The Center for Auto Safety, with close ties to product liability lawyers and firms, is calling on Hyundai Motor America and Kia Motors America to recall all 2011-2014 Kia Sorento, Kia Optima, Hyundai Sonata, and Hyundai Santa Fe, and 2010-2015 Kia Soul vehicles as they present a fire hazard.
There have been more than 220 consumer complaints regarding non-collision fires in these vehicles submitted to NHTSA and the Center for Auto Safety combined. Between June 12 and October 12, 2018, the Center learned of 103 additional fire reports, an 85% increase.
“Since our call for an investigation into these Kia and Hyundai non-collision fires, we have seen reports of almost one fire every single day across these five models,” said Jason Levine, executive director of the Center for Auto Safety. “The number and severity of these complaints, when people are simply driving their cars on the highway, is frightening. It is long past time for Kia and Hyundai to act. Car fires put everyone on the road in significant danger.”
So far, whenever presented with a burned out vehicle from which owners—and often small children—have barely escaped, both manufacturers have provided unhelpful statements such as: “Kia Motors America (KMA) works directly with customers and if it is determined that a fire is the result of a manufacturing-related issue, KMA will work with customers to address any costs or expenses they may incur.” Similarly, Hyundai has said “if NHTSA finds that additional remedies are warranted it will take action.”
“Based on the data collected to date, and these manufacturers’ inability, or unwillingness, to determine the cause of these fires on behalf of the hundreds of Kia and Hyundai customers who own cars which have burst into flames, the Center believes the additional remedy which is warranted is a full recall,” responded Levine.
Perhaps even more troubling, the Center has been presented with at least one dozen instances where consumers had an engine related recall performed—only to have the car catch fire later.
This is significant, because in a letter from Deputy Administrator Heidi King of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to U.S. Senator Bill Nelson (FL), it was suggested that two ongoing “recall queries” into a previous recall for engine debris (Recall Nos. 17V-224 and 17V-226) were likely to be enough to determine the source of the problem.
The letter noted these queries covered the “majority of the non-collision fire related complaints received by NHTSA on the vehicles referenced in the (Center) review.” While NHTSA’s review remains pending it is important to note that not all the model year 2011 and 2014 Kia Sorento vehicles were covered by the engine debris recall, and the Kia Soul was not eligible for the recall at all. In other words, even a completed Recall Query may not suffice.
“Unfortunately, most, if not all, auto manufacturers occasionally produce vehicles that catch fire, even when not involved in a collision. However, the volume of fires here make it appear that Hyundai and Kia are content to sit back and allow consumers, and insurers, to bear the brunt of poorly designed, manufactured, or repaired vehicles,” Levine continued.
“There have been reports of these fires from across the country, including a death in Ohio in April 2017. Before there’s another tragedy, Kia and Hyundai must recall these vehicles, determine why they are catching on fire, and remedy the situation.”
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
Center for Auto Safety Demands Recall of 2.9 Million 2011-2014 Kia and Hyundai Vehicles for Fires
The Center for Auto Safety, with close ties to product liability lawyers and firms, is calling on Hyundai Motor America and Kia Motors America to recall all 2011-2014 Kia Sorento, Kia Optima, Hyundai Sonata, and Hyundai Santa Fe, and 2010-2015 Kia Soul vehicles as they present a fire hazard.
There have been more than 220 consumer complaints regarding non-collision fires in these vehicles submitted to NHTSA and the Center for Auto Safety combined. Between June 12 and October 12, 2018, the Center learned of 103 additional fire reports, an 85% increase.
“Since our call for an investigation into these Kia and Hyundai non-collision fires, we have seen reports of almost one fire every single day across these five models,” said Jason Levine, executive director of the Center for Auto Safety. “The number and severity of these complaints, when people are simply driving their cars on the highway, is frightening. It is long past time for Kia and Hyundai to act. Car fires put everyone on the road in significant danger.”
So far, whenever presented with a burned out vehicle from which owners—and often small children—have barely escaped, both manufacturers have provided unhelpful statements such as: “Kia Motors America (KMA) works directly with customers and if it is determined that a fire is the result of a manufacturing-related issue, KMA will work with customers to address any costs or expenses they may incur.” Similarly, Hyundai has said “if NHTSA finds that additional remedies are warranted it will take action.”
“Based on the data collected to date, and these manufacturers’ inability, or unwillingness, to determine the cause of these fires on behalf of the hundreds of Kia and Hyundai customers who own cars which have burst into flames, the Center believes the additional remedy which is warranted is a full recall,” responded Levine.
Perhaps even more troubling, the Center has been presented with at least one dozen instances where consumers had an engine related recall performed—only to have the car catch fire later.
This is significant, because in a letter from Deputy Administrator Heidi King of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to U.S. Senator Bill Nelson (FL), it was suggested that two ongoing “recall queries” into a previous recall for engine debris (Recall Nos. 17V-224 and 17V-226) were likely to be enough to determine the source of the problem.
The letter noted these queries covered the “majority of the non-collision fire related complaints received by NHTSA on the vehicles referenced in the (Center) review.” While NHTSA’s review remains pending it is important to note that not all the model year 2011 and 2014 Kia Sorento vehicles were covered by the engine debris recall, and the Kia Soul was not eligible for the recall at all. In other words, even a completed Recall Query may not suffice.
“Unfortunately, most, if not all, auto manufacturers occasionally produce vehicles that catch fire, even when not involved in a collision. However, the volume of fires here make it appear that Hyundai and Kia are content to sit back and allow consumers, and insurers, to bear the brunt of poorly designed, manufactured, or repaired vehicles,” Levine continued.
“There have been reports of these fires from across the country, including a death in Ohio in April 2017. Before there’s another tragedy, Kia and Hyundai must recall these vehicles, determine why they are catching on fire, and remedy the situation.”
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.