Hyundai and Kia recall nearly 92,000 vehicles and tell owners to park them outside due to fire risk

Hyundai and Kia have issued a recall for nearly 92,000 vehicles in the United States, advising owners to park these vehicles outdoors due to a potential fire hazard. This comes as a response to a risk of overheating in an electronic oil pump controller, which could lead to fires.

The South Korean auto giants have urged vehicle owners to keep their vehicles away from buildings and other structures until the necessary repairs have been executed.

The recalled models include Hyundai Palisades from 2023 and 2024, in addition to 2023 models of Tucson, Sonata, Elantra, and Kona. From Kia, the recall impacts the 2023 Soul and Sportage, as well as some 2023 and 2024 Seltos models.

The companies disclosed in documents, released Thursday by U.S. safety regulators, that a faulty capacitor on a circuit board within the transmission oil pump assembly might have been damaged during production. This issue could potentially lead to a short circuit, thereby heightening the risk of a fire.

Kia has acknowledged six instances of components melting, though no fires or injuries have been reported. Hyundai, meanwhile, has verified four “thermal incidents”, with no injuries documented.

To rectify this, dealerships will check and, if necessary, replace the oil pump controller. Owners of Hyundai vehicles will receive notification via letter on September 25, and Kia will commence owner notifications from September 28.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Hyundai Kia Vehicle Recall