Hyundai And Kia Recall Nearly 92,000 Vehicles For Oil Pump That Could Catch Fire

Jul 27, 2023

Hyundai and Kia issued recalls for vehicles with defective oil pumps that can overheat and cause fires, according to regulatory filings on Thursday—the latest recall for either Korean automaker this year over concerns a defective part could pose fire risks.

Some 2023 Hyundai Tucson vehicles are affected.

Hyundai and Kia issued recalls after both companies received reports that an electronic controller for an oil pump assembly—the “Idle Stop & Go” system—may contain damaged components, which could cause the pump to overheat.

The Hyundai recall covers Palisade vehicles from the 2023 and 2024 model years, Tucson, Sonata, Elantra and Kona vehicles from the 2023 model year, and Seltos vehicles from the 2023 and 2024 model year.

Kia’s recall covered Soul and Sportage vehicles from the 2023 model year.

Kia said it received six reports of melting components caused by overheating, while Hyundai said it confirmed four “thermal incidents,” though neither was aware of any injuries caused by the issue.

Both companies have advised customers with affected vehicles to park outside until the part is fixed, while those suspected to own affected vehicles will be notified starting September 25.

Neither Hyundai nor Kia immediately responded to a request for comment from Forbes.

91,773. That’s the estimated number of vehicles that could be affected by the defect, according to the filings. Of these, 52,008 are Kia vehicles and the remaining 39,765 are Hyundai vehicles.

Kia and Hyundai recalled more than 570,000 vehicles in March, after both companies received reports about defective tow hitch harness modules, which could catch fire following an electric short. A majority of the collective recall affected Hyundai vehicles, of which an estimated 567,912 were potentially equipped with the piece. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also issued a recall request for nearly 4 million Kia vehicles in May, after regulators indicated an airbag inflator equipped by the vehicles could explode when deployed, causing metal shrapnel to be shot into the car’s interior. The recall request cites two crashes resulting in death, including a 2016 crash in Canada involving a 2009 Hyundai Elantra. Kia has not issued a recall or warned drivers of a potential problem caused by the part.

Almost 4 Million Kia Vehicles Could Have Explosive Airbag Inflators, Report Says (Forbes)

Ford Recalls Over 870,000 F-150 Trucks For Parking Brakes That Activate Unexpectedly (Forbes)