Vehicle recall warning: 485K Hyundai and Kia models at risk of fire
Another half a million vehicles have now been deemed unfit for public roads. Nissan recalled 700,000 Rogues in January as a problem with corrosion in the electrical connector increased fire risk.
Hyundai and Kia now say that some of their cars are also at risk of spontaneously catching fire, urging owners to park outside until fixed. The issue impacts nearly 500,000 vehicles.
Read on to see if you own one of these recalled vehicles and what you should do about it.
Here’s the backstory
Hyundai Motor Group, the parent company of Hyundai and Kia, is recalling several models over faulty components in the anti-lock braking system (ABS). The recall also includes Genesis models, as all three manufacturers use the same Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU).
When the HECU malfunctions, it could cause an electrical short circuit, resulting in a fire engulfing the vehicle. It can even occur when the vehicle isn’t in operation. For this reason, owners are being warned not to park their cars in a garage but outside instead.
There have already been 11 reports of fires, but thankfully none of them resulted in injuries.
According to Consumer Reports, the recalled models with the problem include:
- 2016-2018 Hyundai Santa Fe SUVs without Smart Cruise Control manufactured between Nov. 2, 2015, and March 12, 2018
- 2017-2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport SUVs without Smart Cruise Control manufactured between Dec. 15, 2015, and April 20, 2018
- 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe XL SUVs without Smart Cruise Control manufactured between May 31, 2018, and Nov. 28, 2018
- 2014-2015 Hyundai Tucson SUVs manufactured between Aug. 10, 2013, and May 15, 2015
- 2014-2016 Kia Sportage SUVs manufactured between Sept. 30, 2013, and Nov. 16, 2015
- 2016-2018 Kia K900 sedans manufactured between April 21, 2015, and Nov. 6, 2017
What you can do about it
There are a few warning signs to watch for before something more serious happens. In this case, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) explained that you should pay attention to:
- An illuminated ABS warning light on the dashboard
- A burning or melting smell
- Smoke coming from the engine compartment
To fix the problem, you must take your car to the nearest Hyundai or Kia dealership, where they will install new fuses, free of charge. Manufacturers will also send mail to affected owners in March.
If you have any questions regarding this recall or the status of your vehicle, you can call Hyundai at 855-371-9460 and Kia at 800-333-4542.
For reference, the NHTSA’s number for Hyundai’s recall is 22V056, and Hyundai’s recall number is 218. For Kia’s recall, the NHTSA number is 22V051, while Kia assigned its own number to the recall as SC227.
Want to stay on top of car recalls and know when yours is at risk? Tap or click here to receive an alert if your vehicle is recalled with this free app.
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Tags: apps, Fire risk, Hyundai, Kia, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Vehicle recall, warning, warning signs
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