Millions of Hyundai and Kia vehicles recalled for this dangerous defect are still circulating

DETROIT (AP) — Hyundai and Kia in September issued a recall of 3.4 million of their vehicles in the United States with an alarming warning: The vehicles should be parked outdoors and away from buildings because they ran the risk of catching fire, whether the Engines were on and off.

Six months later, most of those vehicles are still on the road—still unrepaired—putting their owners, their families, and potentially others in danger from fires that could spread to garages, homes, or other vehicles.

Hyundai and Kia have acknowledged there is little hope of repairing most of the affected vehicles until June or later, about nine months after they announced the recalls.

Hyundai partially owns Kia, although the two companies operate independently.

Both automakers attribute the delays, in part, to the enormous number of affected vehicles, which represent one of the largest recalls they have ever made. The fires, they say, have occurred when brake fluid leaked onto the circuit boards of the anti-lock braking systems, causing an electrical short and igniting the fluid.

The companies say they have not been able to obtain the necessary parts — fuses that reduce electrical current to the plates — to repair most of the affected vehicles. These include some of its best-selling models between 2010 and 2017, such as Hyundai’s Santa Fe SUV and Elantra car and Kia’s Sportage SUV and Forte sedan.

Hyundai and Kia have urged vehicle owners to contact the companies or dealerships if they see warning lights on the dashboard or smell something burning. Meanwhile, both companies maintain that despite ongoing risks, the vehicles remain safe to drive.

When they announced the recall in September, the two automakers reported that the defect had caused 56 vehicle fires and “thermal incidents,” including burns, meltdowns and smoke. No injuries or deaths have been reported, neither before nor after the recall.

However, auto safety groups complain that repairs are taking much longer than usual. Typically, these repairs begin in 10 weeks or less, although some can take longer if automakers can’t quickly determine the cause, which is not the case with Hyundai and Kia’s problem.

While awaiting repairs, owners of affected vehicles should park outside and away from other units to minimize risks. Automotive safety advocates point out that excessive brake fluid leakage can impair braking or lengthen the distance needed to stop the vehicle.

The overdue repairs represent the latest in a long series of recalls over engine fires in Hyundai and Kia vehicles that have plagued the two Korean automakers since 2015. In total, 13 million of their vehicles have been recalled for engine problems. the engine since 2010.

With the current recall, auto safety groups are wondering why Hyundai and Kia are taking so long to obtain the necessary fuses, a relatively simple part. Some also wonder if a fuse will reliably fix a brake fluid leak. Some critics believe that companies are trying to save money by identifying the solution through a new fuse, which is much less expensive than repairing the fluid leak.

“They’re putting a Band-Aid on this issue,” said Michael Brooks, executive director of the nonprofit Center for Auto Safety. “It seems like it’s a cheap fix instead of repairing the entire anti-lock braking system.”