Products Liability Law Daily Wrap Up, NHTSA NEWS—ODI INVESTIGATIONS—ODI closes recall query into Hyundai Palisade windshield wiper failures, (Jun 21, 2023)

By WK Editorial Staff

A new recall issued by the automaker, together with a design change, sufficiently addressed the agency’s safety concerns.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation has closed a recall query (RQ) that assessed the scope and remedy of Hyundai Motor America’s recall of Model Year (MY) 2020-2021 Hyundai Palisade vehicles that were produced from April 10, 2019, to November 30, 2020. The recall (NHTSA Recall No. 22V627) addressed windshield wipers that may function intermittently or stop functioning when impeded by the accumulation of snow and/or ice at the bottom of the windshield. In March 2023, Hyundai issued a new recall (NHTSA Recall No. 23V180) for MY 2021-2023 Palisades and implemented a design change to reduce the load on the wiper motor and circuit breaker activation (NHTSA ODI Investigation, No. RQ22-005, May 26, 2023).

Background. ODI opened this RQ in December 2022 after receiving 6 consumer complaints alleging windshield wiper failures while driving during wintry precipitation in MY 2021-2023 Hyundai Palisades (subject vehicles). These vehicles were excluded from recall 22V627. At the time the RQ was opened, the root cause and recall remedy were still unknown and under investigation. Thus, the RQ was opened to assess the scope and remedy of recall 22V627.

Hyundai’s response to information request. In its February 2023 response to ODI's information request on the RQ, Hyundai submitted 17 customer complaints and 75 warranty claims related to the alleged defect in the subject vehicles. Hyundai stated that the wiper systems in the subject vehicles are equipped with a different wiper motor design than the earlier-built Palisade vehicles included in recall 22V627. Hyundai also stated it does not believe there is an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety in the wiper system in the subject vehicles.

New recall. In March 2023, Hyundai filed recall 23V180 for 167,085 MY 2021-2023 Palisade vehicles produced from December 1, 2020, to November 22, 2022, when a design change was implemented. The design change, as well as the recall remedy (for both recalls 22V627 and 23V180), is a redesigned driver-side wiper arm that allows for additional snow accumulation between the wiper arm and the cowl, thus reducing the load on the wiper motor and circuit breaker activation.

Decision. In view of the recall action being taken by Hyundai, ODI closed this RQ. However, the agency reserved the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances.

Companies: Hyundai Motor America

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