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A directive has been issued to the owners of over 567,000 Hyundai and Kia automobiles to keep their cars outside due to a flaw in the towing harness that may lead to a fire. The affected vehicles covered by this recall include the Hyundai Santa Fe and Santa Fe Hybrids from 2019-2023, the Hyundai Santa Cruz from 2022-2023, and the Kia Carnival from 2022-2023.
In documents submitted to federal authorities, the car manufacturer disclosed one fire incident associated with the flaw and five instances of damage due to heat. Hyundai indicated that moisture ingress into the tow harness can trigger a short circuit in the electronics, potentially causing a fire. This action comes after a previous recall of over 245,000 Hyundai Palisade, Kia Telluride, and Kia Sorento SUVs with a similar issue, which was declared last year.
Hyundai and Kia have pledged to notify owners starting from May 16 about when to take their SUVs, trucks, and vans to a dealer for a complimentary repair. Kia customers will be provided with new hardware, whereas Hyundai will evaluate the hitches and wiring and install “intermediate” components, while also removing affected fuses until a permanent solution is implemented. The influenced models will have their circuit boards substituted with more water-resistant boards. Vehicles assembled post March 13 are exempt from this recall. This announcement is relevant solely to models equipped with a factory-installed tow package.
Hyundai mentioned that owners can verify if their vehicle is at risk by contacting the manufacturer either by calling 855-371-9460 or by inputting their VIN on NHTSA.gov. This recall represents the most recent challenge for Hyundai, which has faced a challenging 2023. The company acknowledged the presence of minors working at two of its Alabama suppliers after a previous report indicated the discovery of “multiple” underage workers at these facilities and several Hyundai and Kia vehicles were rated uninsurable due to high theft rates.
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