According to Consumer Reports, the following vehicles have been recalled: the 20162018 Hyundai Santa Fe, 20172018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport, 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe XL, the 20142015 Hyundai Tucson, 20142016 Kia Sportage SUVs, and the 20162018 Kia K900 sedan.
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Which Kia vehicles are subject to a 2021 recall?
Certain 2020-2021 Soul and 2021 Seltos vehicles with 2.0L Nu MPI engines are being recalled by Kia Motors America (Kia). Engine damage could come from improper heat treatment of the piston oil rings. Tip: Not all vehicles from the same year, make, and model are subject to recalls.
Which Hyundais and Kias are subject to recall?
Owners of Hyundai and Kia vehicles started suing the automakers in 2015 after they declined to pay for Theta II engine maintenance or replacement. Hyundai resolved the collective action lawsuit.
What’s the legal dispute about? These lawsuits’ initiators are known as Plaintiffs, while the businesses they suedHMA, HMC, and othersare known as Defendants. The class vehicles, according to the plaintiffs, have a flaw that can result in engine fire, stalling, failure, and seizure. Additionally, the plaintiffs claim that engine seizure or stalling can be hazardous if it occurs frequently. The plaintiffs also claim that some owners and lessees have unlawfully been denied warranty repairs for their cars. Plaintiffs’ claims are refuted by HMA and HMC.
What Hyundai models are incorporated? The “Class Vehicles” include Hyundai Sonatas from the 20112019 model years, Santa Fe Sports from the 20132019 model year, and Tucsons from the 20142015 and 20192020 model years, all of which are fitted with authentic Theta II gasoline direct injection engines that meet OEM requirements.
Which Kia models have issues with the engines?
Nearly 485,000 Hyundai and Kia owners in the United States are being advised to park their vehicles outside because they still risk catching fire even when the engines are off.
The two Korean automakers’ recalls are the latest in a lengthy line of fire and engine failure issues that have plagued the businesses for the last six years.
This time, contamination in the antilock brake control module is the issue, which may result in an electrical short. This raises the possibility of a fire occurring while the cars are being driven or parked.
Affected models include some Kia Sportage SUVs from 2014 to 2016 as well as the K900 sedan from 2016 to 2018. Certain Santa Fe SUVs from 2016 to 2018, Santa Fe Sports from 2017 to 2018, the 2019 Santa Fe XL, and Tucson SUVs from 2014 and 2015 are among the Hyundai models that have been recalled.
According to documents published on Tuesday by American safety officials, owners should park the cars outside and away from buildings while repairs are being completed.
What models of Kia engines are on fire?
According to Brooks, “the recall did not address the fundamental faults with the engine design that gave rise to these difficulties in the first place.”
Brooks informed the I-Team that a consumer alert is unavoidable in light of the most recent allegations from the I-Team as well as the continued complaints of flames and engine failures that the Center for Auto Safety is receiving.
We’ll start notifying consumers, he said, and work to spread the news to others looking at used autos.
The 4 million Kia and Hyundai vehicles produced between 2011 and 2019 that could be included in the consumer advisory all feature the Theta 2 engines that have been involved in multiple recalls.
- Hyundai Sonata 20112019
- Hyundai Santa Fe Sport, 20132019
- Hyundai Tucson, Models 20142015, 20182019
- Kia Optima, 20112019
- Kia Sorento, 20122019
- Kia Sportage 20112019
According to Brooks, the only way to avoid these complaints from coming in “is to warn people to prevent them from owning one of these vehicles in the first place,” as stated by ABC Action News.
Regarding the announcement from the Center for Auto Safety, we contacted both automakers.
Hyundai’s reaction was
In order to solve engine problems, Hyundai has taken a variety of proactive measures, such as carrying out a number of recalls, introducing a new engine monitoring and diagnostic technology, offering extended warranties, and improving our customer service response. Hyundai promotes a culture of openness and responsibility because customer safety comes first in all we do.
Kia answered:
The safety of our cars is our first concern at Kia America. We promote an environment of openness and accountability, and we take great pride in the reliability of our products and our excellent safety record. As part of ongoing monitoring efforts, we regularly assess our vehicles, and we submit quarterly reports to NHTSA detailing any consumer complaints, notices, or claims for any safety issues. Every Kia car marketed in the US complies with or surpasses all requirements for vehicle safety set out by the federal government.
