How Reliable Is The Kia Optima?

Common Kia Optima Problems – The Kia Optima has relatively high reliability ratings. However, it does have some issues that any potential used buyer should know:

Obsolete transmission software: According to experts, the 2001-2017 Kia Optimas may struggle with transmission issues due to a dated transmission control module (TCM). Affected vehicles may experience excessive jerking while downshifting. Kia has released a software update to fix the issue. Defective door latches: Many Optima years have struggled with faulty door latches. Frustrated owners claimed that the doors would refuse to open from inside and outside the vehicle. This issue reportedly occurred at around 100k miles. The suggested fix is to replace the door latch. Faulty engine issues: Several Optima models were also notorious for their engine problems. According to numerous reports, the engine tends to seize, and at times, it won’t even start at all. The engine also developed loud knocking noises, which may lead to failure. Weak alternators: Many Kia Optima years have also suffered from weak alternators. Reports have claimed they’re having start issues and low battery charging capabilities with their vehicle. Several owners said that they had to jumpstart their vehicles every time because of this problem.

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How many miles will a Kia Optima last?

Kia Optima vs. Honda Accord – The Honda Accord is more durable than the Kia Optima. With regular servicing, Honda Accords can last up to 300,000 miles. In contrast, your Kia Optima may only last for 200,000 miles, even if you take proper care of the car. Read more: How Long Do The Honda Accord Last? (Solved & Explained!)
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Is Kia Optima a good car to buy?

The Kia Optima Reliability Rating is 4.0 out of 5.0, which ranks it 8th out of 24 for midsize cars. The average annual repair cost is $471 which means it has lower than average ownership costs. The severity of repairs is average and the frequency of those issues is low, so major repairs are uncommon for the Optima.
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Are Kia cars very reliable?

How reliable are consumer reports? – We are now going to defend our use of consumer reports as a way of telling how reliable a car is. This is particularly important as Kia were once a very unreliable brand, and their speedy ascent to the top could make some people rightly wary.

• We use things such as consumer reports and surveys as a way of measuring reliability because it is one of the most trustworthy ways of knowing how dependable a car is.
• This is because they ask those who own the cars. The J.D.
• Power Survey that put Kia on the top spot surveyed more than 80,000 consumers about problems with their vehicles during the first three months of ownership.

That said, there are some issues with consumer surveys. One of these issues is that they aren’t always accurate when it comes to long term reliability for brand new cars. That’s not to say they are completely wrong, but you can’t judge the long term reliability of a car that has only been out for less than a year.
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What year did Kia have engine problems?

Hyundai and Kia’s Decade of Very Troublesome Engines Continues 72K Views In what’s only the latest in a long history of engine-related legal battles in the form of recalls, individual owner lawsuits, and class action suits, Hyundai and Kia find themselves entangled in the latter once more.

This time, the list of the affected vehicles is much larger than in previous instances. It seems the calendar has now crossed the decade mark with regard to major engine issues in Hyundai and Kia vehicles. Oh, and they’re also super easy to, too. Hyundai and Kia’s modern engine issues date back to 2015, and the 2011 and 2012 model year Sonata.

A class action lawsuit in May of 2015 alleged the Theta engine in the Sonata was defective. In particular, it was claimed the 2.4-liter version of the Theta II engine suffered from connecting rod bearings issues. Bearings started to go south in short order, which sent metal shrapnel right into the engine oil and brought the engine to a short demise.

In the plaintiff’s case, the Sonata was still under warranty when the engine seized but the dealer declined to perform an engine replacement under warranty. It was not until September 2015 that Hyundai acted, and recalled around 470,000 examples of 2011 and 2012 Sonatas that had either the 2.0- or 2.4-liter Theta II engine.

Hyundai admitted that issues in the manufacturing process of the engines left debris of a metal nature around the engine’s crankshaft, which caused oil flow issues. The metal mixed with the oil and caused damage or failure of the connecting rod bearings.

