Last month, Hyundai and Kia issued vehicle recalls for fires. The 2019 through 2021 Hyundai Tucson SUV and the 2019 Kia Stinger (2019) models were recalled for vehicle fires believed to have been related to antilock braking systems, or ABS. This brings the total to over 2.5 million vehicles recalled in recent years by Hyundai and Kia for fires.
For owners of affected Stinger and Tucson vehicles, precautions should be taken. Owners should go to www.safercar.gov and enter in their Vehicle Identification Number to determine if their vehicle is included in the recall. If it is, the vehicle should be scheduled for repair with a Kia or Hyundai dealership as soon as the parts are available. Until the repair can be performed, if the ABS light comes on, the vehicle should not be driven and should be parked outside instead of a garage. Owners can call their local dealer to seek a loaner vehicle if parts are not available for the recall repair. If your vehicle is under the recall but parts are not available, it would also be advisable to unhook the battery, as an electrical short could cause the ABS module to run and start a fire, even when the ignition is off.
These recalls are not the only trouble for Kia and Hyundai related to vehicle fires. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recently imposed hefty fines on Kia and Hyundai for delays in recalls for engine fires.