Hyundai is recalling some of its Ioniq Electric hatchbacks due to a risk of unintended acceleration. These vehicles may suddenly accelerate without warning or human input, posing the risk of a crash.
According to a report on InsideEVs.com, the issue was first brought to the attention of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on Dec. 7. The recall targets some 2017-2019 Hyundai Ioniq Electric vehicles built on January 21, 2016, through June 24, 2019.
Details of the Unintended Acceleration Issue
NHTSA’s recall notice says that in the affected vehicles “unexpected acceleration following gas pedal release can increase the risk of a crash.” The notice says an unstable electrical ground may cause the vehicle to enter a fail-safe mode with reduced acceleration and power. In certain conditions while in fail-safe mode, the vehicle may accelerate after the gas pedal is released.
Specifically, Hyundai says that electrical noise is generated because of the deterioration of the electrical ground, which can create a communication error with the vehicle’s Controller Area Network (CAN) bus.
Sudden or unintended acceleration after releasing the gas pedal could greatly increase the risk of a crash. When the recall begins, Hyundai dealers will update the Electric Power Control Unit software and repair the ground wiring free of charge.
When the problem occurs and the vehicle enters the “fail-safe” mode, vehicle owners will notice the “Ready” lamp flash. Hyundai has said it is not aware of any crashes, fires, or injuries related to the defect condition.
The automaker first became aware of this issue in June 2021 when Korean media outlets reported an incident alleging unintended acceleration on an Ioniq Electric vehicle. The automaker will start mailing notification letters to affected owners in the United States on Feb. 4. About 2,700 vehicles are covered in this recall.
Auto Product Liability Issues
Sudden or unintended acceleration is a serious problem that can have devastating consequences. When a vehicle accelerates suddenly or unintended, it can lurch forward and crash with other vehicles or stationary objects. Such car accidents could also injure pedestrians, bicyclists, or others on the roadway.
If you or a loved one has been injured due to sudden or unintended acceleration in a Tesla vehicle, don’t hesitate to get in touch with an experienced unintended acceleration lawyer who can provide more information about pursuing your legal rights.
Source: https://insideevs.com/news/557377/hyundai-ioniq-electric-us-recall/
