Hyundai & Kia engine recalls starts next month

Hyundai and Kia are starting a multimillion-dollar service campaign in the United States, Canada, and South Korea. A total of 1.48 million vehicles will be recalled by both automakers, where 1.19 million of them are located in America, and another 114,187 are sold in Canada.

The reason for one of the largest recalls in the auto business since the start of the year is engine issue. More precisely, machining errors during the engine manufacturing could cause “premature bearing wear within the engine,” as the National Highway Safety Traffic Academy reports. The problem is identical with both Hyundai and Kia, and the two companies are said to be replacing the motor, if necessary, free of charge.

Hyundai says affected are certain 2013-2014 Sonata and Santa Fe Sport vehicles, while Kia will have to inspect 2011-2014 Optima, 2012-2014 Sorento and 2011-2013 Sportage models. Hyundai’s campaign starts on May 19 and their colleagues from Kia will join it 6-days later.

What about our region? Are these vehicles not sold in Malaysia? Are the Malaysians versions of the Sonata, Sorento, Sportage and Santa Fe not affected?