Non-crash Vehicle Fires
This investigation led to a safety recall.
- Manufacturer
- Kia America, Inc.
- Component
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY:RELAY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY:SOLENOID, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH, ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OTHER FUEL TYPES:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CRANKCASE (PCV), ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE), ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BACK UP LIGHTS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BACK UP LIGHTS:SWITCH, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS:SWITCH, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS:SWITCH, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS:UNIT, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:CONCEALMENT DEVICES, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS:SWITCH, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:FLASHER UNIT, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Opened
- Mar 29, 2019
- Closed
- Dec 22, 2021
- Model years
- 2010–2015
- Type
- Preliminary Evaluation
Summary
During this Preliminary Evaluation (PE), the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) assessed the scope, frequency and potential safety-related consequences of non-crash vehicle fires caused by both engine failures and failures of other vehicle systems/components in model year (MY) 2011-2014 Kia Optima, MY 2011-2014 Kia Sorento and MY 2010-2015 Kia Soul vehicles equipped with Theta II, Gamma, Nu and Lambda II engines (approximately 1.7 million vehicles). ODI also reviewed field and other data on other Kia vehicles (approximately 3.6 million additional vehicles) equipped with the same engines used in the above-mentioned vehicles.As a result of this PE, Kia has issued NHTSA Recalls 20V-750 and 21V-844 to address potential engine failures and fires in certain Kia vehicles equipped with various engine types.Additional information on these and other related recall actions is available in the downloadable version of this resume available at NHTSA.gov.In addition, ODI has upgraded this PE to an Engineering Analysis (EA) 21-003 which will focus on potential recall scope concerns and recall remedy concerns related to the engine failure-related recalls mentioned above and conducted previously.See the EA21-003 Opening Resume available at NHTSA.gov for more information.Also available in the downloadable version of this resume is a list of the reference numbers for the 444 ODI reports, or Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs), cited above which ODI received through mid-November 2021.Note that the Manufacturer reports cited above are customer complaints received through March 2019.
Vehicles under investigation (20)
- KIA OPTIMA2011
- KIA OPTIMA2012
- KIA OPTIMA2013
- KIA OPTIMA2014
- KIA OPTIMA HYBRID2011
- KIA OPTIMA HYBRID2012
- KIA OPTIMA HYBRID2013
- KIA OPTIMA HYBRID2014
- KIA SORENTO2011
- KIA SORENTO2012
- KIA SORENTO2013
- KIA SORENTO2014
- KIA SOUL2010
- KIA SOUL2011
- KIA SOUL2012
- KIA SOUL2013
- KIA SOUL2014
- KIA SOUL2015
- KIA SOUL EV2014
- KIA SOUL EV2015
Source: NHTSA investigation PE19004. Investigations are NHTSA's review of a potential safety issue and may or may not result in a recall.