Kia and Hyundai warn 485,000 SUV owners to park outside due to fire risk
Does it seem like every other recall is related to Hyundai or Kia?
Similar to the “You Can’t Park Your Chevrolet Bolt Indoors Unless You Want a GIANT Fire Risk” fiasco, Hyundai and Kia have issued a recall for nearly 485,000 SUVs due to the risk of engine bay fires, warning owners to park the vehicles outside until recall work has been performed.
The fire risk impacts the following vehicles:
2016-2018 Kia K900
2014-2016 Kia Sportage
2016-2018 Hyundai Santa Fe
2017-2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport
2014-2015 Hyundai Tucson
Hyundai and Kia describe the safety risk as “An electrical short could result in significant overcurrent in the ABS module increasing the risk of an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.” Common symptoms of the issue, as Hyundai describes them in a letter to the NHTSA, are:
Smoke from the engine compartment.
Burning/melting odor.
Illumination of the MIL and/or ABS light
Seems common sense enough (smoke from the engine compartment means there might be a fire - way to go Hyundai).
In 2021, Hyundai discovered that the problem is likely due to an internal micro leak in the module "caused by foreign contaminants in the valve body."
If you’re having these issues with any of these vehicles, it’d be a good idea to not park the car inside. Two, let NHTSA know that Hyundai is selling vehicles that are a major safety risk here. And, third, contact us via the form below to see if you have a potential lemon law claim.