Hyundai and Kia Issue Urgent Battery Fire Recall: 14 Owners Warned to Park Outdoors

Battery fires rank among the most severe hazards an everyday motorist can face. In response to this risk, Hyundai and Kia have issued fresh, urgent recalls for select electric vehicle models. Both automakers warn that misaligned electrodes within the high-voltage battery cells can cause an internal short circuit, potentially triggering a fire.

While the two recall campaigns cover just 14 vehicles in total, the severity of the defect means every affected owner must take immediate safety precautions, including parking their vehicles outside until repairs are completed.

Affected Models and Specific Details

The defect impacts a handful of electric vehicles from both brands, spanning the 2022 through 2024 model years.

Hyundai Recall

Hyundai states that six IONIQ 5 models from the 2023 and 2024 model years may carry high-voltage battery cells with skewed electrodes. The automaker explicitly warns that this defect could spark a blaze whether the car is driving or stationary.

Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures and limit their charge to a maximum of 80% until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the high voltage battery system assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 31, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai's customer service at 855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 305. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 3, 2026.

Kia Recall

Kia’s recall identifies the exact same root cause, covering a total of eight vehicles:

• Seven 2022–2024MY EV6 models

• One 2024MY EV9 SUV

Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures and limit their charge to a maximum of 80% until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the high voltage battery system assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 7, 2026. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC375. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning July 17, 2026.

Root Cause of the EV Battery Defect

According to documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the high-voltage battery cell supplier, SK On Co., blamed a specific manufacturing quality deviation for the problem. During production, internal electrodes became misaligned, creating a risk for short-circuiting during normal operation or charging.

The Fix: Repair Procedures

Kia will completely replace the high-voltage battery pack with one containing properly aligned battery cells. While Hyundai has not yet published its official NHTSA documentation detailing its exact repair procedure, the shared supplier and identical defect mean a total battery pack replacement is highly likely. All recall repairs will be performed by authorized dealerships completely free of charge to the owners.

Critical Safety Instructions for Owners

If you own one of the impacted vehicles, both manufacturers advise taking immediate precautions before your vehicle is serviced:

• Park Outdoors: Keep your vehicle parked outside and away from homes, garages, or other structures.

• Maintain Distance: It is highly recommended to park away from other vehicles to prevent a potential chain-reaction fire.

• Limit Charging: Owners are instructed to limit maximum battery charging to 80 percent to reduce stress on the cells.

Timeline and Next Steps

Dealer notification letters for this recall went out on July 6. Official owner notification correspondence is scheduled to be mailed on August 7.

Owners can check their 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on the NHTSA recall website or via the Hyundai and Kia owner portals to see if their specific vehicle is included in this safety campaign.