Hyundai Recalls Cars With Remote Smart Parking Assist Feature
Cars may keep moving even if the system detects a fault
Hyundai is recalling vehicles equipped with its highly publicized smart parking remote automated parking system. The recall will fix a software error that could allow a vehicle to keep moving even if the system malfunctions.
The feature, called Remote Smart Parking Assist, is available only on certain 2020 Hyundai Sonata Limited and Hyundai Nexo vehicles. It can move a car backward and forward into or out of a perpendicular parking space with minor steering adjustments, even when there is no driver inside the vehicle. To work, it requires the operator to press a button continuously on the key fob for it to operate. It cannot parallel park a vehicle.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that Hyundai discovered the flaw in the parking software during what it called “routine developmental testing” in February and issued a software update for new vehicles going forward, although it did not recall vehicles that already had been produced.
Choosing It, Insuring It, Driving It
“The initial discovery in Korea was an anomaly that was extremely rare and difficult to replicate and more investigating was required to determine if it was a problem that needed to be addressed with a recall,” Hyundai spokesman Michael Stewart told CR in an email.
In March 2020, Hyundai received a report from Korea about a vehicle that continued to move without stopping while the smart parking feature was in use. This vehicle was equipped with the original faulty software. Hyundai said that nobody was injured in this incident and that it is unaware of any crashes or injuries related to the feature in the U.S.
Owners of affected vehicles will have to take them to a Hyundai dealer for a software update. The recall is expected to begin June 4, 2020.
The Details
Vehicles Recalled
• 2020 Hyundai Sonata vehicles equipped with the Remote Smart Parking Assist feature manufactured between Oct. 22, 2019, and March 20, 2020.
• 2020 Hyundai Nexo fuel cell SUVs equipped with the Remote Smart Parking Assist feature manufactured between Aug. 16, 2019, and Feb. 18, 2020.
The problem: The Remote Smart Parking Assist system is equipped with a “fail safe” feature that stops the car from moving if it detects a fault or error from its sensors. In certain cases, this mode may not engage, and the vehicle will continue to move in its last commanded direction even if an error has been detected.
The fix: Hyundai dealers will perform a software update to fix this problem.
How to contact the manufacturer: Owners may contact Hyundai at 855-371-9460
NHTSA campaign number: 20V213. Hyundai’s own number for this recall is 191.
Check to see whether your vehicle has an open recall: NHTSA’s website will tell you whether your vehicle has any open recalls that need to be addressed.
If you plug your car’s 17-digit vehicle identification number (VIN) into NHTSA’s website and a recall doesn’t appear, it means your vehicle doesn’t currently have any open recalls. Because automakers issue recalls often, and for many older vehicles, we recommend checking back regularly to see whether your vehicle has had a recall issued.
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