Not only electric cars catch fire: Hyundai recalls nearly 100,000 Tucson and Sonata over fire hazard

South Korean company Hyundai has reported a recall of 95,515 vehicles due to the potential risk of an engine fire, which could be caused by faulty connecting rod bearings in the affected vehicles.

The recall affects 82,268 2017 Hyundai Tucsons and 13,247 2017 Hyundai Sonata hybrids powered by a 2.0-liter Nu GDI engine manufactured at the engine plant in Ulsan, South Korea.

According to a document published by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the recall is caused by a manufacturing defect in vehicles that can lead to premature wear of the connecting rod bearings. If the rods wear out, it can cause the engine to knock abnormally and the oil pressure warning light comes on.

If these vehicles are operated under such conditions, the engine block could be damaged, which in turn could lead to oil leakage and eventually a fire in the engine. It is also likely that this could cause the engine to stall. If this happens at a low speed, the risk of an accident may increase.

The carmaker will notify the owners of the affected vehicles, who will have to take them to the dealer for inspection. If the dealer discovers any damage to the bearing, the engine of the recalled vehicle will be replaced with a new one. Hyundai dealers will perform this procedure free of charge. For those who have already repaired their engines, the company will reimburse the costs.

In addition, all affected Hyundai Tucsons and Sonatas will receive an improved engine management software update with a new knock detection sensor. This update will help continuously monitor the engine of these vehicles.