UPON RESEARCH I WAS ABLE TO FIND OUT THAT THE KIA RIO HAS THE SAME ENGINE USED IN THE KIA OPTIMA WHICH HAS BEEN RECALLED. JUST RECENTLY METAL SHAVINGS WERE FOUND MY KIA RIO WHY ARE NOT ALL CARS WITH THE SAME ENGINE BEING RECALLED?
2013 Kia Rio
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Rio years
Owner complaints for the 2013 Kia Rio are substantially higher than the model-year median of 38.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Rio years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
87 reports with mileage · 66 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine. Review the 53 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 34 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine complaints
53 reportsI WAS DRIVING WITH MY DOG TO A VET APPOINTMENT. I HEARD A NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE I HIT A POT WHOLE BUT I LOOKED AND THERE WAS NO WHOLE AND THE CAR WAS STILL DRIVING LIKE NORMAL SO I CONTINUED ON MY WAY. THERE WAS A DETOUR FOR ROAD CONSTRUCTION I ENDED UP HAVING TO PULL OVER BECAUSE I DID NOT KNOW WHERE I WAS. THE CAR DIED SEE…
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I WAS DRIVING WITH MY DOG TO A VET APPOINTMENT. I HEARD A NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE I HIT A POT WHOLE BUT I LOOKED AND THERE WAS NO WHOLE AND THE CAR WAS STILL DRIVING LIKE NORMAL SO I CONTINUED ON MY WAY. THERE WAS A DETOUR FOR ROAD CONSTRUCTION I ENDED UP HAVING TO PULL OVER BECAUSE I DID NOT KNOW WHERE I WAS. THE CAR DIED SEEMED TO BE BECAUSE OF THE BATTERY LOSS POWER SO I LET THE CAR REST AND WALKED MY DOG .THEN GOT BACK IN MY CAR IT STARTED BACK UP AND TURNED AROUND ON THE HIGHWAY. THEN MINUTES AFTER GOING MY CAR LOST POWER AND THE SPEED REDUCED TO 40 MILES PER HOUR WHEN I HAD BEEN DRIVING 65 MPH. ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND IT MADE A NOISE FROM UNDER THE CARRIAGE /BODY OF THE CAR.THIS ALL HAPPEN AT THE SAME TIME. I WAS ABLE TO COAST INTO A GAS STATION/ CONVENIENCE STORE. I LIVE IN ALABAMA AND IT WAS LIKE 90 DEGREES THAT DAY. I TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR WHEN SOMEONE TRIED TO HELP ME AND IT THREW METAL FROM UNDER THE BODY AT US. LATER FOUND OUT IT THREW A ROD .I AM UNDER 100,000 MILES AND WAY UNDER 10 YEARS ON THE WARRANTY AND HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY A MECHANIC THAT IT THREW A ROD AND THERE IS NO WAY TO TELL WHAT CAUSED IT.THE ROD WENT THREW THE OIL PAN. I WAS LUCKY THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC AT THE TIME THIS ALL HAPPENED. KIA TRIED TO TELL ME IT HAD TO BE A RECALL TO BE COVERED UNTIL I WENT TO THERE OFFICE AND CONFRONTED THE WOMAN WHOM HAD SAID THAT TO ME. WHEN I TOLD HER I DID NOT HAVE ALL MY PAPER WORK /RECORDS ON THE MAINTENANCE SHE SAID THEY WOULD HAVE TO CHARGE ME TO LOOK AT IT TO DETERMINED WHAT CAUSED THE ENGINE TO THROW A ROD. I THEN TALKED TO A FRIEND OF A FRIEND THAT WORKS AT KIA FOR HELP AND I AM STILL WAITING FOR HIS REPLY IF THEY WILL HELP ME OR NOT.MY CAR IS 2013 KIA RIO .MY HUSBAND HAD GONE TO CULLMAN AL. WHICH IS ABOUT 3 HOURS FROM US THE WEEKEND BEFORE THIS HAPPENED AND HAD CHECKED THE OIL AND ADDED WHAT WAS NEEDED THEN .
