Earlier this year, a safety recall applied to certain Hyundai and Kia models with an ABS module that could catch fire. And for the second time this month, Hyundai and Kia have issued recalls, but this time for an electrical short that can increase fire risks. These instances show that these issues don’t just apply to older vehicles under the Hyundai Motors group.  

Hyundai recalls 180,000 SUVs

In the abundance of caution, Hyundai is advising that some Tucson SUV owners park outside. This advisory comes after the carmaker discovered that a computer-related electrical shortage could cause the vehicle to catch fire. To fix this issue, the company is recalling 180,000 Tucson models from 2019 through 2021. 

In the initial report, Hyundai said that corrosion could lead to a short circuit in faulty anti-lock brake circuit boards, even if the engines are off. As of Friday, the carmaker said that it’s aware of a dozen engine fires related to this problem, and there haven’t been any injuries. The latest recalls have prompted an investigation by the National Highway Safety Administration. 

What should Tucson 2019- 2021 owners do?

Hyundai says that owners shouldn’t drive their cars if their SUV’s anti-lock brake warning light does come on. Instead, owners should disconnect the positive cable on the battery. They can also contact an auto dealer for a loaner car if necessary. 

Hyundai will notify impacted Tucson owners via mail around Oct. 30. Meanwhile, you can enter your VIN number on Hyundai’s site to see if your Tuscon is affected. The carmaker is also investigating if these issues are happening in other countries. 

Kia recalls 9,000 sedans

The latest Kia recalls stem from a similar fire concern. Kia is recalling over 9,000 Stinger sports sedans that have a 3.3-liter turbocharged engine. According to U.S. safety regulators, these Stingers can also catch fire because of an anti-lock brake control computer glitch. However, since Kia is still investigating the potential hazard, Stinger owners are advised to park outside too.

At this point, Kia is aware of six known fire reports, and there haven’t been any injuries. Like Hyundai, Kia will notify Stinger owners about these potential hazard by mail. In the meantime, owners can also check for any safety recall actions on Kia’s recall portal.

NHTSA investigations 

As the Center for Auto Safety notes, the latest Hyundai Motors recalls show that carmakers must seriously consider customer complaints. In April 2019, the NHTSA launched two fire-related investigations concerning Hyundai and Kia vehicles. The NHTSA prompted these investigations after the organization received over 3,100 complaints and 103 injuries involving models Hyundais and Kias. Additionally, fire issues and engine failures have impacted over 6 million Hyundai and Kia models since 2015, according to the NHTSA.