By Ramon Castro
Hyundai is once again under scrutiny in the United States after announcing a massive recall of hybrid vehicles due to a problem that could lead to fires. The measure specifically affects the models Elantra Hybrid manufactured between 2024 and 2026after the brand detected failures in a key component of the electrical system.
Read also: Ram resurrects the Rumble Bee with a 777-horsepower pickup
The decision was reported to the United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, known as NHTSA, an organization that supervises this type of safety campaigns. In total, the recall includes 54,337 vehicles sold in the US market.
You can see: The new electric AMG GT wants to erase the V8 sports cars
According to preliminary investigation, the problem appears within the Hybrid Power Reserve Unit, a traditional part to manage the car’s electrical flow. There, an electronic component identified as a MOSFET can reach temperatures that are too high under certain conditions of use.
What can happen to affected vehicles
The problem not only represents a mechanical risk. Hyundai explained that overheating could cause sudden loss of power, failure to start the vehicle or even activate limp-home mode while the car is in circulation.
Among the most common symptoms is the Verify Engine light on.hybrid system warning messages and burning smell. In more serious scenarios, there is the possibility of thermal damage which increases the risk of fire.
The brand confirmed that, so far, four incidents linked to this failure have been detected in the United States. One of them ended in fire, although there were no injuries or victims related to the problem.
The investigation began in 2025
The first reports appeared in December 2025when Hyundai’s technical team began to review cases of power loss and starting difficulties in some Elantra Hybrids.
During inspections, engineers found consistent damage to the MOSFET and traces of coolant inside the hybrid module case. Subsequent testing revealed that the long-established design was not properly cooling the system during times of high electrical demand, especially during cold starts.
This irregular operation could raise the temperature of the component to dangerous levels. For that reason, Hyundai decided to move forward with a preventive recall supervised by the NHTSA.
This will be the repair
The automaker will begin contacting dealers and owners before July 13, 2026. Customers must take the vehicle to an authorized Hyundai workshop to install a design update at no cost.
The company also assured that it will reimburse those who have paid for repairs related to this failure before the official announcement of the recall.
In the meantime, Hyundai recommends paying attention to any strange signs in the operation of the hybrid system and quickly go to an authorized dealer if warnings or loss of performance appear.
Continue reading:
Hard blow for Subaru: its electric cars are not selling
BMW showed the Vision K18, a motorcycle inspired by airplanes
Tesla faced competition from China with its robotaxi
