Hyundai and Kia Recall Vehicles Due to Drive Shaft Safety Concerns

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) and Kia America, Inc. (Kia) have announced recalls affecting several of their electric vehicle models. A critical safety issue with the drive shaft, a component, crucial for delivering power from the engine to the wheels, has been found to be susceptible to breaking under load. The problem could lead to a sudden loss of drive power increasing the risk of a crash.

Hyundai's Recall and Investigation

The recall from Hyundai affects certain models of the 2023 IONIQ 5, IONIQ 6, and Genesis GV60 vehicles. The issue was traced back to the rear inner drive shaft, which may have undergone improper heat treatment during manufacturing. This flaw compromises the drive shaft's durability, making it prone to breaking.

The problem first came to Hyundai's attention inn May 2023, following an incident in Korea involving a 2023 Hyundai IONIQ 5. The vehicle lost motive power while driving and, upon inspection, was found to have a fractured rear inner drive shaft. Hyundai Motor Company (HMC) initiated monitoring for similar incidents within the Korean market.

Further investigation revealed in January 2024, that the cause of the issue was a damaged quenching oil supply hose used during the drive shaft's production. This damage led to oil contamination and improper heat treatment of the drive shafts. By January 18, HMC confirmed that the defective parts could also be present in vehicles sold in the U.S. and Canada. However, no related incidents have been reported in these markets.

Hyundai's recall campaign numbers are 253(H), 017G(G), and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) campaign number is 24V-065.

Kia's Recall Efforts

Kia's recall involves certain 2023-2024 Niro EV and 2023 EV6 vehicles. The concern mirrors Hyundai's, with one of the drive shafts being improperly heat-treated. The issue first came to light following an incident in Turkey with a 2023 Niro EV. Subsequent investigations revealed that the rear inner drive shaft for the EV6, manufactured by the same supplier as the Niro EV but on a different production line, also had the potential for breakage.

In early January 2024, Kia's headquarters requested its North American Safety Office to conduct a field data analysis for both the Niro EV and EV6 models. This led to the identification of two potential rear inner drive shaft breakage incidents in the EV6. By January 2024, Kia had confirmed the improper heat treatment of certain drive shafts and decided to recall the affected Niro EV and EV6 vehicles. Thankfully, there have been no reports of crashes, injuries, or fatalities related to this issue.

The recall campaign number for Kia is SC295, and the NHTSA campaign number is 24V-057. Kia has pledged to replace the defective drive shafts free of charge for affected customers.