Hyundai has announced a recall of 135,386 vehicles of the Santa Fe model, equipped with 2.5-liter turbocharged engines, manufactured between 2024 and 2025 at the Alabama factory for the U.S. market for safety reasons.
The reason given by the brand is that the starter motor may have been assembled with a "B+" terminal cover that was not fully seated. In cases of collision with deformation of the engine compartment, the exposed terminal could come into contact with the cooling fan, increasing the risk of electrical short circuits and potential fires.
According to the plan submitted by the manufacturer to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a division of the U.S. Department of Transportation, all affected owners will receive a notification to take their vehicle to a Hyundai dealership. There, an inspection will be carried out, and if necessary, the starter motor terminal cover will be reinstalled at no cost.
Hyundai has reported that to date, no accidents, injuries, or fatalities related to this issue have been reported in the United States. Inspections will begin on December 1, 2025.