Kia has issued a seat belt recall for the 20212022 Sorento Hybrid and 2022 Sorento Plug-in Hybrid. Certain 2021-2022 Sorento Hybrid and 2022 Sorento Plug-in Hybrid vehicles are being recalled by Kia Motors America (Kia). The front driver-side and/or passenger-side seat belt pretensioner(s) may blow up when they deploy in the case of a collision.
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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.
How can I find out whether my Kia has been recalled?
Hotline for the Kia Recall: 1-800-333-4 KIA (4542)
To find out if your Kia vehicle is subject to a recall, look up the VIN on the Kia recall search website. This might be connected to the tires, seats, accessories, and other parts of the car.
- Call the NHTSA’s Auto Safety Hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT for more information (1-888-327-4236)
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.
Which Kia models have issues with the engines?
The fact that engine problems frequently occur while a Kia is being driven makes the issue even more concerning. Diane, a 2011 Optima owner, claims that the car’s engine failed while traveling at roughly 65 mph, almost killing two persons.
What models of Kia are being recalled?
Certain 2017-2019 Sedona, Soul, Soul EV, 2017-2018 Forte, and 2017 Forte Koup vehicles are being recalled by Kia Motors America (Kia). The printed circuit board’s memory chip may come into touch with the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) cover, breaking the electrical circuit.
Why do Kia engines malfunction?
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.
How can I find out if there are any recalls on my car?
Everyone makes errors, and everyone experiences bad days.
We’ve survived more than one internal crises thanks to the classic song from none other than Hannah Montana, and it also applies to manufacturers. Every now and again, an automaker or one of its component suppliers will make a mistake that might put you in risk.
Fortunately, there are procedures in place to make those errors right. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, tens of millions of vehicles are recalled annually in the United States, including more than 31 million from 786 recalls in 2020 alone (NHTSA). We’re here to explain why and how auto recalls are issued, the cost of doing recall work, and how to find out if your car is now under recall. Let’s start now.
What Is a Car Recall?
A product recall in the automotive industry is a manufacturer’s admission that some of its vehicles pose a safety concern. Recalls are specifically issued when a vehicle or a part of a vehicle does not meet one or more Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards established by the NHTSA or when a vehicle or a part of a vehicle exhibits a safety-related flaw.
A recall campaign may affect a large number of vehicles, such as all 2019 and 2020 model year Volvo automobiles, or it may just affect a small number. Mercedes-Benz and Porsche both conducted recalls in 2021, however they each only affected one model. Although the Takata airbag recall, which affected over 42 million vehicles, is likely the most well-known in recent memory, additional recall campaigns in 2019 were brought on by problems with the brakes, electrical, external lighting, and powertrain systems.
According to the NHTSA, manufacturers typically decide whether to recall a product on their own, without the requirement for intervention from the federal safety agency. That idea was validated in a conversation with Hyundai’s chief safety officer, Brian Latouf. According to Latouf, OEMs, like Hyundai, have safety offices that monitor customer and dealer data streams for trends and, when appropriate, undertake investigations into those trends by calculating the frequency and risk value associated with a particular car issue.
In terms of origin, manufacturing flaws or subpar supplier parts are typically to blame for issues in new cars, though recalls can also occur with older models. Latouf noted that recalls for older cars are typically the consequence of metals corroding or parts wearing out, problems that frequently take years to manifest. To avoid future problems, Hyundai has increased the technical standards for potential fatigue and corrosion.
It is the manufacturer’s responsibility to notify the NHTSA of its findings and take necessary action if a recall is deemed necessary. There are other instances where the NHTSA discovers a car that doesn’t adhere to a safety requirement and notifies the automaker.
Are Car Recalls Free? Do They Expire?
Yes, but there are some exceptions, in brief. The law gives consumers three alternatives for rectification when a recall is issued: repair, replacement, or refund. The decision to repair the issue for free, replace the car with a similar or identical model, or refund the full purchase price after making a reasonable allowance for depreciation depends largely on cost.
