Hyundai And Kia Recall Over 3.3 Million Cars—Here’s What Drivers Should Know

Topline

Hyundai and Kia recalled over 3.3 million of their 2010s model vehicles for fluid leaking issues that could spark engine compartment fires while parked or driving—encouraging owners to park outdoors and away from buildings in case of fire.

Hyundai and Kia, both of Hyundai Motor Group, have recalled over 3.3 million vehicles and are urging … [+] owners of specific models to park outdoors and away from building structures.

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Key Facts

Hyundai and Kia, which only a month ago recalled vehicles over an oil pump that could catch fire, recalled more on Wednesday for their anti-lock brake systems—no crashes, fatalities or injuries have been reported.

Hyundai recalled 1,642,551 of its vehicles in the U.S. and 326,942 in Canada, company spokesperson Ira Gabriel told Forbes, due to concerns its anti-lock brake system could leak brake fluid—often indicated by smoking or a burning or melting odor from the car—and result in a fire.

Hyundai owners can continue driving their vehicles, but the company advises owners to park outside—and away from buildings. “Hyundai plans to notify owners to bring their vehicles to the nearest Hyundai dealership for replacement” of the anti-lock brake system fuse for free, Gabriel said.

Kia, which is owned by Hyundai Motor Group uses similar parts, decided to recall 1,730,192 vehicles, company spokesperson James Bell told Forbes, including all models with a hydraulic electronic control unit, a part of the anti-lock brake system that is similar to Hyundai’s after a months-long investigation into them was triggered by Hyundai fire concerns.

Bell shared a statement saying select impacted model owners will be instructed to bring their cars to a Kia dealer for a new fuse.

Key Background

The recall announcement follows several other rounds of recalls by the South Korean auto manufacturers this year—some as early as last month. In August, both Hyundai and Kia recalled some 92,000 vehicles, including the Hyundai Elantra (2023), Hyundai Kona (2023), Hyundai Palisade (2023-24), Hyundai Sonata (2023), Hyundai Tucson (2023), Kia Seltos (2023-23), Kia Soul (2023) and Kia Sportage (2023), due to oil pumps that could overheat and catch fire. In March, they made a similar plea for owners to park outdoors and away from other cars, homes and buildings when they both recalled over 570,000 vehicles released between 2019 and as late as this year for fear they could catch fire, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Kia, specifically, had to recall 188,912 of its 2021-23 Kia K5 models due to side curtain airbags potentially deploying improperly and causing injury during a crash.

Surprising Fact

Along with a spate of car recalls, both Kia and Hyundai are being sued by the city of Chicago for allegedly not having specific security technology within their cars that the city says led to a car theft crisis. About 17 cities are suing the automakers for similar reasons, though they have pushed for a U.S. judge to reject them, claiming other factors like city policing policies and TikTok videos that teach people how to break in certain Kia and Hyundai models are to blame for the uptick in car theft, according to Reuters.

Tangent

Recalled Hyundai models this week include the Accent (2012-15), Azera (2012-15), Elantra (2011-15), Elantra Coupe (2013-15), Equus (2014-15), Genesis Coupe (2011-15), Santa Fe (2013-15), Santa Fe Sport (2013), Sonata HEV (2011-15), Tucson (2010-13), Tucson Fuel Cell (2015), Veloster (2012-15) and Veracruz (2010-12). Kia has recalled the Cadenza (2014-16), Forte/Forte Koup (2011-13), K900 (2015-17), Optima (2010-15), Optima Hybrid (2011-13), Rio (2011-17), Rondo (2010), Sorento (2011-14), Soul (2011-13) and Sportage (2010-13).

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