Kia recalls SUVs for loss of brake boost assist

Irvine, CA – July 2, 2023 – Kia (OTCMKTS:KIMTF), is recalling 98,944 2023 Kia Sportage SUVs because their power brake assistance may fail. This would make the vehicles harder to stop, upping the risk of a crash and injury. The recall comes on the heels of multiple customer complaints.

Recall summary  

The power braking in the listed vehicles is done by a brake booster. In the SUVs affected by this recall the brake booster may develop an internal leak reducing its stopping power. 

Recall risks

The defect increases stopping distance, which augments the risk of a crash and injury. 

Background of the recall  

The recall comes on the back of at least 73 customer complaints about the issue. No injuries or crashes have been reported.

Warning signs

The loss of brake boost assist “can result in hard pedal feel and increased effort during pedal application.

Other Kia recalls

In April 2023, Kia recalled minivans over a sliding door issue, as reported.

In February 2023, a batch of Telluride midsize SUVs was recalled because their airbags would fail to deploy.

Separately, millions of Kia and Hyundai cars are subject to an ongoing U.S. government investigation due to multiple instances of car fires, as reported.

The repair

Dealers will replace the brake boosters free of charge. 

Owners should be notified on July 21, 2023. 

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

Almost 100,000 UVs are affected by this Kia brake booster recall. To do a Kia recall check and see if yours is one of them, please use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicKia recalls SUVs for loss of brake boost assist

Kia recalls Carnival minivans with faulty doors following US government investigation

Irvine, CA  – April 22, 2023 – Kia (OTCMKTS:KIMTF) is recalling 51,568 2022 – 2023 Kia Carnival minivans because their power sliding doors could trap and injure the occupants of the car. This recall comes on the back of a U.S. government investigation and multiple injuries related to the defect.

Recall summary  

The listed vehicles have sliding rear doors, which are opened and closed by an electric motor. To prevent them from potentially injuring occupants, this system also has a so-called auto-reverse function whose job is to back up the closing door if it detects any obstacles. 

The feature does not work as intended, upping the risk of the car occupants getting injured.

Recall risks

Nine people have been injured as a result of this defect, according to the information provided by the manufacturer to the auto safety regulator in charge of this recall. 

Other Kia recalls

In February 2023, Kia recently recalled Telluride SUVs over an airbag issue

As for previous Kia Carnival recalls, the one from December 2021 – also caused by sliding-door issues – is the most recent

Background of the recall

The recall comes on the back of an investigation conducted by the U.S. government’s auto safety regulator, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in April of last year. The investigation was kicked off after the regulator received several complaints alleging that “excessive force” was required to close the doors once they got stuck.

The repair

Dealers will update the vehicle’s power sliding door control module with an upgraded software version that gives the driver “two warning chimes” when it starts to close. The repairs are free of charge. 

Owners should have been notified starting April 28, 2023.

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

More than 50,000 cars are affected by this Kia sliding door recall. To do a Kia recall check and see if yours is one of them, please use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicKia recalls Carnival minivans with faulty doors following US government investigation

Kia recalls Telluride SUVs whose airbags may not deploy

Irvine, CA – February 11, 2023 – Kia (OTCMKTS:KIMTF), has issued a recall for 31,943 2023 Telluride midsize SUV due to a problem with the second-row side airbags, which could prevent them from deploying in the event of a crash. This exacerbates the risk of injury to the cars’ occupants.

Recall summary

On the affected vehicles, the wiring harness fitted to the side airbags for the second-row seats may be too short due to a supplier error. This could lead to the harness coming in contact with the seat frame and getting damaged when the middle seats are adjusted or folded.   

The part involved in this recall is the second-row seat cushion wire harness assembly, with multiple part numbers including 89551-S9510, 89551-S9610 and 89651-S9710. 

Recall risks

Damage to the wiring harness may prevent the second-row side airbags from deploying when the vehicle is involved in a collision, upping the risk of injury to occupants. 

Warning signs

Drivers may notice the illumination of the airbag warning light if the issue exists.

Other Kia recalls

There was a Kia Telluride recall in August 2022 due to an overheating tow hitch that brings an augmented risk of fire. The recall also included Hyundai Palisade vehicles, as reported.

In November 2022, Kia recalled 71,704 2008–2009 Sportage SUVs over a problem with the anti-lock brakes which could cause the affected vehicles to also catch fire.

The following month, Kia issued a recall for 76,918 2023 Sportage vehicles on account of side curtain airbags that were not installed properly during assembly, preventing them from deploying in a crash and leading to an increased risk of injury.        