Hyundai sourced the problem to the deburring process (usually electrochemical) used to remove manufacturing debris from the crankshaft. The second fly in the Theta II’s ointment arrived in 2016. In that instance, the class action suit alleged problems with Kia Optimas made from 2011 to 2014, the Kia Sportage of 2011 to 2014, and the 2012 to 2014 Kia Sorento.

Those vehicles were equipped with 2.0- and 2.4-liter Theta II engines with direct injection (GDI in H/K speak). The suit alleged that the injection system had an inherent defect that caused a restriction of oil flow through the connecting rod bearings and other parts of the engine that really do need oil.

1. The restriction of oil was said to cause issues during the warranty period of the Kias in question, or shortly after its expiration.
2. It was alleged that oil starvation caused stalling and/or engine failure, usually while in motion.
3. The case claimed H/K knew about the engine issues from various sources internal and external but refused to do a recall.

Additionally, it was claimed the company declined to reimburse owners who had their engines repaired or replaced on their own dime. In the background, while Hyundai had not yet admitted there was a problem with the engines, a Hyundai engineer had a conversation with the NHTSA.

He told the government entity in August 2016 that Hyundai was aware there were Theta II issues that caused engine knocking and other noises, as well as a loss of power. The employee was a long-term one of Hyundai’s in Korea and had worked there for 25 years. Hyundai responded by sending the engineer to its internal discipline committee.

It also filed paperwork with the central district court of Seoul and claimed the employee leaked secret corporate information (truths) to the NHTSA. While the second U.S. suit was ongoing, Hyundai announced an expansion of their 2015 Theta II engine recall, which included 572,000 more cars (for a total of 1,042,000).

The expansion included the 2013 and 2014 Hyundai Sonata and Santa Fe. Hyundai declared the engines had the same problems as the older Sonatas. Kia did its own recall early in 2017, around the same time the Theta II recall expanded. According to Kia, there were issues with Kia Optimas made from 2011 to 2014, the Sorento from 2012-2014, and Sportages from 2011 to 2013.

These particular examples of the Theta engine had issues with their engine bearings: They wore out quickly and caused a seized engine. Explaining the delay in the matching Kia recall, Kia stated its Theta II engines were made on a different production line than the Hyundai ones and they had different bearing problems unrelated to deburring.

Yet more legal action occurred in April of 2018, with a brand new lawsuit against the Theta II engine. This one was concerned with a different fuel injection issue than in 2016. The case in question was brought by an owner who had engine issues on a 2015 Kia Sorento in 2016. In this case, the Kia dealer asked for oil change records from the customer when it was brought in with a seized engine.

Allegedly when records were provided, a technician at the dealership told the customer they did not believe the oil was changed. Kia denied the warranty claim for the engine, and the dealer proceeded to sell the customer a rebuilt engine for $6,000. That generated the lawsuit thereafter, where the plaintiff claimed the direct injection system on the Theta II caused a buildup of oil and other chemicals on the intake valves.

The buildup allegedly reduced power and eventually broke loose from the valves. Once loosened, the buildup fell onto the piston heads, which then mashed it against the pistons and piston rings. The additional friction caused cylinder scoring, leading to damage via additional buildup. The buildup eventually turned into a sludge, which ruined the engine.

The plaintiff claimed that Hyundai and Kia were aware of the oil sludge issue, but blamed it on the use of an aftermarket oil filter installed at an independent oil change shop. The 2016 Sorento in question is included in the most recent class action lawsuit for the Theta II engine, but this one expands the charges to the companies’ other engine families too.

Filed in, the lawsuit alleges engines from the Theta, Lambda, Gamma, Kappa, and Nu families are all faulty and consume too much oil. Model years covered under the class action run from 2009 to 2021, and include pretty much everything Hyundai and Kia sold during that time span. The lawsuit says all the engines consume too much oil, requiring owners to check their oil levels constantly.

The suit says oil must be added to these engines more frequently than the owner’s manual suggests. In addition to the oil consumption, the suit says oil seeps into areas of the engines where it shouldn’t, and the resulting oily residue damages the engine internals and exhaust and means the engines don’t operate correctly.

