Hyundai Can't Even Stop Their Replacement Engines From Catching on Fire

Hyundai is recalling nearly 100,000 engines with fuel tubes that were misaligned, improperly tightened, or otherwise damaged during installation. This lets gas can spray out onto hot surfaces and is the **perfect recipe for engine fires. It gets worse.

This was supposed to be Hyundai’s opportunity to right the wrongs of their gasoline direct injection engines with massive oil flow problems. Those engines were notorious for knocking, seizing, and were eventually recalled in multiple campaigns. These were the replacements and now because of an installation snafu they’re catching on fire.

This recall covers certain 2011-2014 Sonata and 2013-2014 Santa Fe Sport vehicles.

Hyundai has been scrutinized for their handling of these recalls and is currently under investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to see if they’ve done enough to cover all affected vehicles in the past. However, with the government shutdown in place, US consumers now have to trust that the automaker is casting a wide enough recall net on their own.

Kia has issued a recall for 68,000 vehicles with the same problem.

A Troubling Trend ∞

• Researchers have found that Hyundai and Kia vehicles equipped with Theta II engines have higher rates of fires compared to similar vehicles made by other manufacturers.
• Last year the Center for Auto Safety (CAS) petitioned the government to look the increased risk of fires in these vehicles.

Want to Learn More?

Manufacturing Problems with the Theta II Engine Cause Knocking, Seizing, and Oil Sludge Buildup

The Theta II is a gasoline direct injection (GDI) engine that is well known for a lot of things and none of them are good. Bearing failure, metal debris riding on contaminated oil, piston ring defects, siezing, knocking, crying.