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Over the past few weeks, thousands and thousands of vehicles have been recalled for various issues. From connectivity problems to fire risks, there is a long list of hazards.
Hyundai, Nikola, Mazda, Toyota, and Kia are among the many brands issuing voluntary recalls over safety concerns for specific models.
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (USNHTA) has issued a total of nearly 270,000 vehicle recalls in just the last week alone, according to USA Today.
Hyundai, Kia, Nikola, Mazda are all on the list
Among this figure, Hyundai and Kia are recalling nearly 92,000 vehicles in the U.S. and are advising users of their 2023-2024 Palisade SUVs and 2023 Tucson, Sonata, Elantra and Kona vehicles to park them outside because an electronic controller in an oil pump can overheat and cause fires.
Kia also recalled more than 120,000 Niro and Niro Plug-in hybrid vehicles because of a potential fluid leak in their models that may result in an engine compartment fire.
The companies have stated that a capacitor on a circuit board in the oil pump assembly for the transmission may have been damaged by the supplier during manufacturing, leaving the potential for a short-circuit and increase in the risk of a fire.
Kia said it has recently had six reports of melting components but no fires or injuries. Hyundai said it has confirmed four “thermal incidents” and no injuries.
Mazda is recalling 17,600 of its 2024 CX-90 vehicles due to potential faulty software that detects when people are approaching the vehicle.
The USNHTA said:
“Software in the Approaching Vehicle Audible System (AVAS) Information Sound Box (ISB) amplifier may be missing, which can cause inaccurate, external pedestrian warning sounds.”
Nikola has also joined the list by recalling all 209 of the battery-electric semitrucks it has made to date to repair a potential flaw in their battery packs. Following an August 10 presentation of preliminary findings from Exponent, a coolant leak inside a single battery pack was found to be the probable cause of the truck fire at the company’s headquarters in Phoenix back in June this year.
EV fires are a big part of the issue
Tesla, Chevrolet, Hyundai, and Ford have all found themselves in the limelight when it comes to reports of EV battery fires, which are harder to put out and burn far longer than petrol and diesel car fires.
There are multiple reasons as to why a battery can catch fire, such as short-circuiting, overheating, poor cooling, moisture, and manufacturing defects. All of these issues can cause lithium-ion batteries in EVs to catch ignite.
The National Transportation Safety Board concluded that battery powered EVs suffer only 25 fires per 100,000 sold, but are undeniably far more dangerous.
What can you do?
As temperatures rise during the summer months, the heat takes a toll on car batteries, making them more susceptible to damage and more susceptible to fire risks.
Testing your battery’s health, sheltering your car from extreme temperatures, and keeping up on maintenance can all help with preventing premature battery failure. If you are concerned about your car overheating when parked indoors, like in garages or car parks, it is recommended that you should park your vehicle outside.
Dispatch Manager at AAA Western and Central New York, Dan Fisher, said:
“The heat is far more detrimental to a new car battery than is the cold. A lot of times batteries fail in the winter because of what summer put them through.”
Find out more information on vehicle recalls and see whether your vehicle is on the list here.