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA RIO. EVER SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, THE SERVICE ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE SUDDENLY DUE TO AN INTERNAL ENGINE FAILURE. THE DEALER (BOB BELL KIA OF BALTIMORE, 7900 EASTERN AVE #1, BALTIMORE, MD 21224, (410) 288-2500) INITIALLY DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA RIO. EVER SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, THE SERVICE ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE SUDDENLY DUE TO AN INTERNAL ENGINE FAILURE. THE DEALER (BOB BELL KIA OF BALTIMORE, 7900 EASTERN AVE #1, BALTIMORE, MD 21224, (410) 288-2500) INITIALLY DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A WRENCH UNDER THE HOOD, BUT HAD BEEN THE ONLY REPAIR FACILITY SERVICING A VEHICLE, THE SECOND TIME, THE THROTTLE BODY WAS REPLACED. DURING THE THIRD REPAIR, THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE OVER 20 MPH. ALSO, THE SERVICE ENGINE INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED WITHIN LESS THAN 30 DAYS OF THE THIRD REPAIR FROM THE DEALER WITH NO REMEDY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INSPECTION STATION WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A SENSOR RELATED TO THE THROTTLE. THE MANUFACTURER ISSUED 15 TSBS ON THE ENGINE, BUT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6.
I WAS DRIVING HOME WORK ON THE FREEWAY AND HAD ONLY BEEN ON THE ROAD FOR 15 MINUTES. IT WAS RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AND HAD MY WINDOW DOWN WHEN I NOTICED AND ELECTRICAL BURNING SMELL. I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE FROM FROM SOMETHING OUTSIDE AND KEPT DRIVING. THE SMELL GOT STRONGER AND STRONGER. AFTER JUST A COUPLE MINUTES OF FURTHER DRIVING …
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I WAS DRIVING HOME WORK ON THE FREEWAY AND HAD ONLY BEEN ON THE ROAD FOR 15 MINUTES. IT WAS RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AND HAD MY WINDOW DOWN WHEN I NOTICED AND ELECTRICAL BURNING SMELL. I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE FROM FROM SOMETHING OUTSIDE AND KEPT DRIVING. THE SMELL GOT STRONGER AND STRONGER. AFTER JUST A COUPLE MINUTES OF FURTHER DRIVING SMOKE STARTED POURING IN FROM MY DEFROST VENTS. I GOT THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND JUST AS I GOT OUT FLAMES WERE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE CAR AND IT WAS TOTALLY ENGULFED IN SECONDS. THE CAUSE OF YET UNKNOWN AND UNDER INVESTIGATION FROM MY INSURANCE COMPANY. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER NEEDED ANY WORK DONE TO IT AND JUST PASSED THE MARYLAND STATE INSPECTION FOR REGISTRATION 6 WEEKS PRIOR TO THIS HAPPENING.
