Last week, a number of Australian news outlets began to report on a new recall campaign by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. The model in question was the Hyundai Tucson, sold between 1 November 2014 – 30 November 2020.
It was found that an engine fire could spontaneously occur whether the vehicle was on or off due to a when an ABS-related circuit board was exposed to humidity. 93,000 units in the land down under were affected by the recall.
The issue is easily rectified by the addition of a relay kit to the circuit, which would prevent a power surge from starting a fire. The fix will be carried out free of charge at Australian Hyundai dealerships. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission recommends Hyundai Tucson owners park their vehicles in an open space away from flammable materials or structures in the meantime.
We got a statement from Hyundai’s Malaysian representatives, Hyundai-Sime Darby Motor, who stated that this recall DOES NOT APPLY to Tucson models sold in Malaysia. The third-generation Hyundai Tucson (TL) was locally-assembled from 2015 to 2019 in a variety of configurations. This included 2-litre naturally-aspirated petrol models in 2WD and AWD, a 2-litre turbo diesel model and a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol model.
Just to reiterate, this is an issue that occurs only on the Australian version of the Hyundai Tucson. Malaysian owners need not be concerned.
Here’s the recall notice.
RECALL NOTICE
What are the defects?
Due to a manufacturing error, an electronic control circuit board in the Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) module will short circuit when the components are exposed to moisture.
What are the hazards?
There is a risk of an engine compartment fire, even when the vehicle is turned off, as the circuit is constantly powered. This could increase the risk of an accident, serious injury or death to vehicle occupants, other road users and bystanders, and/or damage to property.
The short circuit does not affect the functioning of the brake system.
What should consumers do?
Affected vehicles need to be parked in an open space and away from flammable materials and structures, i.e. not in a garage.
Owners of affected vehicles will be contacted by Hyundai Motor Company Australia and asked to contact an authorised Hyundai dealership to have a relay kit installed on the circuit board. This prevents the power surge and eliminates the risk of fire. This repair will be conducted free of charge.
