Hyundai Motor America is recalling 2022 Tucson and 2022-2023 Santa Cruz crossover SUVs, the National Highway Traffic Administration said today in a filing just made public. The roof moldings of vehicles made at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama may have defective attachment hardware made by Keumgang in South Korea and fly off the vehicle. There are no confirmed crashes, injuries, or fire related to this safety defect, according to Hyundai.
Dealers will inspect and replace, or secure the roof moldings, as necessary, free of charge as required by US safety regulations. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed 1April 2023. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai’s number for this recall is 241. Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov about NHTSA recall 23V038000.
Chronology Submitted by Hyundai to NHTSA
- March 2022 – July 2022. NASO’s Data Review Committee (“DRC”) actively monitored new reports of the subject condition. An increasing trend of complaints was confirmed in July 2022 prompting escalation of the matter to the Technical Review Committee (“TRC”) as a new investigation.
- August 2022 – September 2022. NASO’s TRC conducted a review of U.S. market field information and confirmed an increasing trend of loose/detached roof moldings on Hyundai Tucson and Santa Cruz vehicles produced by HMMA. U.S. specification Tucson/Santa Cruz vehicles produced by HMC did not exhibit a similar trend. NASO issued a summary of its findings to HMC on August 16, 2022.
- September 2022, HMC provided information identifying inconsistent application and thickness of paint sealer applied to the roof flange of Tucson/Santa Cruz vehicles assembled by HMMA. According to HMC, paint sealer application speed was addressed in production for both models and a redesigned roof flange was implemented in production of Santa Cruz vehicles by HMMA in August 2022. For affected Hyundai Tucson vehicles, which employ a longer roof molding of similar design, the mounting clips retaining the roof molding within the roof channel were redesigned and implemented by HMMA in August 2021.
- January 2023. Based on the information provided by HMC and TRC’s final assessment, on January 24, 2023, NASO convened its North America Safety Decision Authority and decided to conduct a recall of all affected model year 2022 Hyundai Tucson and 2022-2023 Santa Cruz vehicles produced for sale in the U.S. As of the date of this filing, Hyundai has confirmed 336 related incidents involving Hyundai Tucson vehicles, and 106 related incidents involving Santa Cruz vehicles, from reports received by Hyundai from April 5, 2021 to December 1, 2022.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, publisher (kzhw@aol.com), is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
Zino is at home on test tracks, knows his way around U.S. Congressional hearing rooms, auto company headquarters, plant floors, as well as industry research and development labs where the real mobility work is done. He can quote from court decisions, refer to instrumented road tests, analyze financial results, and profile executive personalities and corporate cultures.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
Flying Hyundai Tucson, Santa Cruz Roof Moldings Recalled
Hyundai Motor America is recalling 2022 Tucson and 2022-2023 Santa Cruz crossover SUVs, the National Highway Traffic Administration said today in a filing just made public. The roof moldings of vehicles made at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama may have defective attachment hardware made by Keumgang in South Korea and fly off the vehicle. There are no confirmed crashes, injuries, or fire related to this safety defect, according to Hyundai.
Dealers will inspect and replace, or secure the roof moldings, as necessary, free of charge as required by US safety regulations. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed 1April 2023. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai’s number for this recall is 241. Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov about NHTSA recall 23V038000.
Chronology Submitted by Hyundai to NHTSA
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, publisher (kzhw@aol.com), is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. Zino is at home on test tracks, knows his way around U.S. Congressional hearing rooms, auto company headquarters, plant floors, as well as industry research and development labs where the real mobility work is done. He can quote from court decisions, refer to instrumented road tests, analyze financial results, and profile executive personalities and corporate cultures. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.