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
Kia recalls five models over defective airbags

Kia recalls five models over defective airbags

February 5, 2022 Joseph Estabillo

Irvine, CA – February 5, 2022 – Kia (OTCMKTS:KIMTF) is recalling 410,619 units spanning various models over faulty airbags that may fail to inflate in case of a crash, putting the occupants of the car at the risk of injury.

The Kia airbag recall involves the following models:

  • 2017 – 2019 Kia Soul
  • 2017 – 2019 Kia Sedona
  • 2017 – 2019 Kia Soul EV
  • 2017 – 2018 Kia Forte
  • 2017 Kia Forte Koup

Recall summary

These models use airbags that cushion occupants’ heads and prevent them from hitting the vehicle’s interior during a crash. The airbags are regulated by a computer called the airbag control unit (ACU), which is protected by a cover.

Manufacturing defects can cause this cover to make contact with – and possibly damage – the electronics responsible for controlling the airbags. When this happens, the airbags may become deactivated and not work in the event of a crash.

The component involved in this recall is the “Airbag Module Assembly” with multiple part numbers, including 95910-B2050 and 95910-B2600.

Recall risks

Faulty airbags  expose the vehicle’s occupants to a higher risk of serious injury during a crash.

Warning signs

If the airbags are deactivated, the airbag warning light will come on the dashboard.

Other Kia recalls 

There was a Kia Forte recall in September because of faulty trunk latches, which in rare cases if someone is stuck inside may prevent that person from opening the trunk.

In addition to that, earlier model-years of the same car – as well as close to 3 million of other Hyundai and Kia cars – are being investigated to see if the manufacturers will be required to issue new recalls for these cars based on an increased risk of fire. Kia and Hyundai have been in the crosshairs of the U.S. auto safety regulator for the past couple of years because of their vehicles catching fire, sometimes for unknown reasons, as reported.

The repair

If the airbag warning light is on, the ACU will be replaced with an improved one. If the ABWL is not on, an update to the airbag’s software will be installed. Both measures will ensure that the airbags inflate during a crash to protect occupants.

All repairs will be done free of charge and owners who already paid out of pocket will be reimbursed. Notifications with more information will be sent March 21 and March 25, 2022. 

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

More than 400,000 vehicles are being recalled because of this Kia airbag issue. To do a Kia recall check, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.  

Joseph EstabilloKia recalls five models over defective airbags
Kia recalls Cadenza and Sportage over engine fire risk

Kia recalls Cadenza and Sportage over engine fire risk

March 19, 2021 Rebecca Rand

Irvine, CA – June 17, 2022 – Kia Motors (KIMTF:OTC US) has remedied 261,537 electrical issues that might cause engine fire in several vehicles including the 2017-2021 Kia Sportage. Additionally, 11,485 of these Kia Sportage and Kia Cadenza models have been deemed unreachable, and 9,550 models have been removed from the recall. In total Kia remedied the engine compartment fire issues in three groups during 2021 and one group during the first quarter of 2022.

Irvine, CA – March 19, 2021 – Kia  (OTCMKTS:KIMTF) has recalled 379,931 cars whose engines may catch fire due to an electrical issue.  The recall includes the following mid-size cars and compact SUVs:

  • 2017 Kia Cadenza
  • 2018 Kia Cadenza
  • 2019 Kia Cadenza 
  • 2017 Kia Sportage
  • 2018 Kia Sportage
  • 2019 Kia Sportage
  • 2020 Kia Sportage
  • 2021 Kia Sportage 

The 2020 Kia Cadenza and 2021 Kia Cadenza are not included in the recall. The affected part is the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU), which is part of the anti-lock brakes’ system (ABS). The part numbers are 58920-D9100 and 58920-F6210 for Sportage and Cadenza, respectively.

Recall summary  

The recall stems from an electrical issue in the HECU, a component of the anti-lock braking system, which ensures that the car maintains contact with the road and prevents the wheels from locking, as reported.

A short in the wiring of the HECU may spark a fire in the engine compartment. The recall has been issued for cars sold in the United States and South Korea, where Kia is based. Kia said in recall documents that they did not know what was causing the short-circuit in the HECU.

Ongoing fire issues

Shorting in the ABS system seem to be an ongoing issue for this manufacturer.

In the past five years, Kia and its parent company, Hyundai, have recalled over 2.5 million cars due to fire risks arising from ABS problems. Kia is also subject to an ongoing investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) looking into the frequency of vehicle fires in Optima, Sorento, and Soul vehicles.

