Kia issues second recall for tow hitch harness’ fire

Irvine, CA – October 1, 2022 – Kia (OTCMKTS:KIMTF) is recalling 70,887 SUVs that may catch fire while driving or parked. This increases the risk of crash, injury or property damage.

This recall comes on the heels of another recent Kia recall for the same issue and includes the following models:

  • 2016 – 2022 Kia Sorento
  • 2021 – 2023 Kia Sorento Hybrid
  • 2022 – 2023 Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV)
  • 2017 – 2022 Kia Sportage

Recall summary

This recall is very similar to the one from August, which affected certain Kia and Hyundai SUVs. Like in that previous recall, the issue is a defective tow hitch harness module. 

Due to moisture or “foreign material contamination”, the module’s circuit board can experience a short circuit, which can cause overheating or start a fire. Kia has reported at least three vehicle fires and 30 incidences of localized melting as a result of this issue.

The component causing this recall is the tow hitch harness with various part numbers depending on the model, including C6061 ADUS0, C6061 ADUSAQQK and D9061 ADUS6QQK. 

Recall risks

Vehicle fire carries several hazards. You can read more in the above-referenced  article about the earlier Kia and Hyundai fire recall. 

Safety tips

As with the previous recall, Kia advises owners to park their vehicles outside and away from structures until a remedy is available.

Other Kia recalls

Recent Kia Sorento recalls include one in June 2022 over exploding seat belt retractors. This issue has led to a U.S. government investigation that is currently underway.

In addition, some of the earlier Sorento and Sportage model-years are among the 3 million Kia and Hyundai vehicles at the center of another probe due to multiple non-crash related fires, as reported.

Repair

At this time, Kia is working on a solution and will inform vehicle owners when it becomes available. Once this happens, the repair will be free of charge. 

Notifications to vehicle owners will be sent between November 14, 2022, and November 18, 2022. 

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

More than 70,000 SUVs are being recalled over this Kia fire risk. To do a Kia recall check and see if yours is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool

Bojan PopicKia issues second recall for tow hitch harness’ fire

US government investigates Kia and Hyundai over stalling vehicles

Washington, D.C. September 28, 2022 – The U.S. government’s auto safety regulator is investigating Hyundai (NASDAQ:HYMTF) and sister company Kia (OTCMKTS:KIMTF) over an allegation some of their cars can develop a severe and sudden engine oil leak. This can cause the engine to seize and stall the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash and injury. 

If the investigation leads to a recall, it could affect an estimated 5.2 million vehicles.

 Some of the potentially affected vehicles include: 

  • 2010 – 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe
  • 2013 – 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport
  • 2006 – 2019 Hyundai Sonata
  • 2011 – 2019 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
  • 2016 – 2019 Hyundai Sonata Plug-In Hybrid
  • 2010 – 2015 Hyundai Tucson
  • 2018 – 2019 Hyundai Tucson
  • 2010 – 2013 Kia Forte
  • 2010 – 2013 Kia Forte Koup
  • 2005 – 2020 Kia Optima
  • 2007 – 2010 Kia Rondo
  • 2011 – 2020 Kia Sorento
  • 2011 – 2021 Kia Sportage
  • 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe XL
  • 2015 Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell

All these vehicles have 1.6L T-GDI Gamma, 2.4L Theta II GDI, 2.4L GDI Theta II, Kappa or 3.8L GDI Lambda-II engines.

Risks

A sudden stall can dramatically increase the risk of a crash. In addition, the unexpected loss of oil can result in “catastrophic engine damage.” Indeed, several owners had to have their engines replaced as a result of this issue.

Investigation summary  

The regulator, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), opened an investigation on September 12,  2022, following a petition submitted by the “majority of the nation’s automotive repair and preventative maintenance professionals” claiming ‘unprecedented’ oil leaks that would happen without any prior warnings

The issue appears to be caused by oil “drain pan assembly failures” that are alleged to be caused in part by “flimsy” materials used in pan construction. In addition to that, the pans appear to have a design defect which makes the oil leak more likely to occur.

What is flimsy?

The oil drain pan – or a sump – is a metal pan that holds oil that is required to lubricate the engine. The sump has a hole whose only purpose is to allow the engine oil to drain during replacement. The hole is sealed off by a plug, which is a bolt that screws into the hole to close it.

Based on the allegations, the oil drain plug can loosen up while driving at highway speeds. This could create a substantial oil leak, which may cause the engine to seize, stalling the vehicle.

