An electronic controller in the oil pump of roughly 92,000 Hyundai and Kia cars in the United States may overheat, posing a fire hazard.
Vehicles are being recalled by associated Korean manufacturers advising owners to keep them in open areas until repairs can be completed.
Kia America Inc. recalls certain Niro and Niro Plug-in hybrid models because a fluid leak might cause a fire in the engine compartment.
More than 120 thousand cars are included in the recall: Kia Niros from 2017 to 2022, including the Niro Plug-in Hybrid from 2018 to 2022. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has warned that a fire might break out in the engine compartment if fluid from the hydraulic clutch actuator leaked onto the printed circuit board.
A notice letter to impacted car owners will be sent on September 29. The hydraulic clutch actuator and fuse will be checked at no cost by authorized Kia dealers.
After her daughter’s Kia caught fire in the parking lot of their South Charlotte apartment complex, a local mother is relieved to learn that her daughter is okay.
Sabrina Morrison said the Optima’s tires melted under the severe heat, gluing the car to the asphalt.
According to customer reports, the automaker announced the recalls last week due to a problem with the gearbox oil pumps in specific 2022 and 2023 models.
Some 2023 and 2024 Hyundai Palisades and some 2023 Tucsons, Sonatas, Elantras, and Konas are included in the recalls. Some 2023 and 2024 Kia Seltos and Soul models are affected.
Documents filed by the companies on Thursday with U.S. safety authorities state that the supplier may have damaged a capacitor on a circuit board used in the transmission oil pump assembly. That raises the potential for a fire due to a short circuit.
According to Kia, there have been no fires or injuries despite six complaints of melted parts. According to Hyundai, there were four documented “thermal incidents” but no injuries.
The oil pump controller will be inspected by the dealership and replaced if required. On September 25th, letters will be sent out to Hyundai owners. Kia will begin sending out notifications on September 28.
