Hyundai Recalls More Than 54,000 Elantra Vehicles Over Fire Risk in Power Control Unit

Hyundai Motor America is recalling 54,337 Elantra hybrid vehicles due to a potential electrical issue that could lead to an increased risk of fire.

The issue stems from a transistor inside the vehicle’s hybrid power control unit (HPCU), which controls power delivery to key components of the automobile’s hybrid electrical system. Under high electrical loads, the metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor, a common electrical component, could overheat and damage the hybrid power control unit, a recall notice posted on May 20 on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) X account stated.

The recall is for Hyundai Elantra hybrid electric vehicles model years 2024–2026 that were assembled in South Korea between Oct. 31, 2023, and Dec. 31, 2025. The automobiles were manufactured for markets in the United States.

According to Hyundai, the software logic in the hybrid power control unit may not provide sufficient cooling under high energy loads.

“In limited cases, the HPCU could overheat, resulting in localized thermal damage to the HPCU assembly and internal components,” the NHTSA recall report stated.

Hyundai said it was aware of four incidents related to the metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor overheating, one of which resulted in a vehicle fire, though no injuries were reported. Drivers who own vehicles in the recall population and have impacted transistors may notice a malfunction indicator light on the instrument panel and the vehicle will enter a reduced power driving mode, or the vehicle may fail to start altogether, Hyundai added.

Hyundai began investigating the issue in December 2024 after an incident report flagged a 2025 Elantra that had a damaged transistor. The affected vehicle’s HPCU was eventually disassembled to determine the root cause of the issue, and multiple teardowns of additional HPCUs confirmed consistent transistor failure with varying degrees of damage from high current loads during the ignition process.

Hyundai said it implemented a software change on Jan. 7 that improves cooling and limits the maximum power load delivered to the metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor while the vehicle is running.

Elantra owners will be notified of the recall beginning on July 13, the NHTSA recall report stated. Drivers can input their vehicle identification number on NHTSA’s recall portal to see if their hybrid electric Elantra is part of the recall population.

Owners can take their vehicles to a Hyundai dealership for a no-cost software update to the hybrid power control unit.

The NHTSA recall number is 26V308. Hyundai’s recall number is 301. Concerned Hyundai owners can contact Hyundai customer service at 855-371-9460 or the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236.

Hyundai has issued multiple recalls in 2026. In mid-April, the company recalled 294,128 Genesis, Ioniq, and Santa Fe vehicles because the safety anchor bolts for the front seat belts could detach in an accident if they had previously been removed and reinstalled. A week earlier, the company recalled 4,203 Palisade models over a wiring issue in the third-row seating.

In late March, Hyundai recalled 46,787 Palisades due to a faulty seatbelt status indicator that could fail to alert occupants that their seat belts weren’t fastened.