2014 Hyundai Sonata Limited on 2040-cars

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Hyundai recalls 24k Genesis sedans over electrical issue

An electrical problem has prompted Hyundai and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to issue a recall for the 2015 Genesis. The problem arises when water leaks into the taillight assembly, which – in a way that would only make sense to an electrician – could cause the incorrect gear to be displayed on the instrument panel or even a delay in switching from Park to Reverse or Drive. Needless to say, if the driver doesn't know into which position the transmission has shifted, that could increase the likelihood of a crash. The issue affects an estimated 24,400 units of the 2015 Genesis in the United States – specifically those manufactured between February 21, 2014, and January 24, 2015. Owners of those vehicles can expect to hear from their local dealer to arrange the installation of additional waterproofing pads to prevent the troublesome moisture from leaking in to the taillights. RECALL Subject : Water may Leak into Rear Combination Lamp Assembly Report Receipt Date: FEB 19, 2015 NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V097000 Component(s): ELECTRICAL SYSTEM , EXTERIOR LIGHTING , POWER TRAIN Potential Number of Units Affected: 24,400 Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America SUMMARY: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2015 Genesis vehicles manufactured February 21, 2014, to January 24, 2015. Water may leak into the rear combination lamp assemblies and cause an incorrect gear display on the instrument panel or a delay in the engagement of the selected gear when the vehicle is shifted from Park to Reverse or Drive. CONSEQUENCE: If the incorrect gear is being displayed, the vehicle may move in an unintended direction, increasing the risk of a crash. REMEDY: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will apply pads to prevent water intrusion into the combination lamp housing, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-671-3059. Hyundai's number for this recall is 128. NOTES: Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Hyundai admits 'error' in KDM Sonata fuel economy announcement

Stop us if you've heard this one before: Hyundai is going to have to reduce the officially announced miles-per-gallon number for its 2014 Sonata. While there's a lot of similarity between this new situation and events that transpired in 2012, there are some important differences. For one, the new mileage mistake, which Hyundai says was once again caused by an error at its test centers, is only applicable to cars in the Korean Domestic Market. Secondly, it's not so much mpg as kilometers per liter. "We are very sorry for causing confusion to reporters" - Hyundai According to Reuters, the numbers for the Korean Sonata were originally announced as 12.6 kilometers per liter (29.63 mpg), a six-percent increase over the previous model. The automaker has just announced that government verification showed an actual result of 12.1 kpl (28.46 mpg), which is only a two-percent increase. Since these numbers were done using the South Korean economy test, they are not equivalent to the US EPA numbers, the latter of which say the 2014 Sonata gets 36/40/38 miles per gallon. The correction came before the new Sonata went on sale in South Korea. In an official statement, Hyundai said, "We are very sorry for causing confusion to reporters." Hyundai Motor America's Jim Trainor, product public relations senior group manager, assured AutoblogGreen that the Korean error will have "no effect" on US ratings. In 2012, Hyundai and Kia faced a media and consumer firestorm after being caught up in exaggerated mileage claims for vehicles like its 2013 Accent, Veloster and Elantra. The sister companies agreed to compensate buyers to the tune of $395 million for what they said were "honest mistakes" and "human error" during in-house fuel economy tests. There is no word yet on whether similar customer satisfaction actions will follow this domestic market snafu.

WRC driver fills radiator with beer from sponsor Corona

Rallying requires lightning quick reflexes and the ability to turn off one's sense of self-preservation. This much is not in doubt. Anyone that's ever seen a rally car hurtle along a tree-lined spit of dirt road at high speeds could tell you that. What many people don't know is that it also requires a strong mechanical sense. Knowing how to repair one's car when far from the service garages is a must. A strong sense of ingenuity is pretty handy, as well.
It was that sense of ingenuity that came to the aid of Thierry Neuville (shown above during last weekend's Rally Mexico), a WRC driver for the Hyundai Motorsport team, after his i20 suffered a radiator leak during the drive back to service. Neuville and his co-driver, Nicolas Gilsoul, hopped out of the car, assessed the issue and realized they needed to patch the radiator leak and refill the coolant, which they were fresh out of. So, instead, they used beer.
The pair had been awarded a magnum-sized bottle of Corona from the Rally Mexico's corporate sponsor after the final power stage. As Neuville doesn't drink, they tossed the beer in the back of the i20 and set off for the garages. It was a good thing they did, as adding the Mexican lager to the car's system allowed them to limp back to service.