Hyundai is recalling tens of thousands of Tucson SUVs in North America after identifying a defect in an optional trailer hitch wiring harness that can overheat and, in rare cases, trigger a fire. The company and federal regulators say the risk exists even when the vehicle is parked and the engine is off, which is why owners are being urged to park outside and away from structures until repairs are completed.
The campaign affects more than 51,000 vehicles equipped with a specific tow-hitch module, and it is the latest in a series of fire-related safety actions involving the Tucson nameplate. I will break down what is known about the defect, how to tell if your SUV is affected, and what steps Hyundai and regulators are taking to contain the risk.
What Hyundai and regulators say is going wrong
At the heart of the recall is an optional trailer wiring harness, supplied by Mobis, that can be installed on certain Tucson models to power trailer lights. According to Hyundai Motor America, the way this Mobis tow hitch wiring harness was installed on some Tucson vehicles allows moisture and contaminants to reach the control module, which can cause an electrical short and overheating even when the SUV is parked with the ignition switched off, a scenario detailed in a safety notice cited by Hyundai Motor America. That overheating can escalate into smoke or a fire in the rear of the vehicle, particularly around the hitch module and bumper area.
Technical descriptions from the recall filings explain that the module is constantly supplied with power, so if water intrudes and corrodes internal circuitry, the system can draw current and heat up even when the Tucson is locked and unattended. One analysis notes that the defect can cause the trailer hitch module to overheat and potentially catch fire, a risk that prompted the campaign covering over 51,000 Tucson SUVs in North America, as summarized in a notice on Hyundai Recalls Over. Regulators at NHTSA have echoed that assessment, describing a risk of fire from faulty trailer wiring that persists even when the vehicle is not in motion.
How many Tucsons are affected and where
Regulatory filings and company statements indicate that Hyundai is recalling over 51,000 Tucson vehicles in the United States because of the fire risk tied to the trailer wiring harness. NHTSA documents describe a campaign in which Hyundai Motor will recall more than 51,000 vehicles in the US over the risk of fire, with the agency emphasizing that the defect involves an accessory harness rather than the core powertrain. A similar figure appears in parallel reporting that notes Hyundai will recall over 51,000 vehicles in the US, again citing NHTSA as the confirming authority.
Canadian regulators have also flagged the same issue on Tucson SUVs sold north of the border, describing a recall that covers nearly 10,000 2022 to 2024 Tucson SUVs in Canada equipped with the optional trailer wiring harness. Transport Canada summaries, relayed through automotive reporting, explain that these Canadian-market vehicles share the same vulnerability in the trailer wiring module that can lead to overheating and fire, a pattern that is consistent with the broader North American campaign described in Hyundai Recalls Tucson Again. Together, the US and Canadian actions underscore that the defect is tied to a specific accessory package rather than a single plant or market.
Why Hyundai is telling owners to park outside
One of the most striking aspects of this recall is the instruction for Tucson owners with the affected hitch harness to park their vehicles outside and away from buildings. Hyundai Motor America has told owners that because the Mobis tow hitch wiring harness can overheat even when the vehicle is turned off, there is a risk of a fire starting in a garage or near a home, a warning that appears in the safety communication highlighted by Tucson owners to park outside. Advising owners to park outdoors is a standard step when regulators believe a parked-vehicle fire could spread quickly to a structure.
The guidance reflects lessons from earlier fire-related recalls across the industry, where unattended vehicles with electrical faults have ignited in garages and caused extensive property damage. By urging Tucson drivers to keep their SUVs outside until the remedy is installed, Hyundai and NHTSA are trying to reduce the chance that a localized wiring failure in the trailer module becomes a house fire. The language used in the recall filings makes clear that the risk is considered serious enough to warrant immediate behavioral changes, even though the number of confirmed incidents remains limited, a balance that is consistent with NHTSA’s approach in other fire-risk campaigns described in the NHTSA summary.
How to know if your Tucson is part of the recall
For owners, the first step is to determine whether their Tucson is equipped with the optional trailer wiring harness that sits at the center of the recall. Hyundai has set up an online recall portal where drivers can enter their vehicle identification number (VIN) to see if their SUV is covered by any open campaigns, including this trailer-hitch fire risk, a tool that is accessible through the company’s dedicated campaign home page. Owners can also expect to receive mailed notifications if their VIN appears in the recall population, but checking proactively is the fastest way to confirm status.
Beyond the VIN lookup, there are practical signs that the trailer wiring harness may already be compromised. Hyundai has indicated that intermittent issues with the trailer lights are a good indication that water has started getting into the module, a symptom described in technical guidance that notes how Intermittent trailer light behavior can precede more serious overheating. If the trailer lights stop working entirely or flicker unpredictably, owners are advised to stop using the trailer connection and schedule an inspection with a Hyundai dealer as soon as possible.
