Many car owners don’t have the expertise to look under the hood before driving away from the dealer. And some new cars roll off the production line with serious defects, with manufacturers only discovering the flaws months or years later. When that happens, manufacturers issue a recall. Read on to see why 200,000 Hyundai and Audi models face a recall and what you should do next.
Here’s the backstory
Generally, vehicle makers send out a recall notice for any defect which impairs a driver’s ability to operate the car as intended. This could be for several reasons, and it’s usually rather serious. That’s the case with Audi’s recall of over 170,000 models. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there is a problem with the rear camera’s software. In some instances, the software prevents the camera’s view from showing on the driver’s display. Instead, the driver could see a blank screen. This makes it dangerous for pedestrians and parking in reverse. The 2021 Audi models included in the recall are:
A4 Allroad and SedanA5 Cabriolet, Coupe and SportbackA6 and A6 AllroadA7A8E-Tron Quattro and E-Tron Sportback QuattroQ5 and Q5 SportbackQ7Q8RS5 Coupe and SportbackRS6 AvantRS7S4 SedanS5 Cabriolet, Coupe and Sportback
If you drive any impacted models, the NHTSA says you must take your vehicle to a dealer. They will inspect the software and install a new version, if necessary, for free. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on Dec. 2. You can contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen’s number for this recall is 91DZ.
Hyundai recall
Hyundai ordered the recall of over 50,000 vehicles with dual-clutch automatic transmissions. This one is frightening. There is a potential problem with the transmission oil pump, and when it malfunctions, it triggers an improper fail-safe mechanism. This can disengage the transmission, leading to a loss of engine power. According to NHTSA, while driving, the transmission high-pressure electric oil pump in the recalled vehicles may experience an internal fault triggering DTC(s) and the illumination of multiple warning lamps on the vehicle’s instrument cluster display. The internal fault detection forces the vehicle to enter a fail-safe limited-mobility drive mode, resulting in approximately 20-30 seconds of unimpeded motive power, followed by a complete loss of vehicle motive power due to the disengagement of the transmission clutches and drive gears. Yikes! This type of power loss increases the risk of a crash while driving at high speeds. The affected models include:
2021-2022 Hyundai Santa Fe2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz2021-2022 Hyundai Sonata2022 Hyundai Elantra N2021-2022 Hyundai Veloster N2022 Hyundai Kona N
If you own one of the impacted vehicles, you will receive a notification letter with instructions on what to do next. A Hyundai dealer will inspect and replace the transmission for free if necessary. Dealers will also reprogram the transmission control unit with updated software that provides the proper fail-safe driving capability. Hyundai will also provide owners of affected vehicles reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses incurred to obtain a remedy for the recall condition. Notification letters are expected to be sent in December. If you have questions regarding this recall, contact Hyundai customer service at 800-633-5151.
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