Hyundai is once again under scrutiny in the United States after announcing a massive recall of hybrid vehicles due to a problem that could lead to fires. The measure specifically affects Elantra Hybrid models manufactured between 2024 and 2026, after the brand detected failures in a key component of the electrical system.

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The decision was reported to the United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, known as NHTSA, an organization that supervises this type of safety campaigns. In total, the recall includes 54,337 vehicles sold in the US market.

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According to the preliminary investigation, the problem appears within the Hybrid Power Control Unit, a fundamental piece for managing the car's electrical flow. There, an electronic component identified as a MOSFET can reach temperatures that are too high under certain conditions of use.

What can happen to affected vehicles

The problem not only represents a mechanical risk. Hyundai explained that overheating could cause sudden loss of power, failure to start the vehicle or even activate limp-home mode while the car is in circulation.

Among the most common symptoms are also the Check Engine light on, hybrid system warning messages and a burning smell. In more serious scenarios, there is the possibility of thermal damage which increases the risk of fire.

The brand confirmed that, so far, four incidents linked to this failure have been detected in the United States. One of them ended in fire, although there were no injuries or victims related to the problem.

The investigation began in 2025

The first reports appeared in December 2025, when Hyundai's technical team began reviewing cases of power loss and starting difficulties in some Elantra Hybrids.

During inspections, engineers found consistent damage to the MOSFET and traces of coolant inside the hybrid module case. Subsequent testing revealed that the original software was not properly cooling the system during times of high electrical demand, especially during cold starts.

This irregular operation could raise the temperature of the component to dangerous levels. For that reason, Hyundai decided to move forward with a preventive recall supervised by the NHTSA.

This will be the repair

The automaker will begin contacting dealers and owners before July 13, 2026. Customers will need to take the vehicle to an authorized Hyundai workshop to install a free software update.

The company also assured that it will reimburse those who have paid for repairs related to this failure before the official announcement of the recall.

In the meantime, Hyundai recommends paying attention to any strange signs in the operation of the hybrid system and quickly go to an authorized dealer if warnings or loss of performance appear.