Popular Hyundai cars face massive recall for dangerous defect

As recently as the early to mid-2000s, the reputations of South Korean automaker Hyundai and its sister brand Kia were in virtually different galaxies from those of its other Asian rivals, corresponding to Toyota and Honda.

In its first few years in the U.S. market, Hyundai cars were advertised as "cars that make sense," as they were priced relatively cheap in comparison to their Japanese contemporaries. Unfortunately, buyers got what they paid for, and in some way, its reputation for quality, or the dearth thereof, turn into a punchline for car enthusiasts.