Nhtsa Issues 17 'Park Outside' Campaigns in First Seven Months of 2026 As Key-off Fire Recalls Top 1.5 Million Vehicles

More than 1.5 million vehicles have been recalled so far this year due to a risk of the cars bursting into flames even while turned off, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Over the last several months, drivers of certain Jeep Gladiators, Jeep Wranglers, Kia Tellurides and BMW 530e xDrives have been warned to park their vehicles away from other cars or buildings due to the risk of ignition. The warnings, known as "park outside" recalls, have become more frequent as cars are built with more electronics and face more trouble cooling down.

In the first seven months of 2026 alone, the NHTSA issued 17 such campaigns. Jeff Ebsch, a North Dakota resident, experienced the frightening moment a car suddenly erupts into flames late last year when he walked into his garage to find his 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe on fire — unbeknownst to him, the vehicle had a "park outside" recall on it, WDay RadioNow reported. The recalls are meant to warn drivers of what are referred to as key-off fires, Frank Borris, a former NHTSA investigator, told the Washington Post.