[Asia Economy Reporter Kangwook Cho] A total of 480,000 vehicles from nine manufacturers with manufacturing defects will be recalled.
On the 25th, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced that manufacturing defects were found in a total of 478,371 vehicles across 171 models manufactured or imported and sold by Mercedes-Benz Korea, Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors, Honda Korea, Ford Sales Service Korea, Audi Volkswagen Korea, Nissan Korea, Volvo Cars Korea, and BMW Korea, and corrective actions (recalls) will be taken.
A total of 29,769 units of the E 300 imported and sold by Mercedes-Benz Korea Co., Ltd. were found to have excessively displayed fuel consumption rates according to the self-certification conformity investigation by the Korea Transportation Safety Authority's Automotive Safety Research Institute. Instead of a recall, economic compensation will be provided to owners as a priority corrective action. A fine will be imposed later considering the correction rate. Compensation applications for these vehicles will be accepted at official Mercedes-Benz Korea service centers starting from the 8th of next month.
Additionally, 252,065 units across 153 models including the E 300 4MATIC (including pre-sale vehicles) were found to have a software error in the emergency communication system (eCall). In the event of a vehicle collision, if the power supply to the communication device is temporarily interrupted, the vehicle’s location information may be incorrectly transmitted to the Mercedes-Benz emergency center, potentially delaying the rescue of occupants during an accident.
Two models including the Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 4MATIC, totaling 256 units, were found to have wiring for the starter motor that may wear due to interference with the motor body, which could cause short circuits and potentially lead to fire.
The 153 models including the E 300 4MATIC will receive remote automatic updates starting from the 1st of next month, and the two models including the Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 4MATIC can receive free repairs (inspection and repair) at official Mercedes-Benz Korea service centers starting from the 26th.
A total of 189,974 units of two models, Tucson (TL) and Stinger (CK), manufactured and sold by Hyundai and Kia Motors Co., Ltd., were found to have a risk of fire due to internal short circuits in the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU). These vehicles are being repaired free of charge (replacement of improved parts and software updates) at Hyundai Motor Company’s direct service centers and Blue Hands, as well as Kia Motors service centers starting from the 25th.
A total of 2,799 units of the Accord imported and sold by Honda Korea Co., Ltd. were found to have a gap between the drive shaft and the dynamic damper (a device that reduces vibration of the drive shaft) due to adhesive defects in the dynamic damper attached to the front drive shaft. If salt components seep through this gap, the drive shaft may corrode and break. Free repairs (inspection and replacement) have been underway at official Honda Korea service centers since the 15th.
A total of 1,775 units of the Continental imported and sold by Ford Sales Service Korea Ltd. were found to have a risk of starting failure due to improper waterproofing of the transmission control unit connector and the wiring connector between the transmission control unit and engine/transmission, allowing moisture ingress. Free repairs (inspection and replacement) have been underway at official Ford Sales Service Korea Ltd. service centers since the 18th.
A total of 922 units across two models including the Arteon 2.0 TDI 4M imported and sold by Audi Volkswagen Korea Co., Ltd. were found to have the auxiliary fuel tank component (suction jet pump) installed at a tilted angle, causing the fuel gauge on the dashboard to display more fuel than is actually in the tank. This may cause drivers to misjudge the remaining fuel. Free repairs (replacement with improved parts) have been underway at official Audi Volkswagen Korea Co., Ltd. service centers since the 22nd.
A total of 396 units of the Pathfinder imported and sold by Nissan Korea Co., Ltd. were found to have a defect in the installation position of the brake light switch installed under the brake pedal. Prolonged use may cause the brake switch to stick, causing the brake lights to remain on even when the brake pedal is not pressed, potentially interfering with the safe driving of vehicles behind. Repairs (inspection and replacement) have been underway at official Nissan Korea Co., Ltd. service centers since the 24th.
A total of 270 units of the XC40 imported and sold by Volvo Cars Korea Co., Ltd. were found to have a risk that the brake control unit is not properly fixed, which may prevent the brake signal from being transmitted to the brake control unit even when the brake pedal is pressed, causing the brakes not to operate. Repairs (inspection and replacement) have been underway at official Volvo Cars Korea Co., Ltd. service centers since the 24th.
A total of 145 units across seven models including the BMW 520i imported and sold (including pre-sale) by BMW Korea Co., Ltd. were found to have insufficient strength in the rear drive shaft, which may cause the drive shaft to break during driving. Free repairs (inspection and replacement) have been underway at official BMW Korea Co., Ltd. service centers since the 19th.
Regarding this defect correction, the manufacturers will notify vehicle owners of the correction methods via mail and mobile text messages. If vehicle owners have repaired the defect at their own expense before the correction, they can apply for reimbursement of the repair costs from the manufacturer.
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