Hyundai recalls 470,000 Sonatas over engine debris defect

Hyundai has recalled nearly a half-million Sonata sedans in the US to replace engines that have a manufacturing defect that could cause them to stall.

The recall applies to 470,000 vehicles made between 11 December 2009, and 12 April 2012 at the company's Alabama assembly plant equipped with 2-litre or 2.4 litre gasoline engines.

A document published by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration states that metallic debris might remain in the crankshaft area, restricting the flow of oil.

"Engine failure would result in a vehicle stall, increasing the risk of a crash," it says.

Worn parts "will produce a metallic, cyclic knocking noise from the engine," it said.

According to a company spokesman dealers would inspect the cars and replace the engines at no cost.

The company was also recalling around 100,000 Accent small cars because the brake lights could fail.

Both recalls have nothing to do with the global crisis surrounding Volkswagen and emissions.

Jim Trainor, product public relations senior group manage said, ''We expect that after we do the investigation after customers bring their cars back in and we do the analysis that it is only going to be in the 1 to 2 percent range where we will have to replace the engine'', montgomeryadvertiser.com reported.