundai's recall includes the 2023 Tucson, Sonata, Elantra and Kona vehicles, as well as 2023 and 2024 Palisade cars. Kia's recall covers 2023 Soul and Sportage vehicles, as well as 2023 and 2024 Seltos models.
Kia reported six incidents of melting components, none of which resulted in fires or injuries. Meanwhile, Hyundai has learned of four incidents that also did not lead to any injuries.
Affected Hyundai owners will be notified by letter beginning Sept. 25, while Kia will notify impacted owners starting Sept. 28. Those with a damaged oil pump will be able to have it replaced free-of-charge at their local dealer, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Kia said owners may know their car was affected if any of its various warning lamps light up, the vehicle goes into "limp home mode," the engine does not turn off, smoke comes from the engine compartment, or the vehicle is inoperative.
According to Hyundai, owners may continue driving potentially affected cars, but the company recommends parking their vehicles outside and away from structures. Kia similarly asked owners to keep their cars outdoors.
Both recalls were related to damaged electrical components found in the Idle Stop & Go oil pump, known for saving fuel by automatically shutting down the engine when the vehicle is at a standstill.
The recalls come less than five months since the last time the two companies recalled a combined 571,000 vehicles due to faulty tow hitch harnesses that also posed a fire hazard.
