Kia Owner? Your Vehicle Might Be Among The Nearly 380k Recalled

The Korean carmaker, Kia, has announced on Tuesday that it’s recalling nearly 380,000 of its U.S. vehicles and has requested those owners park their cars outside in-case of an engine compartment fire.

The cars that are being recalled include some 2017 through 2021 Sportage SUVs, as well as 2017 through 2019 Cadenza Sedans. These vehicles have been having issues with their hydraulic electronic brake control unit short-circuiting, which could possibly cause an engine fire.

This also isn't the first time the company has had vehicles recalled for fire hazards. In December 2020, Kia recalled nearly 300,000 models as well.

Owners of these specific vehicles will start being notified of these issues on April 30, the company stated according to ABC News. Car dealerships can then start fixing the issue by replacing fuses in the car’s electrical junction box.

A few signs that could warn the owner of the start of an engine fire include the tire pressure, anti-lock brake or other dashboard lights turning on, or smelling a slight burning and melting odor coming from the hood.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration started looking into these engine fires in 2019 when more than 3,100 fires and 103 injuries were reported by Kia, and Hyundai, owners.

Over six million Kia and Hyundai vehicles have been the subjects of engine failure and fires since 2015, the NHTSA stated.