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.
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.
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 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.
Do Kias have issues with the transmission?
Shifting issues are just a few of the transmission issues that many customers who buy or lease Kia vehicles from 2010 to 2019 have encountered. clutch issues. Jerking.
Which Kia models are affected by the fire danger recall?
Even if the vehicle is off, Kia Motors America and Hyundai Motor America advise owners of certain model year 2014-2016 Kia Sportage, 2016-2018 Kia K900, and 2016-2018 Hyundai Santa Fe vehicles to park their vehicles outside and away from other cars or buildings due to a danger of fire.
Fires starting inside the engine compartment are becoming more likely, according to Kia and Hyundai. Manufacturers believe an electrical part of the anti-lock braking system may experience an internal electrical short circuit, which might raise the risk of fire both when the car is being driven and while it is parked, even if the origin of the problem is yet unknown.
You may find the Hyundai recall notice here and the Kia recall notice here.
Owners will get a letter from Kia or Hyundai instructing them to take their cars to a Kia or Hyundai shop for a free repair. Dealers will put in a fuse that lowers the risk of a fire.
Do a lot of Kias suffer issues?
bulletins for numerous vehicles that have had engine issues. among the most
Owners and tenants frequently report the following Kia engine issues:
- power loss or stalling
- A knocking noise
- Seizing
- Overheating
- Leaks
- Non-collision flames
- Unpredictable engine failure [1]
Why do Kia vehicles burn out?
- In nearly 500,000 of their vehicles, the engines may catch fire on their own, Hyundai and Kia warned.
- Their anti-lock brake systems’ electrical component, which is susceptible to short circuiting, causes the problem.
- Both automakers urged owners to park outside and away from structures in the interim.
After discovering a potential fire danger in the engines of numerous models, the automakers Hyundai and Kia recalled roughly 500,000 vehicles in the US and advised owners to park their vehicles outside and away from structures.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Tuesday that both businesses informed authorities that an electrical component in their anti-lock brake systems might short circuit and ignite a fire in the engine compartment even if the cars aren’t driving.
As a result, Hyundai is recalling 357,830 vehicles while Kia is recalling 126,747.
Kia announced a recall on its 2014-2016 Kia Sportage SUVs and 2016-2018 Kia K900 sedans on February 2. Hyundai has issued recalls for the 2014-2015 Tucson, 2016-2018 Santa Fe, 2017-2018 Santa Fe Sport, and 2019 Santa Fe XL SUVs.
“Owners will get a letter from Kia or Hyundai instructing them to take their cars to a Kia or Hyundai dealer for a free repair. Dealers will put in a fuse to lessen the chance of a fire, “claimed the NHTSA. Hyundai said it would mail its letters by April 5, while Kia anticipates doing so by March 31.
Although the two South Korean automakers, Hyundai Motor Group and Kia, share some manufacturing facilities and have a controlling interest in each other, they run their US operations separately.
Owners can call the NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 and enter their 17-digit car identification number to see if their vehicle is currently being recalled or visit the recall website of the NHTSA.
The Kia is dependable.
To obtain their overall reliability ratings, the RepairPal team considers a number of different variables. Simply put, your out-of-pocket ownership expenditures will be cheaper the more dependable your car is. The cost, frequency, and severity of repairs are some of these variables. In order to calculate an individual brand’s total RepairPal reliability rating, these categories are averaged.
In the RepairPal reliability rankings, Kia came in at number three, including second place when only non-luxury brands were included. The Kia Reliability Rating is 4.0 out of 5.0, placing it third among all car brands out of 32. This evaluation is based on the average of 345 different models.
“Kia had three well-liked models, including the Soul, Rio, and Forte, in the top 30 with Excellent ratings. The Optima and Sorento, two of its most well-liked cars, kept their Excellent rankings within the top 100.
Which vehicles have been on fire recently?
Owners of Kia and Hyundai vehicles will split a $760 million settlement reached in a case involving vehicle fires and engine issues.
- Hyundai Sonata, 20112019.
- Hyundai Santa Fe Sport, 20132019.
- Hyundai Tucson, years 20142015 and 20182019.
- 20112019 Kia Optima.
- Kia Sorento, 20122019.
- Kia Sportage, 20112019.