If you are looking at an older Hyundai or Kia from roughly the 2010-2017 era, check the VIN for the 2023 ABS module fire recall (Hyundai 23V-651, Kia 23V-652) and get proof the dealer installed the new fuse before you agree to a price. These are cheap, common cars, which is exactly why plenty of them are still changing hands with the recall never done, and the official advice for an unrepaired one is to park it outside, away from buildings.
That advice covers a huge slice of the budget used market: Elantras, Sonata Hybrids, Souls, Sorentos, Optimas, Rios. If your price range sits under ten grand, the odds you will run into one of these are high.
What the recall covers
NHTSA announced both recalls on September 27, 2023, together covering more than 3.3 million vehicles. The agency said the anti-lock brake system module could leak brake fluid internally and cause an electrical short, and that the resulting overcurrent could start an engine compartment fire whether the car was being driven or sitting parked and turned off.
Hyundai's recall, at about 1.64 million vehicles, lists the 2012-2015 Accent, 2012-2015 Azera, 2011-2015 Elantra, 2013-2015 Elantra Coupe, 2014-2015 Equus, 2011-2015 Genesis Coupe, 2013-2015 Santa Fe, 2013 Santa Fe Sport, 2011-2015 Sonata Hybrid, 2010-2013 Tucson, 2015 Tucson Fuel Cell, 2012-2015 Veloster and 2010-2012 Veracruz. Kia's, at about 1.73 million, covers the Cadenza, Forte and Forte Koup, K900, Optima and Optima Hybrid, Rio, Rondo, Sorento, Soul and Sportage across various years, plus a small number of Borregos in U.S. territories according to Kia's later follow-up notice. Exact model years differ between the first announcement and Kia's follow-up, so the VIN lookup is the only answer that counts.
What the fix actually is
The remedy is a fuse, not a new ABS module. Hyundai's dealer guidance tells technicians to replace either the ABS multi-fuse or two individual ABS fuses depending on the model. Kia's March 2024 follow-up says dealers will install new fuse(s) to prevent the short-circuit condition in the control unit. It is a quick, free dealer job.
The fix was not ready for everyone at once, which is part of why so many cars are still open. USA Today reported in April 2024 that, seven months after the recall, the two companies were still working on repairs. Hyundai rolled the remedy out in phases by model starting in April 2024, and Kia mailed follow-up letters from late March into June 2024 as parts arrived. A car that changed hands during that stretch may never have had the second letter reach anyone who cared.
How to check a specific car
Run the VIN through NHTSA and the brand's own lookup. Our posts on the Hyundai recall check by VIN and the Kia recall check by VIN show both. Then:
- If the recall shows open, ask the seller to get it done before the sale or price the car as if you will have to arrange it yourself. The repair is free, but your time is not.
- If it shows closed, ask for the repair order. A completed recall should show up on dealer paperwork with a campaign number; Kia's is SC284 and Hyundai's dealer documents call theirs Safety Recall 251.
- If the seller has no idea what you are talking about, that is common with these cars. It is not a lie, but it is a reason to slow down.
Our walkthrough on confirming a recall was completed covers reading those records.
Warning signs worth walking away over
Kia's notice lists the symptoms owners may notice: a lit check-engine light, an ABS warning light, a burning or melting smell, or smoke from the engine bay. It says that if this happens, the car should be towed to a dealer right away. So if you start one up and the ABS light stays on, or you smell anything hot under the hood after a short drive, do not buy it on the spot and do not drive it home.
Pop the hood and look at the area around the ABS unit for brake fluid residue or melted plastic. A clean engine bay on a 12-year-old economy car can mean careful owners, or it can mean someone pressure-washed away evidence. Ask. Our ABS control module check covers what that part looks like and how a failing one behaves.
What the numbers say about risk
Keep the scale in perspective. When the recalls were announced, Hyundai reported 21 related fires in the United States and 22 other thermal incidents such as smoke, burning and melting, and Kia reported one engine compartment fire, three fires in the unit and six cases of melting parts. Neither company knew of any crashes, injuries or deaths tied to the defect. Against more than 3.3 million cars, a fire is rare. That is not the same as harmless, and it is why the park-outside advice stands until the fuse is in. If you live in a house with an attached garage, an unrepaired car parked inside is the scenario these notices are trying to prevent.
Hyundai's dealer guidance also says owners who do not feel safe driving the car before the repair should be offered a rental, and that owners can be reimbursed for out-of-pocket costs to get the remedy. As a buyer in November 2026, the simplest move is to have the fix done before money changes hands.
Where a vehicle history report fits
A history report helps on two fronts. It can show an engine-compartment fire claim or a fire-related title brand from a previous owner, and it often shows dealer service visits, which can hint that a recall was done. It cannot tell you whether the fuse is in there today. That part is the VIN lookup and the repair order.
These cars also overlap with another big Hyundai and Kia problem, the engine recalls, so read our Hyundai and Kia engine recall check too. If you want your own report, CarVins is an independent licensed reseller of CARFAX and AutoCheck, not connected to CARFAX, AutoCheck or Experian, and there is no legitimate source of free full reports. Expect a few dollars with us versus retail that is several times higher; confirm at checkout, since prices do move. On a car this cheap, honestly, the report and the recall check are worth more than the haggling.
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!
Log in to leave a comment.