Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2013 Sorento, 2012-2015 Forte and Forte Koup, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, 2014-2015 Soul, and 2012 Sportage vehicles. An engine compartment fire can occur while driving.
Safety risk
An engine compartment fire increases the risk of injury.
Manufacturer remedy
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine compartment for fuel and/or engine oil leaks, perform an engine test and make any repairs, including engine replacement, as necessary, free of charge. In addition, Kia dealers will update the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) software, free of charge. The recall began January 27, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC200.
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2014 Forte and Forte Koup vehicles. The brake pedal stopper pad can deteriorate allowing the brake light switch plunger to remain extended when the brake pedal is released. This will allow the brake lights to remain illuminated continuously. It can also allow the shift lever to be moved without depressing the brake pedal, or activate the engine management brake pedal override feature.
Safety risk
If the brake light switch plunger does not retract as it should when the brake pedal is not being pressed, the brake lights may stay illuminated preventing accurate communication to following vehicles that the vehicle is slowing or stopping. Additionally, if the brake switch plunger is not retracted, then the transmission can be shifted out of PARK without depressing the brake pedal. Either condition increases the risk of a crash.
Manufacturer remedy
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake pedal stopper pad, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 30, 2018. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC158.
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2014 Kia Forte vehicles manufactured December 5, 2012, to April 17, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the cooling fan resistor may overheat and melt.
Safety risk
If the cooling fan resistor overheats and melts, there is an increased risk of a vehicle fire.
Manufacturer remedy
Kia will notify owners, and for vehicles produced from December 5, 2012 to January 27, 2014, dealers will replace the cooling fan resistor and multi-fuse unit. For vehicles produced from January 28, 2014 to April 17, 2014, dealers will replace the multi-fuse unit only. Owners of vehicles with a 1.8L engine will also have the engine control unit software updated. The recall began on February 20, 2015. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC113.
Owner complaints
A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.
Component
Complaints
Median mileage
Engine
238
94,000 mi
Steering
73
60,100 mi
Air bags
65
83,000 mi
Electrical system
59
70,000 mi
Unknown or other
55
65,000 mi
Service brakes
29
63,533 mi
Fuel/propulsion system
25
86,000 mi
Exterior lighting
20
73,000 mi
Power train
20
87,800 mi
Structure: body
17
12,483 mi
Vehicle speed control
16
90,000 mi
Seat belts
14
62,715 mi
Wheels
11
15,000 mi
Tires
10
11,000 mi
Seats
8
14,000 mi
Electronic stability control (ESC)
5
27,000 mi
Suspension
5
95,600 mi
Engine and engine cooling
4
72,000 mi
Forward collision avoidance: adaptive cruise control
4
—
Firerelated
3
100,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic
3
249,000 mi
Tires: pressure monitoring and regulating systems
3
130,000 mi
Back over prevention: rearview system braking
2
—
Exterior lighting: headlights
2
—
Traction control system
2
20,500 mi
Air bags: air bag/restraint control module
1
123,000 mi
Air bags: side/window
1
13,800 mi
Back over prevention: camera system
1
—
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: catalytic convertor
The 2013 model has 2 times as many complaints as this one. The 2015 model has 2 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.
Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.