Select Hyundai, Kia models have high fire insurance claim rates
HLDI research points to an increased risk of fire for turbocharged engines generally, across brands.
Owners of select models of Hyundai and Kia file fire insurance claims at a rate far higher than the average for comparable vehicles, the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) reports.
The HLDI found that rates of non-crash fire claims were significantly higher for the 2011-2013 Kia Optima and Hyundai Sonata than for other midsize sedans. The 2011-2015 Kia Sorento, 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe and the 2013-2014 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport also had higher non-crash fire claim rates than other midsize SUVs.
HLDI shared their findings with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Together, they found that the Hyundai and Kia vehicles with a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine had the highest frequency — 4.2 claims per 10,000 insured vehicle years — compared with 1.7 for the control vehicles.
HLDI research points to an increased risk of fire for turbocharged engines generally, across brands.
Related: BMW widens recall of vehicles with fire risk to 1.6 million cars
Brand recalls date back years
In January, the South Korean brands announced they would recall about 168,000 vehicles to fix a fuel pipe problem that can cause fires, The Associated Press (AP) reported.
“Hyundai and Kia started recalling 1.7 million vehicles in 2015 — about 618,000 of which are Kias — because manufacturing debris can restrict oil flow to connecting road bearings,” the AP report reads. “That can cause bearings in 2-liter and 2.4-liter four cylinder engines to wear and fail. The problem can also cause fires.”
Related: Ford to recall 1.6 million F-150 pickups for seat belt fire risk