1. Allegedly, issues like carbon buildup, oil sludge deposits, and wear of engine parts eventually lead to a costly rebuild or engine replacement.
2. In the suit, it’s claimed Hyundai and Kia have not honored warranty claims for the engines if an owner can’t provide maintenance records for their car.
3. Further, the suit says that dealers don’t tell customers about oil consumption even when it occurs, but rather ask an owner to proceed with lengthy oil consumption tests over thousands of miles.

There are eight plaintiffs in the 2022 class action suit, from various states across the country. Each of them has different models which they claim consume too much oil. Plaintiffs say Hyundai and Kia can’t repair the engine consumption to satisfaction, and that the company has not compensated owners who must continually dump oil into their engines.

1. More recently, another class action was filed by Canadian customers who allege similar oil consumption to those in the US.
2. The list of models for that case is very similar to the one over the border.
3. The Canadian suit is still new and was filed in,
4. We’ll keep you updated on this developing story.
5. If a recall is performed it would include some 15 million vehicles in the US alone.

We did reach out to Hyundai, and a spokesman replied: “At this time, we cannot comment on pending litigation.” Become a TTAC insider. Get the latest news, features, TTAC takes, and everything else that gets to The Truth About Cars first by, Published October 12th, 2022 1:00 PM : Hyundai and Kia’s Decade of Very Troublesome Engines Continues
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Are Kias good long term cars?

Industry-Leading Warranty Coverage – Not only are Kia vehicles the most reliable on the road today – they’re also backed with industry-leading warranty coverage for even greater peace of mind. A testament to the Kia commitment to quality, ever new Kia includes comprehensive warranty protection including:

10-year / 100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty 5-year / 60,000-mile limited basic warranty 5-year / 100,000-mile limited anti-perforation warranty 5-year / 60,000-mile roadside assistance plan

If you’ve been searching for the most reliable automotive brand in the industry, look no further than Kia. Ken Ganley Kia Mentor invites you to come experience for yourself the class-leading quality, dependability, and value that’s made Kia an award-winning brand. Warranties include 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain and 5-year/60,000-mile basic. All warranties and roadside assistance are limited. See retailer for warranty details.
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Are Kia’s reliable long term?

When it comes to reliable vehicles, nothing contests Kia reliability. This year Kia ranked first for all vehicles in J.D. Power’s 2022 dependability study, and first in non-luxury vehicles. That’s a feat worth celebrating. Climbing from third in the 2021 rankings, Kia previously ranked third out of all brands and first in non-luxury vehicles. What makes Kia so reliable? Glad you asked.
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Is Kia or Honda better?

Reliability. Honda and Kia vehicles are both reliable and provide impressive warranties for you to take advantage of. While Kia is sure to keep you and your passengers safe on every trip, Honda wants to make sure your car, truck, or SUV remains in working order for as long as possible.
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Is Optima better than Sonata?

Used Hyundai Sonata What’s for sale near me? Above Average: Styling, features, infotainment, warranty, safety Below Average: Interior plastics, steering feedback Consensus: An impressive sedan with loads of features, plus surprisingly strong resale and reliability scores fast approaching the longtime segment leaders. Used Kia Optima What’s for sale near me? Above Average: Sporty styling, impressive features, warranty, infotainment, SX Limited interior Below Average: Some interior plastics feel cheap Consensus: A very sporty and well-equipped family sedan with the muscle to back it up.

• As the Kia Optima and Hyundai Sonata share the same parent company, the two also share the same platform, engines and measurement.
• The Sonata is the less expensive of the two, with upper level Optima models offering more features and luxury, as well as performance.
• Both cars offer the same engine set, including hybrid and plug-in hybrid models.

