The FINANCIAL — Hyundai Motor Company, South Korea's largest automaker, will recall about 139,500 cars in the United States because of steering issues that could result in a loss of or reduction in manoeuvring capability, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said, according to Gulf News.
The year 2011 Sonata sedans manufactured between December 11, 2009, and September 10, 2010, are subject to the plan, the agency said in a statement on its website.
Hyundai Motor America informed the agency it is voluntarily initiating a safety recall of Sonata sedans to inspect the steering issues, Hyundai Motor said in an e-mailed statement on September 26.
"It's a recall of Hyundai's flagship model in the flagship market," said Kang Sang Min, a Seoul-based analyst at Hanwha Securities Company.
"A voluntary recall with no case of accident usually gives an impression that the company cares about safety."
The recall comes amid increased attention among automakers to quality problems after Toyota Motor Corporation, the world's largest carmaker, recalled more than eight million vehicles in the past year for problems related to unintended acceleration.
Hyundai Motor said there were fewer than 10 vehicles with the steering issues and no accidents or injuries have occurred as a result of this condition.
The automaker, based in Seoul, is expected to begin the recall in October, according to the US agency, which opened a preliminary probe into steering issues on the model in August.
Resignation
Kia Motors, an affiliate of Hyundai Motor, this month said that Jeong Sung Eun resigned as vice-chairman to take responsibility for the recent recall of four models. Kia began recalling about 104,000 cars worldwide earlier this month because of a wiring problem that can cause fires.
Hyundai's US sales rose 17 per cent in the first eight months of the year, led by demand for the revamped midsize Sonata and new Tucson crossover vehicle.
The growth is more than double the 8.4 per cent increase in industry-wide deliveries through August, according to New Jersey-based Autodata Corp.
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