CNN Business reports that Hyundai and KIA issued a recall for more than 357,000 and more than 126,000 vehicles, respectively, and warned owners against parking in or near buildings due to risk fire potential. The two companies disclosed an issue with the anti-lock brake computer control module that could cause a short circuit and start a fire inside the engine bay, whether the vehicle is running or not.
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Hyundai’s recall focuses on its 2016-2018 Santa Fe SUVs, 2017 and 2018 Santa Fe Sport SUVs, the 2019 Santa Fe XL and its 2014 and 2015 Tucson SUVs. Meanwhile, KIA is recalling K900 sedans from 2016 to 2018 along with Sportage SUVs from 2014 to 2016. According to CNN, KIA has documented three instances of a vehicle fire.
It’s also not the first time an automaker has had to recall vehicles due to fire hazards. Chevrolet also had to warn Bolt EV owners to avoid parking indoors in July 2021, after supposedly addressing an existing fire hazard and associated recall from November 2020.
What can you do?
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If your vehicle is one of the makes or models specified, you can contact your local dealership directly, contact Hyudai or KIA customer services, or visit the NHTSA website.
From there, you can bring your vehicle in for a call-back service at no charge. Your vehicle’s anti-lock brake control module will be inspected and if it appears to be faulty, it will be replaced. Repairers will also likely replace a fuse to reduce the amount of electrical current supplied to the module. Again, this will cost owners nothing, so if your vehicle falls into one of the associated categories, you should consider having it examined. In case.
In the meantime, the two companies have stated that it is always safe to continue driving their vehicles (which seems to contradict the risk of fire that can occur even if the vehicle is not lit), but that drivers must make sure to park outside and away from buildings as a precaution.
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