Resale and reliability scores are nearly identical, as are safety and crash testing. Both cars come with the same factory warranty and CPO coverage. The Sonata offers a more comfortable ride, while the Optima better handling and steering response. Hyundai Sonata Advantages Soft ride, cool blue dash lighting Kia Optima Advantages Sporty ride, more upscale features, luxurious SX Limited quilted seat pattern Similarities Fuel economy, warranty, infotainment, safety, resale, interior features Final Recommendation Between these two, it really comes down to a subjective choice.
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Is Ford or Kia more reliable?

Korean auto brands Kia, Genesis and Hyundai earn three of the top four rankings in the newly redesigned J.D. Power 2022 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study SM (VDS), released today. Buick and Toyota also make the list of the brands with the fewest reported problems after three years of ownership.

Many owners are holding on to their vehicles longer, so long-term dependability is even more critical,” said David Amodeo, director of global automotive at J.D. Power. “Some automakers are performing much better than others at preventing problems from occurring. These problems include the vehicle’s mechanicals, exterior and interior—but also infotainment systems, driver assistance systems and all the other electronic systems in today’s vehicles.” The 2019 model-year vehicles measured in this year’s study were first examined in the J.D.

Power 2019 U.S. Initial Quality Study (IQS). SM Seven of the 10 highest-ranked brands in the 2019 IQS are among the 10 highest-ranked brands in this year’s VDS. The study, now in its 33 rd year, has been redesigned to include all of the features and technology that are available in current vehicles.

The study covers 184 specific problem areas across nine major vehicle categories: climate; driving assistance (new in 2022); driving experience; exterior; features/controls/ displays; infotainment; interior; powertrain; and seats. The study also now measures satisfaction with the vehicle’s condition after three years of usage; whether owners find their vehicle as appealing now as when they first bought it; and what software updates have been made to the vehicle.

“Automakers are increasingly looking at owners’ relationships with their vehicles as having similarities to other consumer technology,” Amodeo said. “For instance, cellphones update all the time with over-the-air software releases and, increasingly, automakers must take advantage of this approach to fix problems, improve features and add capabilities to keep owners satisfied.

Owners of mass market vehicles experience fewer problems : Mass market brands average 190 problems per 100 vehicles (PP100), which is 14 PP100 lower than for premium brands (204 PP100). Premium brands typically incorporate more technology in their vehicles, which increases the likelihood for problems to occur. At the same time, the build quality of mass market vehicles has improved considerably and now matches that of the premium brands. Infotainment systems remain most problematic area : The infotainment category continues to be the most problematic, with an average of 51.9 PP100, which is more than twice as many problems as the next-highest category. Seven of the top 10 problem areas in the study are infotainment-related, including: built-in voice recognition (8.3 PP100); Android Auto/Apple CarPlay connectivity (5.4 PP100); built-in Bluetooth system (4.5 PP100); not enough power plugs/USB ports (4.2 PP100); navigation systems difficult to understand/use (3.7 PP100); touchscreen/display screen (3.6 PP100); and navigation system inaccurate/outdated map (3.6 PP100). Most dependable model : For a second consecutive year, the Porsche 911 is the highest-ranked model in the study. This is the third time in the past four years that the 911 has earned this honor, a remarkable achievement.

Highest-Ranked Brands Kia ranks highest overall in vehicle dependability, with a score of 145 PP100. This is the first year Kia leads the overall ranking after ranking third overall in 2021. Other mass market brands ranking high for vehicle dependability include Buick (147 PP100), Hyundai (148 PP100), Toyota (158 PP100) and Dodge (166 PP100).

Genesis (155 PP100) ranks highest in the premium segment, followed by Lexus (159 PP100), Porsche (162 PP100), Cadillac (168 PP100) and Lincoln (180 PP100). General Motors Company and Toyota Motor Corporation each receive five segment awards for models with the fewest reported problems in their respective segments.

General Motors Company receives segment awards for the Buick Encore, Buick Envision, Chevrolet Impala, Chevrolet Silverado HD and Chevrolet Suburban. Toyota Motor Company receives segment awards for the Lexus NX, Lexus RX, Lexus UX, Toyota Corolla and Toyota Tundra.

