Following nine months of WESH 2 Investigates reports into Kia and Hyundai fires, the two companies are recalling another half-million vehicles. It's the second recall in six weeks. WESH 2 News investigative reporter Greg Fox explains why some of these vehicle could put you and your family in danger and talks with the head of a watchdog group that's demanding government action.It took just minutes for Kevin Scott's 2014 Kia Soul to go up in flames. "That's when the car, gas tank exploded at that point and spread out all of its full gas," Scott said. "As a single dad of three, I'm just glad they were not in the car."Scott's vehicle was not under an engine recall that may be linked to other non-crash fires. Now, he wonders if it should have been, after learning that Kia is recalling more than 378,000 Souls in model years 2012 through 2016 and another 32,000 2011 to 2012 Sportages. Sister company Hyundai is recalling over 123,000 2011-2013 Tucsons as well, more than half a million vehicles in all.The catalytic converters in some Souls could cause "engine oil to contact a hot surface, which may result in a fire."The Tucsons and Sportages could have "an engine oil leak and potentially lead to engine failure and stalling and in limited cases, a fire."The companies now have 2.4 million vehicles recalled and another 3.7 million require a "service upgrade" to automatically slow a vehicle if it detects excessive engine wear. "We think it's time for a new Congress to look into this matter and get to the bottom of this for the American consumer," said Jason Levine, of the Center for Auto Safety.The recall comes one day after the Center for Auto Safety asked for Congress to force the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to launch a formal investigation into more than "300 non-collision fires." It claims "NHTSA has taken no formal action to convince the driving public that their Kia or Hyundai vehicle will not spontaneously catch fire.""The true responsibility remains with the manufacturers putting what we believe to be an unsafe vehicle on the road," Levine said.Hyundai's reaction to the call for a full investigation focusing on fires was blunt: "Nothing is more important than the safety and security of Hyundai customers, and we find it irresponsible that the Center for Auto Safety has chosen to ignore the facts." WESH 2 News received a statement from Kia, detailing its various recalls, but the company did not respond directly to Jason Levine's letter to Congress.UPDATE -- Kia Motors issued the following statement: The safety of our customers is one of our highest priorities and we find it irresponsible that the Center for Auto Safety has chosen to ignore the facts. Kia has and will continue to work with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the primary government automotive regulator in achieving our mutual goal of protecting US vehicle passengers. We have openly shared information and data with both NHTSA and Senate Committees and will continue to answer questions from government officials in a full and transparent manner. To gain a full understanding of this industry-wide concern,last November we respectfully requested the Senate Commerce Committee consider a more comprehensive review of non-collision fires among all automakers. To date, Kia Motors America (KMA) has voluntarily initiated the following steps to ensure that every non-collision vehicle fire is addressed:In June of 2017, Kia initiated a recall on 614,689 Optima, Sorento and Sportage vehicles (NHTSA 17V-224, Kia SC147) to address a manufacturing defect which could lead to engine failure.In January of 2019, Kia initiated a recall of 68,127 (SC172) Optima, Sorento and Sportage vehicles to perform inspections of vehicles that had their engine replaced under 17v224 to confirm the high pressure fuel pipe was properly installed to the fuel pump outlet by Kia dealers.In February of 2019, Kia voluntarily expanded SC172 to include the inspection of another 3,526 Optima, Sorento and Sportage vehicles.Additionally, Kia initiated a product improvement campaign of 1,674,168 Optima, Sorento and Sportage vehicles (inclusive of SC147 and SC172) to perform a software update to the Engine Control Unit (ECU) to protect the engine from bearing damage, warn the driver and limit operation of the vehicle.To quickly and effectively address non-collision fire incidents, KMA is using in-house and third-party fire-investigation companies;has engaged an independent senior fire expert to evaluate the results of such fire event investigations;and is consulting with a recent former head of NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation to evaluate the organization’s response to these incidents.We are also cooperating with NHTSA and independently analyzing all relevant information associated with any fire or other safety-related matters and will take any necessary corrective action in a timely manner. KMA always encourages customers to remedy any open recalls as quickly as possible by taking their vehicle to the nearest Kia dealership.Additional information about open recalls may be found by visiting https://www.kia.com/us/en/content/owners/safety-recallor through www.safercar.gov. If a recall is unable to be remedied immediately, KMA will provide alternate transportation at no cost to the customer until their vehicle is repaired or another satisfactory resolution is determined. Owners are encouraged to contact Kia Consumer Affairs at 800-333-4542 with any questions or concerns related to this matter.
