Hyundai Motor and Kia Motors are set to recall 171,348 units across five models due to possible defects in the Theta 2 engines made before August 2013, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced Friday.

Models subject to the recall are Grandeur HG, Sonata YF, K7 VG, K5 TF, Sportage SL with a Theta 2-liter turbo and 2.4-liter gasoline direct injection made between July 2009 and August 2013.

A total of 112,670 units of the Grandeur along with 6,092 Sonatas, 34,153 K7s, 13,032 K5s and 5,401 Sportages are subject to the recall, marking the third-largest recall in five years. 


The Transport Ministry began investigating defects in the Theta 2 engine last October after reports that a faulty crankshaft may cause the car to suddenly stop while driving.

The Korea Transportation Safety Authority confirmed three reports of a malfunctioning engine, including the K5 2.0 T-GDI catching fire reported last October.

Hyundai Motor had recalled some 470,000 units in the US due to faulty Theta 2 engine in 2015. The automaker then said there were no flaws in automobiles with the engine sold here.

“Defects found in recalled vehicles in the US in 2015 are different from the latest defects found. We were unaware of malfunctions in the local engine back then,” Hyundai Motor said.

The ministry plans to end all investigations of the defect and evaluate the propriety of the recall plan, as the carmaker voluntarily submitted it earlier this week.

The ministry, if needed, will carry out a separate investigation to look into whether Hyundai Motor had intentionally hid or downplayed defects on grounds that the latest recall is linked to the transparency of the production process.

The recall will start from May 22 at Hyundai Motor and Kia Motors service centers.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport also said Renault Samsung Motors, the South Korean unit of the French automaker, will recall 4,300 SM6 sedans due to a glitch in the air bag inflator.

An inflator is placed inside the air bag and fills the air bag with gas in case of a collision.

The recall affects SM6 vehicles manufactured in two periods, Sep. 20-30 last year and Oct. 20-Nov. 2 last year.

Car owners subject to the recall can repair the air bag at Renault Samsung service centers starting Wednesday.

By Kim Bo-gyung (lisakim425@heraldcorp.com)