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration declared in December that it would look further into the extent of the recalls and the efficacy of its remedies. NHTSA reported 158 injuries and over 5,000 fires as of December. Two deaths involving on-fire Kia Souls were covered by the I-Team.
Multiple flaws are linked to the fires in recent recalls. They include fuel line leaks that can cause vehicles to catch fire while moving, electrical issues with the anti-lock brake system, and defective recall repairs.
Thousands of Kia Optimas from 2011 to 2014 were recalled in 2018 as a result of the I-exposure Team’s of subpar recall repairs. The 2011 Optima owned by Mathias was exempt from the recall, though.
We requested Meier Fire Investigations’ Richard Meier, a fire investigator, to look over Mathias’ car. He came to the conclusion that there was a fuel pipe gas leak.
The fuel line connector coming off and spilling gasoline is the most likely reason, according to what Meier has seen so far.
According to Mathias, “You must correct those. That only increases the risk to more people.”
Several Kia fire victims, like Yolanda Lawson, informed us that their brakes failed after their cars caught fire. Both the conventional and emergency brakes, according to Yolanda, failed. To get the automobile to stop, she forced it into the median.
Fourteen months after his leased 2019 Kia Soul caught fire, Jordan Carlton passed away in 2020. Becky, his mother, who was in the car with him, got away. Jordan’s father, Robert Carlton, claimed that the brakes failed and kept his son from exiting the car in time to save himself.
The I-Team discovered that Yolanda’s 2017 Sportage was recalled by Kia in March 2021 due to a potential electrical fire hazard. Yolanda said that she was never notified of a recall.
Kia was requested by The I-Team to inspect Maureen Huckler’s 2015 Soul. According to a report that Kia gave to Maureen, the engine’s catastrophic failure, which left a hole in the engine block and caused engine oil to spill over the exhaust system, was what started the fire.
However, records indicate that the car was recalled in 2020 for an engine inspection to check for flaws that can cause a fire. In March 2021, the examination was carried out by a Kia dealer. After six months, the Soul caught fire.
2020 saw a $760 million settlement between Kia and Hyundai in a class-action lawsuit involving engine fires. As a result, Mathias and Yolanda might be eligible to receive funding to make up for their losses. Regarding the Kia Souls, litigation is still going on.
What models of Kia Sportage are being recalled?
In order to prevent a vehicle fire, Kia Australia is recalling 31,074 vehicles from the Sorento and Sportage ranges.
The business claims in their recall notice that the Heater Core Element may operate at a higher temperature than intended, damaging the connector.
Vehicle occupants or other road users may be more likely to suffer injuries or pass away if there is a vehicle fire.
The 201520 UM Sorento and the 201621 QL Sportage are the models of its Sorento and Sportage SUVs that are affected by the recall.
When do Kia recalls end?
Manufacturers are required to notify all owners of the affected vehicles who have registered their vehicles when a recall occurs. This is accomplished by mailing out a notice that is sent within 60 days of the recall becoming effective.
Additionally, car owners can register with the NHTSA to get email alerts from the agency in the event of a recall.
Can I do a car recall check online?
Simply go to the NHTSA website, yes. You can enter your vehicle’s VIN there to find out if it has had any safety recalls in the last 15 years that haven’t been fixed. Every vehicle has a unique 17-digit number called a VIN. Both the driver’s side door jamb and the driver’s side dashboard on the vehicle have them. It will probably be on the insurance and registration cards for the car as well.
According to AAA Car Doctor John Paul, this strategy is extremely helpful and significant if you intend to buy a secondhand car, especially if the car’s maintenance history is not easily accessible. “Check to see that any open recalls are addressed before taking delivery of the vehicle if you are purchasing a secondhand automobile from a car dealer, advises Paul. “Check the VIN to see if there are any recalls if you are purchasing a secondhand car from an individual, and have any repairs made as quickly as feasible.
My car has been recalled. What should I do?
