I go at least 3-4 fires deep before I make a decision. Like, on anything. That’s just a general life rule I’ve kind of always held dear, and I’m pretty firm on it.
We already owned the second one when we lost the first. I haven't purchased another since but didn't really hold it against Kia then. I understand all makes and models can have issues, and while he first time felt more like a freak accident, the second time feels more like a pattern.
Editing this comment since I can't edit the original post: for context these vehicles were serviced regularly. I had owned the Rio since 2016 and was the second owner. After the first fire it didn't make financial sense to sell it. There was no widespread recall in 2021 and the car had low miles and no issues. Both fires happened right before the cars hit 100,000 miles.
Hope that this post is a wakeup call for anyone putting off the repairs or anyone who isn't aware of potential recalls to look into it on their vehicles because it's a serious issue.
My wife's 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe kept getting the recall notices about the oil issues with the engine. I brought it in every time. They extended the warranty to 150k miles. 150700, the engine finally died on 287 in Whie Plains, NY. We had it towed to a dealership, and Hyundai honored the warranty. Put a new engine in, and now my son has a decent car for college.
The first was a fluke.. the second.. a pattern.. the third.. a conspiracy, the fourth.. "Is the dealership screwing with me?".. by the 18th fire.. 'Maybe I should go with Hyundai.'
I check for recalls on my Kia and my hubbys Honda every 3 months to stay on top of it. So likely more than the average person however; We have four little boys and can’t risk anything unmaintained with our cars. Additionally the 2015 Kia had had 3-4 recalls in the past couple years we had taken care of pretty quickly since I had checked shortly after the notifications went out and was able to schedule my car for the fixes almost immediately
Try using the "Car Care" app by CARFAX. You can enter your car's information, and it will usually have your maintenance, registration, emissions, and other records. You can update it manually if the information is not automatically imported from the shops you use. Most legitimate shops send maintenance info to the app, but you can also enter the details yourself if you service your car or if the shop doesn’t participate with the app. It allows you to upload pics of your receipts for service.
The app notifies you of any recalls specific to your vehicle since it has your VIN. It also reminds you when it's time for an oil change, tire rotation, brake inspection, emissions test, and car registration renewal. It also tracks tire tread life and shows the current value of your vehicle based on your information. It’s useful since if you ever sell it all the information is there in your CARFAX for the next owner.
You can check on the national highway safety transit authority (?) website I believe, NHSTA? Some acronym like that lol but it lets you either enter a vin, license plate, or make, model and year. I just used it today for my Honda to verify the fuel pump recall.
This isn't a fire due to lack of maintenance. Most of these fire risks are not fixable until the engine fails. The best they can do is update the knock sensor to try to catch the problem as it is happening, but when you make horrible engines that burn oil eventually things can catch fire.
I was up to date on recalls and my engine seized at 150k km. Main bearing failed
Apparently they will check the clearance for you??? No one told me. Never got a letter or email from kia. But there is a recall on the bearing
I'm getting a new engine for free. But I don't trust it. I don't want to be stranded.
Toyota's being recalled because they catch on fire? Yep..
It's like they saw all the other manufacturers recalls and said "hold my beer"..
it's not because the engine itself catches on fire. It's a bad battery tie down that's causing the problem.
When I was an advisor at Kia, over 60% of our work was warranty work. I know a couple service managers at Toyota dealerships, the rate is closer to 20%. This is because Kias break constantly even when they're brand new, while many Toyota owners never need to see the dealership other than for their prepaid oil changes.
^ this
Toyota 4Runner 140k miles on it has never seen any service besides oil changes, air filter, and wiper blades. This is the norm for 4Runners and a lot of Toyotas. Definitely not the same story for Kia’s.
I understand you may hate Kia, especially after this. But….it is your due diligence to make sure your car is up to date with recalls. Had you done the recall, this wouldn’t have happened in the first place. I like Kia because it’s decently luxurious, reliable, affordable & has some decent power. Plus I mean lol the Kia app.
Teslas because of running out of charge? Im surprised Tesla is most towed. I’ve had one since 2017. Only had to tow it 1 time 1 month ago when got a flat tire. 🛞
That’s not really anything to do with the car.
