A concerning new trend is emerging as a growing number of safety recalls come with ‘park outside’ instructions to reduce the risk of potential fires spreading to properties or other cars. 

Based on US recall data, more than 3.2 million vehicles have been the subject of notices telling owners to keep them outside even if they’re not running, due to the elevated chance of a blaze spreading.

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The recalls affect more than one brand and highlight the increased complexities of today’s added technologies, high-voltage systems and the high heat generated by modern engines. The added risk isn’t the result of a single cause, however.

In the US, more than one million Jeep Wranglers and Gladiators (pictured above) have been recalled due to a faulty electrical connection in the power steering pump that could lead to a fire, with 51 cases tied to the issue so far. Australia got the same recall, with the owners of 9199 vehicles built between 2020 and 2024 told to park outside.

A further 375,000 Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Grand Cherokee plug-in hybrids have been affected by a separate global recall, with owners urged to park outside and not charge until repairs have been undertaken. No such recall has been officially announced for Australian-delivered vehicles at this stage.

While not sold in Australia, Kia issued a recall to more than 460,000 owners of its Telluride SUV because of an overheating issue with a motor in the front electric seats.

BMW has a recall open for almost 30,000 plug-in hybrid sedans in the US. The culprit is a chain reaction that can result in a water leak into an electrical relay, setting off a short circuit capable of starting a fire. In Australia, BMW has a recall open for 292 units of its 330e, 530e, and 740e plug-in hybrids for the same issue.

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The Independent reports that 10 cases of fire-risk recalls were reported in the US in 2024; that number increased to 19 recall actions in 2025, with 17 more similar recalls issued by the end of July this year.

In July alone, the Australian Government’s Vehicle Recalls portal issued recalls for the Jeep and BMW vehicles mentioned above, as well as 197 Peugeot 2008 SUVs. Recalls also hit a further 10,559 BMW non-PHEV vehicles (across 2, 3, 4 and 5 Series, X3, X4 and Z4 models) for a separate starter motor fire risk, and 333 Volvo XC40 plug-in hybrids which may have faulty high-voltage battery cells. 

So far in 2026, 20 automobile recalls related to fire risks have been issued from brands like Cupra, Hyundai, Jaguar, Lexus, and Toyota, among others, although not all include ‘park outside’ instructions.