Liputan6.com, Jakarta - Hyundai Motor America has announced the recall of approximately 54,337 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid vehicles in the United States.
This recall covers 2024 through 2026 model years assembled in South Korea for the US market.
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This decision was made after the discovery of a potentially serious fire risk in the hybrid power control unit (HPCU) of these vehicles, which can overheat under high electrical loads.
The current software installed in the HPCU is deemed to not provide adequate cooling to prevent the unit from overheating.
The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced this recall on May 15, 2026, and affected vehicle owners will begin receiving notification on July 13, 2026.
Vehicle owners are advised to immediately follow up on the recall notice and take their vehicles to an authorized Hyundai dealer for necessary repairs.
Risks and Incidents About the Hyundai Power Control Unit
The primary issue underlying this Hyundai Elantra Hybrid recall lies in the hybrid power control unit (HPCU), which contains Metal-Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistors (MOSFETs).
These transistors are susceptible to overheating when the vehicle is operating under high electrical loads.
This condition is exacerbated by HPCU software that does not optimally provide adequate cooling, increasing the risk of thermal damage.
Overheating of the HPCU can have several serious consequences for the vehicle.
One example is a failure to start or a vehicle entering limp mode, which can be dangerous for drivers on the road.
Furthermore, localized thermal damage to the HPCU assembly and its internal components can occur, significantly increasing the potential risk of fire in the vehicle.
A malfunction indicator lamp typically illuminates on the vehicle's instrument panel if this overheating condition occurs, providing early warning to the driver.
Hyundai has identified four incidents related to this defect, including one reported fire, but there have been no reports of accidents or injuries resulting from this recall.
Repair Solution
To address this issue, authorized Hyundai dealers will perform a free HPCU software update on all affected Hyundai Elantra Hybrid vehicles.
This update is designed to improve MOSFET cooling and limit maximum current delivery, effectively reducing the likelihood of the unit overheating.
This fix will be offered to owners at no cost, regardless of their vehicle's warranty status.
Hyundai is also committed to reimbursing owners who may have already incurred costs to repair the recall-related condition prior to the recall program.
Owner Notification
Official notifications to owners of affected vehicles are scheduled to be mailed on July 13, 2026.
Owners will be instructed to bring their vehicles to their nearest Hyundai dealership for the software update.
Hyundai's internal recall number for this campaign is 301.
Owners can contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460 for more information or check their vehicle's VIN on NHTSA.gov starting May 16, 2026.