FILE PHOTO: FIA man walks past the logo of Hyundai Motor during the 2019 Seoul Motor Show in Goyang, South Korea, March 28, 2019. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji/File Photo
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Monday it would open a new safety defect investigation into 3 million Hyundai Motor Co and Kia Motors Corp vehicles for fires not caused by crashes.
The investigation is in response to a petition seeking a probe by the Center for Auto Safety. The auto safety agency already has an earlier probe into some Hyundai and Kia vehicles for fire risks. The South Korean automakers have recalled more than 2.3 million vehicles since 2015 to address various engine fire risks in a series of recalls.
Reporting by David Shepardson