Hyundai, Kia to recall 240,000 vehicles

SEOUL: Hyundai Motor Co and affiliate Kia Motors Corp said yesterday they will recall 240,000 vehicles in South Korea after the government issued a compulsory recall order over safety defects first flagged by a whistleblower.

This is the first time ever that the Transport Ministry has ordered a compulsory recall of Hyundai and Kia vehicles.

The ministry also asked prosecutors to investigate whether or not the carmakers allegedly covered up the five flaws, which affect 12 models, including the Elantra, Sonata and Genesis.

The planned recalls will add to the 1.5 million vehicles that Hyundai and Kia last month offered to fix in South Korea and the United States over possible engine stalling — a defect also flagged by engineer Kim Gwangho who last year had reported defects to the safety regulators in the two countries. Reuters