Park outside if you have these Kia, Hyundai cars — they could catch fire, officials say
Owners of select Kia and Hyundai models are warned to park their cars outside due to “an increasing risk of engine compartment fire,” federal safety regulators say.
The Korean carmakers issued a round of recalls Tuesday, Feb. 8, affecting certain Kia Sportage SUVs from 2014 through 2016 and Kia K900 models from 2016 through 2018, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Hyundai Sante Fe models from 2016 through 2018, Sante Fe Sport models from 2017 through 2018, the 2019 Sante Fe XL and Tucson models from 2014-2015 are also included in the recall.
These cars should be parked outside and far from other structures until repairs are made, the agency said. The nationwide recalls, affecting an estimated 485,000 cars, stem from an issue with the hydraulic electronic control unit in Kia vehicles and a malfunctioning anti-lock brake system module in the Hyundais — both of which could cause an electrical short.
“Although the cause remains unknown, the manufacturers believe an electrical component in the anti-lock brake system may experience an internal electrical short circuit that could increase the risk of fire both while the vehicle is being driven or parked,” according to the NHTSA.
Kia owners will be notified by mail starting March 31, and Hyundai owners can expect to be notified starting April 5, the recall notices say. Both automakers will send instructions detailing when owners can bring their cars into a Kia or Hyundai dealer, where the issue will be fixed free of charge.
A fuse will be replaced, officials said, mitigating the risk of fire.
Hyundai and Kia have received 11 reports of fires in the U.S. but no injuries, the Associated Press reported.
This isn’t the first time that risk of fire and engine failures have triggered recalls for the Korean car companies, according to the news outlet. Similar recalls stretch back to 2015, AP reported citing NHTSA documents, and the automakers have issued at least eight more for a variety of engine issues.
For more information on current vehicle recalls, visit the NHTSA’s website here.
This story was originally published February 8, 2022 at 11:19 AM with the headline "Park outside if you have these Kia, Hyundai cars — they could catch fire, officials say."