Car accidents happen, but you can help yourself avoid them by driving slowly and safely, and you can increase your chances or get out of one unscathed by wearing your seat belt. But what do you do when the car itself is the risk? Kia is recalling 380,000 vehicles with concerns that they may experience random electrical fires, telling U.S. owners of the 2017-2021 Cadenza sedan and the 2017-2021 Sportage to leave their cars parked outside and away from any structures, lest they burst into flames spontaneously.
The recall is the latest in a series of recent bad news for the Korean automaker. In 2019, the National Road Traffic Safety Administration launched an investigation into Kia and Hyundai, based on complaints from owners about 3,100 fires, 103 injured. and a death, according to CBS News. (According Car and driver, the rush of that investigation resulted in the automaker being hit by a $ 210 million fine.)
Both Kia and Hyundai have been responsible for more than six million vehicle recalls worldwide since 2015, the Associated Press estimates (Kia is a subsidiary of the Hyundai Motor Group), although does not place them among the five most remembered car brands, according to a survivorey by ISeeCars.com.
Here’s what’s going on with the most recent recall, including what Kia owners should do if they’re included in this mess..
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It is a matter of short circuit
The problem arises from the hydraulic electronic brake control unit of both vehicles, which can short circuit, sending stronger electrical currents than it should, and increasing the risk of fire. According documents published by NHTSA, homeowners are aware of the problem by “lighting several warning lights on the instrument panel, including tire pressure warning light, ABS warning light, MIL warning light, burning / melting odor, [and] smoke from the engine compartment. ”
Owners will have to wait for repairs
None of the collected cars are equipped with Kia’s Smart Cruise Control system. Kia says it will notify drivers if their vehicles are affected by April 30, although that means dozens of drivers will have to play a waiting game or risk the potential danger of driving their cars.
Although the possible risks are very serious, the problem can be mitigated through a easy solution: resellers will have to replace fuses in vehicle electrical connection boxes. In the meantime, owners of any of these models manufactured within the given timeframe must keep their cars parked outside (and away from any buildings or other vehicles, if possible) to reduce the risk of a life-threatening fire.