Yahoo Autos Hyundai's Fuel-Cell SUV Being Recalling Over Hydrogen Gas Leaks
Hyundai's experiment in hydrogen-powered cars for consumers, the Nexo crossover, is now subject to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recall due to hydrogen gas leaks – and, perhaps unsurprisingly, an associated risk of fire.
Because the Hyundai Nexo runs on hydrogen, the crossover was fitted with a thermally-activated pressure relief device intended to vent hydrogen gas into the atmosphere in an effort to prevent over-pressurization of the fuel system. At its core, this system was meant to limit the possibility of overheating around the hydrogen fuel tanks, but the glass bulb-type release mechanism (intended to shatter when a critical temperature was reached) may break prematurely, according to documents filed with NHTSA.
This means that an inadvertent discharge of hydrogen gas — which is exactly what you think it sounds like — is possible for Nexo owners.
The danger comes from the leaking gas becoming confined to small areas, particularly in garages and parking structures. NHTSA says that the leaking hydrogen could be ignited and increases the risk of localized fires while parked.
The recall was officially announced on October 11; the South Korean automaker and the federal agency have included 1545 units of the compact crossover in the recall. Specifically, 2019–2024 Hyundai Nexo models are subject to recall, though NHTSA estimates that only 1 percent of units possess defective hardware. NHTSA documents reveal that no incidents, crashes, or fires have been linked to this issue.
Concerned Nexo owners should look out for a wind-rushing sound accompanied by a white fog near the rear of the vehicle. The fuel gauge will also decrease rapidly should this failure occur, and a malfunction indicator light will illuminate on the dash.
Hyundai says the limited chance of this failure shouldn't discourage owners from driving their Nexo, though the company is encouraging owners to park the hydrogen-powered crossover outside and away from structures until the recall work is complete. The remedy will include replacing the entire thermally-activated pressure relief device at no cost to Nexo owners; reimbursement for owners who have already paid out of pocket for repairs will be available as well.
The problem part was replaced in the production process on May 21, 2024, meaning Nexo models produced after that date won't be included in the recall. Hyundai first found out about the problem in April and began investigating the issue shortly after. Hyundai shared its findings with the federal safety watchdog in August and, after a period of market review, decided to recall the affected Nexo models in October.
If you own a Nexo, you can find more information about the recall on NHTSA's website.
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