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.
In This Article...
What year are Kias catching fire in?
An ongoing recall campaign for Hyundai, Genesis, and Kia vehicles includes almost 483,000 additional cars and SUVs.
shares of the news story
Both Hyundai and Kia, two manufacturers with the same corporate company, have announced fresh recalls for combustible vehicles. The 2016-2018 Kia K900 car, the 2014-2015 Hyundai Tucson, the 2017-2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport, the 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe XL, and the 2014-2016 Kia Sportage SUVs are among the models that have been recalled. Owners of these vehicles are advised by the automakerswhich collaborate on parts, designs, and suppliersto leave their automobiles unattended and outside until a recall repair is finished.
Which Kia models are subject to a recall?
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.
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.
What percentage of Kia Souls have burned up?
Due to problems that can cause vehicle fires, the Korean automaker Kia has started two recall operations.
The 1.6L 4-cylinder engine in about 378,000 Kia Soul cars from 2012 to 2016 may experience catalytic converter failure as a result of excessive exhaust gas temperatures. The issue has been connected to a potential connecting rod failure, which might lead to the engine block being punctured and oil spilling over hot exhaust system components.
Consumer advocacy group Center for Auto Safety requested that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) look into incidents of vehicle fires that were not the result of a traffic accident last year. About 120 of these occurrences were found in U.S. government data.
As part of its response, Kia says it is issuing a software update that it claims will stop the catalytic converter from overheating. The business made no mention of how this change would impact the powertrain’s performance specifications.
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.
Which automobile catches fire the most?
According to the study, hybrid cars, which combine an internal combustion engine and an electric motor, had the most fires per 100,000 vehicles (3475), while cars with an internal combustion engine only came in second (1530 per 100,000). The fewest were fully electric automobiles, 25 per 100,000.
Which model year Kias suffer engine issues?
In 2012, a Hyundai Sonata is seen parked in a Hyundai showroom in Des Plaines, Illinois. Investigations into the engine fires that have afflicted Hyundai and Kia vehicles for more than six years have been intensified by U.S. auto safety regulators.
The inquiry into the engine fires that have afflicted Hyundai and Kia vehicles for more than six years has been intensified by Detroit-based auto safety authorities.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 3 million automobiles from the model years 2011 through 2016 are included in a recent engineering study examination. 161 complaints of engine fires have been sent to the agency, some of which involved recalled automobiles.
Since the business issued an engine failure recall in September 2015, engine failures and flames have plagued Korean automakers’ vehicles. According to NHTSA records published on its website Monday, it has now issued at least eight additional recalls for a variety of engine issues.
The organization claims that it is starting the engineering analysis to determine whether earlier recalls covered enough automobiles. The effectiveness of earlier recalls will also be evaluated, as well as the long-term viability of linked programs and non-safety field operations being carried out by Hyundai and Kia.
Hyundai claimed in a prepared statement that it has “taken many proactive efforts to address engine issues, including executing several recalls, introducing a new engine monitoring system, providing 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.
The Theta II GDI, Theta II MPI, Theta II MPI hybrid, Nu GDI, and Gamma GDI engines from the connected Korean automakers are involved in the vehicle fires. Hyundai’s Sonata, Santa Fe, and Elantra as well as Kia’s Sorento, Rio, Optima, and Soul are among the models covered. Covered model years range from 2011 until 2016.
According to the organization, three people have reported burns and eye injuries that didn’t need medical attention.
Because Kia and Hyundai took too long to recall more than 1 million vehicles with potentially dangerous engines, the NHTSA announced in November 2020 that they would be forced to pay $137 million in fines and make other safety measures. The sanctions end an investigation into the corporations’ actions regarding multiple model recalls going back to the 2011 model year.
For safety performance measures, Kia was required to pay $27 million and put $16 million into them. As long as Kia complies with safety requirements, a further $27 million payment will be postponed, according to NHTSA.
Despite denying the U.S. accusations, Kia claimed it wished to avoid a drawn-out legal battle.
A large number of recalls included production flaws that prevented oil from passing past the engine block. Many of them need pricey engine replacements.
Additionally, 3.7 million vehicles from Hyundai and Kia were the target of a U.S. “product enhancement program” to install software warning drivers of potential engine issues.
Do Kia Sportage issues frequently arise?
This generation’s Sportage has had very few reported issues because it is a well-built vehicle. There have been a few problems with non-engine electrics, mostly with the starting process and the sat-nav system (where installed).
Service brakes, hydraulic: Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: Control unit/module
Some Sportage and Cadenza models from the model years 2017 through 2021 are being recalled by Kia Motors America (Kia). A fire in the engine compartment could result from the electrical circuit in the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) short-circuiting.
Certain fuses in the electrical junction box will be replaced by dealers when Kia notifies owners of them. A HECU software update will also be sent to vehicles with electronic parking brakes (EPB). There will be no fees for the repairs. As a precaution, owners are recommended to park outdoors and away from buildings while the recall repair is ongoing. A recall was initiated on April 30, 2021. Call 1-800-333-4542 to reach Kia customer support. The recall number for Kia is SC206.