Center for Auto Safety Calls on NHTSA to Investigate 2011-2014 Kia Sorento, Kia Optima, Hyundai Sonata, Hyundai Santa Fe for Fire Hazards

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 12, 2018
Contact: Grace Garver, [email protected], (202) 328-7700

Center for Auto Safety Calls on NHTSA to Investigate 2011-2014 Kia Sorento,
Kia Optima, Hyundai Sonata, Hyundai Santa Fe for Fire Hazards

The Center for Auto Safety—the nation’s premier independent non-profit consumer advocacy organization dedicated to improving vehicle safety, quality, and fuel economy—has petitioned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to investigate the 2011-2014 Kia Sorento, Kia Optima, Hyundai Sonata, and Hyundai Santa Fe as they may present a fire hazard. There have been more than 100 consumer complaints of non-collision fires submitted to NHTSA regarding these vehicles and 200 complaints of melted wires in the engine bay, smoke, and burning odors. These complaints reveal a frighteningly large number of vehicles manufactured at the same time catching fire. Altogether, more than 2.2 million of these vehicles were manufactured during model years 2011-2014.
The 2011-2014 Kia Sorento and Optima, as well as the 2011-2014 Hyundai Santa Fe, were all manufactured at the same facility, Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG) in West Point, Georgia. The Hyundai Sonata vehicles were made in Montgomery, Alabama. An important question is whether these commonalities indicate potential flaws in the manufacturing process that is worthy of immediate investigation, not only into the vehicles but the oversight and safety processes at these facilities. In the alternative, supplier error may be responsible.
“Unfortunately, most, if not all, auto manufacturers occasionally produce vehicles that catch fire, even when not involved in a collision,” said Jason Levine, Executive Director of the Center. “However, when these Kia and Hyundai vehicles are compared to other similar vehicles that were manufactured at the same time, there is enough of a statistical disparity to suggest a systemic issue that NHTSA must investigate and seek a repair remedy as soon as possible.”
Every week brings more instances of these dangerous fire and fire conditions to light. Based on the number of complaints and the level of risk from non-collision car fires, it is reasonable to conclude that more Kias and Hyundais will catch on fire, leading to fatalities or serious injuries—if they have not done so already. Petitions of this type to NHTSA require a formal response within 120 days. In the meantime, the Center will continue to work to inform the public of the fire risk these vehicles present and the need for Kia and Hyundai to recall and repair them as quickly as possible.
Read the Center’s petition to NHTSA to investigate the above listed vehicles here.
Read Senator Bill Nelson’s letter to NHTSA on the issue.
Read NHTSA’s response to Senator Nelson.
Addendum to Petition for Defect Investigation: The Center requests that the 2010-2015 Kia Soul be added to the original petition. 
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Over the last 48 years, the Center for Auto Safety has successfully led the fight for lemon laws in every state, airbags in every vehicle, and recall repairs being made at no cost to the consumer. The Center is a membership-driven organization headquartered in Washington, DC and is also home to the Safe Climate Campaign, which fights global warming by working for big, specific measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Center is also the publisher of The Car Book, which has for the last 38 years been America’s most comprehensive car buying guide. To learn more about the Center, please visit www.AutoSafety.org.