Hyundai Recall - Information & Updates

Early this year, Hyundai issued a recall for some Konas built between 2020 and 2022 to deal with problems with the eight-speed dual-clutch transmission which could cause a loss of drive and, therefore, a dangerous situation on the road. So the first check would be to see if your car you're looking at is affected by that recall (a Hyundai dealer will be able to tell you by looking up the car's VIN). If the car is one of the affected ones but the recall's fixes have been applied, then you have less to worry about.

The Kona's engine problems, meanwhile, were another cause for a safety recall after it was discovered that a batch of Konas had defective piston rings which could cause early engine wear and possibly even a fire. Again, these problems were being fixed by Hyundai, but you need to check whether the example you're looking at buying was one of the affected ones and what's been done about it by the previous owner.

The Mazda CX-3 of the same era has not been without its recalls either, including one for a suspension joint that could fail, but overall, the experience of owners suggests the Mazda could be the less risky bet. Again, though, check the service and recall history of any car before handing over the money.

If you’ve just bought a new car, it’s very important to discover what recalls have been issued for it over the years and whether those fixes have been attended to.

My list of recalls for this model Hyundai iX35 includes one for a seat-belt tensioner cable that was not attached properly, one for an air-bag retention nut that was incorrectly torqued and could cause the air-bag to deploy incorrectly, one for a transmission cooler hose problem on automatic versions, one for a potential fuel hose leak and a fifth recall for a potential engine oil leak on the 2.4-litre petrol variant.