---
title: "Kia Tells Sportage and Cadenza Owners to Park Outside After Recalling 380K Cars for Fire Risk"
description: "No injuries, deaths, or even fires have been reported, but Kia is playing it safe."
date: "2021-03-09"
modified: "2021-03-09"
authors:
  - name: "Peter Holderith"
    job_title: "Contributor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/peter-holderith.md"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/39678/kia-tells-sportage-and-cadenza-owners-to-park-outside-after-recalling-380k-cars-for-fire-risk"
categories:
  - "Kia News"
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
tags:
  - "Kia"
---

# Kia Tells Sportage and Cadenza Owners to Park Outside After Recalling 380K Cars for Fire Risk

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2021/03/kia-recall-lead-1.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

Recently purchased a 2017-2021 Kia Sportage or a 2017-2019 Kia Cadenza? Well, [the Korean automaker](<https://www.thedrive.com/tech/39309/the-apparent-hackers-behind-kias-ransomware-attack-are-demanding-millions-in-bitcoin.md>) has just issued a recall for fire risk on many of these vehicles—right around 380,000 cars total, [as the *Associated Press* reports.](<https://apnews.com/article/fires-ffde7ccdf1af1b505a27340f5559816b>)

The company says the risk stems from a possible short circuit in the hydro-electric emergency brake's control unit, which can cause excessive current and therefore heat, potentially leading to a fire. Before this happens, Kia says owners might smell something burning or melting in the interior—that would make sense—and a few dashboard lights might come on, such as the tire pressure warning, or anti-lock brake light. It's worth noting that if you have one of these vehicles but it's equipped with Kia's "Smart Cruise Control," you can disregard this recall; it does not affect vehicles with this feature.

![message-editor%2F1615308552378-inlinea.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1615308552378-inlinea.jpg>)
**Kia**

Owners will be able to bring their cars in for a fix after March 30 once Kia begins the process of formally notifying those who purchased the recalled vehicles. In the meantime, the company says that the affected cars and SUVs should be parked outdoors to mitigate the risk of a larger fire.

So far, there have been no reported injuries, deaths, or even fires related to the recall, so Kia is simply taking precautionary measures. Seeing as the automaker has been burned—no pun intended—[by other recalls in the past](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/37985/hyundai-and-kia-woes-continue-as-nearly-425000-vehicles-recalled-over-engine-issues.md>) primarily relating to [engine fires](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/21490/center-for-auto-safety-asks-nhtsa-to-investigate-kia-hyundai-fires.md>), that's probably a good move.

Kia has not signaled that any of its other vehicles are affected by this issue as of publishing.

*Got a tip or question for the author? You can reach them here**: peter@thedrive.com*

## Author
Peter Holderith is a former staff writer for The Drive. He enjoys covering the regular news cycle, writing reviews, and hunting down long features on obscure pieces of automotive history.

### Author social links  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-h-5ba447192/>)  
[Twitter](<https://twitter.com/_baldtires>)

## More

- [Staggering 3.3M Hyundai, Kia Cars Across 23 Models Recalled for Fire Risk](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/staggering-3-3m-hyundai-kia-cars-across-23-models-recalled-for-fire-risk.md>)
- [Hyundai, Kia Tells 567,000 Owners To Park Cars Outside Due to Fire Risk](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/hyundai-kia-tells-567000-owners-to-park-cars-outside-due-to-fire-risk.md>)
- [Watch a Kia Sportage Catch Fire and Burn Up in No Time. Is an Active Recall to Blame?](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/watch-a-kia-sportage-catch-fire-and-burn-to-a-crisp-in-no-time.md>)
- [Kia Stinger Recalled for Wiring Harnesses That Could Catch on Fire](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/24724/kia-stinger-recalled-for-wiring-harnesses-that-could-catch-on-fire.md>)
- [460,000 Kia Tellurides Must Go Back to the Shop to Fix a Botched Fire-Risk Recall](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/460000-kia-tellurides-must-go-back-to-the-shop-to-fix-a-botched-fire-risk-recall.md>)
- [Park Your Chevy Bolts Outside Due to Another Fire Risk: Feds](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/41552/park-your-chevy-bolts-outside-due-to-another-fire-risk-feds.md>)
- [BMW Recalls Almost a Million Cars Over Fire Risk](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/44680/bmw-recalls-almost-a-million-cars-over-valve-heater-fire-risk.md>)
- [Hyundai Recalls 26,000 Velosters Over Parking Sensor-Related Fire Hazard](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/hyundai-recalls-26000-velosters-over-parking-sensor-related-fire-hazard.md>)