By Kim Hyun-cheol
Staff Reporter
Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group, Korea's leading carmaker, is recalling 48,636 vehicles of its 10 models in total because of problems with their brake lights.
Vehicles affected by the recall number 37,794 out of five Hyundai models ― the Santa Fe, the Veracruz, the Avante, the Sonata and the Grandeur ― and 10,842 of Kia's five sports utility vehicles ― the Carnival, the Grand Carnival, the Sportage, the Carens and the Sorrento, produced between September and November in 2006, the Ministry of Construction and Transportation said Saturday.
Those vehicles could malfunction, as some of them have loose brake light connections, the ministry said.
Failed brake lights can cause serious accidents because drivers of such vehicles don't see brake lights ahead and other drivers might not realize their brake lights don't work.
Owners of the vehicles can have free repair service at the maker's service centers across the country from Tuesday, and get a refund for expenses already paid on the defective part before the recall announcement.