Hyundai and Kia are telling the owners of almost 485,000 vehicles in the U.S. to stop them outside in light of the fact that they can burst into flames regardless of whether the engines have been turned off.
The recalls from the two Korean automakers are one more in a long line of fire and engine disappointment issues that have hounded the companies for the beyond six years.
This time the issue is defilement in the antilock brake control module that can cause an electrical short.
Impacted are sure Kia Sportage SUVs from 2014 through 2016, and the 2016 through 2018 K900 vehicle. Reviewed Hyundais incorporate specific 2016 through 2018 Santa Fe SUVs, 2017 and 2018 Santa Fe Sports, the 2019 Santa Fe XL and 2014 and 2015 Tucson SUVs.
The automakers say they have 11 reports of fires in the U.S. however, no injuries.
Documents posted Tuesday by U.S. security controllers say owners should leave the vehicles outside and away from structures until repairs are made.
Dealers will supplant a fuse. Likewise, Hyundai sellers will investigate the control modules and supplant them if necessary. Hyundai owners will be advised beginning April 5. Kia hopes to mail letters beginning March 31.
The reviews come after U.S. Public Highway Traffic Safety Administration moved forward a progression of investigations into engine compartment fires that have tormented the Korean automakers.
In December, the agency combined two investigations from 2017 into another engineering analysis covering multiple million vehicles from the 2011 through 2016 model years. At that point, NHTSA had gotten 161 complaints of engine fires, some of which happened in vehicles that had effectively been recalled.
The first recall from the companies connected with engine disappointments and fires arrives at as far as possible back to September 2015. From that point forward it has given no less than eight additional reviews for a large group of engine issues, as per NHTSA documents.
The agency said it’s opening the engineering analysis to assess whether past reviews covered an adequate number of vehicles. It additionally will screen the adequacy of past reviews “as well as the drawn out feasibility of related programs and non-safety field activities being directed by Hyundai and Kia.”
At the time Hyundai and Kia said they are helping out the agency.
In independent the automakers said they have embraced various reviews to address engine issues, including reviews, new engine observing technology and providing extended warranties.
The vehicle fires under investigation involve the related Korean automakers’ Theta II GDI, Theta II MPI, Theta II MPI hybrid, Nu GDI and Gamma GDI engines. Models covered include Hyundai’s Sonata, Santa Fe, and Elantra and as well as Kia’s Sorento, Rio, Optima and Soul. Model years covered are 2011 through 2016.
In November of 2020, NHTSA announced that Kia and Hyundai should pay $137 million in fines and for safety upgrades since they moved too leisurely to review beyond what 1 million vehicles with engines that can come up short. The fines settled a past test into the companies’ conduct including reviews of different models dating to the 2011 model year.
Kia was to pay $27 million and put $16 million in safety performance measures. One more $27 million installment will be conceded the same length as Kia meets security conditions, NHTSA said.
Kia denied the U.S. charges however said it needed to keep away from a protracted legal fight.
Information collected by the not-for-profit Center for Auto Safety show in excess of 30 U.S. fire and engine-related reviews from Hyundai and Kia starting around 2015. The reviews include in excess of 20 models from the 2006 through 2021 model years adding up to over 8.4 million vehicles.
Many of the reviews included assembling deserts that prevented oil from coursing through the engine block. Many involved costly engine replacements.
Hyundai and Kia likewise did a U.S. “item improvement crusade” covering 3.7 million vehicles to introduce programming that will caution drivers of conceivable engine failures.