Where is the design defect?

The gasket is a piece of rubber or plastic that sits on top of the oil filter and “seals the area between the oil pan and the engine block” to prevent leaks.

When the oil is changed out, the gasket needs to be changed as well to avoid “double-gasketing”, which may result in a leak by pushing the oil out to the top.

In the affected vehicles, the oil pan and the gasket are both painted black, making it easy for the person changing the oil to miss the extra gasket. This can also result in the oil leaking out of the engine, resulting in a stall.

Complaints

There have been multiple customer complaints going back to as far back as 2017. In several cases, dealers refused to cover the cost of the repair, attributing the plug issue to the owner accidentally not tightening it properly during the last oil change or “teenagers… loosening oil plugs as a prank.” 

Other Hyundai and Kia recalls

Owners of Hyundai and Kia vehicles should be aware of the ongoing engine and fire-related issues, as described in one of the Hyundai Santa Fe recalls

In addition, oil starvation and subsequent engine failure caused one of the previous Kia Forte recalls dating to April 2021.  

Is your vehicle part of a recall?

This investigation may eventually lead to a Hyundai engine recall, possibly affecting over 5 million vehicles. To do a Hyundai or Kia recall check and see if your car might be a part of it, please use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicUS government investigates Kia and Hyundai over stalling vehicles

Hyundai and Kia are investigated over exploding seat belts

Washington, D.C. – September 4, 2022 – The U.S. government’s auto safety regulator is investigating several Hyundai (NASDAQ:HYMTF) and its subsidiary Kia (OTCMKTS:KIMTF) models over an allegation that their seat belt pretensioners may explode when deployed. This may send metal shrapnel flying through the cabin, potentially injuring the occupants. 

If the investigation leads to a recall, it could affect an estimated 275,000 vehicles, including: 

  • 2020 – 2022 Hyundai Accent
  • 2021 – 2022 Hyundai Elantra
  • 2021 – 2022 Hyundai Elantra HEV
  • 2021 – 2022 Hyundai Venue
  • 2022 Kia Sorento Hybrid 
  • 2022 Kia Sorento PHEV
  • 2022 Kia Sorento Hybrid 
  • 2022 Kia Sorento PHEV
  • 2022 Genesis GV70
  • 2021 Genesis GV80

Investigation summary  

The regulator, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), opened an investigation on August 8, 2022 following three complaints about seat belt pretensioner rupturing or exploding during deployment. Based on the allegations, occupants were injured by flying metal shards in all three cases

There have been five recalls  – with all of them including one of the vehicles above – due to this issue. The investigation is being opened to both evaluate “the adequacy” of these recalls and their scope. 

What are seat belt pretensioners?

Seat belt pretensioners help tighten up the seat belt around the passenger’s torso in case of a collision. These are pyrotechnic devices, designed to deploy quickly and forcefully without breaking apart.

Risks

If the pretensioner explodes, it could send metal fragments into the vehicle,  striking occupants and resulting in an injury. 

Other Hyundai recalls 

There was a Hyundai Genesis recall in the spring of last year due to the risk of “short circuit risk in the anti-lock brake system,” as reported.

Both Kia and Hyundai are subject to a separate U.S. government investigation due to multiple non-crash related fires, as reported.

The latest recall for exploding pretensioners  was in May 2022, and it affected more than 200,000 vehicles. There was also a similar recall just before it, in April 2022, although with a significantly smaller scope.  

Is your vehicle part of a recall?

This investigation may eventually lead to a Hyundai seat belt recall, possibly affecting over a quarter of a million vehicles. To do a Hyundai recall check and see if your car might be a part of it, please bookmark MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicHyundai and Kia are investigated over exploding seat belts

Hyundai and Kia recall SUVs that may burst into flames

Irvine, CA – August 27, 2022 – Hyundai (OTCMKTS:HYMTF) and its subsidiary Kia (OTCMKTS:KIMTF) are recalling 281,447 SUVs that may catch fire while driving or parked. This increases the risk of crash, injury or property damage.

The recall comes on the heels of several fires and includes the following SUVs:

  •  2022 – 2022 Hyundai Palisade
  •  2020 – 2022 Kia Telluride

Recall summary  

Affected vehicles are equipped with a tow package, which, in addition to the tow hitch itself, has a wiring harness and a control module. The module may overheat and, in extreme situations, cause the vehicle to catch fire

The cause of the issue is an electric short caused by moisture and other elements ending up on the tow hitch circuit board during the manufacturing process. The circumstances of how that occurs are currently under investigation.

