General Motors is recalling hundreds of thousands of vehicles over a defect in the parking brake that could cause a fire.

The issue took place with GM's 2013-2015 Cadillac XTS and the 2014-2015 Chevrolet Impala, said a Sept. 19 letter from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which was obtained by Reuters.

The total number of vehicles recalled was 221,558, the company said in the letter. At least 205,309 can be found in the United States, and the remainder in Canada and other countries around the world.

"GM is not aware of any crashes, injuries or fatalities as a result of this condition," the company said, according to Reuters.

The issue was with the brake's indicator light, which sometimes failed to illuminate while the brake was not fully retracted.

"If the vehicle is operated for an extended period of time in this condition, there is a potential for the rear brakes to generate significant heat, smoke and sparks," the NHTSA said in the letter, according to Reuters.

"Brake pads that remain partially engaged with the rotors may cause excessive brake heat that may result in a fire," NHTSA added.

GM's latest recall comes after the NHTSA's deputy administrator, David Friedman, who faced heavy criticism for not reporting and recalling vehicles promptly over issues with ignition switches that are now linked to at least 19 deaths.

The automaker has not recalled almost 15 million vehicles worldwide over the issue with ignition switches.

Senator Claire McCaskill said the agency was "more interested in singing 'Kumbaya' with the manufacturers than being a cop on the beat," during a congressional hearing last week.

Friedman defended the agency shortly after McCaskill's comments, saying that GM was hiding information.

"NHTSA was actively trying to find the ball," he said at the Senate hearing, according to The Guardian. "General Motors was actively trying to hide the ball."

GM will notify owners soon and will repair the vehicles free of charge, according to the Associated Press.

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