Most recall notices are easy to put off. Your car still runs fine, so the letter goes in a drawer.
But some recalls come with an unusual warning: park outside. That means the car could catch fire even when it’s turned off and parked. If it’s in an attached garage, the fire could spread to your home.
According to an estimate from Carfax, about 3.2 million vehicles in the U.S. still have an open “park outside” recall.
What “Park Outside” Means
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration created the “park outside” category in 2015 for recalls involving a fire risk that can happen while a vehicle is parked.
When a recall carries this warning, the advice is:
- Park outside, away from buildings and other vehicles
- Don’t park in a garage or carport until the repair is done
- For some electric or plug-in vehicles, don’t charge until the repair is done
Some Big Recent Examples
A few large “park outside” recalls this year include:
- Jeep plug-in hybrids: Chrysler recalled 320,065 Jeep Wrangler and Grand Cherokee plug-in hybrids because high-voltage batteries could catch fire while parked or driven. When the recall was first announced, no fix was available yet.
- Kia Telluride: A July 2026 alert covered 462,869 Tellurides.
Why So Many Cars Still Haven’t Been Fixed
Getting people to actually fix their recalls has long been a challenge. In 2022, NHTSA added a visible warning box to recall pages to make these urgent recalls harder to miss.
Federal safety officials are still working on it. On November 5, NHTSA held a public meeting in Washington called “Recalls Next,” focused on getting more recalls fixed and doing a better job of explaining the risks of unrepaired vehicles. The public can submit comments on the topic until December 5, 2026.
How to Check Your Car
NHTSA suggests checking for recalls twice a year, when you change your clocks. Since daylight saving time just ended, now is a good time.
- Find your 17-character VIN on your registration, insurance card or the driver’s side of the dashboard.
- Enter it at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
- Look for any “Park Outside” or “Do Not Drive” warning on the results page.
- If your car is included, call your dealer to schedule the free repair. Ask whether a loaner car or towing is available while you wait.
If You Have a “Park Outside” Recall
Take it seriously, even if your car seems fine. Park it outside and away from your house until it’s repaired. It’s an inconvenience, but it could keep a car fire from becoming a house fire.
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