The KIA and Hyundai announced a recall of close to 500,000 vehicles throughout the United States and The Korean automakers are encouraging owners to park the cars outdoors and away from structures due to the possibility of them catching fire, even if the engine is not running.
Eleven instances of cars catching fire have been reported to date.
The announcement was not without precedent. In the last six years, Hyundai and Kia have had problems with vehicle fires and engine failure. The current recall is for malfunctioning antilock brake control modules. An electrical short within a defective module can spark a fire when the vehicle is running or parked.
The following vehicles affected include:
- KIA – Certain Sportage SUVs from 2014 through 2016, along with 2016 through 2018 K900 sedans.
- Hyundai – 2016 through 2018 Santa Fe SUVs, 2017 and 2018 Santa Fe Sports, the 2019 Santa Fe XL, and 2014 and 2015 Tucson SUVs.
If you or a loved one have been harmed by a Kia or Hyundai vehicle fire, contact us at 541-484-2434 or here. Consultations for defective product claims are always free.