Millions of recalled Hyundai and Kia vehicles with defect remain on US roads

The recalled cars include popular models such as the Hyundai Elantra. Photo: Qilai Shen/Bloomberg

Tom Krishner

In September, Hyundai and Kia issued a recall of 3.4 million of its vehicles in the United States with an ominous warning: The vehicles should be parked outdoors and away from buildings because they risked catching fire, whether the engines were on or off.

Six months later, most of those autos remain on the road – unrepaired – putting their owners, their families and potentially other people in danger of fires that could spread to garages, houses or other vehicles.