BREAKING: More than 570,000 Kia and Hyundai owners need to keep their cars outside and away from other vehicles, homes and other structures due to fire potentials, according to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA).
The agency reports that the motor companies have issued recalls on 2022-2023 Santa Cruz, 2019-2023 Hyundai Santa Fe, 2021-2023 Santa Fe Hybrid, 2022-2023 Santa Fe Plug-in Hybrid, and 2022-2023 Kia Carnival models
Until the free recall repair is completed, the hazard exists, even if the vehicle is turned off, according to the NHTSA, with the problem being caused by a potential electrical short that could start a fire in the tow hitch harness module.
The agency says the current safety recall is a direct result of its monitoring of another similar safety issue in August involving Hyundais.
In that situation, it was determined that debris and moisture accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (PCB), installed as original equipment or purchased as an accessory for 2020-2022 Palisade vehicles, could cause an electrical short and result in a fire.
Affected owners should contact a dealer as soon as possible for a free repair,
Vehicle owners can visit NHTSA.gov/recalls or call NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline at (888) 327-4236 and enter their 17-digit vehicle identification number to see if any vehicle is under recall. NHTSA also encourages everyone to download its SaferCar app to stay informed on current recalls.