Kia recalls nearly 295K vehicles for engine fire risks

Kia announced on Saturday that it is recalling about 295,000 vehicles over risks of engine fires.

The vehicles are being recalled because an engine compartment fire can occur while driving, Reuters reported.

The automaker said it had made the “decision to recall certain Kia vehicles as a preventative measure to mitigate any potential fire risk.”

Dealers will inspect the compartment for fuel or oil leaks, perform an engine test, and make any necessary repairs.

The company is also developing a knock sensor software update.

Kia said it was making the recall based on a recommendation from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which began investigating issues in 2019, according to Reuters.

The agency recommended the recall in July for certain models with a high fire complaint rate.

The NHTSA said it received complaints of more than 3,100 fires, 103 injuries and one death when it began the probe, The Associated Press noted.

The recall covers some 2012-2013 model year Sorento, 2012-2015 Forte and Forte Koup, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, 2014-2015 Soul, and 2012 Sportage vehicles.

The NHTSA fined Kia and affiliated automaker Hyundai $210 million last week after they failed to recall 1.6 million vehicles and inaccurately reported certain information regarding the recalls. The fines resolved a separate probe into recalling multiple models dating to the 2011 model year, the AP noted.

Kia has to pay a $70 million civil penalty, which includes $27 million upfront, $16 million for advanced safety measures and a $27 million deferred penalty if the specified conditions are not satisfied.

Kia denied the allegations, the AP noted, but reportedly wanted to avoid a legal fight.