The defect
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM (TCS), IF THE T125/70D-15 COMPACT SPARE TIRE IS INSTALLED ON A FRONT WHEEL POSITION, THE TCS MAY INADVERTENTLY ACTIVATE BEGINNING AT SPEEDS OF 20 MPH.
The risk
INADVERTENT ACTIVATION OF THE TCS WILL CAUSE AUTOMATIC APPLICATION OF THE BRAKE AT THE WHEEL WHERE THE COMPACT SPARE TIRE IS INSTALLED. INADVERTENT BRAKE APPLICATION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING AND DAMAGE TO THE BRAKE, AND MAY PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM BEING DRIVEN AT SPEEDS ABOVE 20 MPH, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SPARE TIRE WITH A NEW LARGER DIAMETER T125/80R-15 COMPACT SPARE TIRE AND A NEW TIRE PRESSURE LABEL WILL BE INSTALLED ON THE DRIVER'S DOOR TO PROVIDE INFORMATION APPLICABLE TO THE T125/80R-15 COMPACT SPARE TIRE. VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM NOVEMBER 15, 2002 THROUGH DECEMBER 16 2002, ALREADY CONTAIN T125/80R-15 COMPACT SPARE TIRES, WILL ONLY REQUIRE NEW TIRE PRESSURE LABELS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 30, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Hyundai Sonata | 2002, 2003 |
Components: TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hyundai Sonata | 2002 | 320 | 7 |
| Hyundai Sonata | 2003 | 199 | 6 |
Other tires recalls in 2003
8 of the 527 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2003 concerned the tires; HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY filed 48 campaigns in all.
| 03V504000 10 Dec 2003 | DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION |
| 03V502000 5 Dec 2003 | MONACO COACH CORPORATION |
| 03V237000 1 Jul 2003 | ALFA LEISURE,INC. |
| 03V214000 9 Jun 2003 | BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE |
| 03V154000 22 Apr 2003 | VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC |
| 03V143000 7 Apr 2003 | VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC |
| 03V049000 20 Feb 2003 | WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES, INC. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2003