Following nine months of WESH 2 Investigates reports into Kia and Hyundai fires, the two companies are recalling another half-million vehicles.
It's the second recall in six weeks.
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WESH 2 News investigative reporter Greg Fox explains why some of these vehicle could put you and your family in danger and talks with the head of a watchdog group that's demanding government action.
It took just minutes for Kevin Scott's 2014 Kia Soul to go up in flames.
"That's when the car, gas tank exploded at that point and spread out all of its full gas," Scott said. "As a single dad of three, I'm just glad they were not in the car."
Scott's vehicle was not under an engine recall that may be linked to other non-crash fires. Now, he wonders if it should have been, after learning that Kia is recalling more than 378,000 Souls in model years 2012 through 2016 and another 32,000 2011 to 2012 Sportages. Sister company Hyundai is recalling over 123,000 2011-2013 Tucsons as well, more than half a million vehicles in all.
The catalytic converters in some Souls could cause "engine oil to contact a hot surface, which may result in a fire."
The Tucsons and Sportages could have "an engine oil leak and potentially lead to engine failure and stalling and in limited cases, a fire."
The companies now have 2.4 million vehicles recalled and another 3.7 million require a "service upgrade" to automatically slow a vehicle if it detects excessive engine wear.
"We think it's time for a new Congress to look into this matter and get to the bottom of this for the American consumer," said Jason Levine, of the Center for Auto Safety.
The recall comes one day after the Center for Auto Safety asked for Congress to force the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to launch a formal investigation into more than "300 non-collision fires."
It claims "NHTSA has taken no formal action to convince the driving public that their Kia or Hyundai vehicle will not spontaneously catch fire."
"The true responsibility remains with the manufacturers putting what we believe to be an unsafe vehicle on the road," Levine said.
Hyundai's reaction to the call for a full investigation focusing on fires was blunt: "Nothing is more important than the safety and security of Hyundai customers, and we find it irresponsible that the Center for Auto Safety has chosen to ignore the facts."
WESH 2 News received a statement from Kia, detailing its various recalls, but the company did not respond directly to Jason Levine's letter to Congress.
UPDATE -- Kia Motors issued the following statement:
The safety of our customers is one of our highest priorities and we find it irresponsible that the Center for Auto Safety has chosen to ignore the facts. Kia has and will continue to work with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the primary government automotive regulator in achieving our mutual goal of protecting US vehicle passengers. We have openly shared information and data with both NHTSA and Senate Committees and will continue to answer questions from government officials in a full and transparent manner. To gain a full understanding of this industry-wide concern,last November we respectfully requested the Senate Commerce Committee consider a more comprehensive review of non-collision fires among all automakers.
To date, Kia Motors America (KMA) has voluntarily initiated the following steps to ensure that every non-collision vehicle fire is addressed:
In June of 2017, Kia initiated a recall on 614,689 Optima, Sorento and Sportage vehicles (NHTSA 17V-224, Kia SC147) to address a manufacturing defect which could lead to engine failure.
In January of 2019, Kia initiated a recall of 68,127 (SC172) Optima, Sorento and Sportage vehicles to perform inspections of vehicles that had their engine replaced under 17v224 to confirm the high pressure fuel pipe was properly installed to the fuel pump outlet by Kia dealers.
In February of 2019, Kia voluntarily expanded SC172 to include the inspection of another 3,526 Optima, Sorento and Sportage vehicles.
Additionally, Kia initiated a product improvement campaign of 1,674,168 Optima, Sorento and Sportage vehicles (inclusive of SC147 and SC172) to perform a software update to the Engine Control Unit (ECU) to protect the engine from bearing damage, warn the driver and limit operation of the vehicle.
To quickly and effectively address non-collision fire incidents, KMA is using in-house and third-party fire-investigation companies;has engaged an independent senior fire expert to evaluate the results of such fire event investigations;and is consulting with a recent former head of NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation to evaluate the organization’s response to these incidents.
We are also cooperating with NHTSA and independently analyzing all relevant information associated with any fire or other safety-related matters and will take any necessary corrective action in a timely manner. KMA always encourages customers to remedy any open recalls as quickly as possible by taking their vehicle to the nearest Kia dealership.
Additional information about open recalls may be found by visiting https://www.kia.com/us/en/content/owners/safety-recallor through www.safercar.gov.
If a recall is unable to be remedied immediately, KMA will provide alternate transportation at no cost to the customer until their vehicle is repaired or another satisfactory resolution is determined. Owners are encouraged to contact Kia Consumer Affairs at 800-333-4542 with any questions or concerns related to this matter.
