Since the tow hitch harnesses can catch fire while the vehicles are parked or being driven, Hyundai and Kia are advising the owners of more than 571,000 SUVs and minivans in the United States to park them outside. This is the only safe location for the vehicles.
The connected automakers claim a trailer hitch harness can fire when parked or driving.
Vehicles manufactured by linked Korean manufacturers are being recalled, and owners are being warned to keep their cars at a safe distance from buildings while repairs are being done.
Vehicles manufactured by Hyundai that fall within this category include the Santa Fe from 2019 to 2023, the Santa Fe Hybrid from 2021 to 2023, the Santa Fe Plug-in hybrid from 2022 and 2023, and the Santa Cruz from 2022 and 2023. Only the Kia Carnival minivan produced between 2022 and 2023 is impacted by this issue. All of them have Hyundai or Kia tow hitch harnesses, and either they arrived with the vehicle as original equipment or the dealers fitted them.
Even if the ignitions are turned off, water may still seep into a circuit board on the hitches and produce a short circuit, according to the statements made by the Korean automakers, which were published in papers on Thursday by the U.S. safety regulators.
Network Hype Team