There are no reports of injuries but 11 total reports of fires, the automakers said. The Korean automakers have issued and expanded several recalls in recent years for fire risks. In November, NHTSA issued first-ever reward to a whistleblower, handing out more than $24 million to a former Hyundai employee who reported to NHTSA in 2016 that Hyundai was failing to address a design flaw linked to its Theta II engines, which were prone to seizing up and catching fire. In 2020, Hyundai and Kia's U.S. units agreed to a record $210 million civil penalty after NHTSA said they failed to recall vehicles for engine issues in a timely fashion. (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Marguerita Choy)