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Ensuring Safety: Hyundai's Proactive Recall for Santa Fe Models

Unpacking the Hyundai Santa Fe Recall: A Comprehensive Overview

Hyundai is initiating a recall for 135,386 Santa Fe sport utility vehicles, specifically targeting models from 2024 and 2025. This action is prompted by an identified risk of fire during collision events. The core of the problem lies with an improperly fitted cover on the starter motor, which poses an electrical shorting danger in the event of an impact, potentially igniting a fire within the engine compartment.

The Technical Flaw: Why the Starter Motor Poses a Hazard

The safety concern is limited to non-hybrid versions of the Santa Fe, which are equipped with Hyundai's 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Investigations reveal that the starter motor in these particular vehicles may have been produced with a cover that wasn't fully secured over the critical \"B+\" terminal. Should a collision occur and cause deformation within the engine bay in a specific manner, this exposed terminal could make contact with the cooling fan assembly, leading to an electrical short circuit and subsequently, a fire.

Initial Findings and Hyundai's Response to the Issue

At the point of filing the recall documentation, Hyundai reported awareness of one incident where a New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) crash test resulted in a vehicle fire. Aside from this specific test, the automaker has not received any field reports or customer complaints directly linking this issue to actual vehicle fires. This indicates a proactive recall based on safety testing rather than widespread public incidents.

Timeline for Resolution: What Owners Can Expect

Hyundai plans to commence notifying both its authorized dealerships and affected vehicle owners about the recall starting December 1, 2025. Owners of the affected Santa Fe models will receive instructions to bring their vehicles to a local dealer. Technicians will then conduct a thorough inspection of the starter motor covers, ensuring they are correctly installed and re-securing them as necessary. For owners who are concerned about their vehicle's status, it is possible to verify if their Santa Fe is part of this recall by entering their vehicle's VIN on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website.