Hyundai, Kia Appeal S. Korea Recall Demand

Hyundai Motor Co. and its Kia Motors affiliate have appealed an order by South Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transportation to recall a dozen models representing 250,000 vehicles.

It’s the first time a domestic carmaker has refused a Korean government recall, The Korea Herald reports. It says the callbacks were ordered after a whistleblower claimed the companies covered up the problems.

Hyundai-Kia acknowledge the defects. But they claim the flaws aren’t safety threats and are too minor to warrant callbacks. Analysts describe the challenge as risky, in large part because consumers assume all government-mandated recalls are important to their safety.

The defects include loose hub nuts, malfunctioning parking brakes, damaged vacuum hoses, broken fuel lines and/or other defects in Hyundai Avante, Equus, Genesis and Sonata sedans and Kia Mohave and Sorento SUVs.

Company representatives argued their case during a closed-door meeting earlier today with ministry officials, outside product specialists and the Korea Transportation Safety Authority. The ministry promises a careful but speedy decision.