Drivers warned to ‘park outside’ as 1.5 million vehicles recalled over fire risk

• More than 1.5 million vehicles have been subject to “park outside” recalls this year due to risks of catching fire even when turned off.
• The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued 17 park outside campaigns in the first seven months of 2026, approaching 2025's full-year total of 19.
• Experts attribute the rise in key-off fires to the increasing volume of electronics packed under vehicle hoods, which keep circuits hot longer after driving.
• Major recent actions include Stellantis recalling over one million Jeeps for steering pump wiring issues and Kia recalling over 460,000 Telluride SUVs for seat motor overheating.
• Auto safety advocates consider park outside warnings crucial for notifying owners of dangerous conditions before official repair solutions are available.

IN FULL

Millions of cars are being recalled after bursting into flames while simply parked outside