NHTSA opens investigation into Hyundai, Kia recalls over fire risks

NHTSA investigation overview: 

• Who: The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) is investigating 16 recalls of 6.4 million Hyundai and Kia vehicles due to fire hazard, Reuters reported.
• Why: The NHTSA will look into the companies’ compliance with reporting requirements and timeliness in reporting the recalls while fixing the issues that led to the Hyundai/Kia recalls.
• Where: The Hyundai recalls and Kia recalls were effective across the United States.

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) says that it will examine the 16 recalls of 6.4 million Hyundai and Kia vehicles in recent years due to fire hazards to determine whether the companies appropriately handled the recalls, according to Reuters.

The NHTSA examination will look into whether the companies followed NHTSA’s required timelines and reporting requirements related to the recalls as well as how the companies handled resolving the issues that led to the recalls.

NHTSA said that it wanted to “understand the varying defect descriptions and remedies between these recalls,” according to Reuters.

Hyundai told media outlets in a statement that it was “fully cooperating with NHTSA” and “puts the safety of our customers and employees as the top priority in everything we do.”

Kia told Reuters and others in a statement that it “will work closely and in cooperation with NHTSA” during the NHTSA investigation. 

September recalls came after 21 vehicle fires and 22 “thermal incidents,” companies reported

The companies announced in September that they would recall more than 3 million vehicles combined over concerns they contain a defect that could cause them to experience a fire in their engine compartment. 

After that recall, the companies asked consumers to park the cars outside and away from home and structures until the recall issue was resolved. The fires could occur both when the car was on and when it was turned off and not driving, the Hyundai and Kia recall notice said.

The vehicles’ anti-lock brake system modules could leak brake fluid internally and cause an electrical short that led to an engine compartment fire, the Kia and Hyundai recalls said.

At the time of the recall notice, there had already been 21 related vehicle fires in the United States and 22 thermal incidents that included visible smoke, burning and melting. 

Have you been impacted by the Hyundai and Kia recalls? Let us know in the comments.

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