A major analysis of vehicle safety recalls reveals a surprising fact that contradicts common assumptions about electric car fire risk. Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that over 3.2 million vehicles in the United States currently carry a ‘park outside’ safety warning, and the vast majority of them are powered by gasoline or diesel engines, not batteries.

The ‘park outside’ designation was created by NHTSA in 2015 to flag vehicles with defects that can cause fires even when the engine is off and the car is parked. For the first few years, such recalls were relatively rare, averaging about one per year. However, the frequency has surged dramatically in recent years. During 2024, there were 10 such recalls. In just the first seven months of 2026, authorities announced 17 new ‘park outside’ recalls affecting 1.7 million vehicles combined, making 2026 the second-highest year on record for this type of safety designation.

Why Gas Vehicles Dominate the Recall Numbers

The surge in gasoline vehicle recalls stems from a growing problem with vehicle electronics. Modern cars, whether powered by fossil fuels or batteries, rely on increasingly complex electrical systems. According to safety experts, the issue involves ‘key-off’ fires, where circuits remain powered even after the engine shuts down. Components like seat heaters, power steering systems, and always-on control modules continue drawing current long after a driver parks and leaves the vehicle.

Real-world examples illustrate the severity. Kia recalled 463,000 Telluride models due to overheating front power seat switches. Ford recalled more than 66,000 Expeditions and Lincoln Navigators because battery junction box circuit boards could short out while parked, causing at least 16 documented fires. Stellantis recalled Wrangler and Gladiator models over power steering pump connection fire risks.

Since 2021, NHTSA has issued 93 ‘park outside’ recalls. Gasoline-only vehicles accounted for 4.6 million recalled units, while electric vehicles and hybrids combined represented only about 662,000 units. Even accounting for the fact that approximately 94 percent of U.S. vehicles still use internal combustion engines while just 6 percent are hybrid or fully electric, the disparity remains striking.

Comparing Fire Risk Between Powertrains

electrical component circuit board
Photo by Umberto

Statistical data paints a clear picture when it comes to actual fire incidents. Gasoline and diesel vehicles experience approximately 1,500 fires per 100,000 vehicles sold. In sharp contrast, electric vehicles average just 25 fires per 100,000 sold, making them roughly 60 times less likely to catch fire. Data from Norway, where plug-in vehicles now represent over 97 percent of new car sales, showed that traditional fuel vehicles had a fire incidence rate four times higher than electric vehicles between 2016 and 2021.

The National Fire Prevention Association reports that over 170,000 vehicle fires occur annually in the United States, translating to roughly one fire every three minutes. These incidents cause more deaths than nonresidential fires and residential apartment fires, yet mainstream media rarely covers routine gasoline vehicle fires. The situation changes dramatically whenever an electric vehicle is involved, creating a perception gap between actual risk and public understanding.

Why Public Perception Lags Behind Reality

Early YouTube videos showing dramatic Tesla battery fires more than a decade ago significantly influenced public opinion about electric vehicle safety. Those incidents were genuinely frightening and sparked widespread concern among homeowners and HOA communities. However, those early battery fire incidents involved only about a dozen first-generation Chevrolet Bolts. The costs to General Motors and its battery supplier exceeded $1 billion, but the scope remained limited compared to current safety issues affecting millions of gasoline vehicles.

Two major parking garage fires further reinforced EV safety concerns. A New Year’s Eve 2017 fire destroyed 1,400 vehicles in a Liverpool, England arena garage, while a 2020 fire damaged hundreds of vehicles at Norway’s Stavanger airport. Initial suspicions pointed to electric vehicles, but investigations revealed the Liverpool fire originated in an old Land Rover, and the Norway fire was caused by a diesel-powered Opel. The latter blaze was exacerbated by insufficient overhead clearance for emergency fire trucks.

If you own a Tesla or other electric vehicle, you can stay informed about safety updates and recalls through manufacturer communications. Learning about Tesla’s latest vehicle technology updates helps you understand how modern EVs manage safety systems. For those concerned about recall procedures, understanding how manufacturers handle recall notifications provides reassurance about the process.

The bottom line for shoppers is clear: while all vehicle fires deserve serious attention, the risk profile has shifted. Modern electric vehicles are significantly safer from fire risk than their gasoline counterparts. The real safety challenge today comes from increasingly complex electrical systems in conventional cars, not from battery technology. Understanding this distinction helps consumers make informed decisions based on facts rather than outdated perceptions.