2008-2009 Kia Sportage crossovers recalled over hearth threat

Kia has issued an pressing security recall that applies to over 70,000 items of the Sportage constructed through the 2008 and 2009 mannequin years. The crossovers included within the marketing campaign can catch hearth, and the South Korean agency is urging homeowners to park outdoor and away from buildings.

Assigned recall quantity 22V-800 by the Nationwide Freeway Visitors Security Administration (NHTSA), the recall applies to 71,704 items of the Sportage constructed from August 9, 2007, to Could 13, 2009. Kia estimates the issue impacts about 1% of these autos, however this is not the primary time that they have been recalled as a consequence of a fireplace threat: Recall quantity 16V815000 issued in November 2016 aimed to repair the identical drawback.

Kia instructed the NHTSA {that a} hearth can ignite within the engine compartment, close to the Hydraulic Digital Management Unit (HECU), and that the chance is current no matter whether or not the automobile is parked or being pushed. Whereas the reason for the hearth is unknown, the corporate warns that an illuminated ABS warning gentle is an indication {that a} blaze could also be about to start out. It isn’t conscious of fatalities, accidents, or crashes linked to the hearth threat.

For context, the 2016 recall additionally utilized to 71,704 examples of the Sportage constructed between the aforementioned dates. Kia instructed investigators that “the wiring harness cowl on the HECU could also be improperly sealed, permitting water to get onto the HECU circuit board.” It added that water contaminated with salt (from melted snow, for instance) can corrode the wiring harness connector pins and trigger a short-circuit.

Kia will start notifying homeowners of affected vehicles on December 22, 2022, although it hasn’t decided learn how to repair the issue but. Within the meantime, it is asking motorists who personal a Sportage included within the recall to park outdoors and away from buildings and different vehicles.

Earlier in 2022, Kia and Hyundai collectively recalled roughly 485,000 vehicles to repair an identical drawback, although that marketing campaign did not embrace the second-generation Sportage. And, round 71,000 items of the Sorento and Sportage and over 285,000 examples of the Palisade and the Telluride had been recalled earlier in 2022 as a consequence of a fireplace threat linked to a short-circuit within the factory-fitted trailer hitch’s wiring harness.