Photo: Hyundai
The North American branch of the Korean manufacturer is going to have a busy summer as it has just announced two recalls accounting for almost 600,000 vehicles.
The problems that sparked the unwanted decision lie with a hood latch and parking brake warning lights. Nothing major like the infamous ignition switch from GM or the ongoing Takata airbag business, then, even though the hood latch issue could potentially have more serious implications.
The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration identified a faulty cable for the secondary hood latch, which in time is prone to corroding thus preventing the hood from latching. Hyundai stressed the fact that the only situation in which this could have posed a threat was if the hood weren't properly closed.
437,400 Sante Fe and Santa Fe Sport SUVs with model years ranging from 2013 to 2017 are affected by this recall. Hyundai said that any car built later than June 2016 would not be part of the recall since the problem was taken care of in the production process.
"There have been three reports where the hoods actually came open, but the majority of the complaints had to do with the hood being stuck closed," Hyundai spokesman Michael Stewart told Automotive News.
The problem appears to be more prevalent in the northern states where salt is sprayed onto the roads during winter, to prevent them from being covered in ice. The salt, helped by excess humidity, can hasten the corrosion of the hood latch.
The second recall targets around 150,000 Sonata models and 10,800 Genesis sedans from 2015 and 2016. This one was also caused by corrosion, only this time it was affecting a switch which triggered the illumination of the parking brake.
As a result, drivers might have been unaware of the fact the brake was engaged. While it might seem like a minor aspect at first, driving with the handbrake on for prolonged periods of time can lead to premature tear on the braking system, overheating, unpleasant smells and even smoke.
Both recalls will start on June 30, but Hyundai did not disclose any more information on the following schedule.
The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration identified a faulty cable for the secondary hood latch, which in time is prone to corroding thus preventing the hood from latching. Hyundai stressed the fact that the only situation in which this could have posed a threat was if the hood weren't properly closed.
437,400 Sante Fe and Santa Fe Sport SUVs with model years ranging from 2013 to 2017 are affected by this recall. Hyundai said that any car built later than June 2016 would not be part of the recall since the problem was taken care of in the production process.
"There have been three reports where the hoods actually came open, but the majority of the complaints had to do with the hood being stuck closed," Hyundai spokesman Michael Stewart told Automotive News.
The problem appears to be more prevalent in the northern states where salt is sprayed onto the roads during winter, to prevent them from being covered in ice. The salt, helped by excess humidity, can hasten the corrosion of the hood latch.
The second recall targets around 150,000 Sonata models and 10,800 Genesis sedans from 2015 and 2016. This one was also caused by corrosion, only this time it was affecting a switch which triggered the illumination of the parking brake.
As a result, drivers might have been unaware of the fact the brake was engaged. While it might seem like a minor aspect at first, driving with the handbrake on for prolonged periods of time can lead to premature tear on the braking system, overheating, unpleasant smells and even smoke.
Both recalls will start on June 30, but Hyundai did not disclose any more information on the following schedule.
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