Concerns about electric vehicles (EVs) and their potential fire risks have persisted since the early 2020s, fueled by high-profile incidents involving Teslas and recalls triggered by flammable batteries in Chevy Bolts. However, a recent analysis indicates that conventional gasoline and diesel vehicles remain the primary source of so-called “park outside” recalls related to fire hazards, dispelling the notion that EVs represent a uniquely elevated fire risk.

Since 2021, federal safety regulators have reported a significant increase in recalls warning vehicle owners to park outside due to the risk of fires igniting while cars are turned off. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has announced 17 such recalls affecting 1.7 million vehicles in the first seven months of 2026 alone, making the year second highest on record for these warnings. Vehicle history provider CarFax estimates approximately 3.4 million cars currently have outstanding recalls under this category.

Experts attribute the surge in “park outside” recalls to the growing complexity of modern vehicle electronics rather than to the type of powertrain. Sean Kane, president of the auto safety analysis firm Safety Research and Strategies, explained the issue stems from increasing numbers of electronic components—ranging from transmissions to seat heaters—that raise the risk of electrical malfunctions.

Gasoline and diesel vehicles continue to dominate these recalls, partly reflecting their 94 percent share of the U.S. light-duty vehicle market. Data shows that nearly half of the 93 park outside recalls issued since 2021 have targeted exclusively internal combustion engine vehicles, 38 covered electric or hybrid vehicles only, and the rest involved models spanning multiple powertrains. However, in terms of the number of vehicles affected, traditional fuel cars far outpace EVs and hybrids, with nearly 4.6 million gasoline or diesel vehicles recalled compared to around 662,000 electrified vehicles over the past five years.

Among notable cases, Kia recalled 463,000 Telluride SUVs this year due to front power-seat switches that could overheat and ignite the seat, marking a second recall for this defect. Ford also recalled over 66,000 Expeditions and Lincoln Navigators from the 2021 model year because of circuit board shorts in the battery junction box, linked to at least 16 fires often occurring when vehicles were parked and powered down.

A particularly large NHTSA announcement in September 2023 involved Hyundai and Kia recalling nearly 3.4 million vehicles collectively due to fire risks related to an antilock brake system defect that allowed brake fluid leaks to trigger electrical shorts and engine fires. These recalls covered mostly gasoline-powered models, with a smaller number of hybrids and fuel cell vehicles included. Both manufacturers advised affected owners to park vehicles outside and away from structures as a precaution.

Despite ongoing fears, analysts caution that clear data on the relative fire risks of EVs compared to gas vehicles remains scarce in the United States. Historically, regulators have not tracked vehicle fires based on powertrain types, though this is changing with a new federal reporting system implemented in 2024 that includes powertrain information to offer better insight. Experts like Adam Barowy of the Fire Safety Research Institute emphasize that North American data is limited, but existing international studies sometimes suggest gasoline and diesel vehicles may have higher fire incidence rates than EVs.

Past high-profile fires in parking garages, such as a massive 2017 blaze in Liverpool that destroyed 1,400 cars and a 2020 fire at Norway’s Stavanger airport damaging hundreds of vehicles, raised questions about EV involvement. However, investigations found these fires originated from conventional vehicles—a Land Rover and a diesel Opel, respectively.

While the increasing complexity of automotive electronics poses broader fire risks, current evidence does not indicate that EVs present a unique or greater danger compared to traditional vehicles. Regulators and safety specialists continue to monitor and investigate fire incidents to improve response protocols and vehicle design standards.