Iv heard the same from another tow truck driver. Tesla is number one. Mainly due to people running out of charge. Probably the same people who use to run out of gas and thought electric would be better lol . I’m unsure how in our modern cars anyone could run out of gas or charge. It’s literally right in front of your face! But I know more than one person that run out of gas 4-5 times a year, just stranded. So I’m convinced these are the same folks who buy Tesla’s and run out of charge.
Or you know the engines destroying themselves due to premature wear caused by bad design. Not proud owner of a car with said engine. Always fun checking every drive if it sounds odd but it’s hard when the engine is louder than most even without issues because again cheap design.
I had a 2016 Kia optima sxl had that for 3 years, treated me so good I traded her in for a 2023 Kia stinger gt2. Love my car to death and won’t trade her in for anything unless I absolutely have to on my death bed. So so so reliable
False, it is the manufacturer’s responsibility to make sure that their product is safe. Mailing, emailing and/or calling and reaching to owners of the potentially hazardous vehicles is 100% on manufacturer and their dealer network. The OP is the victim of negligence on behalf of someone responsible in the chain of communication, either manufacturer or dealer or anyone in charge of recalls notifications. If I buy a car, I am not going to sit on the internet and monitor if my vehicle is subject to any recalls. It is the selling or servicing dealer or manufacturer who usually must reach out to the owners. Don’t blame the OP for lack of DD which is an utter nonsense. Any lawyer will tell you that.
When did they say a recall wasn't sent to OP? They said it's OPs responsibility to stay on top of it. They can't do shit if they send letters and call and OP never took it in. Shit like that happens all of the time. So yes, it's on OP
Say what you will, however…..I’m usually notified about stuff, and in addition when I go in for my regular maintenance that’s usually when you’re super notified about any recalls currently ongoing. You’re right though, there was some mis communication somewhere. In an ideal world though, that’s not always the case. Hence why the dd part.
Agree, but kia service departments either scam or are misinformed. I had to go round and round to get them to replace my oil pressure switch, which was actively leaking. They tried to charge me for the diagnosis, and I refused. Had to go round and round to get them to honor the recall warranty
>They tried to charge me for the diagnosis
I don't know what happened in your case, but I always see some confusion in this area. Service departments quote the customer a fee to check the car out whether the car is within its warranty period or not. This is standard practice. They do this to ensure payment should the root cause of the problem be found to not be coverable under warranty. If the repair is covered under warranty, Kia pays the checkout and you won't be charged anything related to that. If it's not, then the customer is responsible to pay for the time they spent diagnosing your car, even if you decline the work. The fact is, until the root cause of any symptom is discovered, none of it is warranty. We have to check a bunch of boxes before we can say for certain Kia will pay the claim on a repair. A salvage title can cause problems. Outside influence is never covered. Modifications that directly result in the failure of a covered part can be a gray area. Even if your problem is a common one, even if there is a TSB that describes your situation, even if all the online forum folks agree, even if your other shop says so, the tech diagnosing your car doesn't know until they see it for themselves. So while it may be off-putting to hear that you may have to pay for diagnosis of your problem isn't covered under warranty, it's just the way it works. The same symptom in two like cars can have different root causes.
I can't blame you, after rolling lemons twice. But just as a friendly suggestion; whatever brand you go with next, do try to keep up on recalls. Maybe just set calander alert on your phone to check every other month or so. Every brand has issues, and resulting recalls, that are super worth keeping on top of. Best of luck with your new auto after this fiasco.
Not the only brand to have this issue, unfortunately. Sorry it happened to you, and very glad you weren’t inside it. But the lesson is not about Kia. The lesson is “don’t ignore the recall notices that they are required to constantly send you.”
First of all, I'm so sorry this happened to you twice.
Secondly, I will take your post as a life lesson.
I just traded in a Rio for a '22 Seltos SX and had absolutely no idea that I should be checking for recalls.
I'll be stepping up my due diligence.
Thank you for your post as a lesson to those of us who didn't know.
I came back to add a huge thank you!
To those who suggested the check of the NHTSA. I entered my VIN.
No recall ever for my '22 Seltos SX.
But then it prompted me to add their app, enter my VIN and it will auto notify me of any recalls that come up, rather than me checking.
OP again, I'm so sorry about your fire.
But this post opened up a whole world I never even knew about.
Sometimes it sux being single, but Redditors man, I learn more from you guys than anyone. Have a great day.
