Hoods May Fly Open While Driving; Hyundai Recalls 41,264 Minivans

Hoods May Fly Open; Hyundai Recalls 41,264 Minivans

Ten years ago, in an attempt to increase profits, the Hyundai Motor Group repackaged a Kia minivan as a new line for Hyundai. This failed experiment, branded the Entourage, was sold in the United States from 2007 to 2008. After two years of lackluster sales, Hyundai pulled the Entourage off the market. Last week, the automaker was forced to recall more than 41,000 of the minivans that were manufactured between February 2006 and June 2008 because the hood can allegedly fly up while the vehicle is in motion. Despite receiving several reports of the hood popping open while the minivan was on the road, Hyundai said that there have been no accidents or injuries at the time of the recall.

The Hyundai Entourage is a spinoff of the Kia Sedona. This past June, the Hyundai Motor Group, who owns 51% of Kia, was forced to recall 219,800 Sedona minivans from model years 2006 to 2014 for the same malfunctioning hood latches. Hyundai found that if the main latch is released, the back-up latch can become permanently unattached in both the Sedona and the Entourage. Authorities believe the latch can rust, leaving it defective, primarily in cold climates because the salt used to clear icy roads can find its way into the hood. (In November 2013, an additional 15,500 Entourage minivans were recalled because the front lower suspension can also corrode and break down in similar freezing conditions.)

Free Replacement Latches for Recalled Hyundai & Kia Minivans

Although separate recalls, the defective Entourage and Sedona hood latches have the same remedy. Owners of the recalled minivans sold (or ever registered) in 27 specified states or Washington D.C., should bring their vehicle to a local dealer immediately to receive a free replacement latch no questions asked. The owners of a recalled minivan located outside Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin or D.C., can ask for an inspection, but Hyundai said that they will not replace the latch unless there is obvious corrosion.

To see if your Hyundai Entourage or Kia Sedona has been recalled see: https://www.consumerwatch.com/vehicle-recall-checker-by-vin-check-vehicle-recalls/

To contact Hyundai directly call: (800) 633-5151