Recall alert: Kia recalls 380K vehicles for fire risk, tells people to park outside

Recall alert FILE PHOTO: Kia is telling owners of nearly 380,000 vehicles in the U.S. to park them outdoors due to the risk of an engine compartment fire. (Gene J. Puskar)

By Natalie Dreier, Cox Media Group National Content Desk

Kia says if you have one of the company’s 380,000 recalled vehicles, you should park it outside.

That’s because of a potential engine compartment fire risk.

Some Sportage SUVs made between 2017 and 2021, as well as Cadenza sedans from 2017 through 2019, can have a short circuit in the hydraulic electronic brake control unit. Excessive current can increase fire risk, The Associated Press reported.

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The vehicles do not have the company’s Smart Cruise Control system.

Owners might be alerted to the issue by dashboard warning lights. They may also smell an odor of burning or melting, the AP reported.

>> Related: Kia recalls 295,000 vehicles for risk of engine fire

Owners will get notifications in April. Dealers will replace fuses in the electrical junction box to prevent fires.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration had been investigating Kia along with Hyundai since 2019, taking a look at engine fires, after the nonprofit Center for Auto Safety asked for an investigation.

>> Related: Nissan recalls 854K Sentras for brake-light issue

To see if your KIA is under recall, click here.