South Korea's leading Hyundai Motor was struggling Monday with multiple problems at home and abroad that came on the heels of prolonged walkouts by unionized workers.
Prosecutors said Sunday that the transport ministry has filed a complaint against Hyundai for failing to take due steps regarding airbag defects.
Hyundai rectified the defects in most of 2,360 Santa Fe sports utility vehicles produced in June last year before selling them, but the ministry said the company did not take timely measures for 66 vehicles.
In the United States, Hyundai agreed to compensate repair costs of Sonata sedans produced in 2011 and 2012, in response to a lawsuit over their engine failure. Hyundai said the recall was related to cleanness at its US factory and has nothing to do with engines produced in South Korea.
In the southeastern industrial city of Ulsan, Hyundai's flooded production line for Avante and Santa Fe has yet to resume normal operations Monday. Muddy water caused by Typhoon Chaba crippled the production line last Wednesday.
Hyundai's union has staged a series of walkouts on and off from July 19, costing about 2.7 billion US dollars. A provisional wage agreement was reached on August 24, but the compromise was rejected in a vote by unionists.
Aju News Lim Chang-won = cwlim34@ajunews.com