Kia recalls minivans, SUVs over rollaway risk

Kia recalls minivans, SUVs over rollaway risk

August 20, 2022 Joseph Estabillo

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

Kia recalls vehicles with loose headliners

August 14, 2022 Bojan Popic

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

Hyundai, Kia issues fifth recall over exploding seat belts

July 6, 2022 Joseph Estabillo

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

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

May 21, 2022 Bojan Popic ,

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

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

April 24, 2022 Bojan Popic

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

Kia recalls Cadenza sedans over detaching windshields

March 27, 2022 Joseph Estabillo

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
Kia recalls Kia Souls with faulty airbags

Kia recalls Kia Souls with faulty airbags

March 6, 2022 Senamile Nkosi

Irvine, CA – March 6, 2022 – Kia (OTCMKTS:KIMTF) has recalled 128,280 2014 Kia Soul subcompact cars due to the risk that front airbags may not deploy in a crash. This increases the risk of injury in a crash. 

Recall summary

The deployment of airbags in the recalled vehicles is controlled by a computer called the Airbag Control Unit (ACU). If the car is hit head-on in a very “severe” fashion, the sensors which send the signal to the ACU may fail, which may prevent the airbags from deploying.

The affected part is the ACU with part number 95910-B2000.

Recall risks

If the airbags do not deploy in a crash, there is a higher risk of injury for the driver and the passenger in the front seat.

Other Kia recalls

There was another Kia airbag recall in February because of airbags potentially failing to deploy upon impact, as reported. Included in the recall were the 2017 – 2019 Kia Soul and 2017 – 2018 Kia Forte, among others.

There was a Kia Soul recall in May 2021 due to the risk of stall and fire, as reported. The recall included 2020 – 2021 Kia Soul, as well as 2021 Kia Seltos.

Multiple Kia and Hyundai vehicles are also subject to an ongoing U.S. government investigation due to non-crash-related fires.

Repair

To remedy the issue, owners will need to take their cars to a Kia dealer, where the ACU software will be updated. This will be at no cost to the owner. In cases where the owner may have already incurred repair costs relating to this recall, they will be reimbursed.

Affected owners will get letters with more information on April 15, 2022.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

More than 125,000 vehicles are included in this Kia Soul airbag recall. To do a Kia recall check, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Senamile NkosiKia recalls Kia Souls with faulty airbags
Kia recalls Optima sedans due to risk of fire

Kia recalls Optima sedans due to risk of fire

February 26, 2022 Bojan Popic

Irvine, CA  – February 26, 2022 – Kia (OTCMKTS:KIMTF) is recalling 72,848 2013 – 2014 Kia Optima sedans with 2.0 and 2.4 GDI engines, whose low-pressure fuel lines may develop a leak. This may cause a fire, increasing the risk of injury and a crash. 

These vehicles were affected by an identical recall from February 2020, which apparently failed to solve the issue.

This is the latest recall in a long string of Kia and Hyundai fire-related recalls, as reported.  Both manufacturers are currently subject to a U.S government investigation due to ongoing fire issues spanning millions of vehicles.

Recall summary  

In affected vehicles, the low-pressure fuel line, which goes between the tank and engine, may crack as a result of heat exposure and cause a leak which may lead to a fire.

Background of the recall

This Optima fuel hose issue goes back several years. Kia first addressed it by inspecting the suspected fuel line and replacing those that already developed cracks. As an additional preventive measure, dealers insulated the hose with heat-protective tape to protect it from future deterioration.   

However, on some vehicles, this repair may not have been done properly, necessitating this recall.

The components in question are the fuel feed line, with part numbers 31310-3Q100 for the 2.0L engine and 31310-3Q900 for the 2.4L engine. 

Recall risks

This recall is just of the many Kia and its shareholder Hyundai had to do because of fire-related issues that have been plaguing both manufacturers. You can find out all about the risks caused by vehicle fires in this article about a different Kia fire recall.

Warning signs

A fuel leak would result in a strong gasoline smell and, in case of fire, smoke or melting odor inside the car. In addition, the vehicle may display a malfunction indicator light (MIL) on the dashboard. 

