Engine fires. Melting power-seat motors. Overheating electrical connections. Batteries that can ignite.
These are just some of the hazards behind automotive safety recalls that come with an especially urgent warning: park outside.
Unlike many other vehicle recalls, these warnings mean a car or truck could catch fire even when the engine is turned off and the vehicle is sitting unattended in a driveway or garage.
Millions of vehicles with these recalls remain unrepaired, potentially putting drivers, passengers and nearby homes at risk.
And as automakers pack more technology into both gasoline-powered and electric vehicles, the number of outstanding “park outside” recalls has grown.
According to vehicle history reporting company Carfax, more than 3.2 million vehicles across the country have unrepaired “park outside” recalls.
Texas leads the nation, with more than 300,000 affected vehicles still on the road.
“Park outside recalls, first off is among the most serious types of vehicle safety recalls. And essentially what happens there is the vehicle could catch fire even when it’s turned off and unattended,” said Em Nguyen of Carfax.
A “park outside” warning means exactly what it sounds like: Owners should park affected vehicles outdoors, away from garages, homes, buildings and other vehicles until the necessary repairs are completed.
One of the largest recent “park outside” recalls involves more than one million Jeep Wranglers and Gladiators from model years 2021 through 2025.
Automaker Stellantis warned that wiring associated with the hydraulic power steering pump could overheat, potentially causing a fire even when the vehicle is parked and the ignition is turned off.
The company reported being aware of at least 72 fires associated with the issue, and one injury.
Kia also issued a “park outside” recall this summer affecting nearly 463,000 Telluride SUVs.
According to Kia America, a front power-seat switch could overheat and ignite the seat.
The automaker reported seven seat fires and 11 incidents involving melting seat motors.
Even owners who had their vehicles repaired under the earlier recall must return to a dealership for the new remedy.
Jeep and Kia are far from the only automakers to issue fire-related recalls.
“There are probably dozens, maybe hundreds of other active park outside recalls, maybe even thousands,” Nguyen said.
Carfax is urging drivers to take these warnings seriously, particularly because a vehicle doesn’t have to be running for a fire to start.
“We definitely wanna make sure everybody understands what park outside recalls are and hopefully that can then influence people to get them fixed,” Nguyen said.
Vehicle owners can check for outstanding safety recalls using these free resources:
NHTSA.gov/recalls: Enter your vehicle identification number (VIN) or license plate information to search for open recalls.
Carfax.com/recall: Check your vehicle for outstanding safety recalls.
If your vehicle is affected by a “park outside” recall, follow the manufacturer’s safety instructions and contact an authorized dealership to arrange the necessary repairs.
Safety recall repairs are free.
