Hyundai and Kia recalled several vehicle models on Wednesday and urged motorists to park away from buildings amid outbreaks of fires that worry these automakers.
Hyundai said the recall affects 326,942 vehicles in Canada and 1,642,551 vehicles in the United States.
The vehicles recalled by Hyundai include certain models built between 2010 and 2015, including the following models: Accent, Elantra, Tucson, Sante Fe.
According to the advisory, the anti-lock braking system (ABS) of these vehicles could leak brake fluid and cause an electrical short circuit over time.
This situation could result in a fire when the vehicle is parked or operating.
There have been no reports of injuries or deaths related to this issue, Hyundai said in an emailed statement to CTVNews.ca.
However, Hyundai recommends drivers park the recalled vehicles outside and away from buildings.
The company advises affected drivers to take their vehicle to a dealer for inspection and, if necessary, replacement. Hyundai will contact the owners of the affected vehicles by mid-November.
Kia also recalled several models, including Optima, Forte, Soul, Sportage, Rio and others, all built between 2010 and 2017.
Here too, the reason for the recall is a possible short circuit in the brakes.
Kia has confirmed that 276,225 vehicles in Canada are affected by the recall. The company is also urging owners to park affected vehicles outside.
To check if a vehicle is affected, owners can search for a recall using their vehicle identification number (VIN).
Owners can continue to drive their vehicle.