Recall risks

A burning vehicle may damage surrounding structures and vehicles and result in injuries to the car occupants.

Recall background

The recall comes on the heels of at least five vehicles catching fire in the bumper area, as well as multiple “melting” incidents and warranty claims.

Other Hyundai and Kia Telluride recalls

This Hyundai Palisade recall is the latest in a series of fire-related recalls the Korean manufacturer has been experiencing lately. However, most of the previous Hyundai fire risks were caused by faulty ABS modules or fuel leaks

Separately, aside from this Kia Telluride tow hitch recall, the 2022 model-years were also subject to a recall about a year ago due to blank instrument clusters, as reported.

Repair

Both manufacturers are still developing the repair for this Kia and Hyundai tow harness issue. 

In the meantime, dealers are set to inspect the tow hitch wiring on suspected vehicles and remove the corresponding fuse which will effectively disconnect the tow module. This and future repairs will be offered free of charge. 

Kia will send the affected owners letters with more information on October 17, 2022, while Hyundai will do the same on October 17, 2022. 

Safety tips

Owners should park their vehicles away from structures until the repair is done.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

These Hyundai and Kia electrical issues are affecting more than a quarter million SUVs. To do a Hyundai recall check and see if yours is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool. You can use the same tool to do a Kia recall check. 

Bojan PopicHyundai and Kia recall SUVs that may burst into flames

Kia recalls minivans, SUVs over rollaway risk

Irvine, CA – August 20, 2022 – Kia (OTCMKTS:KIMTF) is issuing a recall for 28,065 vehicles whose automatic transmissions could be shifted out of Park unintentionally, causing the vehicle to roll away.

The recall covers the following models: 

  • 2016 Kia Sedona
  • 2016 Kia Sorento 

Recall summary

Automatic transmissions include a locking mechanism that keeps the gear shift lever in place. The driver has to press the brake pedal before shifting out of Park.

Due to a supplier error, the the affected vehicles have a faulty part in the locking mechanism. This could allow the shifter to be moved out of Park without the brake pedal being pressed, even when the ignition is off.

The component involved in this recall is the lever assembly ATM with part numbers 46700-A9100 and 46700-C5130.

Recall risks

If the driver or another vehicle occupant bumps or moves the gear shift lever, the vehicle may shift out of Park and roll away, increasing the risk of an accident and injury.

Safety tips

Drivers can reduce the risk of a rollaway by engaging the parking brake whenever the vehicle is in Park.

Other Kia recalls 

Other Kia Sedona recalls include one in November 2021 in which Kia recalled 88,576 Sedona minivans due to faulty turn signals.

Other Kia Sorento recalls include one in July 2022 for 2021 – 2022 Kia Sorento hybrids due to the risk of exploding seatbelts, as reported.

In May 2022, Hyundai and Kia recalled 19,743 Ioniq 5 and EV6 electric compact crossovers due to a software problem with the shifter control unit that could cause the transmission to shift away from Park mode accidentally, leading the vehicle to roll away.

The repair

Dealers will inspect vehicles and replace faulty locking mechanisms with ones manufactured to the correct specifications. The repairs will be done free of charge. Kia will reimburse owners who had related transmission issues fixed before the recall order was issued.

Affected owners will be notified on or around October 7, 2022. 

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

More than 28,000 vehicles are included in this Kia Sedona and Sorento transmission recall. To see if your vehicle is affected, run a Kia recall check using MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.  

Joseph EstabilloKia recalls minivans, SUVs over rollaway risk

Kia recalls vehicles with loose headliners

Irvine, CA August 14, 2022 – Kia (OTCMKTS:KIMTF) is recalling 257,998 2012 – 2013 Kia Optima whose headliners  – the vehicles’ ceilings – may detach during a crash and hit the car occupants, increasing the risk of injury. 

Recall summary  

Headliners are plastic panels that are part of the interior trim. They serve two purposes. – One is to conceal the bare metal elements and wiring running above it, and the second is serve as a cushion in a crash.

In affected vehicles, headlines may not be sufficiently secured, allowing them to detach if a side curtain airbag deploys.

Recall risks

A piece of the interior trim that detaches during a crash and flies through the cabin may hit and injure the car occupants. 

