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Kia, Hyundai Engine Fire Investigation Overview:
- Who: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is launching a probe into Kia and Hyundai.
- Why: The NHTSA probe is due to reports of engine failures leading to fires in certain Kia and Hyundai vehicles.
- Where: The probe affects Kia and Hyundai vehicles sold nationwide.
Hyundai and Kia vehicles are being investigated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) following reports of engine failures leading to fires that have persisted for more than six years.
The NHTSA probe is looking into more than 3 million vehicles with model years between 2011 and 2016. A recall was issued in September 2015 following reports of the engine and fire issues.
Eight additional recalls have since been initiated due to engine issues, according to the NHTSA, Newsweek reports.
A total of 161 complaints have been forwarded to the NHTSA over engine fire issues, including in vehicles that had previously been recalled.
Many of the recalls have been due to a manufacturing defect that has prevented oil from properly making its way into the engine block, causing the issue which led to expensive repairs, Newsweek reports.
Probe Will Evaluate Whether Automakers Recalled As Many Vehicles As They Should Have
The NHTSA has since been looking into whether the two automakers recalled as many vehicles as they should have from the start.
The probe will also focus on the effectiveness of the proposed remedies and long-term solutions to the engine issues, according to the NHTSA. Three individuals have reported injuries related to burns and their eyes; however, no one has needed medical treatment due to the issue.
In November of last year, the NHTSA ordered Kia and Hyundai to pay $137 million in fines and safety upgrades after the agency determined it had not moved fast enough to recall vehicles with engine issues, Newsweek reports. The fine was the result of a prior probe into a prior recall of Kia and Hyundai vehicles which affected multiple models from the year 2011.
Kia was also ordered to pay $27 million in fines and invest $16 million in vehicle safety measures with another $27 million deferred, according to the NHTSA.
Hyundai is also currently in the midst of recalling 2,679 of its Ioniq electric vehicles, after reports of potential unintended acceleration occurring, InsideEVS reports.
The recall includes certain Ioniq EV vehicles with model years between 2017 and 2019 and built between January 2016 and June 2019.
The issue can be traced to unstable ground wiring, which can cause the vehicle to enter a “fail-safe” mode that is supposed to reduce power and acceleration; however, in certain conditions, this causes the vehicle to accelerate without the gas pedal being pressed, Hyundai says.
Hyundai has said its dealers will repair the issue for free by updating an affected vehicles’ Electric Power Control Unit software and repairing its ground wiring.
The vehicle’s braking and steering are both functional while the vehicle is in fail-safe mode; however, the company has said it is not aware of any accidents related to the issue, reports InsideEvs.
Hyundai reached a settlement agreement with drivers in 2019 to resolve claims it sold certain vehicles with defective sunroofs that were prone to shattering.
Do you own a Hyundai or Kia vehicle that has experienced engine issues? Let us know in the comments!
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14 thoughts onNHTSA Investigating Kia, Hyundai After More Reports Of Vehicle Engine Fires
My daughter purchased the 2011 Hyundai sonota. She had recalls on the car and she had them repaired by the dealer. She had a recall on the engine in 2018, had the engine replaced. She then started having issues with it cutting off, and knocking. In Dec 2018 the car cut off on her 3 times. Dec 14th 2018 she was out running errands she again was having issues with the car, on a straight road the car cut off and ran off the road, she had no control of the car when it cut off. She and her car drove directly into a tree. She did not survive. This car killed her.
My daughter purchased the 2011 Hyundai sonota. She had recalls on the car and she had them repaired by the dealer. She had a recall on the engine in 2018, had the engine replaced. She then started having issues with it cutting off, and knocking. In Dec 2018 the car cut off on her 3 times. Dec 14th 2018 she was out running errands she again was having issues with the car, on a straight road the car cut off and ran off the road, she had no control of the car when it cut off. She and her car drove directly into a tree. She did not survive. This car killed her. 6 weeks after her death we received a 2nd recall on the car engine. A recall on the engine that had already been replaced on a recall.
