Engine Compartment Fire

Affected vehicles (1)

Component / system

Defect

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2011 Sorento vehicles. An engine compartment fire can occur while driving.

Risk / consequence

A fire increases the risk of injury.

Remedy

Dealers will install Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) software and replace the engine as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 9, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC291.

Chronology of events

1. Dec 22, 2021

   December 22, 2021 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opens Engineering Analysis (EA21-003) to investigate non-crash engines fires due to engine failure in certain 2011-2016 Kia models.

2. Apr 25, 2022

   April 25, 2022—July 20, ODI issues EA21-003 information request (IR) letter to Kia North 2022 America (Kia NA). Kia NA submits its responses to IR letter. Kia NA concludes there is no safety defect trend warranting a new recall.

3. Dec 5, 2023

   December 5, 2023— ODI recommends Kia conduct a recall of the 2011 Kia Sorento

4. Dec 14, 2023

   December 14, 2023 equipped with the Theta II 2.4L MPI engine that have not had the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) software installed. Kia NA Safety Office takes ODI’s recommendation under consideration and identifies forty-three potentially related engine compartment fire incidents in vehicles not equipped with KSDS as of Kia’s response to EA21-003 (dates of receipt 2/23/2010—

5. Feb 15, 2022

   2/15/2022). No deaths or confirmed injuries.

6. Dec 18, 2023

   December 18, 2023 Based on ODI’s recommendation, Kia NA decides to recall certain 2011MY Kia Sorento vehicles equipped with Theta II 2.4L MPI engines. 1

Notification schedule

Dealer notification

FEB 07, 2024 - FEB 07, 2024

Owner notification

FEB 09, 2024 - FEB 09, 2024

Documents