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Irvine, Calif. — Apr. 04, 2017 — Kia Motors America identified a motor connector issue that could hurt steering in 135 2017 Niro vehicles. Though only 1 percent of this group is thought to have the defect, Kia still asserted that the problem could put vehicle occupants at risk.
According to the Part 573 Safety Recall Report, the problem may stem from issues with the affected vehicles’ power steering systems. The defect traces back to assembly faults that may have damaged the motor connectors. This won’t disable steering entirely but could affect power steering, making it more difficult to drive normally.
Owners can look for an electronic power steering warning light as a possible sign that the defect is there. The vehicle production dates ranged from Dec. 23, 2016 to Jan. 11, 2017.
The report said that the company stopped producing vehicles with the defect as of Dec. 23, 2016. Still, the report said that dealer notification is still on the horizon, planned for April 4, 2017. Dealer notification is set to follow just three days after. The fix will have dealers replacing the faulty motor with a new, intact connector that doesn’t have the same damage.
Irvine, CA – January 31, 2022 – The U.S. government auto safety regulator, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), is currently conducting an investigation to see if the remedy offered in this recall was adequate. Please bookmark this page and come back for any updates. You can find more information about why this is happening here or use our free vehicle lookup tool to see if your car is part of a recall.
Irvine, Calif. – March 31, 2017 – Kia Motors America has recalled more than 618,000 vehicles with serious engine defects, according to documentation from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. The recall affects Optima sedans produced between August 2010 and May 2015, as wall as Sportage and Sorento sport utility vehicles produced between December 2010 and August 2013 and April 2011 and February 2014, respectively.
Models named in the recall contain engines that suffered damage during the assembly process, leaving them prone to stalling. Metal debris generated at the time of the production of the crankshaft were not removed. Additionally, fabricators left crankpins with uneven surfaces, giving them the potential to restrict oil flow to engine bearings. This raises internal temperatures and erodes the bearings. Together, these defects increase the likelihood of sudden engine failure, putting motorists at risk. No injuries or accidents have been connected to these defects, according to the NHTSA.
Kia will instruct dealers to inspect engines in affected models and replace them should they show signs of damage. The carmaker intends to reimburse owners for the repairs via its warranty program, updated March 21, 2016. Dealers are expected to receive notification on May 22, while owners will be notified through first-class mail May 25.
Irvine, Calif. – March 31, 2017 – Kia Motors America has recalled a number of vehicles equipped with defective vacuum hoses. The recall affects Cadenza midsize sedans produced between January and March 2017, according to documentation filed with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.
Affected models include improperly formed rubber vacuum hoses. Because these fixtures, which connect to brake boosters, were not fabricated correctly, they exhibit decreased elasticity and are therefore prone to kinking. When normal vacuum is circulated through these hoses, the flow is partially blocked, making it difficult for drivers to press down upon and operate the brake pedal. This lengthens braking distances, putting owners at risk and increasing the likelihood of a crash. However, no injuries have been connected to this defect.
On March 6, Kia motors received a complaint from an owner who had purchased his vehicle in Korea, according to the NHTSA. In the submission, the owner reported having difficulties when braking. The car maker immediately contacted the OEM parts provider that manufactured the vacuum hose assemblies and requested that the company, Hwasung R&A in Korea, review its production records to assess the components mentioned in the complaint. It traced the vacuum hose in the car back to a batch of parts produced Dec. 30, 2016. Hwasung reviewed its fabrication processes and discovered that the hose did not have time to fully form, which could cause kinking. The parts producer had noticed the problem at the time of production and modified its workflows to address the issue.
One day later, Kia evaluated the vacuum hoses at its production facility. During the first round of reviews, no Hwasung-made models from the Dec. 30 group were found. However, another pass showed that the hoses had been installed in Cadenza sedans assembled between January and March 2017. On March 9, the car maker decided to initiate a voluntary recall.
Kia has ordered dealers to evaluate the vacuum hoses in affected models and replace them should they belong to the batch produced Dec. 30, 2016. The car maker has pledged to reimburse owners for the repairs via its General Reimbursement Plan. Dealers are expected to receive notification of the recall April 10. Owners will receive notification through first-class mail April 17. Those in need of immediate assistance are encouraged to contact Kia customer service or call the NHTSA safety hotline.
