2011 Hyundai Santa Fe stung by same faulty caliper recall as Kia Sorento

Platform and part sharing is a good thing – it saves money for both the automaker and the consumer and allows engineers more time to develop and refine the individual assemblies that go into making an automobile. The unfortunate flipside, in the unlikely event of an incorrectly designed or manufactured part, is that more than one model tends to be affected.

Such is the case with the 2011 Hyundai Sante Fe, which shares the majority of its most important unseen bits and pieces with the 2011 Kia Sorento. As you may recall (*ahem*), certain 2011 Sorento models were fitted with rear brake calipers that were improperly machined. Same part, same problem, same explanation:

"As a result, brake fluid will leak, followed by illumination of the malfunction indicator light indicating the brake fluid level is low and should be checked, then a soft or spongy brake pedal feel, and if not serviced, reduced braking power which could increase the risk of a crash."

See the complete recall notice from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration after the break.

[Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration]

Vehicle Make / Model: Model Year(s): HYUNDAI / SANTA FE 2011 Manufacturer: HYUNDAI-KIA AMERICA TECHNICAL CENTER INC Mfr's Report Date: DEC 29, 2010 NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 10V613000 N/A NHTSA Action Number: N/A Component: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER Potential Number of Units Affected: 1783 Summary: HYUNDAI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 SANTA FE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 28, 2010, THROUGH NOVEMBER 25, 2010. SOME OF THE REAR BRAKE CALIPERS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY MACHINED. Consequence: AS A RESULT, BRAKE FLUID WILL LEAK, FOLLOWED BY ILLUMINATION OF THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT INDICATING THE BRAKE FLUID LEVEL IS LOW AND SHOULD BE CHECKED, THEN A SOFT OR SPONGY BRAKE PEDAL FEEL, AND IF NOT SERVICED, REDUCED BRAKING POWER WHICH COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH. Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE REAR CALIPERS AND REPLACE IT IF NECESSARY FREE OF CHARGE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT YET PROVIDED AN OWNER NOTIFICATION SCHEDULE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AT 1-800-243-7766. Notes: HYUNDAI SAFETY RECALL NO. 098. OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .