Complaints of Hyundais, Kias catching fire prompt U.S. probe

The NHTSA is investigating 3 million vehicles made by Hyundai & Kia following complaints the vehicles went up in flames.

Kia Optima, above. Some 3 million U.S. vehicles made by Hyundai and Kia will be investigated following thousands of complaints that the vehicles went up in flames even without being involved in a crash. (Photo: Tim Boyle/Bloomberg)

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is investigating some 3 million U.S. vehicles made by Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Motors Corp. following thousands of complaints that the vehicles went up in flames even without being involved in a crash.

More than 3,000 complaints

NHTSA tallied more than 3,000 complaints about the Hyundai and Kia vehicles that drivers lodged with the agency or the manufacturer, according to memos disclosing the new probes on the agency’s website.

The complaints allege a total of 103 injuries and one fatality, according to the memos.

In a statement, Hyundai said it is cooperating with NHTSA’s inquiries and that it has “provided the agency with comprehensive data on the issue.” Kia said it will continue to work with the agency in a “full and transparent manner.”

Kia Optima, Sorento, Soul plus Hyundai Sonata, Santa Fe

The investigations cover nearly 1.7 million 2011-2014 Kia Optima and Sorento models and the 2010-2015 Kia Soul, plus roughly 1.3 million Hyundai Sonata and Santa Fe models from model years 2011-2014.

While Hyundai and Kia compete separately in auto markets, they are closely linked as part of a South Korean vehicle and auto parts conglomerate and their vehicles often share common chassis, engine and other technologies. They share some overlapping ownership.

Engine stalls and fires

Hyundai and Kia have already launched several recalls to address potential engine stalls and fires in some of the vehicles now under investigation. The new probes will evaluate the frequency and risks posed by the alleged flaw in the affected vehicles more broadly, according to the agency.

The Center for Auto Safety, an advocacy group in Washington, asked NHTSA to investigate the risk of vehicle fires in several Hyundai and Kia models in 2018.

Recall possible for repairs

“Hopefully, this step will quickly lead to a recall being issued as soon as possible,” Jason Levine, the Center for Auto Safety’s executive director, said in a statement. “The reality is that extended investigations do not protect Kia and Hyundai owners — that requires recalls which result in effective repairs.”

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