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 This Article...
More than 390,000 Hyundai vehicles are recalled because of potential engine fires.
In the United States and Canada, Hyundai is recalling more than 390,000 vehicles due to two issues that might result in engine fires. In one recall, owners are advised to leave their cars outside while repairs are being completed.
More than 203,000 Santa Fe Sport SUVs manufactured from 2013 to 2015 are included in the greatest recall. Some are getting repeated recalls. The anti-lock brake computer may become contaminated with brake fluid, resulting in an electrical short that may ignite a fire. According to documents published on Tuesday by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, owners should park outside and away from buildings until the issue is remedied.
If necessary, dealers will swap out a fuse and a computer. In June, owners will be contacted.
Documents show that the brake computer issue has resulted in 18 fires in the United States, but no injuries.
The recall, according to Hyundai, “enhances the solution” from one that was issued in September 2020. After the September recall, the company claims it continued to look into the matter and discovered that changing the fuse would lessen the safety risk. Hyundai issued a statement saying, “Hyundai is executing this fresh recall to guarantee the safety of our customers.”
Nearly 187,000 2019 and 2020 Elantras, as well as 2019 through 2021 Konas and Velosters, are included in the second recall. They all have 2-liter motors.
It’s conceivable that the piston rings weren’t heat-treated properly, which might harm the engine and lead to oil leaks, fires, and other problems. According to Hyundai, the rings could be overly hard and chip, scratching the engine cylinder. Documents show that the piston issue has resulted in five fires but no injuries.
Dealers will examine the engine and swap it out if necessary. Additionally, they’ll put in software for sensing piston noise. In late June, owners will be notified.
Over 8 million car owners have been affected by engine failure and fire issues at Hyundai and associated Korean automaker Kia for more than five years.
Due to a piston ring issue, Kia recalled over 147,000 2020 and 2021 Soul and Seltos SUVs last month. The company reported receiving four reports of fires that might be connected to the problem.
To address fuel leaks and engine fires, Hyundai Sonata sedans are once more being recalled.
shares of the news story
More than 215,000 Hyundai Sonata automobiles from the model years 2013 to 2014 are the subject of yet another recall to remedy a low-pressure gasoline pipe that might catch fire. This particular collection of sonatas has been called back twice.
This new recall (20V121) does not include all of the vehicles from the original one. In the initial recall, new fuel lines were installed in vehicles that had a damaged gasoline hose or indications of fuel leakage. Heat-resistant tape was placed to vehicles without leaks to stop potential leaks in the future.
The tape used in the prior recall, however, may not have been effective in stopping a leak, according to papers from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). This new remedy is now required for all vehicles repaired under 20V121 that didn’t get a new fuel hose.
This recall, which is identical to one for specific 2013-2014 Kia Optimas, is the most recent in a long line of continuing recalls concerning fires and Hyundai and Kia vehicles. The same repairs were necessary when those vehicles were first recalled in 2020.
Between July 30, 2020, and April 18, 2022, there were 138 reports of the problem in the United States, according to the company. According to NHTSA, no collisions, fires, or injuries linked to the issue have been reported as of the filing date for the recall.
NHTSA initiated an inquiry into Hyundai and Kia vehicles that employ a 2.0-liter and 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine design that both companies share, known as the Theta II, following more than 3,000 reports of fires and a petition by the advocacy group Center for Auto Safety. A class-action lawsuit over the fires is currently under progress. Hyundai and Kia vehicles have previously been recalled due to issues with their oil pans, catalytic converters, fuel and oil leaks, and engines.
The main lesson for owners is that it’s crucial to pay attention to this new recall alert, even if previous recall work has already been done.
After recalling vehicles because of a fire risk, Hyundai and Kia are being sued
After the South Korean automakers recalled over 485,000 Hyundai Santa Fe, Hyundai Tucson, Kia K900, and Kia Sportage vehicles from model years 2014 through 2019, a proposed class action lawsuit was filed in federal court in Santa Ana, California.