Warning signs

The driver may be alerted to this issue if he or she notices the illumination of “tire pressure,” ABS or the malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) warning lights. The latter is also known as the “check engine” light. 

Additionally, the driver may smell “burning [or] melting odor” and see “smoke from [the] engine compartment,” according to the manufacturer.

Safety tips

Kia has advised that owners should park their recalled cars outdoors and away from structures until they have their cars repaired.

Read more about the dangers of vehicle fires and what to do if one occurs in this article about a recent Kia Stinger recall.

The repair

Kia dealers will replace certain fuses in the car’s electronics to prevent the HECU from short-circuiting. Certain vehicles will also receive a software update. Both repairs will be conducted free of charge.

Owner notifications with more detailed instructions will be sent out on April 30.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Nearly 380,000 vehicles are included in this Kia vehicle recall. Want to check for Kia recalls? Use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Rebecca RandKia recalls Cadenza and Sportage over engine fire risk
Kia Motors recalls nearly 300,000 cars over engine fire risk

Kia Motors recalls nearly 300,000 cars over engine fire risk

December 15, 2020 Rebecca Rand

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, CA – January 20, 2022 Update – Kia Motors (KIMTF:OTC US) has remedied issues with 101,964 vehicles at risk of engine fires including the 2012 Kia Sportage. An additional 22,555 Kia models have been deemed unreachable as well as 26,994 models that were removed from the recall. In total Kia remedied the engine fire issue in three groups all during 2021.

Irvine, CA – December 15, 2020 – Kia Motors (KIMTF:OTC US) is recalling 294,756 vehicles whose engines may catch on fire. This mirrors the more recent 2017-2021 Kia Sportage and 2017-2019 Kia Cadenza engine fire recall due to electrical issues. The recall includes the following: 

  • 2012-2015 Kia Forte compact sedans equipped with 
    • 2.0L Nu Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) engines  
    • 2.4L Theta II Multi-Port Injection (MPI) engines
  • 2012-2015 Kia Forte Koup cars equipped with 
    • 2.0L Nu GDI engines 
    • 2.4L Theta II MPI engines
  • 2011-2013 Kia Optima Hybrid cars equipped with 
    • 2.4L Theta II MPI engines
  • 2012-2013 Kia Sorento SUVs equipped with 
    • 2.4L Theta II MPI engines
  • 2014-2015 Kia Soul hatchbacks equipped with
    • 2.0L Nu GDI engines
  • 2012 Kia Sportage compact SUVs equipped with
    • 2.4L Theta II MPI engines

Recall summary

The recall stems from a risk that the engines could catch fire while driving.  Neither Kia nor the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has found a definite cause for the high rates of engine fire in these models. Kia said that the recall was a “preventative measure” that would attempt to address any existing fuel leaks, oil leaks, or engine damage to mitigate fire risks.

Background of the recall

This recall was prompted by a June 2018 petition by the Center For Auto Safety, a consumer watchdog group that pushed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to investigate the high rate of engine fires in certain Kia vehicles. While they have not yet determined the cause of the fires, NHTSA has recommended this recall based on the fire complaint data they got from Kia. 

As a result of the same investigation, Hyundai is set to perform a 130,000 car recall, including  2012 Hyundai Santa Fe SUVs, 2011-2013 and 2016 Hyundai Sonata hybrids, and 2015-2016 Hyundai Veloster hatchbacks. The recall is being conducted also due to the risk of a fire, as well as that of stalling while driving.

This is the second 2013 Kia Sorento recall related to engine fires. Fires also led to 2011-2012 Kia Sportage and 2013 Kia Optima recalls, according to NHTSA records.

Vehicle fires

Car fires are very dangerous. Please see the following article for tips on what to do if your vehicle catches fire.

Engine noise, the check engine light, the low oil light, fuel smell, burning smell, oil leaking, and smoke may indicate an active or potential fire in the recalled vehicles. 

Repair

This Kia Motors recall is slated to begin on January 27, 2021. Kia will notify owners by mail, and dealers will inspect the engine compartment and perform an engine test. If they discover any problems, the dealer will repair them for free. This includes a replacement engine, if necessary. 

Kia is also working on a free software update designed to prevent engine damage, which dealers will install when available.  

Owners who have already repaired this defect on their own dime may be eligible for reimbursement.

Is your vehicle affected by this recall?

Nearly 300,000 cars are included with this Kia motors recall. To see if your car is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle recall lookup tool.