Irvine, Calif. — September 26, 2016 — A bad weld in some 2016 Kia Sorrento vehicles could leave occupants at risk of crashing. Just 1 percent of the total recalled population is estimated to have this defect, according to the Part 573 Safety Recall Report filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
That report also stated that 7,901 of these vehicles could potentially see a weld break and impact both vehicle performance and safety. The source traced the problem back to supplier Hwashin America Corporation, which oversaw the improper welding process that left an assist arm bracket disconnected from the vehicle’s rear crossmember. Owners may be able to tell that their vehicle has this problem if they hear “a popping or clunking noise” from the breaking tack welds.
To prevent this problem from happening in the future, the supplier reportedly used an air pressure valve and limit sensor to correct the welding process. The vehicles addressed in this recall make up two distinct ranges of production years: one between May 29 and Nov. 16, 2015, and the other spanning Jan. 14 and Feb. 11, 2016. Dealers can replace the crossmember assembly as needed, the report added.
A July 21 safety bulletin from the manufacturer urged owners to locate their nearest Kia dealer and have a professional inspect the assembly. The bulletin said that the inspection alone (without the replacement) would require approximately one hour to complete.
Owners who have already paid to treat this issue could potentially be eligible for reimbursement under Kia’s General Reimbursement Plan, the statement added. The original report listed the dealer notification date as July 15 and the owner notification date as July 21.
Fountain Valley, CA — July 15, 2016 — Two brands of vehicles are part of a pair of recalls for similar concerns. In certain Kia Sedona or Hyundai Tucson autos, a secondary hood latch could release the hood in certain circumstances after the primary latch has already been released. Drivers who aren’t expecting this could find themselves at risk of a sudden interruption or a crash.
Although the concerns are similar, each of these recalls comes with its own specific conditions.
This action involves Tucson cars manufactured between May 19, 2015 and March 14, 2016. All of the recalled Tucsons have the 2016 model year.
Although the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s recall acknowledgment is dated June 10, the manufacturer’s report date is listed as May 23http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/cs/jaxrs/download/doc/UCM524200/RCAK-16V348-3508.pdf. This statement said that the recall could potentially affect 81,000 units and that the recall itself, currently listed as number 145, is scheduled to begin July 15.
While the primary latch still needs to be triggered for this to pose a concern, the remedy focuses on replacing the secondary latch. As owners wait for the official notification, the manufacturer has encouraged them to contact the customer service line for help.
For Kia customers, the suspect models represent a wider model year range, from 2006 to 2014. All are Kia Sedonas and the manufacturing dates also reflect a long time span, from June 15, 2005 to April 4, 2014. The NHTSA posted documents for this action, including a Part 573 Safety Recall Report submitted May 27, 2016. The dates reportedly come from manufacturing records.
According to this document, 219,800 vehicles are possibly involved in Kia’s latch recall, although just 1 percent of these are estimated to have the defect. This report revealed more information about the source of the problem, stating that the secondary hood latch could undergo mechanical binding that prevents it from closing. This stems from corrosion on the latch that could keep it from operating correctly.
No recall history was given, though the report did mention that the components originated from Pyeong Hwa Automotive in the Republic of Korea. The dealer notification date is planned for July 21, four days before owners are notified.
Kia’s remedy depends upon how serious the case is. Dealers can simply lubricate the secondary latch if they don’t need to perform a full replacement. In addition, vehicles sold in several states, including Alaska, Illinois, Wisconsin and all of New England, will need an improved latch.
This replacement will have an enhanced coating to protect against corrosion.
These are not the first hood-latch-related recalls announced this year. In January, Nissan announced a recall for 856,000 possibly impacted 2013-2015 Altima vehicles, also with secondary latch issues. A press release announced that this company would also replace the affected latches. This builds on two previous recall remedies.
A service bulletin included on the NHTSA website described the technique needed to remove and replace the latch. The source recommended that dealers use a flathead screwdriver to remove the plastic stop from the lock assembly as part of the process.
After the latch is replaced, the source advised dealers to shut the latch, then use the interior mechanism to open it again. This is so they can test the new latch by closing the hood again and pulling up on it.
In February, Subaru also addressed a hood latch concern affecting as many as 77,000 units. This didn’t center around the secondary latch specifically, instead focusing on the hood safety and lock systems as a whole. As such, the prescribed remedy required dealers to undertake a two-phase solution.
