Hyundai Motor, Kia, KG Mobility Corp., and Toyota Motor Korea are initiating a voluntary recall of more than 500,000 vehicles in South Korea to rectify faulty components, as announced by the transport ministry. The recall will encompass a total of 532,144 units spanning 17 different models.
Hyundai Motor is recalling 239,683 units, including the Santa Fe SUV, due to a seat belt issue that may compromise passenger safety in the event of a collision. Additionally, 202 units of the Elec City commercial bus are being recalled for potential structural cracks in the upper body frame.
Kia will be addressing 220,059 units of the Ray compact vehicle concerning a possible engine shutdown caused by a software glitch, as reported by Yonhap news agency. KG Mobility Corp. is recalling 51,535 units across six models, such as the Torres SUV, due to a software memory overload issue that could lead to the instrument panel display freezing or shutting down.
Toyota’s recall involves 2,132 units across three models, including the Prius 2WD, due to a defective rear door handle that could result in the door opening while the vehicle is in motion.
Earlier in February, Hyundai Motor, Kia, and BMW Korea had voluntarily recalled 107,158 vehicles across 37 models due to manufacturing defects that posed fire risks. Hyundai’s corrective measures included recalling 37,690 units of four models, like the Kona Electric, to address a battery management system (BMS) software issue that could impact fire risk detection. Kia also recalled 1,590 units of the Niro electric vehicle (EV) for the same BMS software concern. Separately, BMW Korea recalled 67,878 vehicles across 32 models, including the 520i and 320i, due to defective starter motor components that could potentially lead to fires.
