Hyundai and Kia Motors have been forced to recall 240,000 cars by the South Korean government after a tip-off from a whistleblower.
Hyundai's i30 hatchback is among the models affected by the recall. Photo: AFP
It is the first time the country's transport ministry has issued a compulsory vehicle recall.
Hyundai and Kia earlier refused to act voluntarily, saying there was no safety risk.
The ex-Hyundai employee raised concern about defects which affected 12 different car models.
Kia is an affiliate of Hyundai, and officials are reportedly asking the country's prosecutor to look for any evidence of a cover up at the carmakers.
The models affected include Hyundai's i30 hatchback, its Sonata midsize sedan, the luxury Genesis and Kia's Mohave as well as its Carnival minivan. These models and others were found to have issues with vacuum pipes, fuel hoses, parking brake light issues and several other faulty parts.
The planned recalls will add to the 1.5 million cars which Hyundai and Kia offered to fix last month in South Korea and the US over possible engine stalling.
In a statement Hyundai Motor said it accepted and respected the recall, but that there had been no "reported injuries or accidents from the cited issues".
"Safety is always Hyundai-Kia's number one priority and we make decisions on recalls or any other customer protection steps in compliance with regulators around the world and stringent internal procedures."
The whistleblower, Kim Gwang-ho, told the BBC he had decided to expose what was happening at the firm, because he could not, in good faith, allow passengers to travel in vehicles he knew to be faulty.
Mr Kim had worked at Hyundai for more than 25 years before speaking out.
Earlier this month, Hyundai Motor dropped its lawsuit against him and reinstated him to his old job.
-BBC
