Kia and Hyundai urge vehicle owners to park outside due to fire risk

Drake Bentley, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Updated ·2 min read

Kia and Hyundai issued a recall for some vehicles and are asking owners to park outside due to the risk of fire while waiting to get into a dealership.

The two major car manufacturers have a history of its vehicles being targeted in theft. Especially in Milwaukee, where the social media "Kia Challenge" originated, giving rise to a name for the thieves, the "Kia Boys," who committed high rates of vehicle thefts across the U.S.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced the recall on Sept. 27. The NHTSA said the fire risk impacts about 3.3 million vehicles. Dozens of vehicles have started on fire, or smoke was visible, or melting occurred.

"The vehicle’s anti-lock brake system module could leak brake fluid internally and cause an electrical short," NHTSA said. "An electrical short could result in significant overcurrent in the ABS module, increasing the risk of an engine compartment fire while driving or parked."

Hyundai said it plans to notify owners to bring their vehicles to the nearest dealership to replace the anti-lock brake module, while Kia is still working on a remedy.

Hyundai recalls some Elantra, Santa Fe, Genesis models

Hyundai’s safety recall applies to the following vehicles and model years:

  • 2012-2015 Accent

  • 2012-2015 Azera

  • 2011-2015 Elantra

  • 2013-2015 Elantra Coupe

  • 2014-2015 Equus

  • 2011-2015 Genesis Coupe

  • 2013-2015 Santa Fe

  • 2013 Santa Fe Sport

  • 2011-2015 Sonata HEV

  • 2010-2013 Tucson

  • 2015 Tucson Fuel Cell

  • 2012-2015 Veloster

  • 2010-2012 Veracruz

More: Where can I get my recalled Kia or Hyundai fixed around Milwaukee?

Kia is recalling some Forte, Sportage, Optima, Soul, Sorento models

Kia's recall applies to the following vehicles:

  • 2014-2016 Cadenza

  • 2011-2013 Forte/Forte Koup

  • 2015-2017 K900

  • 2010-2015 Optima

  • 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid

  • 2011-2017 Rio

  • 2010 Rondo

  • 2011-2014 Sorento

  • 2011-2013 Soul

  • 2010-2013 Sportage

How do I check to see if my car is being recalled?

To check if your vehicle is under recall visit NHTSA.gov/recalls and enter your VIN number. If it is, owners should call their nearest dealership to schedule a free repair.

Vehicle thefts are down in 2023 in Milwaukee

Although parking outside and losing the protection of a dwelling makes the vehicle more vulnerable, the city is seeing a decline in car thefts this year compared to the last two years, according to recent data from the Milwaukee police.

Kia and Hyundai introduced anti-theft software in February to address the problem. The reason it is easy to steal the vehicles is because the cars lack immobilizers and have design flaws that allow the cars to be stolen using nothing but a screwdriver and USB charging cord.

Kia had a free software installation event in Milwaukee last month.

Owners who want to inquire about the software should contact Hyundai at 800-633-5151 or Kia at 800-333-4542.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Kia and Hyundai urge vehicle owners to park outside due to fire risk