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70MPH WITH ONE OTHER PERSON IN THE VEHICLE, WHEN THERE WAS A COMBINATION OF WHIRRING, CLICKING, AND BANGING SOUNDS FROM THE ENGINE. AS WE PULLED OFF ON THE EXIT IT SOUNDED AS IF PARTS WERE FALLING OUT FROM UNDER THE CAR, BUT WHEN WE LOOKED IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR THERE WAS NO DEBRIS ON THE ROAD. W…
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I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70MPH WITH ONE OTHER PERSON IN THE VEHICLE, WHEN THERE WAS A COMBINATION OF WHIRRING, CLICKING, AND BANGING SOUNDS FROM THE ENGINE. AS WE PULLED OFF ON THE EXIT IT SOUNDED AS IF PARTS WERE FALLING OUT FROM UNDER THE CAR, BUT WHEN WE LOOKED IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR THERE WAS NO DEBRIS ON THE ROAD. WHEN WE PULLED INTO THE REST AREA AND PARKED THE CAR TO CHECK IT OUT AND BEGIN THE PROCESS OF GETTING A TOW TRUCK BEFORE THE CAR HAD US STRANDED AND BROKE DOWN, SMOKE BEGAN OMITTING FROM THE HOOD AND IT GOT THICKER AND FLAMES BEGAN COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD MAINLY ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR UNTIL IT HAD SPREAD TO BOTH SIDES AND BEGAN TRAVELING INTO THE CABIN OF THE CAR. CAR WAS IN GOOD SHAPE, WITH ONLY A NEED FOR AN OIL CHANGE WHEN THE PROBLEM AND FIRE BEGAN. FIRE CREWS ARRIVED AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. ENGINE LIGHT DID TURN ON AND AND START BLINKING AS WE GOT ON THE EXIT RAMP. CAR WAS TURNED OFF AT THE TIME THE SMOKE AND FIRE BEGAN. MOST OF THE DAMAGE SUSTAINED WAS ON THE DRIVES SIDE OF THE CABIN AND ALL OF THE FRONT OF THE CAR AND ENGINE AREA. WHILE WE UNDERSTAND THIS COULD BE SOMETHING UNRELATED TO A MANUFACTURER DEFAULT, WE WANT TO BE SURE THAT WE TAKE THE CORRECT STEPS SINCE A CAR THAT WAS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD DID BURST INTO FLAMES.
JUST BOUGHT A 2013 RIO WITH 28,000 MILES ON IT ON 9/2/16. THE CAR SAT IN OUR DRIVEWAY ALL LAST WEEK BECAUSE WE WERE ON VACATION, SO WE MAYBE PUT 100 MILES ON IT AND DROVE IT 4 TIMES. DROVE 20 MINUTES ROUND TRIP TO THE POST OFFICE YESTERDAY, PARKED IN DRIVEWAY AND WENT BACK INTO HOUSE TO WORK. WIFE CAME HOME FROM WORK ABO…
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JUST BOUGHT A 2013 RIO WITH 28,000 MILES ON IT ON 9/2/16. THE CAR SAT IN OUR DRIVEWAY ALL LAST WEEK BECAUSE WE WERE ON VACATION, SO WE MAYBE PUT 100 MILES ON IT AND DROVE IT 4 TIMES. DROVE 20 MINUTES ROUND TRIP TO THE POST OFFICE YESTERDAY, PARKED IN DRIVEWAY AND WENT BACK INTO HOUSE TO WORK. WIFE CAME HOME FROM WORK ABOUT 10 MINUTES LATER AND CAME RUNNING IN THE HOUSE SAYING THE NEW CAR IS ON FIRE. CALLED 911 AND BEFORE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO GET THERE, THE FLAMES WERE AS HIGH AS OUR SECOND FLOOR WINDOWS. CAR WAS PARKED ABOUT 10-15 FEET AWAY FROM HOUSE, BUT THE HEAT DAMAGED PART OF OUR HOUSE AS WELL. I HAVE CONTACTED INSURANCE, BUT I REALLY FEEL THIS IS A KIA ISSUE / PROBLEM, AND WE REALLY SHOULD NOT HAVE TO USE INSURANCE TO REPLACE THE CAR. THIS CAR IS STILL UNDER MANUFACTURE WARRANTY, AND THEY NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. THEN LAST NIGHT AFTER THE TOW COMPANY CAME, WE STARTED RESEARCHING THIS AND HAVE FOUND MANY, MANY 2012-2014 KIA'S DOING THIS. I LOGGED A COMPLAINT ON YOUR KIA'S WEBSITE, BUT HAVE NOT GOT A RESPONSE BACK YET, AND YES, I FEEL I SHOULD GET A RESPONSE OVER THE WEEKEND. OUR CAR BURST INTO FLAMES, DAMAGED PART OF OUR HOUSE FROM THE HEAT, AND IT COULD OF BEEN MUCH WORSE, ESPECIALLY IF I PARKED THE CAR IN THE GARAGE YESTERDAY. WOULD REALLY LIKE TO HEAR FROM KIA, OR OTHER OWNERS THAT HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. IT SEEMS THAT WITH ALL OF THE GOOGLE HITS ABOUT KIA'S CATCHING FIRE, THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL ON ANY OF THE MODELS THAT HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM, AND GET THEM EITHER FIXED, OR OFF OF THE ROAD, AT KIA'S EXPENSE.