The repair

Dealers will inspect the affected vehicles and replace the damaged second-row wiring harnesses with the correct ones. Harnesses with no damage will be secured to prevent them from coming into contact with the seat frame. Kia will reimburse owners who paid for their own repairs before the recall was issued.

Owners of affected vehicles will be notified by February 28, 2023.  

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

More than 31,000 vehicles are affected by this Kia airbag recall. To see if your vehicle is among them or to check for more recalls, run a Kia recall check using MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Joseph EstabilloKia recalls Telluride SUVs whose airbags may not deploy

Kia recalls Sportage SUVs over faulty airbags

Irvine, CA – December 10, 2022 – Kia (OTCKMTS:KIMTF) is issuing a recall for 76,918 2023 Kia Sportage SUV crossovers due to faulty airbags. This ups the risk of injury during a crash.

Recall summary

Side curtain airbags are meant to protect the occupants’ heads when a side impact collision happens. In the affected vehicles, which were produced at a Kia facility in Georgia, a worker error during assembly may have resulted in the side curtain airbags being twisted as they were installed in the vehicle.   

The component involved in this recall is the curtain airbag module with part numbers 80410-DW000 and 80420-DW000.

Recall risks

The bags may not deploy properly or even at all in a side impact collision. This brings an increased risk of injury to occupants. 

Other Kia recalls

In February of last year, there was a Kia airbag recall when over 400,000 vehicles of five different models were recalled over airbags that may not deploy during a crash, upping the risk of a serious injury.

Separately, both Kia and its sister company Hyundai are subject to a U.S. government investigation for numerous non-crash related fires and issues dozens of recalls related to the issue over the past couple of years. 

Case in point is the recent Kia Sportage recall, that occurred just last month when over 70,000  2008-2009 model-years were recalled for the second time since 2016 due to several fires that occurred post-repair.

The repair

Dealers will inspect the side curtain airbags and reinstall them correctly as needed, at no cost to the owner. Kia will reimburse owners who had these repairs made before the recall was announced. 

Owners of affected vehicles will be notified on or around December 28, 2022.  

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

More than 76,000 vehicles are affected by this Kia Sportage airbag recall. To see if your vehicle is among them, run a Kia recall check using MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Joseph EstabilloKia recalls Sportage SUVs over faulty airbags

Kia issues second recall for Niro hybrids over fire risk

Irvine, CA – November 22, 2022 – Kia (OTCMKTS:KIMTF) is recalling 27,030 2017-2018 Kia Niro hybrid vehicles whose electric systems may overheat. This may, in extreme cases, result in a vehicle fire, increasing the risk of a crash and injury. 

This is the second recall for the same issue that comes on the back of five fires and the latest in the long string of both Kia and sister company Hyundai vehicles fire recalls. Vehicles repaired under the previous recall in 2018 will need to have the new remedy implemented.

Recall summary  

Listed vehicles have a series of relays, or switches, under their rear seats which are part of these cars’ electrical systems. The system is collectively called the power relay and contains an element called the main relay due to the important role it plays.

Due to the poor electrical connection, this particular relay may overheat and damage the seat cushion above it. In extreme cases, this may even lead to a vehicle fire

Recall risks

As described in previous similar recalls, a fire that occurs while driving is a serious safety concern with a wide range of potential hazards

Background of the recall

These vehicles were recalled in 2018 for the same issue and were supposed to received new relays to correct it. However, following several localized fires, the manufacturer discovered that at least some of the cars did not receive the remedy, which prompted another recall.

Warning signs

An overheating main relay may trigger a hybrid system warning sign on the dashboard or prevent the vehicle from being started. 

Other Kia recalls

Kia and their parent company, Hyundai, have been dealing with potential vehicle fires for some time now. The latest in the steak of fiery recalls, which happened just a few days ago, was caused by overheating ABS modules

These ongoing issues also caught the U.S. government auto safety regulator’s attention, which is currently investigating whether the current remedies are sufficient to address the fire risk

There are no other recent Kia Niro recalls aside from this one.

The repair

To fix these Kia electrical issues, dealers will inspect the power relay assembly for traces of damage caused by overheating. If present, the whole assembly will be replaced with a new one. Otherwise, dealers will replace the original main relay, if still present, with an updated one, made by Panasonic. 

The repair is free of charge, and the owners should be notified on January 9, 2023.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Almost 30,000 hybrid Kia vehicles are affected by this Kia fire risk recall. 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 Niro hybrids over fire risk

Kia and Hyundai recall cars that may stall

Irvine, CA – November 5, 2022 – Kia (OTCMKTS: KIMTF) and sister company Hyundai (OTCMKTS:HYMTF) are recalling 69,038 sedans and SUVs whose transmissions may shift out of Drive on their own, leaving the vehicle without motive power. This increases the risk of a crash and injury.  