Irvine, CA — June 1, 2016 — Some Kia vehicles may suddenly lose headlight functionality, according to a new recall set to begin on this month. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Part 573 recall report on this effort stated that 3,099 vehicles were potentially affected, including Kia K900 cars from both the 2015 and 2016 model years. Production dates span three years, from 2013 to 2016, and the faulty components come from Daesung Electric, Ltd.
This problem could manifest itself in multiple ways. Headlights may, according to the report, either flicker on and off or shut off completely. This is because of resistance buildup within the electric system, which can come after prolonged usage of the automatic headlights. The connection can worsen over time, meaning that a flickering at first could be a sign of further headlight failure later on.
A Safety Defect determination document from the same source traced the history of this issue, with the initial Quality Information Report first occurring on October 19, 2015. After the first conditions were found, the manufacturer determined that the oxidized contact points within the affected vehicles’ multifunction switches were causing the lighting failure.
In contrast to this, the new material in the multiswitch contacts will be less prone to oxidization and make connectivity within the lighting system easier. No accidents or injuries are currently connected to this issue.
Although the company upgraded the contact material and software on January 12, 2016, the voluntary recall wasn’t launched until April 7, 2016. This was after 79 warranty claims and 46 consumer reports.
Dealers should be notified by May 19, and will replace the existing contacts with new ones that reduce the chance of a glitch. The owner notification date is planned for May 27.
Washington, DC — November 25, 2015 — The most recent of two Kia Motors recalls issued this year began this month, as the manufacturer has responded to five related warranty claims, none of which are related to any reports of injuries. Nearly 256,460 Soul vehicles are part of this new voluntary recall action, affecting those vehicles with model years between 2014 and 2016, according to Car and Driver. In these autos, weak adhesive can cause gears within the steering assemblies to separate.
Drivers who experienced this failure would have more difficulty steering their vehicles, putting them and passengers at risk. The remedy, listed on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), will require owners and dealers to replace the pinion plug and add a set gear if necessary.
The decision to launch this recall began on October 29, and the order will officially take place on December 22. Kia initially evaluated the steering gear assembly in 2015MY Soul vehicles this September, with the analysis itself being conducted between October 12 and 21.
During this time, Kia discovered “that a thread locking adhesive of insufficient bonding strength had been applied” within the assembly. A chronology released by the NHTSA notes both this and the fact that none of the reported cases led to loss of control.
The earliest manufactured vehicles included in this recall trace back to a January 18, 2014 manufacture date. On its official website’s FAQ, Kia advises owners to contact its Roadside Assistance if they experience a “clunking noise” while steering so they can tow the vehicle to the nearest dealer.
Irvine, CA — October 27, 2015 — A breakable gear shift lever in some hundreds of thousands of Kia Sorento units has prompted attention from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). According to the Part 573 Safety Recall Report posted by this source, more than 377,000 of these light vehicles could shift unintentionally during use if excessive force was applied to the shifting lever.
Normally, these vehicles can only be shifted out of park mode if the service brake pedal is pressed. Though the discovery of this problem dates back to this August, the concerned vehicles were manufactured as far back as 2009, with model years ranging between 2011 and 2013. These voluntary Kia recalls come after three claims of related injuries and more than 50 warranty claims.
The planned dealer notification date is scheduled for November 18, with owners informed some time between November 24 and December 1. The same recall report explains the actions that the manufacturer will take and that dealers will be expected to.
“Kia will instruct dealers to replace the brake-shift interlock mechanism with a new one,” it reads. The statement further explains what this means, adding that “the recalled brake-shift interlock mechanism is comprised of a shift lever and an interlock hook, along with associated fasteners. The remedy replaces these parts with improved parts.”
This is a possible threat to drivers and passengers because the vehicles could accidentally move once they have been shifted. The initial case noting this defect concerned a father whose son received a fractured leg while trying to stop the vehicle from rolling in a parking lot.
Kia Motors America plans to recall thousands of SUVs this month due to a brake light issue.
According to a government recall acknowledgement notice, a total of 7,722 Kia Sportage Vehicles may include faulty brake light switches. Although the brake systems themselves may work properly in these cars, the lights could fail to turn on, leaving the driver and others around them at risk.
The manufacturer plans to begin the recall sometime this month. Dealers will fix this issue by replacing the ineffective switch.
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