Hyundai Motor, Kia to recall 170,000 EVs

Around 170,000 units of electric vehicles (EVs) from Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Corp. are voluntarily recalled, the largest recall in the domestic EVs. 

The South Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced on Thursday that defects were found in 232,000 units of 12 models from four companies: Hyundai Motor, Kia, Stellantis Korea, and Tesla Korea.

Among the vehicles subject to the latest recall, 169,932 Hyundai Motor and Kia electric cars were found to have software errors in the integrated charging control unit (ICCU).

113,916 Hyundai Motor models, including IONIQ 5, IONIQ 6, Genesis GV60, GV70, Electrified GV80 and 56,016 units of Kia EV6, are recalled starting from Mar.18 due to this issue.

61,131 units of Hyundai Motor's Avante will undergo corrective measures starting from Mar. 19 because of a problem where the durability of the headlights is insufficient, causing them to be fixed in the upward position.

Kia Ray 126 units received a safety standard non-compliance judgment because the airbag warning message was not displayed on the sun visor. Corrective measures will be implemented starting from Mar. 20.

527 units of Stellantis Jeep Cherokee had reverse indicator lights installed higher than the standard, failing to meet safety standards.

148 units of Jeep Wrangler plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) were found to have defects in high-voltage battery manufacturing. These models will undergo corrective measures starting from Mar. 25.

136 units of Tesla Model 3 and other models will undergo corrective measures starting from March 21 due to issues where pedestrian warning sounds do not activate during low-speed driving and reverse.

Write to Jin-Won Kim at jin1@hankyung.com