Rebecca RandKia Motors recalls nearly 300,000 cars over engine fire risk
2019 Kia Stinger recalled for mystery fire risk

2019 Kia Stinger recalled for mystery fire risk

October 26, 2020 Rebecca Rand

Pleasanton, CA – October 27, 2023 – Kia announced that 4,241 cars that were part of this recall were still in need of repair. To see if your car is one them, please use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Pleasanton, CA – March 3, 2022 – Kia (OTCMKTS:KIMTF) has remedied issues with 19,276 luxury sports sedans including the 2019 Kia Stinger dealing with a risk of fire caused by a failure with the Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS). Additionally, 991 of these vehicles have been categorized as unreachable and 477 have been removed from the recall. One group of Kia models were remedied in 2020 and four groups were remedied in 2021 for this issue with the ABS Unit that may cause an engine compartment fire similar to a recall that affect several 2014-2015 Kia Sorento and 2013-2015 Kia Optima models in 2021.

Pleasanton, CA – August 28, 2020 – Kia (OTCMKTS:KIMTF) has announced a recall of 28,200 luxury sports sedans over concerns of an engine compartment fire, potentially caused by the anti-lock braking system (ABS). The recall includes all 2019 Kia Stingers equipped with 3.3L T-GDI engines.

The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) is an important component of the ABS that prevents the wheels of a car from locking and allows the car to maintain traction with the road.

Recall summary

In recalled cars, there is a risk that an engine compartment fire may occur where the HECU is located.  However, while the recall notice points to the ABS unit as the culprit of fire, other documents from the regulator National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) stop short from confirming that, instead listing the cause of the fire as “unknown.”

At least six Kia Stingers had caught fire before the manufacturer issued the recall.

Risks

Car fires kill over 300 people a year on average and injure over a thousand, according to the U.S. Fire Administration. Their report blames at least 20% of vehicle fires between 2009 and 2017 on equipment failures. As far as manufacturer Kia is concerned, there are many recalls caused by fire hazards. In 2021, several Kia Compact SUVs were recalled for fire risk due to electrical issues.

Warning signs

 Before the car catches fire, the driver may notice the following:

  • Tire pressure,  ABS  or the malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) warning lights come on
  • The car emits a “burning/melting odor”
  • Smoke appears from under the hood

What to do in the event of a fire

If you notice any of these conditions, stop your car someplace safe. If you suspect there is an actual fire under the hood, do not open it. Oxygen will rush in and feed the flames. Instead, get yourself and others away from the vehicle, at least 100 feet.

Call the fire department at 911 when you are in a secure location. Do not return to the vehicle for any reason.

The repair

Kia has yet to offer a repair for this recall. The automaker will be notifying owners by mail starting October 26, at which time it will lay out the next steps of the recall process.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 9,000 Kia Stingers are included in this recall. To see if your car is one of them, use MotorSafety’s vehicle identification number look up tool.

Rebecca Rand2019 Kia Stinger recalled for mystery fire risk
Car Fires! Know This:

Car Fires! Know This:

December 6, 2018 Sandra Thomas

Heads up Kia and Hyundai Owners

Make: Kia and Hyundai –  2011-2014 Kia Sorento, Kia Optima, Hyundai Sonata, and Hyundai Santa Fe, and 2010-2015 Kia Soul vehicles

Overview: About 400 complaints of engine fires, engine failures (with and without fires), melted wires. Some cars recalled in 2015, 2017 – others not yet recalled pending a government investigation.

Threat: Cars suddenly catching fire without warning or external trigger, like car crashes. Some crash-related fires as well. Some cars that have been repaired catch fire anyway.

Of Course: It’s free to get a recalled car repaired, but only some fire risk cars have been recalled. Many cars in question have *not* been recalled. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating nearly two million cars and may decide more recall solutions are in order. Car safety advocated group, the Center for Auto Safety, is demanding recalls now of three million cross-over models and sedans.

Right Now:  Check MotorSafety.org’s recall checker  to learn whether your car is under recall. Other makes are recalled for fire risk. Check you car now!

If you smell smoke, melting wires, experience engine failure or see fire —

  • Calmly pull over to the right side of the road. If you’re all the way left, pull off to the left
  • Turn off your car and carefully step out and away
  • Do not stand near your car. You don’t want to be close to a potential fire, of course. And what you may not realize is it’s dangerous on the shoulder where looky-loos often veer toward the direction in which they’re looking – at you on the shoulder! Seriously, people get killed standing on the shoulder all the time. Get away from the car and traffic!
  • Call 911
  • *And if you are driving a Kia or Hyundai and experience engine failure, a fire could follow. Get over, out and away.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sandra ThomasCar Fires! Know This:
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