Other Kia recalls

Both Kia and its parent company Hyundai are subject to an ongoing U.S. government investigation due to non-crash related fires, as reported.  The last Kia Optima recall due to this issue was in February, also as reported.

There were at least two Kia airbag recalls this year. In February, over 410,000 cars were recalled due to airbags potentially failing to deploy in a crash. In March, Kia Souls were recalled for the same reason, as reported.

Repair

Dealers will use an “industrial-grade adhesive tape” to secure the headliners in place. This repair is free of charge. 

Notifications to vehicle owners will be sent between September 26, 2022 and September 30, 2022. 

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

This Kia headliner plates’ recall affects more than 200,000 vehicles. To do a Kia recall check and see if yours is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicKia recalls vehicles with loose headliners

Hyundai, Kia issues fifth recall over exploding seat belts

Fountain Valley, CA – July 6, 2022 – Hyundai (OTCMKTS:HYMTF) and Kia (OTCMKTS:KIMTF) are issuing recalls for 72,470 and 17,199 vehicles, respectively,  over a defect with the front seat belts. 

The pretensioners – which are parts of seat belts that allow it to tighten in a collision – could explode improperly in an accident, leading to an increased risk of injury. This is at least the fifth recall by Hyundai and its subsidiary Kia due to the same issue.

The recall covers the following models: 

  • 2020 – 2022 Hyundai Venue
  • 2021 – 2022 Kia Sorento Hybrid
  • 2022 Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid   

Recall summary

A pretensioner retracts some of the webbing material used by a seat belt, using an explosive charge to lock the belt in place and secure occupants to their seats in the event of a crash. In the affected vehicles, an overpressurized pretensioner could send metal fragments into the cabin upon exploding.

It is not clear why this is occurring. However, according to the National Transportation Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) documents, the pretensioners involved in all five recalls were produced by the same supplier, Korean auto parts manufacturer Samsong, indicating a potential supplier error. The manufacturer runs all of its operations out of Mexico where it supplies parts for Kia, Hyundai and General Motors, according to press reports.

The component involved in this recall is the seat belt assembly with pretensioner, carrying part numbers 88810-P4500, 88820-P4500, 88810-K2500 and 88820-K2500.  

Recall risks

If a defective pretensioner is activated during a crash, metal fragments could shoot into the passenger compartment and injure the occupants.

Other Hyundai and Kia recalls

This is at least the fifth recall of Hyundai and Kia vehicles over malfunctioning seat belt pretensioners. At least three injuries have already been reported so far.

Previous Hyundai and Kia seat belt recalls include:

In addition to these, there was a small recall in March of this year for the same issue. Owners of the affected vehicles are being asked to bring their vehicles in for the remedy described below.

Other Kia Sorento recalls include one in June 2021 in which 2014–2015 Sorento SUVs were recalled over an issue with the anti-lock braking system (ABS), as reported.

The repair

At no charge, dealers will add a cap to the pretensioner, preventing it from deploying abnormally. Hyundai and Kia will reimburse customers who had their vehicles repaired before the recall order was announced. 

Affected Hyundai owners will be notified by mail by August 26, 2022, while affected Kia owners will be notified by August 19, 2022. 

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

More than 89,000 vehicles are included in this Kia and Hyundai seat belt recall. To see if your vehicle is affected, run a Hyundai or Kia recall check using MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.  

Joseph EstabilloHyundai, Kia issues fifth recall over exploding seat belts

Hyundai and Kia recall Ioniq and EV6 cars that may roll away

Fountain Valley, CA – May 21, 2022 – Hyundai (OTCMKTS:HYMTF) and its subsidiary Kia (OTCMKTS:KIMTF) are recalling a total of 19,743 electric SUVs that may roll away while parked, increasing the risk of crashing into pedestrians or other vehicles. The recall involves 10,729 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 compact crossover and 9,014 2022 Kia EV6 electric SUVs.

Recall summary  

The affected vehicles have a shifter control unit (SCU) that tells the transmission to lock in place when the vehicle is in Park. As a result of a software issue within the unit the parking mechanism may disengage. If this happens while the vehicle is parked on an incline, the vehicle could roll away, especially if the driver is not present.

The component causing this recall is the shifter control unit, with part numbers 42951-18110 for Hyundai and 42951-18150 for Kia.

Recall risks

As in similar Ford recalls, vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury from a resulting crash.

