Park Those Dangerous Hyundais and Kias Outside
According to ABC News, Hyundai and Kia are warning more than 567,000 U.S. SUV and minivan owners to leave their vehicles on the street because tow hitch harnesses could catch fire while driving or while parking.
According to Hyundai’s recall , the Korean automaker says that water can seep through the circuit board on the hitch and cause a short circuit, which can start a fire in the trailer hitch harness module. This can happen while driving, parked, or with the ignition off.
Hyundai officially reported one fire and five incidents of heat damage, but no one was hurt. Kia has no official reports of fires or injuries.
Which Hyundai and Kia vehicles are being recalled?
The following vehicles are subject to recall and must be inspected by the manufacturer:
- Hyundai Santa Fe 2019-2023
- 2021-2023 Hyundai Santa Fe HEV
- 2022-2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Plug-in HEV
- 2022-2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz
- Kia Carnival 2022-2023
As reported by ABC News , Hyundai and Kia vehicles share the same drawbar parts that came as original equipment or were installed by their respective dealers.
What to do if your car is recalled?
According to Hyundai’s recall, owners may continue to drive these vehicles, however they recommend parking them outside and away from buildings until they are repaired. The recall states that by May 16, owners will be notified with instructions to take their vehicles to the dealer to inspect the equipped Hyundai trailer hitch assembly and install a 15A fuse and a new set of wire extensions if needed. Hyundai says they will also remove the fuse from the trailer hitch module to reduce the risk of fire when the vehicle is on and parked until a solution is found and available. All recall-related repairs will be free of charge to owners. They will also cover any out-of-pocket costs associated with the release.
If you have any questions about the recall, you can contact the Hyundai Customer Service Center at 855-671-3059 or Kia Consumer Affairs at 1-800-333-4542 Monday through Friday from 5:00 AM. 00 to 18:00 Pacific time.