More than 70,000 Kia Sorento and Sportage vehicles are included in the recall, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
The recalled SUVs include the 2016-2022 Sorento, 2021-2022 Sorento Hybrid, 2022-2022 Sorento Plug-In Hybrid, and 2017-2022 Kia Sportage that have genuine Kia tow hitch harnesses installed. These tow hitch harnesses may have been installed on new vehicles before they were sold, or owners could have purchased them at Kia dealerships.
"Foreign material and moisture contamination on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (PCB) may result in an electrical short circuit, thereby increasing the risk of a tow hitch harness module fire. The origin of PCB contamination is currently unknown but is under investigation" recall document claimed.
Kia reports that it is aware of four vehicle fires and 31 "localized melting incidents" related to this recall. Although, there have been no injuries or crashes caused by the issue.
The automaker says it is currently working on a fix for the problem. Until the problem has been solved, drivers should park their cars outside away from buildings. In addition, Kia said dealers have received orders to stop selling tow hitch harnesses involved in this recall.
Source: NHTSA