What Hyundai’s repair plan looks like
Hyundai has told regulators that it will inspect and repair affected Tucsons at no cost to owners, a standard requirement for safety recalls overseen by NHTSA. The remedy involves replacing or modifying the trailer hitch wiring module and adding improved sealing or protective measures to prevent water intrusion, a fix that will be carried out at dealerships once parts are available, according to recall documentation summarized in the Hyundai Motor filings. Dealers will also check for signs of damage or corrosion in the existing harness and module and replace components that show evidence of overheating.
In Canada, similar steps are being taken, with Transport Canada documents noting that Hyundai will replace the module on affected vehicles and ensure that the new parts are better protected from moisture. Reporting on the Canadian campaign explains that the company will replace the module and related wiring on Tucson SUVs affected by the issue, a remedy described in detail in the recall overview that notes how Hyundai will replace the module. Until those repairs are completed, owners are being asked to avoid using the trailer wiring and to continue parking outside.
A repeat safety headache for Hyundai’s best-seller
The Tucson is not a niche product for Hyundai, it is the brand’s volume leader in the US and a key player in its global lineup. One analysis describes The Hyundai Tucson as the Korean marque’s best-selling model in the US, with 188,000 units sold in a recent year, a figure that underscores why any safety issue involving this SUV attracts outsized attention, as highlighted in a feature that refers to The Hyundai Tucson as a Cash Cow in the Spotlight. When a company’s top seller is repeatedly linked to fire risks, even if the underlying causes differ, it can erode consumer confidence more quickly than a defect in a low-volume model.
This is not the first time Hyundai has had to address fire concerns on the Tucson nameplate. Earlier campaigns have involved different components, but the pattern of multiple fire-related recalls has put Hyundai’s safety culture under scrutiny and forced the company to move quickly when new issues emerge. The latest trailer-hitch wiring problem is framed in some coverage as Hyundai Recalls Tucson Again over fire risk, a phrase that captures both the recurrence and the frustration some owners feel, as reflected in the Hyundai Recalls Tucson Again Fire Risk News coverage. For a model that has become a default choice in suburban driveways, the reputational stakes are high.
What owners should watch for day to day
While the official guidance is to park outside and wait for the recall repair, there are practical steps Tucson owners can take to monitor their vehicles in the meantime. I would advise paying close attention to any unusual smells, smoke, or heat around the rear bumper area, especially after driving in heavy rain or through car washes, since moisture intrusion is a key trigger in this defect. Hyundai has also pointed to intermittent trailer light behavior as an early warning sign that water has reached the module, a detail that appears in technical notes explaining that Hyundai considers flickering or nonfunctional trailer lights a red flag.
Owners should also avoid improvising repairs or disconnecting the harness themselves, since improper handling of the wiring could create new hazards or complicate the official fix. Instead, the safest course is to schedule a service appointment as soon as recall parts are available and to follow the parking and usage instructions in the interim. If any signs of overheating appear, such as melting plastic near the hitch or visible smoke, drivers should move away from the vehicle and contact emergency services before reaching out to Hyundai, a sequence that aligns with the risk descriptions in the recall notice that warns the module can overheat and, in isolated instances, reach ignition, as described in the technical summary of the trailer hitch fire hazard.
Why this recall matters beyond Hyundai
The Tucson trailer-hitch campaign is part of a broader pattern in which modern vehicles, packed with electronics and accessories, face new kinds of fire risks that were rare in simpler, mechanically focused designs. Optional equipment like trailer wiring harnesses, which may be installed at ports or dealerships rather than at the factory, can introduce vulnerabilities if they are not engineered and sealed to the same standards as original equipment. The fact that this defect centers on an accessory supplied by Mobis and installed on certain Tucson vehicles illustrates how complex supply chains and installation practices can create safety gaps, a point underscored in the description of the Mobis tow hitch wiring harness in the Mobis focused report.
For regulators and consumers, the recall is a reminder that safety oversight must extend beyond engines and fuel systems to the growing web of electronic modules scattered throughout modern SUVs. NHTSA’s involvement, including its role in announcing that Hyundai will recall over 51,000 vehicles in the US over the risk of fire, shows that the agency is treating accessory-related defects with the same seriousness as core vehicle faults, as reflected in the Hyundai to recall over 51,000 vehicles summary. As more drivers opt for towing packages and aftermarket electronics, the lessons from Hyundai’s Tucson recall are likely to influence how automakers design, test, and certify these add-ons in the years ahead.
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