Brigette Honaker  |  December 12, 2020

Category: Auto News

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Car fires can be deadly

A new Hyundai engine recall has been issued over stalling and engine fires.

In early December, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Kia Motors America announced a recall of approximately 130,000 vehicles in connection with a vehicle defect involving engine failures. ABC News reported that the recall is connected to a 2019 investigation by the NHTSA following 3,100 engine fires, 103 injuries, and one death.

According to Hyundai, bearings on the affected vehicles’ connecting rods can wear out – causing the rods to puncture the engine. The defect could also cause engine stalls, or worse, vehicles’ oil leaking onto hot surfaces within the engine compartment, increasing the risk of an engine fire.

Warning signs of this engine failure may include abnormal knocking sounds from the engine area along with illuminated warning lights on the vehicle dashboard.

Hyundai Engine Recall: Included Vehicles

The recently announced Hyundai engine recall includes the following vehicles:

  • 2012 Santa Fe SUVs
  • 2015-2016 Veloster cars
  • 2011, 2013-2016 Sonata Hybrids

These vehicles are reportedly equipped with 2.4-liter, 2-liter, or 1.6-liter engines. On Hyundai’s website, consumers can enter their vehicle VIN to see if their vehicle is affected by any recalls.

Recall notifications are scheduled to be sent to vehicle owners around Jan. 22. Owners can then take their vehicle to a local dealer for inspection. If bearings in the engines are damaged, the dealership will replace them. Additionally, all vehicles will be equipped with a knock sensor system. This is designed to monitor the engine for early symptoms of engine failure.

Red recall buttonSafety Recall

Although the idea of a car engine catching fire is a driver’s worst nightmare, this is not the first time vehicles have been recalled over concerns about engine fires.

In September, Hyundai and Kia announced another recall of more than 600,000 vehicles due to concerns that leaking brake fluid could cause engine failure. The automakers recalled another 295,000 vehicles over concerns about engine compartment fires.

The Hyundai engine recall was announced just weeks after the NHTSA hit the company with $137 million in fines. According to the regulator, Hyundai and parent company Kia failed to initiate timely recalls of more than 1 million vehicles equipped with Theta II engines.

The $140 million in fines against Hyundai include an upfront payment of $54 million and an obligation that the automaker spend an additional $40 million to improve its vehicle safety performance measures. If certain conditions are not met, Hyundai may be on the hook for an additional $46 million deferred penalty.

Kia must pay a $70 million penalty that includes a $27 million upfront payment, and $16 million in safety improvements. Like Hyundai, Kia will be ordered to pay an additional $27 million if it fails to meet certain conditions.

Together, the companies are facing $210 million in civil penalties.

Additionally, Hyundai and Kia are bound by three-year and two-year consent orders, respectively. Under these orders, each is required to retain an independent safety auditor who will report to the NHTSA on the companies’ safety practices and compliance.

“Safety is NHTSA’s top priority,” NHTSA Deputy Administrator James Owens said in a news release. “It’s critical that manufacturers appropriately recognize the urgency of their safety recall responsibilities and provide timely and candid information to the agency about all safety issues.”

Although NHTSA actions such as penalties and consent orders require automotive companies to improve safety measures, consumers affected by vehicle safety recalls may still be able to take legal action.

Join a Free Vehicle Safety Class Action Lawsuit Investigation

If you own a vehicle that you believe has a safety defect and you are outside of the warranty period or you believe the defect should be covered by the warranty and it’s not, or you or a family member have been injured by a safety related defect, you may qualify to join this vehicle safety defect class action lawsuit investigation.

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10 thoughts onHyundai Engine Recall Affects 130,000 Vehicles

  1. Barbara Green says:

    I have a Kia forte five 2016 that is totally a mess. Valley hi Kia and Victorville kept the car for almost a year supposedly putting in a new engine and now the car is still not running after I get it back and now they say the catalytic converter is out is there something going on a recall for any of these? The car only has 68,000 miles and I had to call corporate to get anything done Valley Hi Kia in Victorville California did a lousy job fixing my car the first time had the car over 10 months. I believe they had repair people who were not qualified to do the job you should see the pictures of how they returned my car. I am just asking if any calls on these cars.

  2. Paul Stahulak says:

    We have a 2013 Tucson that just got a recall letter. Made the appointment at dealership, took car in, after two hours wait, was told dealership software couldn’t scan my car-well dealership contacted Hyundai corporate and supposedly they are working on fixing problem. Dealership said they would call us! Now what????

  3. Josh says:

    2012 veloster was taken for system update recall at dealership for knock sensor still ending up replacing knock sensor vehicle worked fine before we took it same day they were done our car was set into limp mode does not go past 40mph stall Hyundai won’t do crap to fix their problem

  4. Aaron Bucior says:

    My 2013 Hyundai Veloster had a miss fire and put a rod through the block causeing it $6000 damage even though they upgraded my ecu from the recall it had.

  5. Dacey says:

    I have a 2012 Hyundai with a engine problem what to do?

  6. Brian Tubo says:

    We own a 2015 Hyundai Veloster. Please add us.

  7. Not Hyundai says:

    Hyundai is Shit!

  8. Sara Barraza says:

    ADD Please

  9. LISA HAWKINS says:

    Please add me

  10. Linda Love says:

    My car 2012 H/Sonata has stopped on me twice. I have had it towed to the dealership 2 times. There is a engine recall on my car. Due to some oil consumption issues. . It stopped in traffic almost getting me rear ended. My machinists told me it was bone dry of all. Every light on my dashboard came. My dealership told me twice to continue to drive it TWICE for 1,000 and if it happened again being it in again and they can run oil test. I’m am 71 year old senior my closest family is a 16 hour drive. I am afraid for my safety to drive .my car any distance away from my house. O drive this car in fear of getting hit everyday. I told the corporate office that this car is a safety Hazzard and flied a case with human resources.

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