Hyundai Motor and Kia Motors have instructed some owners of their large SUVs to park outdoors and away from buildings following a series of fires linked to wiring in trailer hitches.
South Korean automakers have recalled more than 281,000 vehicles in the US for the issue, but have yet to find a fix. The automaker said the problem caused him 25 fire or meltdown incidents in the United States and Canada, but no crashes or injuries.
The recall covers more than 245,000 Hyundai Palisade and 36,000 Kia Telluride SUVs for the 2020-2022 model year.
Debris and moisture can accumulate on the circuit board of the tow hitch wiring, according to documents released by the U.S. Highway Traffic Safety Administration on Tuesday. It can cause an electrical short and lead to fire.
Hyundai said the dealer will inspect the wiring and remove the fuse as an interim repair. Kia has no interim repairs. The company says a final fix is being developed.
Additionally, dealers for both automakers have suspended sales of the affected SUVs until repairs are made.