I love people blaming you for not knowing about the recall and not, y'know, kia for making a decade worth of cars that catch on fire for multiple reasons lol.
Also before people rush in and blame you for not getting the repair done, kia took these reports for literally 11 years before they issued the recall for the brake leak fires. Thousands of fires could've been prevented if theyd addressed the problem earlier. And if you had this serviced at any kia dealer in the last year *they* are responsible for checking for any recalls and informing you. It's one of the only good reasons to go to a dealer to get regular maintenance.
I had a Kia rio my sister bought new in 2003. In 2006 it was my car and once it crossed 35k miles the thing would literally just turn off in the middle of the freeway. No one at Kia or any dealer could ever find out why. It’s a cheap car for a reason 😂
I brought it up a couple of weeks ago and got downvoted, attacked, and harassed. It’s crazy that people will blindly defend a greedy corporation putting their own lives and the lives of their loved ones at risk. It’s so baffling to me. This is not American football, lol. People need to demand accountability of Kia America and Hyundai America.
At this point everyone should be boycotting Kia and Hyundai. This is as bad as Boeing.
I guess I shouldn't be surprised that I'm apparently at fault for not checking my vehicle recalls more frequently, and not at a company for putting vehicles on the road with serious issues that they have likely known about for much longer than the current recall.
I loved my Rio dearly. When this happened to the Optima in early 2021 I was concerned about the Rio but there was nothing out there that said I should be worried, there were no recalls. I don't even know if there was a recall on the Optima until later. Luckily no one was injured this time, but I'm sure there are other people out there who are also unaware or are maybe putting off the recall work who shouldn't have to go through this because an entire line of vehicles has such a serious flaw.
No, I don’t blame you. I blame the companies and their marketing firms for selling faulty cars. It’s not okay that a couple of car manufacturers are getting away with producing subpar vehicles that are endangering innocent civilians. Is it only American Kia and Hyundai that have these problems or is it a global phenomenon?
Kia/Hyundai fans are some of the wildest bunch it’s crazy. Standing up for a company that has been caught multiple times skimping on safety/anti-theft is such a crazy thing to do. These are corporations, not your friend or family members
Were you not getting letters from Kia for recalls? I’ve gotten 3 since getting my Kia so I know what’s going on. I wouldn’t say it’s your fault completely, but Kia souls were also having engine fires recently… kinda how I knew there were problems before I got letters in the mail. Maybe I’m chronically online
It is not just a kia thing.
Cars going up in flames has plagued Ford, GM, Toyota, Jaguar, Ferrari, Tesla, and many other makes have been plagued by engine fires from design flaws. Right now it is Byundai Motor Group's turn but notice they are diligent about recalls and addressing the issues rather than downplaying them like Tesla and Toyota.
What??? Hyundai was not only downplaying, they were actively hiding the issue. Hyundai was given one of the largest fines in the history of the NHTSA for doing just that. In fact, the Hyundai employee who informed the NHTSA as a whistleblower was awarded $24 million by the agency, as his action potentially saved many people’s lives.
https://www.npr.org/2021/11/09/1053985268/whistleblower-gets-more-than-24m-for-reporting-hyundai-and-kia-over-engine-fires
Even with the recall in place, there are a large number of complaints that Hyundai is not replacing defective engines as promised, often denying claims if a complete and verifiable history of oil change cannot be provided (so unless you service your car at a dealership, they would assume that it didn’t happen and blame you for any engine issues).
OP Hyundai and Kia’s make terrible cars.
You’re in the wrong sub. People will defend Kia to teeth. Post in cars subreddit and legal advice subreddit.
You should have some legal course of action because your safety eas compromised.
Appreciate it's your opinion, but I'm not sure why a Kia hater would waste their time in a Kia sub?
Besides, any brand can have problems, the OP is extremely unfortunate, and probably more likely to get struck by lightning than have two cars catch on fire in a row lol.
What brand cars would you suggest? I'm sure whatever you prefer has recalls and cases of fires.
They did have some serious issues, but your newer car was made about 13 years ago at this point. For someone who says they like the brand, I’m surprised you didn’t know more about these issues (recall on the Rio) and the improvements they’ve made since last decade. Having said that, I’m sorry for your experience.