WHENEVER CAR IS RUNNING WOULD HERE A KNOCKING OR RATTLING SOUND,HAD TOO REPLACE PARKING LIGHT BULBS THREE TIMES IN FIRST YEAR THEY BURNT OUT AND ON THREE OTHER OCCASIONS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD KICK ON AND WHEN I WOULD GET CAR TO SERVICE CENTER CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD GO BACK OUT AND THEY WOULD WANT TO CHARGE ME TO RUN A…
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WHENEVER CAR IS RUNNING WOULD HERE A KNOCKING OR RATTLING SOUND,HAD TOO REPLACE PARKING LIGHT BULBS THREE TIMES IN FIRST YEAR THEY BURNT OUT AND ON THREE OTHER OCCASIONS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD KICK ON AND WHEN I WOULD GET CAR TO SERVICE CENTER CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD GO BACK OUT AND THEY WOULD WANT TO CHARGE ME TO RUN A DIAGNOSTIC IF NOTHING SHOWED AFTER THEY RAN IT ALSO SAID MY WARRANTY WOULDN'T COVER FAULTY IGNITION AND DOOR LOCK FIRST MY DOOR LOCKS STARTED GETTING JAMMED AND I ASSUMED THAT MAYBE SOMEONE HAD TRIED TO BREAK INTO CAR BUT THEN MY CAR WAS IN REPAIR SHOP ON A UNRELATED ISSUE MY REPAIR GUY CALLS AND TELLS ME MY IGNITION AND KEY ARE STUCK BETWEEN ACC AND START AND WOULDN'T COME OUT OR TURN THE REST OF THE WAY ON OR OFF ALSO HAVE HAD TO PAY FOR AIR FILTER REPLACEMENT ON CAR AT SIX MONTHS OLD AND THE LABOR BECAUSE IT WASN'T PART OF EXTENDED SERVICE PLAN THE KEY THEN HAS BEEN LITTLE TRICKY HAVING TO PUT IN AT A ANGLE KINDA AND NOW ITS STUCK AGAIN IN BETWEEN ACC AND START AGAIN SO REPAIR GUY DID SOME SEARCHING AND FOUND THAT SOMETIMES IF YOU DISCONNECT THE NEG BAT CABLE IT WILL RELEASE THE IGNITION AND THAT IT COULD HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE GEAR SHIFT NOT IN GAUGING INTO PARK ALL THE WAY EVEN THOUGH THE SHIFTER SAYS IT IS AND THE SHIFTER WONT GO UP ANYMORE THERE SEEMS TO BE ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER WITH THIS CAR OH AND I ALSO BURNED MYSELF LEANING AGAINST FRONT QUARTER PANEL BUT THE HOOD ITS SELF WAS COOL TO THE TOUCH. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH AND SLOWING DOWN AT A STOP LIGHT, THE CONTACT OBSERVED SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND LIFTED THE HOOD AND OBSERVED FLAMES. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND T…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH AND SLOWING DOWN AT A STOP LIGHT, THE CONTACT OBSERVED SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND LIFTED THE HOOD AND OBSERVED FLAMES. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE 9,175. UPDATED 09/01/2015*LJ UPDATED 10/14/2015*JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD. THE CONTACT UNLATCHED THE HOOD AND DISCOVERED THAT THE ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REP…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD. THE CONTACT UNLATCHED THE HOOD AND DISCOVERED THAT THE ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000.
