Parking in a garage may be convenient, but the owners of more than 280,000 recalled Hyundai and Kia SUVs are better off leaving their vehicle outside for the time being, according to the manufacturers. That’s because certain models have a defect that may cause the vehicles to catch on fire. Here’s what to know about the recall.
Why are Hyundai and Kia vehicles being recalled?
According to a press release from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), faulty wiring in the SUVs’ trailer hitches is behind the problem. More specifically, moisture and debris can get inside, causing a short circuit, and resulting in the vehicle catching on fire while the car is in motion, parked, or turned off completely. The trailer hitches are sold as accessories for the SUVs at the dealerships.
Although the NHTSA press release on the recall indicates “there are no confirmed fires, crashes or injuries related to this condition in the United States,” multiple news outlets, including the Associated Press, have reported that the Korean automakers are aware of 25 fires or melting incidents in the U.S. and Canada resulting from the electrical short.
For now, Hyundai and Kia dealerships have stopped selling the recalled SUVs.
Which Hyundai and Kia vehicles are part of the recall?
A vast majority of the recalled vehicles (245,030) are Hyundai Palisade SUVs from model years 2020, 2021, and 2022. The remainder (36,417) are Kia Telluride vehicles, also from model years 2020, 2021, and 2022.
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If you own one of these vehicles, you can check to see if it’s part of the recall by visiting the NHTSA’s website and entering your 17-digit vehicle identification number. Additionally, both manufacturers will contact owners of the recalled vehicles by mid-October.
What to do if you own one of the recalled vehicles
Because of the fire risk situation, both manufacturers recommend that owners of the recalled SUVs park outside and away from their homes and other structures until their vehicles have been repaired.
At the moment, the companies are still in the process of developing repairs for the problematic trailer hitches. In the meantime, Hyundai Palisade owners can bring their SUV to their dealership, where the faulty fuse will be removed, if necessary. There’s not an interim repair for the Telluride, so owners will have to hang tight (and park outdoors) until they receive instructions from Kia.
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