Some Hyundai And Kia Models Recalled For Fire Risk

Owners of certain Hyundai and Kia models will be getting notifications in the mail regarding a potential fire hazard recall associated with their vehicles and they are being advised NOT to park inside a garage until the problem is fixed.

According to the car companies, multiple car and SUV models from the 2010 through 2019 model years are affected by the problem which is described as the anti-lock brake control module leaking fluid and causing an electrical short, which can start a fire while the vehicles are parked or being driven.

So far 53 incidents of fire or near fire have been reported.

Affected Kia models include the 2010 through 2019 Borrego, the 2014 to 2016 Cadenza, 2010 through 2013 Forte, Forte Koup and Sportage, the 2015 to 2018 K900, the 2011 to 2015 Optima, the 2011 to 2013 Optima Hybrid and Soul, the 2012 to 2017 Rio, the 2011 to 2014 Sorento, and the 2010 to 2011 Rondo.

Hyundai models covered by the recall include the 2011 to 2015 Elantra, Genesis Coupe, and Sonata Hybrid, the 2012 to 2015 Accent, Azera, and Veloster, the 2013 to 2015 Elantra Coupe and Santa Fe, the 2014 to 2015 Equus, the 2010 to 2012 Veracruz, the 2010 to 2013 Tucson, the 2015 Tucson Fuel Cell, and the 2013 Santa Fe Sport.

The two car companies are coming under scrutiny though as the fix they are providing is to change the fuse where the leaks may occur rather than fix the leak itself.

The new round of recalls comes after over 9 million of the companies cars were recalled for another problem that could start the engine compartment on fire.
In June of 2018 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it had received owner complaints of more than 3,100 fires, 103 injuries and one death.

Hyundai and Kia were fined by the administration in 2020 for moving too slowly to recall
vehicles that were prone to engine failures.