Laguna Hills, CA – September 17, 2024 – Recalls caused by the risk of a car catching fire are on the rise these days. 

Have you ever wondered what to do if your car catches fire? 

This is a dangerous situation which may result in injuries to the car occupants and property damage. Because of that, taking fast and appropriate action is of utmost importance.

Vehicle fire signs  

You would likely also perceive a strong burning smell, which is an early warning sign that must not be ignored. You could also see smoke inside the cabin or flames emerging from under the hood.

What to do if the car catches fire? 

• Turn on the hazard lights and pull over as soon as possible. 
• Once stationary, leave your belongings inside and exit the vehicle with caution to avoid getting hit by the oncoming traffic. – The safest way to do that would be exiting from the passenger side. 
• Immediately move away from the burning vehicle.

Should I try to put out the fire?

Trying to tackle the fire on your own is extremely dangerous and can lead to additional injuries, such as burns and smoke inhalation. Instead, call 911 and wait for the firefighters to arrive.

Can my car catch fire when parked and turned off?

Unfortunately, depending on the issue causing fire, it is entirely possible that the car may catch fire when parked with the ignition off.

A good example of that is a massive recall conducted in October 2023 by Hyundai and Kia because of flame-prone anti-lock brake systems (ABS), as reported.

Manufacturers typically recommend parking such cars away from structures until they get repaired, also as reported.

What usually causes vehicle fire?

A car can burst into flames for many reasons. For instance – as a recent Kia recall illustrates – fuel or oil might leak onto hot engine components, causing a fire under the hood. 

Damaged wiring may overheat and cause an electrical short, which is exactly what happened to several Mercedes-Benz models. 

Finally, EVs and hybrids have high-voltage batteries, which may also be the culprit, like in this recent Chrysler Pacifica recall.

Notable fire-related recalls and investigtions

Kia and Hyundai have recalled millions of vehicles over the years and are currently subject to a U.S government investigation to determine if more cars to be recalled and whether the existing remedies actually reduced the risk of car fires.

Other brands are not immune to this issue, either. For instance, Ford recently recalled brand-new Mustangs over a transmission fluid leak that may result in a vehicle fire. 

Is your vehicle at risk of fire?

Fire-related risks are frequent causes of recalls. To do a recall check for your vehicle and see if it is affected by any of them, please use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.