We have a 2017 Hyundai Tucson and have engine issues since the first oil after driving it off the lot brand new. This was our 3rd brand new Hyundai. We had nothing but great experiences with our other Hyundai’s so we didn’t expect this one to be any different but boy were we wrong! Our vehicle was towed to a local Hyundai dealership on February 2, 2022 because it was losing power on the interstate, having extreme difficulty accelerating & shifting issues and oil completely gone after an oil change that had just been done a few weeks prior. This had been an ongoing issue but had gotten so bad that I no longer felt safe driving it even to the dealership. Our vehicle has been at the dealership several times over the last year regarding these issues & even doing oil consumption tests ever 1000 miles. They kept telling us that we had not lost enough oil each time for Hyundai to do anything. The manager at the dealership will not even take my calls. Now after we have received the recall notice on our engine they are stating that the engine is fine but there is an oil leak due to valve cover gaskets and a bad ignition coil is causing misfires. They have screwed us around for so long that they ran out our bumper to bumper warranty and they are trying to get us pay a bunch of money for the ignition coil & diagnostics. They say that the power train warranty will cover the valve cover gaskets. I cannot pick up my vehicle until I agree to the repairs & pay or just pay for the diagnostics. I do not agree with the repairs so I can’t have my vehicle. I have been waiting for Hyundai Corporate to call me back since February 2nd as well.
I have had my 2014 Sonata for a year and a half. Out of no where, driving down the interstate, my gas pedal suddenly didn’t work- when I pushed it, the engine light came on. It wouldn’t drive at all. A month later, several hundred in diagnostic costs (with no real answers) it is still sitting In the Hyundai shop.
Please add me to the updates. I have a 2014 Kia Sorento that has a blown head gasket. This vehicle has never ran hot or gave me any indication that there was a problem. I noticed a little oil on my driveway and took it in to have checked out. This vehicle was purchased new and I have always taken it to the dealership for maintenance. Needless to say I am devastated!
My 2014 Kia Optima just had engine failure after I took it in for the recall items. We had engine siezure on the way back from the dealership and had to tow vehicle back to dealership. It has been two months and no word on warranty of engine or use of a rental car. (Daughter’s vehicle and she attends college in another town so no transportation for her while Kia has no response to situation) Kia sucks!
My 2016 kia optima had engine failure
2013 Kia Sportage. Complete engine failure with about 57,000 miles. Cost to replace about $7700.
I comment on these frequently, but doesn’t seem to go anywhere.
My motor blew at 63k miles in my 2015 Kia forte
Add me
please add me
In March of 21 we purchased a 2013 Hyundai Sonato. My daughter was rear ended in it 6 days later. The car was still drivable. The insurance called it totaled but we decided to keep it. We were gonnna do the repairs ourselves. You couldn’t tell it was totaled unless standing behind the car. Not even 2 months later the engine started knocking when I took it about 7 miles down the road. Knocking so loud, jerking, jumping all over the road and lost power. I thought it was from the accident. I went and bought myself a 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport from a small used car lot on June 29 of 2021. I took it to Hyundai to have don’t inspection point done. That’s when the guy at the dealership told us about the engine replacement warranties. He also stated my Sonato was not covered due to Salvage Title on that car but my Santa Fe Sport is. Since June 29th I have had my Santa Fe parked more than I can drive it. It’s been to the dealership twice for the catalytic converters. I’ve changed both converters at a muffler shop in town. The dealership wanted $2000 without tax for one converter when the muffler shop charged me $900for one abs they changed my hub assembly that had my lights on my cluster all on. The second time he charged me $967 to change my other converter. He also stated there is a white powdery substance coming from the engine that’s clogging my converters. I also have no Air conditioning since I purchased my car. Now my transmission is slipping. I purchased this car for me to take myself and my 77 yr old momma to Drs appointments and things. I’m not working due to my health. My husband is the only one working. We used almost everything we have to purchase these vehicles and to try and keep them working. I have a 3 yr loan on the Santa Fe and just had to make another small loan to pay for converters. I don’t know what to do. I can’t afford a transmission I if that goes. I just took it from the shop about a week ago. After changing both converters my car is still jerking and jumping at times. I’m scared this white stuff catches my vehicle on fire. This has got to be one of the most depressing things. What’s the chance you buy two vehicles a couple months apart that are both broke down in your yard?