Only the models with a 2.5-liter engine and 8-speed automatic transmission are affected.

 The following models are included:

  • 2021 – 2023 Kia K5
  • 2021 – 2022 Kia Sorento
  • 2021 – 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe
  • 2021 – 2022 Hyundai Sonata
  • 2021 – 2022 Hyundai Veloster N
  • 2022 Hyundai Elantra
  • 2022 Hyundai Kona N
  • 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz

Recall summary

The transmission of the affected vehicles has an oil pump whose role is to “drive the engine to rotate,” according to Japanese auto supplier Toyo. Due to a manufacturing error, the pump may fail. If this happens, the vehicle will alert the driver and then, within several seconds, shift the transmission out of Drive. This will cause loss of drive power.

The component causing this recall is the electric oil pump with part number 46220-2N510. 

Background of the recall

The recall follows on the heels of 265 Kia and Hyunda incidents alleging vehicles stalling while driving. Some drivers have reported “doing 70[miles per hour] on heavy traffic with a huge truck to [the] right” when “the engine stopped responding.” No accidents or injuries have been reported so far.

Warning signs 

About 20 to 30 seconds before the stall happens, a chime and a message to “Stop Safely” will warn the driver about the issue. The malfunction indicator light (MIL) will also come on.

Recall risks

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

Other Kia recalls

Just recently, Kia recalled some of its Sportage SUVs over loose wiring. This may cause the vehicle to stall or, in some cases, even catch fire

Owners should also be aware of Kia and Hyundai recalls caused by this issue that took place during this year

The repair

Dealers will check the transmissions on affected vehicles and replace them if necessary. In addition, they will reprogram the transmission’s control unit. This repair will be free of charge. 

Vehicle owners will be notified on December 9, 2022. 

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

This Kia loss of power issue is affecting nearly 70,000 vehicles. To do a Kia recall check and see if yours is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool

Bojan PopicKia and Hyundai recall cars that may stall

Kia issues second recall for older Sportage SUVs over fire risk

Irvine, CA – November 4, 2022 – Kia (OTCMKTS:KIMTF) is once again recalling 71,704 2008 and 2009 Kia Sportage compact SUVs due to the risk of these vehicles catching fire while driving or parked.

These cars were previously repaired for the same problem in 2016 but caught fire several times since, prompting the manufacturer to issue another recall. This is the latest chapter in the Kia and Hyundai fire-related saga.

Recall summary

The vehicles in question may experience an “engine compartment fire originating from around the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU)”, which is part of the anti-lock brake system, or ABS module.

The exact cause of the fire is currently under investigation. However, in at least one case, the vehicle that caught fire had “corroded wiring near connector and foreign substances/corrosion on printed circuit board (PCB),” which is a “medium” used to host the car’s “electronic components.”

Background of the recall

The same vehicles were repaired in 2016 due an electrical short within HECU caused by corrosion from an “improperly sealed” HECU cover. Dealers addressed the problem by inspecting the modules and replacing them if any traces of corrosion were present. 

But it appears that the repair may not have been sufficient, given that the current recall comes on the heels of 8 fires and 15 “melting” incidents that occurred in cars post-repair.

Recall risks

Risks with vehicle fires are well documented here and in previous similar recalls, such as this Hyundai fire issue from August 2022

Warning signs

If the HECU module overheats or catches fire, the ABS warning light on the dashboard may illuminate. Apart from that, the driver or occupants may notice the smell of burning or observe smoke.

Safety tips

Kia advises owners to park outdoors and away from buildings or other vehicles until the problem has been resolved. For tips on what to do in the even of fire, please visit the following article about yet another Kia fire recall.

Other Kia Sportage recalls

These fire issues are not the only problem that has been troubling the Korean manufacturer lately. Just a few days ago, they had to recall a batch of brand-new Kia Sportages that might catch fire

Vehicle fires are a problem that Kia and its sister company, Hyundai, have been tackling for some time now. These issues have been recapped in this article

The repair

At this time, the manufacturer is working on a solution for this Kia fire risk issue. Once available, the final repair will be free of charge. 

Vehicle owners will receive notification about the current issue on or around December 22, 2022. 

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

More than 70,000 SUVs are being recalled over this Kia engine 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 older Sportage SUVs over fire risk

KIA recalls SUVs that may stall or burst into flames

Irvine, CA – October 18, 2022 – Kia (OTCMKTS:KIMTF) is recalling 19,701 2023 Kia Sportage SUVs with an electrical issue that may cause them to stall or even catch fire. This can happen while driving, increasing the risk of crash and injury. 

