Hyundai Sante Fe Tow Hitch Harness Fire Recall NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V181000

March 17, 2023

Hyundai Sante Fe Tow Hitch Harness Fire While Parked or Driving

Certain 2022-2023 Santa Cruz, 2019-2023, Santa Fe, 2021-2023, Santa Fe Hybrid, and 2022-2023 Santa Fe Plug-in vehicles may be equipped with a Genuine Hyundai Accessory tow hitch assembly supplied by and available for purchase through Hyundai as a Port Installed Option (PIO), as a Dealer Installed Option (DIO) or through over the counter part sale. Certain tow hitch harness modules may develop an electrical short circuit. An electrical short could increase the risk of a tow hitch harness module fire while driving or while the vehicle is parked with the ignition off.

This bulletin provides the inspection procedure for vehicles NOT equipped with the trailer tow hitch and wire harness or only have the 7-PIN harness installed.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
If the vehicle is equipped with a trailer tow hitch and 4-PIN wire harness, please refer to the Recall 244 Dealer Best Practice document for any additional interim instruction. Additional remedy instruction will be provided when available. Do not perform the inspection procedure outlined below.

A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V181000

Potential Number of Units Affected 567,912

Summary NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V181000

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2019-2023 Santa Fe, 2021-2023 Santa Fe HEV, 2022-2023 Santa Fe Plug-in HEV and Santa Cruz vehicles potentially equipped with a tow hitch harness installed as original equipment, or purchased as an accessory through a Hyundai dealership. Water accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (PCB) may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire.

Remedy

Owners are advised to park their vehicles outside and away from structures until the remedy is completed. As an interim repair, dealers will inspect the tow hitch module and remove the fuse, as necessary, free of charge. Once the final repair is available, dealers will install a new fuse and wire extension kit. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed May 2023. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai’s number for this recall is 244. This recall is an expansion of previous recall number 22V-633.

Download Hyundai Sante Fe Trailer Tow Harness TSB 23-01-027H

Click on the image below to download the entire TSB

Posted on April 16, 2023 by Rick Muscoplat