Stop lamp switch failure

An NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation into Hyundai vehicles. Closed 24 April 2009.

Investigation
PE09003
Type
Preliminary Evaluation
Opened
14 January 2009
Closed
24 April 2009

What NHTSA investigated

By letter dated april 15, 2009, hyundai notified the agency that it will conduct a safety recall (NHTSA recall number 09V122) to replace the stop lamp switches on many of its model year 2005-2008 vehicles.see recall 09V122 for a complete list. The agency opened its investigation based on five complaints of stop lamp failure across several 2007 hyundai models. The agency also received early warning (ewr) reports on this issue.most of those failures were traced to the improper operation of the stop lamp switch that controls stop lamp illumination.a malfunctioning stop lamp switch can cause the vehicle's brake lights not to light during braking, or alternatively, it can cause the brake lights to stay lit even when a driver takes the foot off the brake pedal. Failure of the stop lamps to illuminate properly creates the hazard of rear end collisions when drivers following the subject vehicle do not recognize that the vehicle is slowing or stopping. Hyundai reported one crash incident (a frontal impact), without injury, that was alleged to have been caused by this defect.the agency reviewed the incident and cannot conclude that it is related to this defect. There are other potential problems related to failure of the stop lamp switch: failure of the cruise control to disengage, interference with proper functioning of antilock brakes and electronic stability control, and inability to move the gear shift lever out of park position.based on the above safety recall, this investigation is closed.

The recall that followed

  1. Hyundai — Exterior Lighting: Switch09V12200015 April 2009532,633 vehicles

Vehicles covered

MakeModelModel years
HyundaiACCENT2006–2007
HyundaiAZERA2007
HyundaiELANTRA2007
HyundaiENTOURAGE2006–2007
HyundaiSANTA FE2007
HyundaiSONATA2006–2007
HyundaiTUCSON2005–2007
HyundaiVERACRUZ2007–2008

Source

From NHTSA’s investigation file, rebuilt daily. To report a problem with your own vehicle, go to nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem. All open investigations.