The latest NHTSA action comes as Hyundai and Kia Motor recalled more than 1.8 million car and crossover vehicles for bad stoplight switches and defective airbags.
NHTSA has opened an investigation into rear control-arm failures on Hyundai’s popular Sonata mid-size sedan. Almost 400,000 Sonatas from the 2006-2008 model years are potentially affected by what could turn into an expensive recall because of corrosion. It is likely that the Kia Optima built from the same platform will also come under government scrutiny.
The latest Sonata safety defect investigation was prompted by six complaints to NHTSA about a rusted rear suspension sub-frame. Three of the Sonata suspension reports allege failures at highway speeds and two claim that the failure resulted in activation of the electronic stability control system. A Preliminary Evaluation or so-called PE has been opened to assess the scope, frequency, and potential safety consequences associated with the alleged defect.
The latest NHTSA action comes after Hyundai Motor and Kia Motor recalled more than 1.8 million car and crossover vehicles for bad stoplight switches and defective airbags. The most popular selling vehicles from the 2007 up through the 2013 model year are affected. (Read AutoInformed on Hyundai, Kia Recall More Than 1.8 Million Vehicles for Safety Defects)
The South Korean automakers once known for poor quality said that a defective brake switch can cause the brake lights to fail or may keep the cruise control engaged even when the driver presses the brake pedal.
The huge safety recall was prompted by a Transport Canada query about defective Hyundai vehicles that were outside of the production range of Hyundai’s 2009 Canadian recall number R0057 to replace the brake light switch. Transport Canada opened an investigation requesting additional information on 10 January 2013 and shortly thereafter, after speaking with Transport Canada, NHTSA requested that Hyundai and Kia look at numerous complaints in the NHTSA database
In addition, the malfunctioning brake light switch may also result in the intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, and negatively affect the operation of the brake-transmission shift interlock by preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position, as well as cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.
