The automaker that recorded the most recalls in the first half of this year was Kia, which carried out corrective measures for about 640,000 vehicles. Hyundai Motor and KG Mobility(KGM), BMW Group and others also launched recalls ranging from at least 100,000 to as many as 200,000 vehicles each. While many consumers interpret recalls as a "quality problem" due to defects, some say they should be viewed positively as "preemptive safety assurance" to prevent accidents in advance.
According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport on the 5th, the manufacturer that recalled the most vehicles across domestic and imported brands in the first half of this year was Kia. A total of 638,831 vehicles were subject to corrective measures. Of these, about one-third, or 220,059 units, were the Ray, a micro recreational vehicle (RV). In Apr., a potential issue was identified in which the engine could stall while driving on an incline due to a defect related to the engine control unit (ECU). The defect was corrected with an ECU software update.
Kia's flagship minivan, the Carnival, also had a total of 201,841 units recalled in Mar. It was found that a design flaw posed a risk of fuel leakage, which could lead to engine stalling while driving or a fire. In addition, there were large-scale recalls for 15 models (68,424 units), including the K3, a compact sedan in which a defect was found in the manufacture of the continuously variable transmission, and the EV3, a small sport-utility vehicle (SUV) with a potential instrument cluster malfunction.
A vehicle recall is a system in which the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) notifies each manufacturer or importer that vehicles with defects that do not meet safety standards or hinder safe driving must be fixed. Defects come to light through consumer complaints, independent investigations by the Korea Automobile Testing & Research Institute, or manufacturers' voluntary decisions. Once subject to recall, manufacturers and importers must notify vehicle owners of the fact and take corrective measures such as repairing and exchanging parts to prevent safety accidents and consumer harm.
The brand following Kia was Hyundai Motor, which recalled 599,006 vehicles. In Jun., four models, including the Ioniq 6 midsize sedan and the Santa Fe Hybrid midsize SUV, were recalled—239,683 units—due to inadequate design of the front-row seat belt anchorage. In addition, 130,283 units of the Avante compact sedan and the Venue small SUV underwent corrective measures due to a manufacturing defect in the continuously variable transmission, and 57,630 units of the Palisade full-size SUV were fixed due to inadequate control of the second- and third-row power seats, increasing the total number of recalls.
KGM alone recalled 217,690 vehicles in the first half. Considering sales volume, its recall ratio is far higher than Kia and Hyundai Motor. In Mar., a potential starter motor fire risk was identified in 78,702 units of the Torres midsize SUV and the Korando compact SUV, and in the same month, 78,293 units of the Torres and Torres Van were recalled again because an abnormal cooling fan could cause a fire while parked or stopped. In Apr., intermittent instrument cluster blackouts occurred in six models including the Torres, and software for 51,535 units was updated over the air.
In addition: ▲ BMW Group 107,829 ▲ Volkswagen Group 72,991 ▲ Mercedes-Benz 58,675 ▲ Volvo Cars 56,312 ▲ FL Auto Korea (Lincoln, Ford, etc.) 37,392 ▲ Porsche 36,938 ▲ BYD 18,091 ▲ Jaguar Land Rover 12,438.
However, the more vehicles sold, the more recalls there will inevitably be. That is one reason major brands like Kia and Hyundai Motor rank high by recall volume. An auto industry official said, "As sales increase, the damage can be greater if a safety accident occurs, so investigations by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) and the Korea Automobile Testing & Research Institute inevitably become more frequent, and the total number of recalls also rises."
Some say it is hard to view recalls only in a negative light. Lee Ho-geun, a professor in the Department of Future Automotive at Daedeok University, said, "In major overseas countries, recalls are viewed positively in that preemptive measures are taken to prevent accidents," adding, "Moreover, the recent surge in software-related defects can be easily resolved as over-the-air (OTA) updates become more common, so both recall statistics and consumer inconvenience could drop markedly in the future."