• Hyundai Motor Group receives three segment awards for the Hyundai Santa Fe, Hyundai Sonata and Kia Sorento.
• The 2022 U.S.
• Vehicle Dependability Study is based on responses from 29,487 original owners of 2019 model-year vehicles after three years of ownership.
• The study was fielded from July 2021 through November 2021.

To learn more about the U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study, visit https://www.jdpower.com/business/automotive/us-vehicle-dependability-study, About J.D. Power J.D. Power is a global leader in consumer insights, advisory services and data and analytics. A pioneer in the use of big data, artificial intelligence (AI) and algorithmic modeling capabilities to understand consumer behavior, J.D.

Power has been delivering incisive industry intelligence on customer interactions with brands and products for more than 50 years. The world’s leading businesses across major industries rely on J.D. Power to guide their customer-facing strategies.J.D. Power has offices in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific.

To learn more about the company’s business offerings, visit JDPower.com/business, The J.D. Power auto shopping tool can be found at JDPower.com, Media Relations Contacts Geno Effler, J.D. Power; West Coast; 714-621-6224; Shane Smith; East Coast; 424-903-3665; About J.D.
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Are Kias expensive to fix?

Are Kias Expensive to Maintain? WHY YOU CAN TRUST JERRY Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.

As an accessible brand with high-reliability ratings, Kias tend to be significantly cheaper to maintain than the average automobile, with an annual repair cost of around $474—far less than the average vehicle maintenance cost of $652, When you’re buying a Kia, the sticker price is just the start of what you’ll be paying over the life of the car, though with a Kia you’ll get some serious bang for your buck.

Still, properly maintaining your Kia is vital to ensure it runs smoothly. Also, keep in mind that some Kias will cost more than others yearly. To help you understand what to expect with your new (or new-ish) Kia, the broker and comparison shopping app has put together everything you need to know about whether Kias are expensive to maintain—good news for you, they aren’t.

Kia is a popular Korean carmaker whose vehicles have high-reliability ratings, and you can expect a Kia to require a fair bit less maintenance than most other cars on the road. On average, RepairPal notes that Kias are brought into the repair shop nearly two times less than the average vehicle (0.2 times a year) for unscheduled maintenance.

On top of that, only about 10% of those visits are deemed severe—which is also lower than the average rate for most cars. On average, a Kia only costs about $474 per year for standard maintenance, That being said, maintenance costs will depend on the kind of Kia you own.

Reliability: 4/5 (average) Annual maintenance cost: $355 (average) Repair frequency: 0.2 times per year (average)

Reliability: 4/5 (average) Annual maintenance cost: $463 (average) Repair frequency: 0.3 times per year

Reliability: 4/5 (average) Annual maintenance cost: $553 (average) Repair frequency: 0.2 times per year

There are plenty of advantages to bringing your Kia in for routine maintenance:

Keeps it in peak condition Improves your safety while driving Keeps the value of your car high Saves you money by preventing costly issues from cropping up down the road

If you don’t take your Kia in for regular maintenance, not only are you wasting the brand’s value, but you’re also exposing it to more wear and tear, damage, and potentially significant future issues—not to mention the headaches that accompany all that! Key Takeaway The more expensive your Kia, the more likely you are to face slightly higher repair costs at your mechanic.

ul> When : Usually needed every 5,000 to 7,500 miles Why : Removes excess dirt and grime that can build up on engine walls and impair your engine DIY? : Yes—if you have the right tools

When : NHTSA recommends that tires be switched out every six years, regardless of the number of miles driven Why : Worn tires lose grip and handle poorly, especially in wet weather DIY? : No—let a professional handle the tire replacement to make sure new tires are balanced for even wear and a smooth drive

When : If your engine is damaged from an accident, you have a cracked engine block, or the engine has run its course Why : A well-functioning engine is key to ensuring your Kia has a long life DIY? : No—avoid trying this yourself and take the car to a professional mechanic

