Hyundai Santa Fe And Tucson ABS Engine Compartment Fire

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) will be asking owners of certain Santa Fe and Tucson vehicles to return to their dealerships for a problem affecting the Anti Lock Braking (ABS) system. The affected vehicles are equipped with Anti-Lock Brake System modules that could malfunction internally and cause an electrical short over time. The defect could result in an engine compartment fire.

In September 2020, Hyundai received information about a 2014 Tucson vehicle that experienced an overheated ABS module. An investigation was started and ABS modules were recovered from warranty claims for inspection. Hyundai, along with a third-party engineering analysis firm found signs of an internal micro-leak most likely caused by foreign contaminants in the valve body. These elevated levels of contaminants contributed to an electrical short and the resulting thermal damage.

According to the defect report filed with the NHTSA, certain 2016-2018 Santa Fe, 2017-2018 Santa Fe Sport, 2019 Santa Fe XL and 2014-2015 Tucson vehicles are equipped with an ABS module that could malfunction and cause an electrical short that could start a fire in the engine compartment.

Warning signs that the problem exists in your vehicle include:

- Smoke from the engine compartment.

- Burning and/or melting odor.

 -Illumination of the malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) light

 -Illumination of the ABS warning light

Owners can continue driving their vehicles; however, Hyundai recommends parking outside and away from structures until the recall remedy is completed. Owners of the subject vehicles will be notified by first class mail with instructions to bring their vehicles to a Hyundai dealer for inspection of the ABS module and, if necessary, replacement with a new one. In addition to ABS module inspection, the ABS multi-fuse will be replaced with a revised one to mitigate the risk of a fire caused by an internal electrical short. Hyundai's number for this recall is 218 and the NHTSA campaign number is 22V-056.

Kia Motors America (Kia) will also be recalling certain 2016-2018 K900 and 2014-2016 Sportage vehicles for the same problem. The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) module could malfunction and cause an electrical short, which could result in an engine compartment fire. Kia's number for this recall is SC227 and the NHTSA campaign number is 22V-051.