Another Kia Sportage Recall for Fires in ABS System

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said today that Kia America has issued a new recall for 72,000 Model Year 2008-2009 Kia Sportage vehicles due to a continued risk of fire. An engine compartment fire originating from around the hydraulic electronic control unit (HECU) for the braking system may occur while the vehicle is parked or being driven. (AutoInformed.com on: NHTSA Issues Consumer Alert on Hyundai, Kia Fires) Kia “strongly urges owners of these vehicles to park their cars outside and away from homes and other structures until their vehicles have been repaired.”

These vehicles were previously recalled in 2016 (NHTSA 16V-815) , and owners will need to have their vehicles repaired again under this new recall. The recall repair is under development. Owner notification letters are not expected to be mailed until December. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 800-333-4542. Kia’s number for this recall is SC253.

Vehicle owners can visit NHTSA.gov/Recalls and enter their 17-digit vehicle identification number to see if their vehicle is under recall. Owners can also download NHTSA’s SaferCar app and enter their vehicle information, and the app will push a notification if a recall is issued.

Kia Sportage Fire Recall Timeline

• November 4, 2016 – Kia Motors America, Inc. (KMA) files recall of 2008-2009 MY Sportage due to corrosion from improper sealing of the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) wiring harness cover (16V815). Kia dealers instructed to inspect connector pins for corrosion. If no corrosion found, replace connector cover. If corrosion found, replace HECU assembly and connector cover.
• August 18, 2022 – Kia North America Safety Office receives Vehicle Owner Questionnaire (VOQ) 11479730 from NHTSA involving a 2008MY Sportage alleging ABS warning light illumination and vehicle fire while parked. Vehicle previously had HECU connector cover replaced under 16V815.
• August 19-September 2, 2022 – Kia NA Safety Office reviews customer complaints and identifies potential thermal damage in area of HECU involving 15 vehicles that had previously had the HECU connector cover replaced under recall 16V815.
• September 2, 2022 – Kia NA Safety Office and Kia Corporation (Kia HQ) engineers inspect a 2009MY Sportage incident vehicle and find isolated melting at connecter cover and printed circuit board (PCB) side of HECU.
• September 9, 2022 – Kia NA Safety Office escalates issue to SEL.
• September 14, 2022 – Kia NA Safety Office raises issue to NHTSA during September monthly meeting.
• September 21, 2022 – Kia NA Safety Office ships HECU from inspected 2009 MY Sportage to Kia HQ for further evaluation.
• September 29, 2022 – Kia NA Safety Office engineer inspects 2008MY Sportage (VOQ 11479730) and determines fire originated in front right corner of engine compartment in area of HECU;. Cause is unknown due to extent of damage (no HECU wiring, connector, or connector cover evidence remaining).
• October 6, 2022 – Kia HQ provides its evaluation of 2009 MY Sportage HECU to Kia NA Safety Office and identifies corroded wiring near connector and foreign substances/corrosion on printed circuit board (PCB).
• October 12, 2022- Kia NA Safety Office provides investigation updates to NHTSA during October monthly meeting.
• October 17, 2022 – Kia NA Safety Office updates field data analysis from Kia data sources and identifies eight (8) vehicle fires and 15 localized melting/damage incidents (dates of receipt 4/3/2017 – 9/1/2022). Although cause of post-recall fire incidents is unknown and still under investigation, Kia NA decides to recall the 2008-2009MY Sportage vehicles previously recalled under 16V815. No fatalities, injuries or crashes.