It appears Hyundai-Kia is getting itself in hot water at home for it’s refusal to recall the new Kia K7 for the same rust issue that forced recalls in the U.S.

 

Tackling the recent rust-related issue of the K7, Kia’s latest luxury sedan, the maker is refusing to do anything for its local buyers who suffered corrosion damage to their vehicles. However, it turns out the carmaker and its parent company, Hyundai, recalled their products in the United States for the same reason, several times last year.

Hyundai-Kia said earlier it is looking into the matter to figure out the cause of the problem. But now, the company says it’s not planning to recall the vehicles or replace the frame in question for local customers.

(The K7′s sub-frame) is made of stainless steel, and doesn’t rust under normal circumstances. But it snowed far more and far heavier than usual this winter, so drivers may have had their cars exposed to salts that might have sped up the corrosion of the frame,” a Hyundai spokesman said.

Obviously the rust issue doesn’t cause any serious malfunctions to the model. So there will be neither recalls nor a replacement service for the model. [Korea Times]

I have always believed that Hyundai-Kia’s ability to sell quality cars in the U.S. that undercut their competitors is made possible in part by their substandard vehicles sold in Korea.