According to Wednesday’s announcement by regulators, 3.3 million vehicles in the United States are being recalled by South Korean automakers Hyundai and Kia owing to a potential fire risk.
“Until these recalled vehicles have been repaired… the safest place to park them is outside and away from homes and other structures,” the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said in a statement.
“Fires can occur whether the vehicle is parked and turned off or while driving.”
1.64 million Hyundai and Genesis cars from 2010 to 2015 and 1.73 million Kia models from 2010 to 2017 are the automobiles in question.
The issue derives from a malfunction with the anti-lock braking systems (ABS) of the cars, “which could leak brake fluid internally and cause an electrical short,” the NHTSA warned.
“Hyundai plans to notify owners to bring their vehicles to the nearest dealership to replace the ABS module fuse,” the agency said. “Kia is still working on a remedy.”
Neither company knows of “any crashes, injuries or fatalities associated with this defect.”
Hyundai has tallied “22 thermal incidents,” which include visible smoke, burning, and melting, in addition to 21 vehicle fires connected to the default in the United States.
Kia has reported one engine compartment fire, “three fires in the unit, and six instances of melting components.”
