Staying Fit
Alamy
Hyundai and Kia are recalling more than 3 million vehicles for potential electrical shorts that can cause the engines to catch fire while parked or driving.
Until repairs can be made, both companies are advising owners of the affected cars to park outside and away from buildings or other structures because of the fire risk. Both recalls are related to the vehicles’ brake control unit, which can leak fluid.
AARP Membership— $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal
Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine.
The action comes only weeks after nearly 92,000 Hyundai and Kia vehicles were recalled due to electronic controllers that could overheat and also cause a fire.
Which Hyundai vehicles have been recalled?
Approximately 1.6 million Hyundais , manufactured between 2011 and 2015, have been recalled, impacting some of these models: Accent, Azera, Elantra, Elantra Coupe, Equus, Genesis Coupe, Santa Fe, Santa Fe Sport, Sonata Hybrid, Tucson, Tucson Fuel Cell, Veloster and Veracruz.
To find out if a particular Hyundai was recalled, you may enter the 17-digit vehicle identification number (VIN) here. The VIN can be found inside the driver’s door, on the driver’s side dashboard, the vehicle insurance card or on the title record.
Hyundai will send recall notification letters to owners Nov. 21 with instructions to bring their vehicle to a Hyundai dealer who will replace any of the affected anti-lock brake system fuses for free. Customers may contact Hyundai at 855-371-9460. The associated number for this recall is 251.
Which Kia vehicles have been recalled?
Kia is recalling an estimated more than 1.7 million cars manufactured between 2010 and 2019. They include some of these models:
Borrego, Cadenza, Forte, Forte Koup, K900, Optima, Optima Hybrid, Rio, Rondo, Soul, Sorento and Sportage. To verify if a particular Kia was recalled, you may enter the 17-digit VIN here.
Kia will send recall notification letters to owners Nov. 14 with instructions to bring their vehicle to a Kia dealer who will inspect and replace the hydraulic electron control unit fuse free of charge. Owners may contact Kia at 800-333-4542. This recall’s number is SC284.
More From AARP
5 Things to Inspect or Replace After Your Vehicle Is in an Accident
Even a minor fender bender means diagnostics and scrutiny are needed
How to Keep Your Car in Shape if It's Parked Outside
Weather, lack of driving create different problems than for vehicles in garages
What You Need to Do if Your Car is Recalled
A safety recall of your vehicle can be serious business