Wheels Blog: Kia and Hyundai Are Recalling 1.9 Million Vehicles in Three Actions

Hyundai Motor America 2010 Hyundai Elantra.

Kia and its parent company Hyundai are recalling almost 1.9 million vehicles in three actions, according to reports posted on Wednesday on the Web site of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

About 1.7 million of those vehicles – Hyundais and Kias – are involved in separate recalls for the same problem: a malfunctioning stop lamp switch.

The automaker said the malfunction could set off a variety of faults, including the failure of the cruise control to disengage, failure of the brake light to illuminate, the ability to move the gear-shift lever out of Park without applying the brake and “the intermittent operation of the push-button start feature.”

The third recall covers about 186,000 2011-13 Hyundai Elantras because an air curtain air bag, if deployed in a crash, could propel a support bracket from the headliner into an occupant.

The largest stop-lamp recall covers just over one million Hyundai models, according to a report the automaker provided to the safety agency. They are the 2007-9 Accent and Tucson; 2007-10 Elantra; 2010-11 Genesis Coupe; 2007-11 Santa Fe; 2011 Sonata and the 2008-9 Veracruz.

The Kia recall covers almost 624,000 vehicles, according to the report filed with N.H.T.S.A. They are the 2011 Optima; 2007-10 Rondo; 2007 Sedona; 2007-11 Sorento; 2010-11 Soul and 2007-10 Sportage.

Some other Hyundai models had already been recalled once for a similar problem.

Hyundai in 2009  recalled almost 532,000 2005-8 models after the agency began investigating consumer complaints.

Hyundai decided the new recall was needed after Transport Canada, a counterpart to N.H.T.S.A., began investigating customer complaints of stop-lamp problems on models built after the 2009 recall. That prompted N.H.T.S.A. to get involved.

The Elantra air-bag recall was prompted by an investigation the agency began last year following the complaint from an owner who said his ear was cut when the air bag deployed.

In Hyundai’s report to the safety agency, the automaker said it had discovered the supporting bracket on some vehicles was apparently dislodged when optional auto-dimming rearview mirrors were installed after the vehicles left the assembly plant.

Hyundai described the recalls as voluntary, but once a manufacturer is aware of a safety problem the law requires it to inform the agency within five business days of plans for a recall or face a civil penalty.

Wheels Blog: Porsche Recalling 911 Models for Exhaust System Problem

Porsche Cars North America 2012 Porsche 911.

Porsche is recalling about 2,263 of its 2012-13 911 models because part of the exhaust system can fall off.

In a report posted on Friday on the Web site of the National Highway National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Porsche said the models were the 911 Carrera, 911 Carrera Cabriolet, 911 Carrera 4 and the 911 Carrera 4 Cabriolet equipped with the 3.4 liter, 6-cylinder engine and the standard rear muffler exhaust system. Models with the optional sport exhaust are not affected.

The automaker said its internal testing showed the exhaust systems “do not achieve the required service life” and might fracture, allowing the end to fall off.

Porsche said it first noticed the problem on a high-mileage test vehicle last May and began an investigation. It recently concluded a recall was needed, although company officials told the safety agency they were not aware of any failures on vehicles owned by consumers.

Porsche described the recall as voluntary, but under federal regulations once a manufacturer learns of a safety problem it has five working days to inform the agency of a recall or face a civil fine.

In December, Porsche had recalled 455 of its 911 GT3s from the 2010 model year saying the rear wheel hub might come off.