Other Kia Optima recalls

Over 440,000 of 2013-2015 Kia Optimas were recalled in June of last year, also due to the possibility of these cars catching fire because of brake fluid leaking into the cars’ anti-lock brakes (ABS), as reported. For more fire-related Kia recalls, please visit this page.

The repair

Dealers will fix this issue by replacing the low-pressure fuel hose with the updated one. Notifications to vehicle owners will be sent on April 15, 2022.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

This Kia Optima fuel leak recall is affecting more than 700,000 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 Optima sedans due to risk of fire
Kia recalls K900 and Sportage cars over fire risk

Kia recalls K900 and Sportage cars over fire risk

February 13, 2022 Bojan Popic

Irvine, CA  – February 13, 2022 –  Kia Motors (OTCMKTS:KIMTF) is recalling 126,747 cars that may catch fire, increasing the risk of a crash and injury. This recall is just of the many Kia and its shareholder Hyundai had to do because of fire-related issues that have been plaguing both manufacturers.

SUVs and sedans that are affected by this recall include:

  • 2016 – 2018 Kia K900
  • 2014 – 2016 Kia Sportage

Recall summary  

The anti-lock brake system, or ABS, is a safety system that adjusts the braking force to each wheel, preventing them from locking up while braking hard or on slippery surfaces. On affected vehicles, the ABS module may overheat and cause a fire inside the engine bay.  The exact reason for overheating is still unknown, although it is suspected to be caused by an “internal electrical short“.

The component in question is the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU)  – which is part of the ABS module – with part numbers 58920-3T380 and 58920-3W810 for K900 and Sportage, respectively.

Recall risks

For more on the risks of this recall, please visit this article about a similar Kia recall.

Safety tips

Kia advises owners to park their vehicles outside, away from other vehicles and structures. This will prevent additional property damage in the event of a fire when the vehicle is stationary. 

Warning signs

The driver may be alerted to the electrical short by the check engine or ABS warning light.  Other warning signs include a burning smell and smoke coming from underneath the hood. 

Other Kia Sportage recalls 

In March 2021, 2018-2021 Sportage cars were part of a recall due to the same issue, as reported.

Additionally, over 50 model-years are currently subject to an ongoing U.S. government investigation to see if the remedies that have been issued for existing recalls are enough to fix the problem. The regulators are also looking into complaints about vehicles not part of these recalls catching fire to see if they need to be recalled as well. 

The repair

To fix the issue, dealers will replace the fuse with an uprated one, which will prevent the HECU from short circuiting and overheating. Notifications to vehicle owners will be sent on March 31, 2022.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

This recall caused by Kia engine fires is affecting more than 120,000 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 K900 and Sportage cars over fire risk
NHTSA closes Kia investigation over failing headlights

NHTSA closes Kia investigation over failing headlights

February 6, 2022 Bojan Popic

Washington, D.C. – February 6, 2022 – Kia (OTCMKTS:KIMTF) will not have to recall its 2011-2013 Kia Sorento SUVs over failing headlights. The finding follows a U.S government investigation which looked into reports of headlight failures with the goal of identifying a safety-related problem.

Investigation summary  

After receiving over 1,300 complaints from owners of these vehicles,  the regulator, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), initiated the investigation in June 2020.  According to the complaints, headlights on the SUVs would shut down on their own, without any apparent reason. 

Investigation conclusion 

Upon closer examination, the regulator has discovered that headlight issues in question are caused by a connector that may overheat. When that happens, the low beam light may start flickering or even shut down completely. In most cases, this issue was limited to one headlight. And even if both low-beam headlights would shut down, the driver was still able to turn them back on by toggling the headlight switch to the “ON” position. 

Because Kia has started replacing these connectors in 2019 as a part of extended warranty,  the regulator concluded last month that there was no need for a recall. 

Other Kia recalls 

Despite the complaints and corresponding investigation, there is no Kia headlights recall or Kia Optima headlight recalls caused by this particular issue. However, Kia and Hyundai are being investigated because of ongoing recalls related to fires, as reported.

Is your vehicle part of a recall?

This Kia Sorento highlight issue did not result in a recall, although there may be other ones that are affecting these SUVs. To do a Kia recall check and see if your vehicle is due for any of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicNHTSA closes Kia investigation over failing headlights
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