When : If the crack exceeds the length of a dollar bill, goes halfway-deep into the windshield, or extends to the windshield’s outer limits Why : Driving with a severely cracked windshield can seriously hinder your vision DIY? : No—installing a new windshield yourself isn’t recommended

When : If the car’s paint job is peeling or is visibly discolored Why : Paint stops structural damage, corrosion, and boosts a car’s resale value DIY? : Maybe—but a professional-looking paint job requires specialized tools and lots of time and patience

Keeping your Kia in fighting form is about more than just taking it to the mechanic on schedule. Having good car insurance will keep your Kia protected in even the most unexpected situations, If you’re looking to save money on car insurance, the insurance comparison app is the best place to start.

As a licensed broker, Jerry takes care of all the most tedious parts of shopping for a new policy—from comparing quotes to dealing with the paperwork when you choose a new policy. And to ensure you always have the cheapest rate, Jerry will send you new quotes each time your policy comes up for renewal, so you’re always getting the coverage you want at the most affordable price.

This is why Jerry earned a 4.6/5 rating on the App Store and made it the top insurance app in the country. “This was so easy! Signing up with saved me $499 on my semi-annual car insurance—as if it was nothing!” —Kache P. RECOMMENDED : Are Kias Expensive to Maintain?
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Which car is better Toyota Camry or Kia Optima?

In the final analysis, the Toyota Camry offers some solid advantages over the Kia Optima. The Camry gives you more standard and optional power, great standard safety systems, a hybrid option and a newer platform. The Optima does have more interior and trunk space.
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What year Kia not to buy?

Used Cars to Avoid Buying

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Is Kia engine lifetime warranty?

The lifetime warranty covers the short block assembly, consisting of the engine block, crankshaft and main bearings, connecting rods and connecting rod bearings, and pistons when damaged due to connecting rod bearing failure.
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Does Kia replace engines for free?

The automaker adds that, ‘Kia also voluntarily provided lifetime warranty coverage to both new and used vehicle owners for engine long block assembly repairs needed due to excessive connecting rod bearing damage if they had the Product Improvement Campaign completed.’
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What Kia engines are having problems?

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Industry News

Engine replacement claims are higher than expected 2017 Hyundai Tucson Photo by Hyundai Hyundai Motor and affiliate Kia Corp will book a combined 2.9 trillion won ($2 billion) provision in their third-quarter results as they continue to suffer the effects of engine recalls from years ago, they said on Tuesday.

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The costs, of which Hyundai accounted for 1.36 trillion won and Kia for 1.54 trillion won, amount to more than half of Hyundai ‘s estimated third-quarter net profit and 77 per cent of Kia’s profit, Refinitiv data shows. The provisions are due to an increase in the number of engine replacement claims as more U.S.

customers have opted to drive their old cars over buying a new one amid tight vehicle production caused by a global chip shortage, the South Korean group said in a statement. Hyundai and Kia, among the world’s top 10 automakers by vehicle sales, recalled nearly 1.7 million vehicles in 2015 and 2017 in one of their biggest recalls in the United States, citing a problem with their Theta GDI engine that raised the risk of crashes.

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Do Kia Optimas have transmission problems?

Kia Transmission Recommendations for 2019 Optimas – Kia recommends having your Optima’s transmission system routinely inspected for wear and tear. Specifically, the transmission fluid in your Optima should be exchanged regularly with Kia-approved fluid.
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What year Kia Optima engine recall?

Fuel system, gasoline, engine – Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Optima, 2012-2017 Sorento and 2011-2018 Sportage vehicles that previously received an engine replacement under recall number 17V-224, warranty, or the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) Product Improvement Campaign.

The high pressure fuel pipe that connects to the fuel pump outlet may have been damaged, misaligned or improperly torqued during the engine replacement procedure, possibly causing a fuel leak. Recall consequence A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire. Recall action Kia has notified owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pipe, as necessary, free of charge.

The recall began January 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia’s number for this recall is SC172. View details Hide details

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