- Kia and Hyundai are recalling 570,000 vehicles with a potential fire hazard while parked.
- Affected models include the 2019–23 Santa Fe crossover, 2022–23 Santa Cruz pickup, and 2022–23 Kia Carnival minivan, totaling over 570,000 vehicles.
- Water accumulation on the tow hitch harness may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire.
Hyundai and Kia issued a warning for owners of over 570,000 vehicles across multiple models and years to park away from structures, due to a fire risk. Hyundai Santa Fe models from 2019–2023 are at risk, as are 2022–2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz and Kia Carnival models.
The fire risk stems from a defect with tow-hitch harnesses installed either as original equipment or purchased as a dealer accessory. The potential fire risk occurs through water accumulation on the tow hitch harness circuit board, which may cause an electrical short, and ultimately a fire. Hyundai reports a total of 567,912 affected vehicles combined across models, though the estimated percentage of vehicles with the defect is only one percent. NHTSA documents show Kia reporting 3555 vehicles potentially involved, also estimating a one percent defect rate.
NHTSA documents show that Hyundai has identified six total incidents related to the recall, with one report of a fire and five reports of thermal damage isolated to the trailer harness. NHTSA documents also show that there have been no reported instances of fires with the Kia Carnival. Neither manufacturer has identified injuries related to the recall.
Owners of any of the affected vehicles are advised to park their vehicles outside, and away from any structures or other vehicles until a repair has been completed. Documents show that Hyundai plans to inspect affected vehicles and remove the tow hitch harness as necessary while working on a long-term solution. Once the final repair is available, dealers will install a new fuse and wire extension kit. Documents from Kia show a plan to verify whether the vehicle has a genuine Kia accessory tow hitch, and install a new fuse and wire extension kit where necessary.
Owner notification letters will be mailed to those affected in May, 2023. Concerned owners can always check their VIN number on the NHTSA website.
Associate News Editor
Jack Fitzgerald’s love for cars stems from his as yet unshakable addiction to Formula 1.
After a brief stint as a detailer for a local dealership group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn’t afford and decided to pursue a career in auto writing. By hounding his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin seeking out stories in the auto world before landing his dream job at Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf.
