There Is A Risk Of Fire, Hyundai And Kia Ask Nearly 500,000 Vehicle Owners To Park Outside

Hyundai SUV illustration. (Wikimedia Commons / Alexander Migl)

JAKARTA - Automakers Hyundai and Kia are telling owners of their nearly 500,000 cars and SUVs in the United States to park outside and away from buildings because of a possible defect that could cause the vehicle to spontaneously ignite, even when not running.

The problem is that, due to "foreign contaminants", the anti-lock brake computer control module could short circuit and possibly start a fire in the engine compartment.

In this regard, Hyundai issued recalls for the 2016-2018 model year Santa Fe SUV, 2017-2018 Santa Fe Sport SUV, 2019 Santa Fe XL model and 2014-2015 Tucson SUV.

Meanwhile, Kia is recalling the 2016-2018 K900 sedan and 2014-2016 Sportage SUV. In total, Hyundai recalled 357,830 units while Kia recalled 126,747 units, citing CNN February 8.

The dealer will inspect the vehicle's antilock braking control module, the small computer system that controls the vehicle's emergency antilock braking system, and may replace it with a new one.

In addition, the dealer will also replace the fuse that controls the electric current to the anti-lock braking control unit at no cost to the owner. A new fuse will reduce the amount of power going to the module.

It is known, South Korean car manufacturers Hyundai and Kia have close relations. Hyundai Motor Group, Hyundai's parent company, has a controlling stake in Kia, and the two companies share many techniques in their various models. In the United States, however, they operate as two completely separate companies.

In a document filed with the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Kia said it was aware of three vehicles that caught fire. The company also says owners can continue to drive vehicles safely, but they must be parked away from any buildings or structures.

Kia owners who feel their vehicle may be involved can contact their Kia dealer or the company's customer service department. Owners can also check the NHTSA automated security website.