Sept. 30, 2022—The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has announced an investigation into Hyundai and Kia over engine oil leaks that may cause the vehicle to stall.
According to MotorSafety.org, multiple vehicle owners have had their engines replaced because of sudden stall issues. The alleged problem stems from oil drain plugs loosening when vehicles reach high speeds due to potentially flimsy construction of the component. This loosening could lead to a large oil leak that causes the engine to seize and the vehicle to stall.
MotorSafety.org reported that some customer complaints around this issue go back to 2017. If the investigation ends up leading to a recall, around 5.2 million vehicles could be affected.
Vehicles that may be affected by this investigation include the 2010 – 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe, 2013 – 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport, 2006 – 2019 Hyundai Sonata, 2011 – 2019 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, 2016 – 2019 Hyundai Sonata Plug-In Hybrid, 2010 – 2015 Hyundai Tucson, 2018 – 2019 Hyundai Tucson, 2010 – 2013 Kia Forte, 2010 – 2013 Kia Forte Koup, 2005 – 2020 Kia Optima, 2007 – 2010 Kia Rondo, 2011 – 2020 Kia Sorento, 2011 – 2021 Kia Sportage, 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe XL and the 2015 Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell.
NHTSA opened this investigation on Sept. 12, 2022.
