Hyundai, Kia Models Recalled as Stop-Start Systems Spark Fires

• Hyundai and Kia are struggling with quality issues lately, with the latest recall for the Korean brands focusing on electrical fire risk.

• Around 113,000 vehicles are included in this recall, with Hyundai's bread-and-butter crossovers and Kia's affordable compact offerings now under a nationwide stop sale.

• The NHTSA is urging current owners to park their vehicles outside and away from buildings, though the number of units actually at risk of fire remains around 1%.

Electric vehicle fires have been making headlines lately, with everything from container ships carrying electric cars to electrified personal mobility scooters sparking fear above the future of electric propulsion. But it's important to remember that internal-combustion vehicles are prone to fire, too, as exampled by a mass recall from Hyundai and Kia.

Officially published on July 27, Hyundai and Kia issued a joint statement recalling 113,000 newer vehicles in North America due to a severe fire risk. Specifically, 2023-2024 Hyundai Palisade, 2023 Hyundai Tucson, Sonata, Elantra, and Kona vehicles as well as 2023-2024 Kia Seltos and 2023 Kia Soul and Sportage vehicles are affected by the recall.

The Hyundai Palisade remains the most affected model, with 28,623 units recalled, though the Hyundai Kona isn't far behind with 13,160 units recalled. More than 20,000 Kia Souls are also affected, rising above its bigger Seltos and Sportage siblings by a wide margin.

In conjunction with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Korean automakers urged owners to park outside and away from structures to limit potential fire spreading. Ironically, the fire-prone part used in all eight models is actually supposed to help reduce environmental impact.