However, if the car was made 15 years or more before the fault was discovered, the manufacturer is not compelled to correct it. Although owners would have to pay out of pocket in this scenario, they are still urged to have the recall work done.
How to Check if Your Car Is Affected by a Recall
Oh, and don’t believe that just because you purchased a used automobile from a dealership, all of the recall work has been done. According to Juliet Guerra of the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA), secondhand cars can still be sold by dealers unless the NHTSA or the manufacturer deems them to be too risky to drive or operate. Guerra claims that “dealers enthusiastically embrace” informing customers of any found flaws so they may arrange to have them fixed as soon as replacement components are available.
Visit the NHTSA’s recall website (nhtsa.gov/recall) and enter your vehicle’s VIN to find out whether there are any active recalls for your model of vehicle. (The VIN of a car is typically located on your registration as well as in the lower left corner of the windshield.)
The NHTSA also just released its SaferCar app, which may alert you when your vehicle is subject to recalls. The app will notify you if the manufacturer issues a recall once you download it. You can enter your VIN or year, make, and model at this point (although the VIN is more precise).
The system will show you any unrepaired safety recalls issued in the previous 15 years when you enter your VIN. It won’t appear if the recall work was done by you or a previous owner. We advise looking into recalls no less than twice a year.
Will my engine be changed by Kia?
Recently, a relative of mine wanted to have her car seriously fixed. She went to one of these mechanics, but he refused to execute the expensive fix because she could get it done for free.
Specific Kia automobiles are included in this. This is not the current Kia recall that you may have heard about because of possible engine compartment fires.
The number of automobiles in this volunteer initiative was once much higher. In order to preserve the engines of 624,460 Sorento, Sportage, and Optima automobiles from specific years, Kia launched the product improvement campaign (PI 1803) in 2018.
According to Kia, customers should be on the lookout for vibrations in these vehicles because they “may signify the beginning of excessive connecting rod bearing wear in the engine” and cause knocking noises. The campaign’s goal is to have sensors identify conrod bearing deterioration over time before the driver may feel vibrations.
“Kia additionally voluntarily provided lifetime warranty coverage to both new and used vehicle owners for engine long block assembly repairs needed due to excessive connecting rod bearing damage,” the carmaker continues.
The vehicle models that underwent the initial remedy but may now require engine long block assembly repairs are addressed by the most recent fix.
If you or your mechanic noticed a Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) P1326 (Knock Signal Range/Performance), you may have realized you needed the second patch.
You might have to wait if you need to bring your car back for a second fix.
While Kia was unable to provide wait times or an estimate of the number of vehicles waiting to be evaluated or repaired under this program, it did acknowledge that, contrary to what has been widely reported in American media, challenges with employee staffing levels and parts supply are not specific to Kia or automotive dealerships in general.
My acquaintance inquired with a Kia dealer in the Dallas area earlier this year to see if they could inspect and fix her car. There were around 40 others in line before of her for the same thing, so she was told that she would need to drop the car off and wait a few weeks before they could examine it.
She waited for Kia to decide if her car was eligible for a free installation of a remanufactured engine for several weeks (Kia says the replacement engines are primarily re-manufactured).
After Kia confirmed her vehicle was qualified, there was a further delay of several additional weeks while the engine was ordered and replaced.
However, Kia does provide compensation for automobile rentals during this period. With the rental, you might have to get creative. Kia will provide coverage up to $40 per day, which would have been sufficient in earlier, more normal times.
You might be entitled to compensation from Kia if your mechanic failed to inform you that you might be eligible for a free replacement or repair and you previously paid out of pocket to fix a car that was experiencing this problem.
Consumers who made legitimate engine repair claims by August 9, 2021, according to the business, “have been paid for their repair charges.” “For repairs completed beyond that time, Kia will examine each one individually to determine if reimbursement will be granted in light of its particular circumstances.