According to Hyundai and Kia, damaged hydraulic electronic control units may result in electrical shorts that raise the risk of engine compartment fires while cars are being driven or even parked.
Dealers will install new fuses, they said, and advised that vehicles be parked outdoors and away from other people. There were 11 reports of fire incidents before the recall.
Vehicle owners and renters complained that the remedy was “just a Band-Aid” and that it did not sufficiently address the flaw or compensate them for out-of-pocket costs, lost use, and diminished value of their vehicles.
Numerous additional Hyundai and Kia vehicles with same alleged flaws from the 2006 through 2021 model years are also covered by the lawsuit. It asks for both punitive and illiquid damages.
Hyundai declined to respond right away. Requests for comment from Kia did not immediately receive a response.
Both automakers have long been plagued by fire and engine issues. According to the nonprofit Center for Auto Safety, roughly 7.9 million Hyundai and Kia vehicles from the 2006 to 2022 model years have been recalled since 2015 due to these problems.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave more than $24 million to a former Hyundai engineer in November for coming forward in 2016 and complaining that the carmaker was ignoring an engine defect that would lead to collisions. View More
A year prior, the NHTSA judged Hyundai and Kia too tardy to recall more than 1.6 million vehicles with engine problems, leading to their agreement to pay $210 million in civil penalties.
Hyundai Motor Co. et al. v. Evans et al., U.S. District Court, Central District of California, No. 22-00300, is the name of the case.
Validation of VIN
Hyundai has carried out a number of recalls in close cooperation with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to resolve manufacturing flaws that may result in engine failure and, in some cases, an engine fire. There have been occurrences of stalling, which means the engine may stop operating while the car is being driven, even though the majority of events involving impacted vehicles have only had engine knocking. Importantly, drivers can continue to manage their vehicles in this scenario since the airbags, steering, and brakes all continue to function.
Drivers are typically warned by warning lights and sounds as soon as an engine fails, and even if the engine may hesitate at first, they should have enough time to take the car off the road safely.
Hyundai and Kia Non-Crash Fires
The Problem Following an NHTSA investigation into this problem, Kia and Hyundai negotiated a $760 million settlement with consumers who had been harmed by non-crash engine fires in October 2019. On April 1, 2019, NHTSA authorized our petition, which was based on the more than 300 consumer complaints about Kia and Hyundai vehicles catching fire, to look into non-collision fires as well as the thousands of other complaints about smoke, burning scents, and melted engine bay wires. The Center has also petitioned NHTSA to launch an inquiry into the problem and requested for a complete recall of all 2011-2014 Kia Optima, Kia Sorento, Kia Soul, Hyundai Sonata, and Hyundai Santa Fe, as well as all 2010-2015 Kia Souls (a total of roughly 3 million vehicles). A federal judge gave final approval for a $1.3 billion settlement on May 10, 2021.
Some Optima and Sedona owners will finally have access to a recall fix starting in April 2020, however this does nothing for the millions of other Kia and Hyundai owners who are just being offered a sensor and a prayer. Furthermore, it is hard to believe that this issue was only detected in November. We are reiterating our request to Congress to find out precisely what is going on because we fully anticipate that more shoes will drop.
It is past time for the federal government to use all of its resources to investigate the causes of the non-crash fires that have affected so many Kia and Hyundai vehicles. We are pleased to note that the NHTSA’s Office of Defect Investigations has begun formal investigations based on our petition, even though it is six months past the due date.
Letters Read our statement regarding NHTSA’s acceptance of our request for a defect inquiry. Read the NHTSA’s initial documents for their investigations into the defects in Kia and Hyundai as of March 29, 2019 Read our press release from February 27, 2019 regarding our letter to Congress requesting action on the fires involving Kia and Hyundai. Read our February 27, 2019 letter to Congress requesting action about the fires involving Kia and Hyundai. View our June 11, 2018 petition for a defect probe.
US regulators intensify their investigation into Hyundai-Kia engine fires and breakdowns
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.
DEARBORN — 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.
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.