Other Hyundai and Kia recalls

There are no other Kia EV6 recalls at this time. (The model only arrived on the market recently.)

The most recent Hyundai Ioniq recalls include one caused by unexpected accelerations which happened in December of last year.

In addition, owners should be aware of ongoing fire-related issues affecting both Hyundai and Kia.

The repair

Dealers will update the shifter control unit software in all affected vehicles. Kia will notify vehicle owners on May 25, 2022, while Hyundai plans to do the same on June 10, 2022. In the meantime, both manufacturers are urging drivers to park on level surfaces and to use the electronic parking brakes in their vehicles.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

This rollaway recall affects nearly 20,000 SUVs. To do a Hyundai or Kia Recall Check and see if yours is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicHyundai and Kia recall Ioniq and EV6 cars that may roll away

Kia is investigated over doors that may close on occupants’ limbs

Washington, D.C. – April 24, 2022 – The U.S. government’s auto safety regulator is investigating Kia (OTCMKTS:KIMTF) minivans whose rear power sliding doors could trap and injure the occupants of the car.

If the investigation leads to a recall, it could affect an estimated 24,312 2022 Kia Carnival vehicles. 

Investigation summary  

The regulator, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), opened an investigation on April 10, following five complaints about alleged issues with rear door operation on vehicles in question. 

These vehicles have automated power sliding doors, which open and close at the touch of a button. This system also has an auto-reverse function, which backs up the closing door if it detects any obstacles. 

Based on the complaints, “excessive force” is required to get the door to reverse the direction. As a result, the occupant’s arm or other objects can be trapped by the closing door

Risks

Power sliding doors that do not stop at an obstacle may trap occupants’ limbs while they are getting in or out of the vehicle. So far, three injuries have been reported as a result of this potential defect.  

Other Kia Carnival recalls 

This is not the first time the Korean manufacturer is having issues with sliding doors. In December 2021, some of these Kia minivan 2022 models have been recalled over sliding doors that may open while driving

Separately, Kia recalled over 70,000 Kia Optima cars in February because of the risk of fire, as reported, as part of its ongoing fire-related recalls that are subject to a separate NHTSA investigation.

Could your vehicle be part of the potential recall?

This investigation may eventually lead to a Kia Carnival power sliding door recall, possibly affecting close to 25,000 vehicles.  To do a Kia recall check, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicKia is investigated over doors that may close on occupants’ limbs

Kia recalls Cadenza sedans over detaching windshields

Irvine, CA – March 27, 2022 – Kia (OTCMKTS:KIMTF) has issued a recall for 30,362 vehicles due to the risk of their windshields detaching from the vehicle. This increases the risk of a crash.

The recall covers the following sedans:

  • 2014 Kia Cadenza 
  • 2015 Kia Cadenza 
  • 2016 Kia Cadenza 

Recall summary

Automotive windshields serve to protect car occupants from wind, rain and flying debris during travel, apart from contributing to the vehicle’s aerodynamics. Specific sections of the windshield in the recalled vehicles may have inadequate adhesive, causing the glass to be insufficiently attached to the rest of the car.   

The component involved in this recall is the front windshield glass, including  part numbers 86111-3R150 and 86111-3R***.

Recall risks


Insufficient adhesion of the windshield may cause the glass to detach from the vehicle’s body during operation. This could present an increased risk of a crash, resulting in injuries or property damage.

Warning signs

Occupants may notice “water leaks” or hear “wind noise” coming from the windshield glass.  

Other Kia Cadenza recalls 

A prior Kia Cadenza recall was initiated in March 2021, covering more than 370,000 Kia vehicles including Cadenzas from the 2017 to 2019 model years.  The recall was done due to the risk of these cars catching fire, as reported.

Fires are an ongoing issue for many Kia and Hyundai models. The U.S. government auto safety regulator, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), is currently investigating both manufacturers to determine if the fire-related recalls conducted up-to-date  have done enough to address the issues and if more cars will need to be recalled.

The repair

Dealers will remove and reattach the windshield using a better adhesive. All repairs will be done free of charge and owners who have already incurred repair expenses will be reimbursed by Kia. 

Affected owners will be notified by May 13, 2022. 

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

More than 30,000 vehicles are included in this Kia Cadenza windshield recall. To do a Kia recall check, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool

Joseph EstabilloKia recalls Cadenza sedans over detaching windshields