“Recall after Recall” – Hyundai Motor America recalls just over 3,000 2015 Genesis Sedans for Instrument Cluster Defect

Last month, Hyundai was among car manufacturers recalling vehicles, which was due to an instrument cluster defect in its 3,031 2015 Genesis Sedan models. This was picked up by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration who pressed the automaker to recall this model as soon as possible.

Vehicle recalls are very common. Usually they’re through incidental things which are discovered post-sale, but, on occasions, we see scandals like the VW emissions scandal, where we are acting for thousands of people who have essentially been the victim of a huge bout of misrepresentation.

The affected vehicles were manufactured from 1 February to 20 May 2015. The vehicles produced during the period were equipped with a seven-inch TFT-LCD instrument cluster that may:

• Display the wrong speed
• Illuminate the warning lights incorrectly
• illuminaIion lights not coming on when they actually should be
• Turn signal indicators not lighting up when turn signal is activated.

These issues could pose a huge safety risk, which Hyundai reiterated in their statement, saying:

“Incorrect (or loss of) readings, messages and warning lights displayed by the instrument cluster could increase the risk of a crash.”

However, Hyundai claims to be unaware of any accidents from the instrument cluster defect to date.

If they want to prevent any potential injuries, Hyundai must act fast and recall all the affected vehicles.

A recurring problem

The defective software was updated in May 2015, but it seems to be a reoccurring problem. Vehicle owners who had to pay for the related repairs last year are possibly entitled to a reimbursement for the amount they paid.

To rectify the defect, Hyundai has pledged to update the instrument cluster software at no extra charge to vehicle owners, which should eradicate the problem and the danger it posed. The expected recall date was due to begin on 30^th September this year. Hyundai are set to be posting letters to the vehicle owners to ask them to bring their vehicle in for repair.

What can affected owners hope for?

If the Volkswagen recall rate is anything to go by, then the Hyundai vehicle owners have no hope for a quick repair! After Paul Willis, VW U.K.’s managing director, made an undertaking that all 1.2 million diesel vehicles in the U.K. would be recalled in a year, it was disappointing to find that only 110,000 of the affected vehicles had been repaired in the proposed time frame. A figure of this amount is just offensive in our view!

We would hope that Hyundai will not follow the disaster of a trend that VW has set.

Not the first time, of course…

This is not the first time Hyundai has announced a recall of its vehicles; as stated earlier, it’s a common thing in the automotive industry. Along with the Hyundai Genesis Sedans, Hyundai also recalled several of its 2015 model vehicles for various reasons, including tire sidewall cracks which could cause a rupture during the use of the vehicle, and a water leak that may cause the incorrect gear to be displayed.

Both of these could easily put lives at risk.

Hyundai’s method of recall has been praised as efficient and detailed as displayed on www.hyundaiproblems.com/recalls. It displays when the recall is announced, the number affected, reference number, as well as how Hyundai intend to fix the defected vehicles.

Maybe Hyundai could be the role models in their effective recall methodology. This may have a positive knock on affect for other car manufacturers to do the same i.e. VW.