Hyundai and Kia have issued a recall for over 571,000 SUVs and minivans in the U.S., warning owners to park them outdoors due to the risk of tow hitch harnesses catching fire. The recall affects several models, including the 2019 to 2023 Santa Fe, the 2021 to 2023 Santa Fe Hybrid, the 2022 and 2023 Santa Fe Plug-in hybrid, the 2022 and 2023 Santa Cruz, and the 2022 and 2023 Carnival minivan. The cause of the risk is due to water seeping into the circuit board on the hitches, even if the ignition is off, causing a short circuit. While Hyundai has received reports of one fire and five heat damage incidents with no injuries, Kia has not reported any fires or injuries. Until a fix is available, dealers will remove the fuse and tow hitch computer module, and later install a new fuse and wire extension with an improved waterproof connector. The recall was a result of monitoring last year’s Palisade recall by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Owners will be notified starting May 16.
