Hyundai, Kia recall 361,000 Canadian vehicles

Hyundai Motors and its Kia Motors affiliate have initiated a voluntary safetyrecall formore than2.2 million vehiclesin North Americaincluding more than 361,000 in Canada for problems related to air bags and brake light safety switches.

The bigger recall almost 2.1 million vehicles is to fix a problem with a switch that might stop the brake lights from illuminating when drivers press the brake pedal. This recall affects most of the Korean automakers' models from the 2007 to 2011 model years.

More than 361,000 of theaffected vehicles were sold in Canada about 255,000 Hyundais and 106,098 Kias.

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said the switch problem might also "cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal."

Spokespeople for Hyundai Canada and Kia Canada said there have been "some" complaints but said there are no known reports of accidents or injuries.

Hyundaisaid it will send notifications toownersin June, as soon as enough replacements parts are available. Kia said it will send its notificationsin May. Hyundai and Kia dealers will replace the switches free of charge.

Vehicles affected by the brake light switch recall include:

• Hyundai Accent and Tucson, 2007 to 2009 model years.
• Hyundai Elantra, 2007 to 2010 model years.
• Hyundai Sonata, 2011 model year.
• Hyundai Santa Fe, 2007 to 2011 model years.
• Hyundai Veracruz, 2008 and 2009 model years.
• Hyundai Genesis Coupe, 2010 and 2011 model years.
• Kia Rondo and Sportage, 2007 to 2010 model years.
• Kia Optima, 2011 model year.
• Kia Sorrento, 2007 to 2011 model years.
• Kia Soul, 2010 and 2011 model years.
• Kia Sedona, 2007 model year.

The other recall involves 186,254Hyundai Elantras from the 2011 to 2013 model years sold in the U.S. No Canadian vehicles are involved. That recall is to fix a potentialair bag problem.

"A support bracket attached to the headliner may become displaced during a side curtain airbag deployment," the NHTSA says. That could cause passengers to be cut. Hyundai dealers will notify owners.Adhesive strips will be applied free of charge, beginning in May.