Hyundai, Kia Recalls 484,000 Vehicles Due To Fire Risk, Urge Owners To Park Outside And Away From Other Vehicles

Hyundai, Kia urge owners of recalled 484,000 vehicles to park outside even if vehicles are turned off.

Both South Korean automakers announced separate U.S. recalls because a HECU module that could malfunction.

The malfunctioned HECU module could cause an electrical short, which could result in an engine compartment fire.

Hyundai and Kia on Tuesday announced separate U.S. recalls because a Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) module could malfunction and cause an electrical short, which could result in an engine compartment fire.

In a statement, both South Korean automakers advised the owners of 484,000 U.S. vehicles to park outside and away from other vehicles or structures, even if the affected vehicles are turned off.

The recalls covers 126,747 Kia vehicles, including some 2014-2016 Sportage and 2016-2018 K900, as well as 357,830 2016-2018 model Hyundai Santa Fe vehicles.

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There are no reports of injuries yet, but 11 fires have been reported, according to the automakers. Dealers will install a new fuse for the circuit board to address the fire risks.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which urged owners to follow the automakers advise, said :

“The manufacturers believe an electrical component in the anti-lock brake system may experience an internal electrical short circuit that could increase the risk of fire both while the vehicle is being driven or parked.”

Both South Korean automakers have issued several recalls in recent years for fire risks. In 2020, Hyundai and Kia U.S. agreed to pay $210 million civil penalty after failing to recall vehicles for engine issues.

Last year in November, NHTSA gave out $24 million reward to a whistleblower, a former Hyundai employee who reported to NHTSA in 2016 that Hyundai was failing to address a design flaw linked to its Theta II engines. According to reports, the automaker’s Theta II engines were prone to seizing up and catching fire.

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