Owners of recalled Kia vehicles are told to park outside over fire risk, even when car is off

Owners of more than 48,000 recalled Kia vehicles in Canada are being warned that a possible fire hazard may remain even after the SUV has been switched off. Until the fix is completed, they are being told to park outside

Here's what to know

According to 604 Now, Transport Canada's recall covers more than 48,000 Kia vehicles in Canada. It applies only to all-wheel-drive Seltos models from the 2024, 2025, and 2026 model years.

In the recall notice, Transport Canada said that "on certain vehicles, the 4WD control unit under the driver's seat may become contaminated by a mixture of salt and moisture inside the vehicle. Over time, this can lead to corrosion that could cause a short circuit."

That electrical fault could cause a fire, and the danger isn't limited to when the vehicle is being driven.

More background

Because the hazard can remain even with the ignition off, the concern extends to places where the vehicle is parked, including driveways, garages, and shared parking areas.

Until dealers complete the repair, affected owners are being told to keep their vehicles outdoors and away from buildings or other cars. That can create an immediate day-to-day burden for people who rely on indoor parking, live in apartment buildings, or keep their car close to their home.

What can be done?

Affected owners will get a mailed notice from Kia instructing them to bring the Seltos to a dealership, where technicians will inspect the 4WD control unit.

If needed, technicians will replace the control unit and related components. Dealers will also install a cover over the 4WD unit to help reduce the chance of the contamination problem happening again.

The interim advice remains: park the vehicle outdoors, away from buildings or other cars.

Owners can find recall details on Kia's website and in the Transport Canada recall notice.

Where can I learn more?

Kia isn't the only automaker to tell owners to park outside after a fire-related recall, as these related stories show. 

• BMW warned plug-in hybrid drivers to park outside after battery concerns during a 29,000-vehicle recall.

• Cold-weather drivers learned that what actually hurts batteries matters more than storing an EV indoors.

• A renter's charger drew backlash because a dangerous home charging setup raised serious safety fears.

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