S Korea orders Hyundai Motor to recall Veracruz SUVs

    SEOUL, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's Transportation Ministry ordered Tuesday Hyundai Motor Co. to recall 6,286 Veracruz sport utility vehicles (SUV) on South Korean market due to a fault in engine pump that could cause a fire in case of a head-on collision.

    The ministry, which supervises the safety of the nation's auto industry, also fined Hyundai Motor 200 million won (212,089 U.S. dollars) for violating safety standards with the fault, in a rare penalty for an automaker's recall.

    "The problem with the engine pump could cause the engine to catch fire when the vehicle's front collides with an object," said a statement of the ministry.

    According to the statement, the recall applies to Veracruz models built between Jan. 13 and June 12 this year.

    However, it is not clear whether the problem also affected Veracruz vehicles sold on overseas markets.