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Car manufacturers Hyundai and Kia are both recalling nearly 2,000 vehicles due to an issue involving a connection located beneath the rear seats of the affected vehicles that could cause fires.
Hyundai issued a recall for 754 Ioniq hybrid and plug-In hybrid vehicles while Kia is recalling 1,039 Niro crossovers – the vehicles being recalled are from the 2017 and 2018 model years, Automotive News Canada reported.
Although the recalls were issued separately, the same issue plagued both automobiles.
According to the recall notices posted on Transport Canada’s website, the power relay assembly located under the rear seat of both cars may have an “inadequate connection.” This fault could increase electrical resistance and generate heat, raising the risk of fire that could lead to injury and/or damage of property.
The manufacturers additionally warned that the problem could cause the HEV warning light to switch on while driving and/or an inability to start the vehicle.
Once drivers bring their vehicles in for inspection, dealers will check the power relay assembly for signs of thermal damage. If no damage is found, the main relay will be replaced. But if the tell-tale marks of thermal damage are found, the power relay assembly will be replaced.
Automotive News Canada reported that Hyundai has sold 2,729 Ioniqs through September, while Kia has sold 2,067 units of the Niro.
Hyundai and Kia’s announcement is the latest in a series of fire risk-related auto recalls.
In September, Nissan issued a recall for 19,761 in Canada over a potential fire risk. Nissan’s problem was traced to faulty anti-lock brake pumps in affected vehicles, which could leak brake fluid on to circuit boards and lead to fire-causing electrical shorts.
Also in September, Ford recalled more than 300,000 of its popular F-150 trucks in Canada. The auto company explained that defective seat belts in the trucks can generate excessive sparks when they tighten before a crash, possibly igniting gases inside a support pillar between the front and rear seats.
