Hyundai and Kia issued a “park outside” recall on more than 3.3 million vehicles due to a risk of engine fire.
Owners of certain Hyundai and Kia models have been asked to park their vehicles outside and away from homes as part of a new recall that affects approximately 1.64 million Hyundai and Genesis vehicles as well as approximately 1.73 million Kia vehicles, according to a press release from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
The recall stems from an issue with the vehicle’s anti-lock brake system module, which can reportedly leak brake fluid onto internal electrical components, creating the risk of an electrical shortage.
“An electrical short could result in significant overcurrent in the ABS module, increasing the risk of an engine compartment fire while driving or parked,” NHTSA said.
Since engine compartment fires can occur whether the recalled vehicles are off or on, manufacturers are recommending owners park outside and away from homes or structures until the necessary repairs have been made.
To address the issue, Hyundai dealerships are replacing the anti-lock module fuse on impacted vehicles at no cost to the owner. Kia is still working on a solution to the problem. Both manufacturers plan to notify owners in late November, with Kia planning to send out letters on November 14 and Hyundai sending out letters on November 21, the Associated Press reported.
Although Hyundai and Kia have taken steps to address the leak, Michael Brooks, executive director of the Center for Auto Safety, argued that the two companies waited too long to notify owners about the recall and to fix the issue.
“Why not fix the problem?” he asked, according to the AP. “What you’re not doing here is fixing the O-ring and the leak that’s causing the problem in the first place. You’re combatting a symptom or part of the problem without actually fixing the underlying design issue.”
The following Kia models are included in the recall: 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2011-2013 Forte/Forte Koup, 2015-2017 K900, 2010-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, 2011-2017 Rio, 2010 Rondo, 2011-2014 Sorento, 2011-2013 Soul, and 2010-2013 Sportage.
The following Hyundai vehicles are also included in the recall: 2012-2015 Accent, 2012-2015 Azera, 2011-2015 Elantra, 2013-2015 Elantra Coupe, 2014-2015 Equus, 2011-2015 Genesis Coupe, 2013-2015 Santa Fe, 2013 Santa Fe Sport, 2011-2015 Sonata HEV, 2010-2013 Tucson, 2015 Tucson Fuel Cell, 2012-2015 Veloster, and 2010-2012 Veracruz.
Vehicle owners can see if their model is under recall by visiting NHTSA.gov/recalls and entering their 17-digit VIN number.
For more details about the recall, click here.
