Kia may replace the engines of up to 80,000 Sorento SUVs from model year 2011 because of a series of engine fires the automaker can’t explain.
The company tells federal safety regulators, “An engine compartment fire can occur while driving for many different reasons, and depending on the severity of the fire, the identification of the cause can be untraceable.”
Kia hasn’t disclosed how many engine fires it knows of in 2011 Sorento SUVs. But the company says it can’t figure out why they’re happening. “A cause resulting from a manufacturing or design defect has not been identified,” the company tells the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
But it knows the issue is limited to Sorento models manufactured at a Georgia plant between October 24, 2009, and June 24, 2011, all carrying the company’s Theta II 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine and without knock sensor detection software.
So, Kia has ordered dealers to inspect all 80,000 and install the software in all of them. The company says that if an engine fails inspection, dealers will replace it entirely. The company thinks that condition could apply to just 1% of the 80,000. It has not explained what dealers will be searching for in the inspection.
The Theta II engine has proven problematic, subject to several extensive recalls and at least one class-action lawsuit. Neither Kia nor its sister company, Hyundai, use the engine in current products.
Recall repairs, by law, are free. Many cars are recalled, often more than once, during their lifespan. Automakers try to contact every owner but don’t always reach them all. Find out whether your car has any outstanding recalls with the easy VIN tool at our recall center.
