Hyundai has heavily promoted its new parking feature, Remote Smart Parking Assist. The feature allows the driver to remotely park the car by holding down a button on the key fob. The car can go backwards and forwards and make minor steering adjustments, allowing it to park in a standard perpendicular parking space. It is not yet able to parallel park.
Unfortunately, there is a software glitch that could be dangerous. For the parking assist feature to be safe, it needs to stop if it encounters any problems while parking. This is a necessary fail-safe: If the car detects any error or fault with its sensors, it should stop the car from moving. This could keep it from hitting a small child riding past, for example.
In March, the automaker received a report that one car would not stop when the parking assist feature was engaged. This occurred in Korea, and investigators had a hard time replicating the error. However, Hyundai issued a software update to fix the problem going forward. It did not recall any existing cars.
The automaker is recalling those cars now. The fix will be a software update at the dealership.
Details of the recall
Only two Hyundai vehicles come with Remote Smart Parking Assist: The 2020 Sonata and the 2020 Nexo. Not all of those vehicles are being recalled because the parking assist feature is not installed on all vehicles.
- 2020 Hyundai Sonata, equipped with the Remote Smart Parking Assist system, manufactured between Oct. 22, 2019, and March 20, 2020
- 2020 Hyundai Nexo fuel cell SUV, equipped with the Remote Smart Parking Assist system, manufactured between Aug. 16, 2019, and Feb. 18, 2020
If you’re not sure whether your Sonata or Nexo is affected by this recall, you can check using your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). The 17-digit VIN is available from several locations on your car, including at the base of the driver’s side windshield and inside the driver’s door.
Enter your VIN into the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s recalls web tool. This will tell you if your car is subject to this or any other current recall. This recall’s number is 20V213.
Owners of affected vehicles will also receive communication from Hyundai. The recall is expected to begin on June 4.
If you think your car is affected by this recall, do not use the Remote Smart Parking Assist system until the software update has been installed by the dealership. If you have had multiple service visits for the parking assist feature on your Hyundai, or the recall does not repair your vehicle, you should consider contacting a lemon law attorney for a case evaluation.