Fire dangers prompt Hyundai and Kia to recall over 91,000 vehicles

• Published On: 3 October 2023
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Hyundai and Kia are issuing a recall for more than 91,000 vehicles in the United States due to the possibility of fires stemming from compromised electrical components. As a precautionary measure, Hyundai and Kia are advising the owners of around 92,000 U.S. vehicles to park them outdoors. This is due to a concern that an electronic controller within the oil pump could experience overheating, potentially leading to fires.

Hyundai Motor and Kia are conducting a recall of more than 91,000 newer vehicles in the United States due to concerns of potential fire hazards. The recall encompasses around 52,000 Hyundai vehicles and almost 40,000 Kia vehicles, as reported by Reuters.

The group of models that are expected to be included in the recall comprises Hyundai's 2023-2024 Palisade, Tucson, Sonata, Elantra, and Kona vehicles, along with Kia's 2023-2024 Seltos and 2023 Soul, Sportage vehicles.

In order to prevent further damage, owners are advised to park their vehicles outside and away from structures until the necessary repairs are made. The issue revolves around the electronic controllers of the Idle Stop & Go oil pump assembly, which Korean automakers identified as having a potential problem. This defect could result in overheating, attributed to damaged electrical components. Notification to owners is anticipated by late September, and dealers will carry out inspections and replace the oil pump controller as required.

According to a report from Reuters, Kia and Hyundai each reported six and four instances, respectively, of potential thermal events related to this issue. There have been no accidents or injuries reported. Both automakers informed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that they have already eliminated the suspected problematic part from production since March.

In an extra safety precaution, Hyundai has instructed dealers to offer rental vehicles to concerned customers until the necessary recall fixes become available. If owners notice any signs of a burning or melting odor, they are strongly advised to avoid driving and instead have the vehicle towed to the nearest Hyundai dealer.

In addition to the risk of fire, the heat-related damage could lead to a short circuit that affects other vehicle controllers on board, as highlighted by Hyundai. The investigation was initiated after Hyundai received a report in December regarding heat damage on the wire harness/connector of the electric oil pump in a 2023 Hyundai Palisade vehicle. Similarly, Kia reported an incident in June involving melting in a 2023 Soul model.