South Korean government orders Kia and Hyundai to recall 2,40,000 units

South Korean government has ordered Hyundai and Kia Motors to recall specific models with defects in vacuum pipes, fuel hoses, parking brakes light issues and other several other faulty parts. The models affected include Hyundai’s i30, Sonata, Elantra, Santa-Fe and Genesis, altogether accounting for 2,40,000 units.

The ministry has also asked prosecutors in Seoul to investigate if the automakers have allegedly covered up the flaws. Hyundai and Kia Motors which had previously argued that the flaws will not hamper driving safety, said in a joint statement that they ‘accept the administrative order’. They also added that ‘There have been no reported injuries or accidents from the cited issued.’

This is the first ever instance of a whistle blower in South Korea’s auto-industry. Engineer Kim Gwang-ho made allegations about thirty-two flaws in the cars they sold. However, the latest recalls in Korea cover only five flaws.

Kim had worked at Hyundai for more than twenty-five years, but when he exposed the company, he lost his job. However, Kim Gwang-ho’s story has a positive end.  Hyundai motor dropped the law suit filed against him, reinstated him to his post and reimbursed him for the lost years of employment as well.

There is no official word about the vehicles sold in India. If these flaws are evident in the models sold in the country as well, we may see the units in India too getting similarly recalled in order to get the issues fixed.