Heat How-Tos: Hyundai and Genesis release position statement on use of heat in repairs

Toronto, Ontario — Hyundai and Genesis have released a position statement on the use of heat in structural and non-structural repairs that dictates when the technique can be used on different grades of steel.

Notably, according to the statement first released on January 30, 2025, for mild and high-strength steel structural components, heat up to 400 degrees Celsius can be used to straighten damaged areas to their original dimensions.

However, the damaged areas must be replaced after straightened with heat and may not be reused.

Comparatively, for ultra-high-strength steel structural components, no heat may be used, notes Hyundai and Genesis.

Additionally, heat may not be used for non-structural components, including doors, hoods, roofs, outer fenders, trunks, tailgates and outer quarter panels.

At the other end of the spectrum, the position statement continues that cold straightening may be performed on both mild and high-strength steel structural components.

“Depending on the severity of the damage, the cold-straightened structural components may be reused. Cold straightening may not be performed on ultra high-strength steel structural components,” says the statement.

Finally, the position statement concludes that any damaged ultra high-strength steel components must be replaced at factory seams.

Collision Repair Magazine reached out to a Hyundai spokesperson who further commented that "Hyundai's guidance on collision repairs prioritizes a vehicle's safety and structural integrity. As you know, after a collision, it is common industry practice to measure a vehicle's frame to check for unseen damage. For example, if a vehicle is rear ended, the frame is measured to see how much the impact has affected the trunk area." 

"Bodyshops often strategically pull on certain areas of a vehicle's frame to restore the chassis back to its original dimensions. While heat can be used to assist in reshaping damaged components, doing so also permanently alters the physical properties of the materials in question. As a result, any structural components subjected to heat in this process must be replaced to ensure the vehicle is repaired safely," the spokesperson concluded. 

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