Recall summary  

The electrical power for a vehicle while it’s running is generated by an alternator. It is connected to the car’s battery with a wire cable, whose connector is held in place with a nut. On affected SUVs, this nut may not have been tightened up sufficiently during assembly

As such, the nut could become loose and cause a loss of electrical conductivity. This cuts the power supply to the vehicle, causing it to stall. In addition, loose electrical contact may create sparks, which can cause a fire inside the engine compartment.  

The component causing this recall is the alternator assembly, with part number 37300-2SGD1. 

Recall risks

A stalled vehicle can get hit by oncoming traffic, especially if this happens at high speeds. In addition, potential hazards caused by a fire while driving range from failure to stop and evacuate the car in time to being a threat to other motorists.

Warning signs 

Poor electrical connection at the alternator’s terminal will trigger the battery warning light on the dashboard. 

Other Kia recalls

There is an urgent Kia Sportage recall issued earlier this month due to the risk of the car tow hitch harness catching fire even if the car is parked. Owners are advised to park their vehicles away from structures. To see the full list of vehicles involved, please visit this page.

In addition to that, there are a number of other Kia fire recalls currently outstanding. See the overview of them here.

Repair

Dealers will check the nut and tighten it as necessary.  This repair is free of charge. 

Kia sent notifications to vehicle owners on September 23, 2022. 

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

This Kia fire risk issue is affecting almost 20,000 SUVs. To do a Kia recall check and see if yours is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicKIA recalls SUVs that may stall or burst into flames

Can your Kia or Hyundai vehicle catch on fire?

Washington, D.C. – October 13, 2022 – The year of the Tiger is proving to be truly “fiery” for both Hyundai (OTCMKTS: HYMTF) and Kia (OTCMKTS:KIMTF). 

Both manufacturers are subject to an ongoing U.S government investigation that may affect as many as 3 million vehicles due to potential engine failures. In addition, over 1 million of additional makes are subject to unrelated recalls that may also result in a fire. 

Fires greatly increase the possibility of the car occupants – and potentially surrounding motorists  – getting seriously injured. Worse yet, they can occur even when the vehicle is parked or turned off, also upping the risk of property damage.

Read on to see if your vehicle is affected.

The investigation  

In January, the U.S government auto safety regulator, the National Highway Transportation Administration (NHTSA) opened the investigation over potential “inadequate remedies” that both manufacturers implemented for five fire-related recalls that took place as far back as 2017.

In addition to evaluating whether the remedies resolved the risk of fire, the regulator is also looking into whether vehicles that were not part of these recalls will need to be recalled again.

Some of the vehicles involved include:

  • 2013 Hyundai Elantra
  • 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe
  • 2017 Hyundai Tucson
  • 2013 – 2014 Santa Fe Sport
  • 2011 – 2014 Hyundai Sonata
  • 2011 – 2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
  • 2016 – 2017 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
  • 2015 – 2016 Hyundai Veloster
  • 2012 – 2015 Kia Forte

ABS module fires

In  February,  nearly half a million Hyundai and Kia SUVs had to be recalled due to defective ABS modules, which would overheat and burst into flames.

These recalls include the following vehicles: 

  • 2016 – 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe 
  • 2017 – 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport
  • 2014 – 2015 Hyundai Tucson 
  • 2016 – 2018 Kia K900
  • 2014 – 2016 Kia Sportage
  • 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe XL

Fuel-leaking sedans 

Back in 2020, Hyundai and Kia recalled Sonata and Optima sedans over a fuel leak that could cause a fire. However, it appeared the remedy implemented on this occasion was not sufficient, forcing the manufacturers to recall these vehicles once more in February.

Over 73,000 2013 – 2014 Kia Optima sedans and 215,171 2013 – 2014 Hyundai Sonata sedans were affected.

Hybrids with overheating wiring 

In July 2022, Hyundai had to recall some of its Ioniq hybrids over a risk of a vehicle fire caused by overheating relays underneath the passenger seat. In total, more than 10,000 cars were affected by this Hyundai fire recall.  

The following vehicles were affected:

  • 2017 – 2018 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid
  • 2017 – 2018 Hyundai Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid

Tow harness fire

In August, Hyundai and Kia had an issue with their SUVs potentially bursting into flames because of overheating tow hitch wiring. This caused more than 250,000 cars to be recalled

But the number of affected vehicles proved to be higher, resulting in an additional recall earlier in October.  The following vehicles were affected in the second round:

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

Is your vehicle part of a recall?

Up to date, Hyundai and Kia fire recalls have affected roughly 4.4 million cars during 2022. To do a Hyundai recall check and see if yours is affected by any of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool. You can do the same to carry out a Kia recall check. 

Bojan PopicCan your Kia or Hyundai vehicle catch on 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