South Korean automakers Hyundai and Kia have announced a joint recall of more than 114,000 vehicles in Canada to fix an engine defect that could cause engine failure. The recall is part of a global campaign to address the same problem in as many as 1.5 million worldwide.
According to Transport Canada's recall notice, the 2.0L and 2.4L engines used in the 2013 and 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe, 2013 and 2014 Hyundai Sonata, and 2012, 2013 and 2014 Kia Sportage, Sorento and Optima may have been contaminated with metal debris left over from the manufacturing process. These filings could restrict oil flow to the crankshaft's main bearings and piston connecting rod bearings and cause premature engine wear and create the potential for engine failure if left unchecked.
In Canada, the recall applies to 2013 and 2014 models of the Santa Fe and Sonata, 2012 through 2014 versions of the Kia Sorento and 2011 through 2013 models of the Kia Optima and Sportage.
This could end up being an expensive repair campaign for the manufacturers, with the recall fix starting with an inspection to determine whether the car gets an entirely new engine "sub-assembly," which we take to mean crankshaft and bearings.
Still, the fact the first step in the process is an inspection suggests Hyundai and Kia aren't actually sure how many engines might have been contaminated, which speaks to a lapse in quality control from a pair of companies that have put a lot of effort in recent years into improving their reputation for build quality.
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