Drive a Hyundai or Kia? Park Outside as Your Vehicle May Catch Fire

Korean car makers Hyundai and Kia are recalling over 91,000 vehicles in the US because there’s a chance they could catch fire.

As Reuters reports(Opens in a new window), the problem stems from the electronics used to control the Idle Stop & Go pump in several models. Some of the components are thought to be damaged, which can result in the pump overheating and a “thermal event” occurring.

The affected models include:

So far, Hyundai has had four reports or thermal events and Kia has had six. In all cases, no related accidents or injuries have been reported.

Owners are being asked to park their vehicles outside and away from buildings and other vehicles. It doesn’t seem to mitigate the risk if your vehicle is turned off. With that in mind, it’s surprising to discover that owners won’t be officially notified about the problem until later September, at which point dealers will offer to carry out an inspection and replace the faulty components if required.

This fire risk was first reported(Opens in a new window) by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) back in March when 570,000 older Hyundai and Kia models were identified. However, it seems newer vehicles are also impacted, although it’s believed any vehicles manufactured since March no longer contain the faulty parts.

Earlier this year, Hyundai and Kia decided to settle the TikTok theft lawsuit for $200 million and released software to stop the thefts from happening. Meanwhile, Hyundai has vowed to keep using physical buttons rather than touch screens in its new vehicles, and Kia is building an electric SUV that qualifies for the $7,500 federal EV tax credit.