Hyundai and Kia are asking owners of nearly half a million vehicles to park their cars outside until the automakers can correct a defect that can cause the vehicles to catch fire even when they are not running.
They will soon issue a recall order that applies to the following:
- 2016-2018 Hyundai Santa Fe
- 2017-2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport
- 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe XL
- 2014-2015 Hyundai Tucson
- 2014-2016 Kia Sportage
- 2018 Kia K900
Hyundai and Kia will not recall every example of each car. The companies have narrowed the problem down to cars built on certain dates.
Hyundai and Kia operate as two separate companies in the United States but are both subsidiaries of South Korea’s Hyundai Motor Group. Many of their products share parts.
The fire risk appears to come from an electronic component in the anti-lock braking system. In documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the companies note that “The exact cause of fire remains unknown.” But they believe they have isolated it to an internal short circuit that can occur in the anti-lock brake control module.
Dealers will install a new fuse for that unit in an attempt to prevent the short circuit. Hyundai and Kia will begin mailing notices to owners in March. They are asking owners to park their cars outside any structures until the repair has been completed.
Recall repairs are always free. Manufacturers attempt to contact every owner, but they don’t always reach them all with the news. Find out if your car has ever been recalled at our recall center.
