Hyundai recalls Veloster over sunroofs

A HAM-FISTED robot has been blamed for a Hyundai Veloster safety recall to replace sunroofs that might shatter and potentially cut car occupants.

Seven cases of breaking glass have been reported in Australia, where 882 Velosters with the panoramic sunroof are being recalled to have the unit fixed.

The recall is part of a global operation to rectify the South Korean-built sports coupes that were called back to dealers in the United States in December.

Now it is Australia’s turn as the required parts have arrived in the country for Hyundai dealerships to do the work on the cars sold before April 17 2012.

At that time, the sunroof was fitted as standard equipment only to the upper-spec Veloster+, but has since been added to the Veloster SR Turbo that went on sale in August. No turbo models are affected by the recall.

Hyundai Motor Company Australia public relations general manager Bill Thomas said a factory robot is believed to have damaged the glass in the fitting process, weakening the unit.

Left: Hyundai Veloster Plus interior.

He said the glass might shatter, with the potential to lacerate people in the car.

The sunroof recall was one of two on Veloster in the US, but the other action – on parking brakes on manual gearbox models – will be treated as a service campaign in Australia.

Mr Thomas said the reason for that was that the parking brake issue was confined to extreme cold conditions such as could be experienced in some parts of the US.

“In those areas, some material can get into the mechanism and cause a problem, but as we rarely have those sort of conditions in Australia, we will inspect the cars, either as part of the safety recall or during normal service,” he said.

Veloster was by far Australia’s best-selling sportscar last year, achieving 4107 sales – almost double its nearest competitor.