South Korea’s largest automaker Hyundai Motor Co. was ordered by its government to recall 68,000 units of luxury Genesis and Equus sedans after defects were found in engine-related component. The order comes after the transportation ministry requested recall of Hyundai Motor and its sister company Kia Motors Corp. vehicles equipped with Theta-2 engine.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said on Tuesday that it has informed Hyundai Motor on March 28 to recall Genesis and Equus sedans affected by four cases of manufacturing defects in 30 days. The carmaker was told that if it does not voluntarily recall during the given period, the ministry will force the carmaker to do so.

In general, the government examines certain vehicle defects and raises agenda to the manufacturing defect review and evaluation committee composed of auto experts and consumer groups. When the committee judges a recall is needed, vehicle manufacturer is informed and is ordered to submit a recall plan within 30 days. The manufacturer is given an additional 10 day adjustment period and if voluntary recall isn’t made, the government launches compulsory recall procedure.

The latest recall order was made after examining 32 cases of suspected defects in Hyundai Motor vehicles upon whistle-blowing by former employee Kim Kwang-ho last year.

The evaluation committee held a meeting on March 23 and 24 and reviewed 11 of the 32 faulty cases identified by Kim who was eventually fired by the automaker. Based on the review, the committee concluded recall for four cases and ordered milder action such as free repair services on seven cases.

Of the four recall cases, defects were found in canisters in some 68,000 Genesis and Equus sedans manufactured in 2011. A canister is a component that gathers vapor from a fuel tank and sends to the engine with air to produce combustion. A defect in this component can lead to power loss when a vehicle stops or slows speed before stopping.

Of the 32 suspected defect cases raised by former employee Kim, three cases have been confirmed recall - an error in airbag sensor in Santa Fe, defect in Theta 2 engine, and fault in dump truck Xcient. There are 18 cases left for examination excluding 11 cases that have been recently studied. Of them, three cases will be reviewed by the committee on April 20, including a defect in motor-driven power steering (MDPS) in 50,000 Avante, i30, and Sonata vehicles, and defect in warning light for parking brake in LF Sonata.

MDPS is a device that assists a driver to easily turn and control car handle using the help of motor. There had been steady consumer complaints over heavy handle and malfunctioning, raising possibility of a defect in the related device.

The transportation ministry plans to monitor the 15 other cases that have not been raised to the evaluation committee on a long-term basis.

By Kim Gyu-sik

[ⓒ Pulse by Maeil Business News Korea & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved]