A malfunctioning anti-lock brake system could set the car on fire at any time.
Hyundai and Kia announced the recall of 485,000 vehicles in DETROIT after 11 of them caught fire. The antilock brake system could generate an electrical short that could fire the engine, according to US safety regulators.
Owners are advised by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to leave their cars outside and away from structures while they wait for repairs.
Some of the automobiles listed below are subject to the recall:
- SUVs Kia Sportage from 2017 to 2016
- 2016- through 2018-year-old Kia K900 sedans
- certain Santa Fe SUVs from 2016 to 2018
- Santa Fe XL in 2019
- Tuscon SUVs from 2014 and 2015
- Santa Fe Sports in 2017 and 2018.
According to Kia, if your antilock brake warning light illuminates or you smell fire, your car is about to catch fire. Dealers will check the brake antilock control system and replace a fuse in order to repair the car.
The NHTSA is also looking into previous recalls for Hyundai and Kia to see if they covered enough units and were successful. Additionally, officials are investigating the viability of the testing operations run by Hyundai and Kia.
While Kia sends owner notifications on March 31, Hyundai does it on April 5. Visit www.nhtsa.gov/recalls and enter your vehicle identification number (VIN), which is typically located on the lower-left corner of your dashboard, to see if your car is being recalled.
In This Article...
What models of Kia are being recalled?
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.
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 Kia vehicles 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?
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 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.
A car fire could raise the danger of harm or death to vehicle occupants or other road users.
The 201520 UM Sorento and the 201621 QL Sportage are the models of its Sorento and Sportage SUVs that are affected by the recall.
Component not known
The movement of the engine can put the wires attached to the C123 and C124 connectors under tension, pulling the wires and connectors. As a result, the connections become looser, which can lead to a loss of circuit continuity and engine stalling.
Dealers will put spring clips on the connectors to secure them together. The dealers will also be given instructions on how to solder a splice in the wire harness. Owner notification was anticipated to start in late 1999 or early 2000. Owners should call Kia at 1-949-470-7000 if they do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable amount of time.
Service brakes, hydraulic: Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: Control unit/module
Certain models of the 20142016 Sportage and 20162018 K900 are being recalled by Kia Motors America (Kia). A malfunction in the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) module could lead to an electrical short and an engine compartment fire.
Injury risks can rise if an engine compartment fire occurs while a vehicle is in motion or parked.
Owners are encouraged to leave their vehicles outside and away from buildings while the recall repair is being done. For free, dealers will replace the HECU circuit board’s fuse. Letters of owner notification are anticipated to be mailed on March 31, 2022. Call 1-800-333-4542 to reach Kia customer support. SC227 is the Kia recall number.
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.
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 goods have lately been recalled?
- Recalled Kidde Smoke Alarms Number Over 450K. Alka-Seltzer Plus Products Are Recalled by Bayer. Dr.
- Recalled Graco High Chairs Because of Fall Hazard. Due to a burn risk, KitchenAid kettles have been recalled. VTech is recalling two well-liked baby products.
- Listeria has caused the recall of buttermilk biscuit dough. Warning from FDA Regarding Bone Treats
Which automaker will have the most recalls in 2021?
About half of the more than 30 million vehicles recalled last year for various reasons came from two separate automakers.
According to Top Class Actions, Ford and General Motors had the most vehicles recalled in 2021.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that the majority of recalls were due to Takata airbag defects, with GM recalling 5.7 vehicles due to airbag concerns and Ford recalling over 2.7 million vehicles.
General Motors issued recalls for the following models in the previous year: 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon models for possible fuel tank leaks, 2021 Cadillac Escalades, 2021 Chevy Suburbans and Tahoes, and 2021 GMC Yukons for seat belt problems, 2021 Chevy Camaros for possible battery cable terminal shorts, 2021 Chevy Express and 2021 GMC Savana models for a rear axle u-bolt that was not properly tightened, and 2021 Chevy Cama
Additionally, Ford recalled 250,000 F-150 pickup trucks in 2021 due to problems with the tailgate latch and underbody heat and noise insulators.
Additionally, the company recalled 115,000 2020 and 2021 Bronco Sport and Escape SUVs owing to potential brake lining issues, over 4,500 cargo vans due to a fault with the driveshaft nuts, over 2,600 all-electric Mustang Mach-E SUVs, and Maverick pickup trucks due to a seat belt malfunction.