Although learning that there is a problem with your car may be upsetting, there is no need to worrycars are recalled every day. In actuality, 886 vehicles were recalled in 2020. Call your neighborhood dealer first to find out when they can inspect the car.
According to the recall, any additional parts that need to be replaced due to rust or other damage that naturally occurs with age may be your financial responsibility, Paul adds. The dealership should be able to address the issue quickly and almost often without charging. If not, there will be no charge for the repair. You can proceed once your car has been fixed.
You could occasionally get a recall notification even though the manufacturer hasn’t sent out a new part or found a fix for the problem. ” The message will describe the issue and what you should do, according to Paul. ” They could advise not driving the car or putting it in a garage if the problems are severe.
Follow the manufacturer’s interim safety recommendations in this situation, and occasionally check with your neighborhood dealer to find out when the problem can be rectified. A recall is never something you should disregard. Paul cautions that delaying maintenance on a recalled car may put you and other motorists in danger. According to some research, between 20 and 30 percent of the recalled vehicles have never had maintenance.
Other Considerations
From John Paul, here are some further details about auto recalls:
- Recalls typically don’t have an expiration date. They will also change hands from one owner to the next. Even though you were not the owner at the time of the recall, you are still entitled to the repair if you purchase a used automobile and later learn it has an open recall.
- The manufacturer might demand a price for the repair after the car is ten years old.
- A recall does not necessarily indicate that a car is of bad quality. It simply indicates that a component needs to be replaced since it is faulty or performing poorly. It does not constitute a criticism of the car as a whole.
- Recalls and extended warranties are not the same (sometimes referred to as secret warranties). In the latter, a component may not last as long as it should, in which case the manufacturer may decide to extend the warranty for that specific component. Volkswagen, for instance, informed some owners of specific models via letters that the ignition switch warranty had been increased to 10 years or 100,000 miles. Since the ignition switch did not need to be fixed, the vehicle was not subject to a recall.
How many recalls did Kia experience?
Despite the fact that there have been four recalls for other model Kia Souls and more than eight million Kias and Hyundais in total have been recalled in recent years due to a fire risk, according to Kia and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or NHTSA, the 2019 Kia Soul model the Carlton family was driving has no abnormal fire danger and no open recalls.
“And ultimately, according to Michael Brooks of the Center for Auto Safety, it comes down to the reality that these engines are bad across a significant number of Hyundai and Kia models.
For four years, Channel 2 Investigates has been exploring the risks of fire in Kias and Hyundais.
The Carltons were persuaded to come out following one of those investigations and an interview with Ginger Evans, a resident of Blue Ridge, Georgia, after her 2021 Soul caught fire.
“And I consider the idea that someone’s loved one would have to pass away because, Kia, are they really taking this seriously? said Ginger Evans.
“We are the family that was tragically affected by one of these car fires and lost a loved one. Then I would beg. If I could, please. Repair these cars, said Robert Carlton.
Gray brought the Carlton’s concerns to U.S. Senator Ed Markey in the nation’s capital.
“Markey argued that we cannot have a federal agency that acts as a lapdog rather than a watchdog.
Markey authored a bill that was passed into law last year and calls for automakers to transmit faulty data more quickly.
“We need better information and greater administration from NHTSA, said Markey, because these family members were in a car that caught fire and had many similarities to prior incidents this manufacturer had to deal with.
The Center for Auto Safety was the first to contact NHTSA regarding the risks associated with Kia fire safety. When Jordan picked up his rental automobile, its interim executive director Michael Brooks claims he had no way of knowing there would be a risk.
“There is literally no way for that person to know when they enter the rental facility that they will be receiving a car that may be hazardous, according to Brooks.
What are Kia’s main issues?
Everyone can find a Kia, but the drawback of buying a Borrego, Forte, Optima, Sorento, Spectra, Sportage, or any other model you can afford is that you will almost certainly have transmission issues. Owners of Sorentos are likely to have noticed jerking when changing, especially when moving uphill at a speed of roughly 75 mph.
Kia’s transmission issues, however, go beyond jerking. A 2019 Kia Forte owner from Delaware claims that, despite having less than 5,000 miles on the odometer, the transmission has already been changed twice. Similar depressing transmission-related experiences are common among Forte owners.