The world’s fifth-largest automaker Hyundai Motor and its sister company Kia Motors will be recalling 1.9 million vehicles in the United States for malfunctioning brake light switches and airbags, the companies said on Thursday.

There were no accidents or injuries due to the defects, but Hyundai said it is conducting the recall to ensure customer safety.

“We hope to resolve the issue as soon as possible,” said Chung Jin-haeng, the Hyundai CEO. “We’ll do our best to prevent the situation from escalating in the U.S. market.”

Hyundai will recall a total of 1.05 million cars, including the Santa Fe, Elantra, Tucson, Veracruz and Genesis Coupe.

Kia models include Soul, Sportage, Optima, Sorento and Rondo.

The move comes after the U.S.-based National Highway Traffic Safety Administration called Hyundai and Kia’s attention to faulty brake light switches that can stop the lights from illuminating when drivers step on the pedal.

The agency also found fault with airbags which it said could release brackets when the bags are inflated, possibly injuring the passengers.

At home, up to 160,000 Hyundai and Kia cars are to be recalled for the same defects. The costs to cover the recalls are expected to be minimal, Hyundai officials said.

Currently, the U.S. is also investigating up to 400,000 Sonata models from Hyundai on account of rust complaints. There have been six complaints so far, the agency said, of Sonatas produced between 2006 and 2008, of drivers who suffered rear control arm failures due to rusted subframes.

Hyundai officials said the cars under the probe were well-worn and had put in many miles beyond average, but said they are cooperating in the investigation.

The auto sector had been a bone of contention between the U.S. and Korea after the U.S.-Korea free trade agreement went into effect a year earlier to open U.S. doors to cheaper Korean-made autos.

By Kim Ji-hyun
(jemmie@heraldcorp.com)