NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
Preliminary Evaluation PE19-003: Non-crash Vehicle Fires
- Closed
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened Preliminary Evaluation PE19-003 on March 29, 2019 and closed it on December 22, 2021, the day it opened Engineering Analysis EA21-003, whose summary cites it. NHTSA's investigations file lists 4 Hyundai models for it and links 8 recalls to it.
Updated daily from NHTSA's investigations file
Key facts
- NHTSA number
- PE19-003 (also written PE19003)
- Investigation type
- Preliminary Evaluation The first stage of most defect investigations: NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation gathers basic information about a possible safety defect, including from the manufacturer.
- Status
- Closed December 22, 2021
- Opened
- Closed
- Vehicle or equipment manufacturer
- Hyundai Motor America
- Components
- Electrical System; Electrical System — 12V/24V/48V Battery; Electrical System — 12V/24V/48V Battery — Cables; Electrical System — Alternator/Generator/Regulator; Electrical System — Starter Assembly; Electrical System — Starter Assembly — Relay; Electrical System — Starter Assembly — Solenoid; Electrical System — Wiring; Electrical System — Wiring — Rear Compartment/Trunk; Electrical System — Wiring — Front Underhood; Electrical System — Wiring — Fuses and Circuit Breakers; Electrical System — Wiring — Interior/Under Dash; Engine; Engine and Engine Cooling; Engine and Engine Cooling — Cooling System; Engine and Engine Cooling — Cooling System — Fan; Engine and Engine Cooling — Cooling System — Hoses/Lines/Piping/Fittings; Engine and Engine Cooling — Cooling System — Radiator Assembly; Engine and Engine Cooling — Engine; Engine and Engine Cooling — Engine — Diesel; Engine and Engine Cooling — Engine — Gasoline; Engine and Engine Cooling — Engine — Gasoline — Belts and Associated Pulleys; Engine and Engine Cooling — Engine — Gasoline — Turbo/Supercharger; Engine and Engine Cooling — Engine — Other Fuel Types — Turbo/Supercharger; Engine and Engine Cooling — Exhaust System; Engine and Engine Cooling — Exhaust System — Emission Control; Engine and Engine Cooling — Exhaust System — Emission Control — Catalytic Convertor; Engine and Engine Cooling — Exhaust System — Emission Control — Crankcase (PCV); Engine and Engine Cooling — Exhaust System — Emission Control — Gas Recirculation Valve (EGR VALVE); Engine and Engine Cooling — Exhaust System — Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe; Exterior Lighting; Exterior Lighting — Back Up Lights; Exterior Lighting — Back Up Lights — Switch; Exterior Lighting — Brake Lights; Exterior Lighting — Brake Lights — Switch; Exterior Lighting — Fog Lights; Exterior Lighting — Fog Lights — Switch; Exterior Lighting — Hazard Flashing Warning Lights; Exterior Lighting — Hazard Flashing Warning Lights — Switch; Exterior Lighting — Hazard Flashing Warning Lights — Unit; Exterior Lighting — Headlights; Exterior Lighting — Headlights — Concealment Devices; Exterior Lighting — Headlights — High/Low Beam Dimmer Switch; Exterior Lighting — Headlights — Switch; Exterior Lighting — Tail Lights; Exterior Lighting — Tail Lights — Switch; Exterior Lighting — Turn Signal; Exterior Lighting — Turn Signal — Flasher Unit; Exterior Lighting — Turn Signal — Switch; Fuel System, Gasoline; Fuel System, Gasoline — Delivery; Fuel System, Gasoline — Delivery — Fuel Pump; Fuel System, Gasoline — Delivery — Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings; Unknown or Other
- Recalls linked by NHTSA
- 20V-061: ABS Module May Short Circuit, reported
- 20V-121: Low Pressure Fuel Hose May Crack and Leak, reported
- 20V-393: Accessory Power Outlet May Overheat, reported
- 20V-520: Anti-lock Brake System Module May Short, reported
- 20V-543: ABS Unit may cause Engine Compartment Fire, reported
- 20V-746: Engine Damage May Cause Stall or Fire, reported
- 21V-303: Anti-Lock Brake System Module May Short, reported
- 21V-727: Engine Damage May Cause Stall or Fire, reported
- Vehicles and equipment
- 4 Hyundai models, including the Santa FE and Sonata
NHTSA's summary
As NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation wrote it for Preliminary Evaluation PE19-003.
During this Preliminary Evaluation (PE), the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) assessed the scope, frequency and potential safety-related consequences of non-crash vehicle fires caused by both engine failures and failures of other vehicle systems/components in model year (MY) 2011-2014 Hyundai Sonata and Santa Fe vehicles equipped with Theta II and Lambda II engines (approximately 1.3 million vehicles). ODI also reviewed field data of other Hyundai vehicles equipped with Theta II, Gamma, Nu and Lambda engines (approximately 4.8 million). As a result of this PE, Hyundai has issued NHTSA Recalls 20V-746 and 21V-727 to address potential engine failures and fires in certain Hyundai vehicles equipped with various engine types. Additional information on these and other related recall actions is available in the downloadable version of this resume available at NHTSA.gov. In addition, ODI has upgraded this PE to an Engineering Analysis (EA) 21-003 which will focus on potential recall scope concerns and recall remedy concerns related to the engine failure rewlated recalls mentioned above and conducted previously. See the EA21-003 Opening Resume available at NHTSA.gov for more information. Also available in the downloadable version of this resume is a list of the reference numbers for the 302 ODI reports, or Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs), cited above which ODI received through mid-November 2021. Note that the Manufacturer reports cited above are customer complaints received through March 2019.
Vehicles and equipment listed for this investigation
NHTSA's investigations file lists these vehicles and equipment for Preliminary Evaluation PE19-003. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. Model years with a try.vin recall page link to that page's NHTSA investigations section.
What an NHTSA investigation is
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) looks into possible safety defects in vehicles and equipment, often after owner complaints. An investigation usually starts as a Preliminary Evaluation, or as a Recall Query when it concerns whether an existing recall covers the right vehicles or fixes the problem, and ODI can upgrade it to a more detailed Engineering Analysis. A Defect Petition asks NHTSA to open an investigation, and Audit and Equipment Queries are administrative investigations into whether companies complied with federal vehicle safety requirements, such as reporting, recall and certification rules.
An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.
To see whether a specific vehicle has an open recall, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Hyundai VIN check: decode a VIN to see its year, make and model.
Sources
NHTSA's investigation record for PE19-003
Investigation details come from NHTSA's investigations file, which try.vin imports once a day. The investigation types are described from the U.S. Department of Transportation Inspector General's May 2023 report on NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation, NHTSA's petition rules (49 CFR Parts 552 and 557) and NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation procedures. How try.vin reads NHTSA investigations.