KIA RIO5 LX 2013 STARTED TO MAKE RATTLING / PINGING NOISE IN THE ENGINE AT 70000 MILES. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WAS TOLD THEY CAN'T HEAR IT. THE NOISE STARTED TO GET LOUDER AT 89000 MILES BROUGHT IT BACK TO DEALERSHIP AND THE TECHNICIAN SAID IT'S BECAUSE OF EXCESSIVE CARBON. THEN WAS TOLD TO DO DECARB, REPLACE SERPENTINE BEL…
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KIA RIO5 LX 2013 STARTED TO MAKE RATTLING / PINGING NOISE IN THE ENGINE AT 70000 MILES. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WAS TOLD THEY CAN'T HEAR IT. THE NOISE STARTED TO GET LOUDER AT 89000 MILES BROUGHT IT BACK TO DEALERSHIP AND THE TECHNICIAN SAID IT'S BECAUSE OF EXCESSIVE CARBON. THEN WAS TOLD TO DO DECARB, REPLACE SERPENTINE BELT, FUEL TANK FILTER & SPARK PLUGS AND THE PINGING WOULD GO AWAY. THE PINGING WAS STILL THERE BUT NOT AS BAD AROUND 94000 MILES BROUGHT IT BACK FOR PINGING HAD THE TECHNICIAN RIDE WITH ME AND HE AGREED IT WAS PINGING ALL THE TIME NOW. THEY DID ANOTHER DECARB SYSTEM ON IT AND TOLD ME THAT ITS NORMAL THE CAR IS GOING TO PING AND I SHOULD RUN 91 OCTANE EVERY 4TH TANK OF GAS. AT 96000 MILES CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND IT'S KNOCK SENSOR CODE THEY HAD TO CALL NORTH AMERICA KIA & KOREA OF KIA LOOKING FOR ANSWER TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH MY CAR. MY KIA WAS AT DCH KIA OF TEMECULA FOR 7 DAYS AND THEY STILL COULDN'T GIVE ANSWER WHY OR WHAT WAS WRONG WITH MY CAR. THEY JUST SAID IT WAS ONE OF THOSE ISSUE THAT EVERYONE WAS SCRATCHING THERE HEADS AT. THEY USED A TOP ENGINE CLEANER AND THE KNOCK SENSOR CODE HAS BEEN STABLE FOR NOW BUT THE PINGING IS STILL THERE. THEY JUST KEEP TELLING ME I DRIVE TO MUCH & TO USE CHEVRON TECHRON FUEL ADDITIVE PLUS EVERY 4TH TANK USE 91 OCTANE. I CALL KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND WAS TOLD MY CASE IS GETTING PASSED ON TO ONE OF THERE ANALYZE. FINALLY THE ANALYZE CALLED ME I ASKED HIM IF HE HAD MY PAPER WORK HE SAID NO HE DIDN'T NEED IT HE TALKED TO THE TECHNICIAN AT KIA OF TEMECULA AND WANTED TO HEAR MY SIDE. I EXPLAINED TO HIM MY ISSUES AND THE ANALYZE NICK SAID SO IS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON? REPLIED NO HE SAID SO IT'S FIXED THEN I EXPLAINED TO HIM NO SINCE KIA OF TEMECULA COULDN'T GIVE ME ANSWER WHY OR WHAT IS CAUSING THE ISSUES OF MY KIA RIO. NICK SAID HE WOULD CALL ME BACK, IT'S BEEN 2 WEEKS NO PHONE CALL BACK TO ME. *TR
Official recalls
123V652000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/module
Sep 25, 2023
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup, Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014 Sorento, and 2010-2011 Rondo vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the HECU fuse, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed November 14, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2024 through June 18, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC284.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2AQ23002 · Hyundai And Kia Abs Module Fires
Opened Nov 17, 2023 · No close date supplied
Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/module
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received eight Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) and eight Kia America, Inc. (Kia) Part 573 Recall Reports between 2016 and 2023. The combined 16 safety recalls all involve the antilock braking system (ABS) modules or Hydraulic Electronic Control Units (HECU) manufactured by the equipment supplier Mando. The Part 573 Recall Reports contain varying defect descriptions and differing remedy descriptions for the same or similar equipment supplied by Mando. Safety recalls included in this Audit Query (AQ) review include: Hyundai recalls 20V-520, 20V-543, 21V-161, 21V-160, 21V-303, 22V-056, 22V-810, and 23V-651. Kia recalls 16V-815, 20V-518, 20V-519, 21V-137, 21V-331, 22V-051, 22V-800, and 23V-652 The purpose of this AQ is to evaluate the timeliness and scoping of Hyundai and Kia’s defect decision making and adherence with reporting requirements; and understand the varying defect descriptions and remedies between these recalls.
