Kia, Hyundai and Tesla Recall Over 1.3 Million Cars Due to Defects
February 23, 2022 in Motor Vehicle Accidents, Product Liability
Several vehicle manufacturers including Kia, Hyundai and Tesla have issued recalls, according to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. While some models of Kia and Hyundai vehicles are being recalled as a result of a pattern of fire and anti-lock brake problems, Tesla is recalling several models after detecting multiple failures ranging from seatbelt malfunctions to defrosting errors. If your vehicle’s make and model was included in this mass recall, and your vehicle experienced a malfunction that led to a serious injury or damage to your property, you may be entitled to compensation.
Total Number of Recalled Vehicles Exceeds 1.3 Million
The recall of several models of Kia, Hyundai and Tesla vehicles may potentially affect millions of people nationwide. The total list of recalled vehicles includes:
- 357,830 Hyundai Sante Fe and Tuscon sports utility vehicles
- 126,747 Kia Sportage SUVs
- 817,413 Tesla Models S, X and Y
Kia and Hyundai Issue Recall Due to Anti-Lock Brake Malfunction, Fire Hazard
According to a USA Today article, “contamination in the antilock brake control module that can cause an electrical short. This increases the risk of fire while the vehicles are being driven or are parked.” This means that the affected vehicles could potentially catch fire even after the engines have been turned off.
As a result, both Hyundai and Kia have warned vehicle owners of affected models to avoid parking their vehicles in their garages and instead leave them outdoors in the event a fire occurs. While there have been 11 total reported fires, there have been no injuries reported thus far.
These recalls add to the pattern of fire risks and engine failures that both Kia and Hyundai have experienced since 2016. Affected vehicles include:
- Certain Kia Sportage SUVs from 2014 through 2016, and the 2016 through 2018 K900 sedan.
- Certain 2016 through 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe SUVs, 2017 and 2018 Santa Fe Sports, the 2019 Santa Fe XL and 2014 and 2015 Tucson SUVs.
Tesla Recalls over 800,000 Vehicles Due to Multiple Malfunctions
Tesla has reported several recalls after multiple malfunctions—including issues with their seatbelts, heat pumps and Full-Self-Driving functionality—were discovered in certain models.
Tesla is recalling certain 2021-2022 Model S and Model X, 2017-2022 Model 3, and 2020-2022 Model Y vehicles because the audible chime that activates when you buckle your seatbelt may not happen when the vehicle starts. Therefore, the driver’s seatbelt may not be properly buckled even if they believe they have buckled their seatbelt. This malfunction means that these vehicles do not comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, “Occupant Crash Protection.” You can read the full recall notice here.
Tesla also issued a recall of 26,861 total 2021-2022 Model 3, Model S, Model X, and 2020-2022 Model Y vehicles after a software error was discovered that may cause a valve in the heat pump to open unintentionally, resulting in decreased defrosting performance. This defect fails to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 103, “Windshield Defrosting and Defogging Systems.”
Lastly, 53,822 Tesla vehicles are being recalled after it was discovered that the “rolling stop” functionality on certain Full-Self-Driving (Beta) software may “allow the vehicle to travel through an all-way stop intersection without first coming to a stop,” according to USA Today. Affected vehicles are certain 2016-2022 Model S and Model X, 2017-2022 Model 3, and 2020-2022 Model Y vehicles.
Injured as a Result of a Hyundai, Kia or Tesla Defect Included in the Recall?
It is common for certain models of vehicles to be recalled each year and not all recalls are the result of a serious or life-threatening vehicular malfunction. However, a recall that includes over 1.3 million vehicles means that potentially millions of individuals were placed at risk. Especially concerning are malfunctions that increase the risk of a deadly vehicular fire, which could cause devastation to property and human lives.
If you or a loved one was injured as a result of a vehicular malfunction, you may have a case. In order to pursue legal compensation for your injuries, you’ll need an experienced team on your side that can provide you with the best legal counsel available. Our product liability and negligence attorneys have years of experience pursuing justice on behalf of our clients. To schedule a free consultation with an attorney at our New York or New Jersey offices, call (212) 732-9000 today.