Hyundai and Kia Have Another Fire Problem, and This One Came From the DealershipHyundai and Kia are dealing with another fire-related recall, and the cause this time is unusual: an accessory tow hitch sold through dealerships is being blamed for creating fire risk in certain models. NHTSA has issued a safety bulletin and both automakers are working through the recall process.The issue is the latest in a series of fire-related problems that have dogged the two South Korean brands over the past several years. Previous recalls addressed spontaneous engine fires in certain Theta II engines — a problem that affected hundreds of thousands of vehicles and resulted in significant litigation and regulatory scrutiny. The scale of those earlier recalls and the criticism of how they were handled made fire safety a particularly sensitive topic for both brands.The dealer-installed tow hitch situation is a different kind of problem. When a recall involves a component installed by the dealership rather than manufactured into the vehicle at the factory, it creates a complex accountability question. Customers who purchased the accessory in good faith from an authorized dealer have a reasonable expectation that it meets safety standards. When it turns out not to, the communication chain for reaching those customers can be more complicated than a standard factory recall.For owners of affected vehicles, the practical advice is to stop using the tow hitch until the recall remedy is completed and to check NHTSA's recall database using their VIN. Hyundai and Kia's recall completion rates on previous campaigns have been a point of contention with regulators, so owners shouldn't assume they'll be proactively contacted quickly — checking directly is the safer approach.Join our Newsletter, follow our Instagram page, and connect with us on Facebook.