A frightening car fire that erupted without warning in Seminole County, Florida is once again shining a harsh spotlight on long running safety concerns tied to Hyundai and Kia recalls.
The dramatic incident, captured in a WESH 2 investigation, involved a 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport that burst into flames near a school in Longwood, despite not being involved in any crash.
What remains of the SUV tells a grim story. The vehicle, now reduced to a blackened shell sitting in a storage lot, shows complete destruction of the driver and passenger compartment.
According to investigators on scene, the core of the fire burned intensely just below the engine area, a pattern that has become disturbingly familiar in similar Hyundai and Kia fires reported across the country.
A Driver’s Terrifying Escape
The owner, Edgar Francesca, says the fire unfolded with shocking speed. He recalled seeing what appeared to be light, wispy smoke before the situation escalated almost instantly. Within less than a minute, the SUV went from barely noticeable smoke to a full-blown explosion.
Francesca realized he had no time to hesitate. He jumped out of the vehicle and ran to safety, calling 911 and leaving firefighters to battle the blaze.
“That was the scariest thing,” Francesca said. “It was really bad and really fast.”
Fire crews managed to contain the flames, but the SUV was a total loss. The engine area was destroyed, and even the seat where Francesca had been sitting melted under the intense heat. Had he waited even moments longer, the outcome could have been far worse.
An Unheeded Recall Warning
What makes this incident particularly troubling is what Francesca did not know at the time. His Hyundai Santa Fe Sport had an active safety recall that had never been repaired.
Investigative reporters informed him that his vehicle was part of a massive recall affecting 3.3 million Hyundai and Kia vehicles nationwide due to a fire risk.
According to the recall notice, the issue involves the ABS brake system module. Brake fluid can leak internally and cause an electrical short, potentially triggering an engine compartment fire while the vehicle is parked or driving.
Francesca remembered receiving the recall notice but admitted he never acted on it. Like many drivers, he never imagined a brake related issue could lead to such a catastrophic fire.
A Hyundai spokesperson emphasized the importance of taking recall notices seriously. The company said recall letters clearly explain the nature of the safety concern, the available remedy, and provide instructions for scheduling repairs at no cost to owners.
A Widespread and Dangerous Problem
Despite those assurances, compliance remains alarmingly low. Only about 32 percent of affected Kia owners and 29 percent of Hyundai owners have completed the necessary repairs. That leaves more than one million vehicles still on US roads with unresolved fire risks, vehicles that could ignite without warning just like Francesca’s did.
Safety advocates say this is unacceptable. The Center for Auto Safety is urging drivers to act immediately when they receive recall notices, stressing that the dangers go far beyond fire.
Unrepaired recalls can lead to broken axles, loss of power steering, brake failure, and a host of other serious hazards.
The group is also raising concerns about whether automakers are doing enough to notify owners about critical safety recalls. They argue that more aggressive outreach could prevent incidents like this from happening again.
For Francesca, insurance will help him replace his vehicle, but the experience left a lasting impression. His story now serves as a stark warning to millions of American drivers. Ignoring a recall notice, even one that seems minor, can carry life threatening consequences.