Fluid Leak Could Cause Engine Compartment Fire

On 2023-08-07 10:56:55

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is will be contacting the owners of certain 2017-2022 Niro and 2018-2022 Niro Plug-in Hybrid vehicles because of a fluid leak that could result in an engine compartment fire.

Kia became aware to the problem in January 2023 when the Kia Safety Office received reports of a warning light illumination and a no start condition in a 2020 Niro hybrid vehicle. In their investigation, the dealer found thermal damage to the hydraulic clutch actuator (HCA) connector and harness. Kia Safety Office began an investigation to evaluate the issue.

Kia's Safety Office conducted a preliminary data analysis of 2018-2022 model year Niro and Niro Plug-in Hybrid vehicles and identified additional potentially related incidents involving illumination of the hybrid warning light and localized melting at the HCA connector. Kia Safety Office continued to monitor the problem and collected incident parts from the vehicles as well as warranty returned parts with no visible thermal damage. Kia Safety Office and the North America Quality Center (NAQC) team members performed x-ray image evaluation of the parts and identified thermal damage to the HCA connector. Further investigation found evidence of fluid contamination on PCB.

Kia HQ completed its analysis and confirms

  1. 1. evidence of fluid contamination on PCB potentially from external sources but no evidence of internal leaks or brake fluid on the printed circuit board,
  2. 2. contaminated PCB can cause an electrical short circuit, and
  3. 3. PCB short circuit can lead to a fire as confirmed by duplication testing.

In Juy, Kia NA Safety Office decided to recall all 2017-2022MY Niro hybrid and all 2018-2022MY Niro Plug-in Hybrid vehicles.

According to the defect report, the printed circuit board (PCB) in the Hydraulic Clutch Actuator (HCA) may become contaminated with fluid. A fluid contaminated PCB may lead to an electrical short circuit, thereby increasing the risk of an engine compartment fire while driving.

Owners of the subject vehicles will be notified by first class mail with instructions to return to their Kia dealers to have the hydraulic clutch actuator inspected and replaced as necessary. Kia have reported no vehicle fires, three (3) confirmed and seven (7) potentially related but unconfirmed incidents of localized melting. Kia's number for this recall is SC276 and the NHTSA campaign number is 23V-534.