EA21003 · Engine Fires
Opened Dec 22, 2021 · Closed Feb 5, 2024
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine
On March 29, 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened two Preliminary Evaluations (PE19-003 on Hyundai and PE19-004 on Kia) to broadly investigate incidents of non-crash fires (regardless of origin or operational status of the vehicle) on various model year Hyundai and Kia vehicles. During the PE investigations, Hyundai and Kia issued several recalls to address vehicle fires, including those due to engine failures involving various engine types. The remedies for the engine failure recalls typically involve engine inspection (to detect existing damage), and if necessary, engine replacement. Additionally, both manufacturers have been installing an engine control software modification known as Knock Sensor Detection Software (KSDS) which is intended to detect impending engine failure, alert the driver, and limit engine power (to lessen likelihood of engine failure).KSDS is being installed under recalls and non-safety field actions, and both companies have extended limited engine warranties (see recall files). On December 22, 2021, ODI upgraded PE19-003 and PE19-004 to this Engineering Analysis (EA21-003, covering both Hyundai and Kia) to evaluate the scope of the prior recalls related to engine failures/fires and the efficacy of the recall remedies for the recalls, as well as the long-term viability of related programs and non-safety field actions being conducted by Hyundai and Kia. The former issue involved approximately 550,000 MY 2013 Hyundai Elantra, MY 2011 Kia Sorento, and MY 2012-2015 Kia Rio. The latter issue involved approximately 2.5 million recalled vehicles, which have been identified as displaying potential remedy concerns: Hyundai recalls 15V-568, 17V-226, 20V-746, and 21V-727; and Kia recalls 17V-224, 19V-120, 20V-750, and 21V-844. Regarding the recall scope issue, among all of the scope vehicles identified at EA opening, ODI found only the MY 2011 Kia Sorento vehicles equipped with both the Theta II 2.4L 4-cylinder Multi-Point Injection (MPI) and the Lambda II 3.5L 6-cylinder MPI engines experienced relatively high rates of reported fires. In December 2023, Kia issued recall 23V-877 that will cover about 80,000 MY 2011 Kia Sorento vehicles equipped with the Theta II 2.4L MPI engines. The remedy will involve an inspection, and if necessary, a replacement of the engine, as well as the installation of KSDS. It should be noted that in 2021 these vehicles were included in a KSDS product improvement campaign with warranty extension. For the MY 2011 Sorento vehicles equipped with the Lambda II 3.5L engines, ODI believes that future engine failures/fires involving these vehicles will likely be due to a lax in adhering to the proper or scheduled engine maintenance (regular engine oil changes), rather than a design or manufacturing engine issue. Regarding the issue of the efficacy of the recall remedies, ODI found the majority of the recalled Hyundai and Kia vehicles, by model, experienced lower reported fire rates after the remedies were applied. Furthermore, ODI found that for most vehicles that did not receive the recall remedies, by model, experienced relatively high fire rates. To address this problem, Hyundai informed ODI in December 2023, that it will renotify all of its owners covered by the Hyundai recalls of engine failures/fires every 8 months for the next 3 years. In December 2023, Kia stated that it will renotify the majority of its owners every 8 months for the next 3 years.Several previously recalled Kia models are excluded from the renotification due to their lower reported rates of engine fires. Overall, the renotification actions will help to increase the recall completion rates, thus reduce the frequency of engine fires in the future. In view of the recall action being taken by Kia and renotification actions being taken by both Kia and Hyundai, ODI is closing this Engineering Analysis. Also, both companies have been released from the 2020-iniated Consent Orders (Kia since November 2022 and Hyundai since November 2023). The agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances. To review the reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.
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