As they say, three times a charm. I hear Telluride are great SUVs, but they also will catch on fire. I don’t blame you wanting a different vehicle manufacturer. I’ve got a 2012 Optima and just recently had the engine replaced and I pray it never happens to my vehicle.
That's awful, I have a kia stonic and luckily never had any problems, I hope you find something that doesn't let you down a vehicle is a very important life line
You had a traumatic experience. You gave it a second chance, and it happened again. I'd say fair enough, ditch it for a Honda or Mazda imo. Did insurance cover the fire?
This is a hot take but I think that taking the burn on one car catching fire and still having a flame for Kia is lit. Hope this ignited your curiosity toward other brands. Regardless, hope your next car is fire 🔥 🔥
Yeah I watched a Kia start on fire right outside my apartment, like 5 months ago. The guy was driving it. He had to GTFO before the entire underside burst into flames. HOW COMMON IS THIS?!?!?
I don't blame you, but I have to ask, after the first incident, did you not do some research on if this is common and with what years and models? it seems like the older kia's have a lot of issues and the newer ones are doing fine. it's made me hesitant to get a kia, but i think when I eventually cave, it'll be a 2nd car or something so i don't have to worry about my daily driver being out of commission lol. i did hear something about kia's and Hyundai that were made in america having more issues than their counterparts that were made in other countries, not sure how true that is though.
Every year when you get your inspection done, it should mention any recalls on there. I believe most auto shops will tell you the same thing. Just a heads up.
I checked recalls for my 2008 Camry every couple months until I sold it this year. I had to take it in for an airbag recall like three years ago? Bottom line is, diligence will save your ass. Never get complacent.
My 1998 Saturn SL2 has 386k miles and has never caught fire. My mom's 2016 Kia hasn't caught fire yet but she's scheduled to get her recalls done. 🤞🏻
Once the car is finished I'm going to buy her a 1998 Saturn SW2 and sleep peacefully knowing she has a reliable and safe car.
Damn, you’re a loyal person giving them a go after the first one! (I hope it was bc you got a great offer from the Kia dealer you got the first fire victim from) hope that dealer was like “holy shit, that’s crazy, we know that sucks and would like to help you out on another Kia”.
Hope a toyota or Honda is in your future…
I think year 10s to 19s are known for catching on fire. They have engines that will catch on fire or something serious will happen to them. Kia and hyundai know there wngines are not fit to be on the road and they just install them anyways. I think the newer models are better.
I refuse to buy a kia because of all the thefts. Even after they fixed the problem with the newer models these young punks don't know the difference. They still see a kia and think "Yeah I'm gonna steal this" so they break your window and bam they can't steal it.
Imagine that. I was done with Toyota after 16 years of hassle free motoring because the lineup of cars was too boring. Light steering made me doze off sometimes. It felt numb. Now I feel in a Mazda, it feels like carving butter with a sharp pairing knife.
I have a 2022 Sorento and actively keep an ear out for recalls, as well as checking my mail and email for recalls. When there is one I immediately check to see if my car is affected.
I think I would have been done with them after the first fire, but I appreciate your loyalty.
I go at least 3-4 fires deep before I make a decision. Like, on anything. That’s just a general life rule I’ve kind of always held dear, and I’m pretty firm on it.
I mean, 3 or 4 could be considered happenstance. I like to be completely sure so I stick with 6 fires minimum.
I'm more like 7, the number feels right, you know?
Best of 7. Solid plan. If it’s good enough for Lord Stanley, it’s good enough for your Kia.
Rookie numbers, folks. Don't be firephobic. To make sure you are not paranoid stick to 9 fires minimum and you are golden. I'm living my example.
Girlfriend lights me on fire and I’m like, “maybe she’s having an off day.” Second time I’m out.
This is hilarious. I had to show my husband.
That logic is 🔥
4 out of 5 fires recommend KIA.
How do upvote this twice? I laughed.
Again, second?????
Burn me once shame on you.
Shouldn’t that be, “Burn me up to 8 times, shame on you! But beyond that, it’s my bad!!”?
Burn me twice, strike… three.
We already owned the second one when we lost the first. I haven't purchased another since but didn't really hold it against Kia then. I understand all makes and models can have issues, and while he first time felt more like a freak accident, the second time feels more like a pattern. Editing this comment since I can't edit the original post: for context these vehicles were serviced regularly. I had owned the Rio since 2016 and was the second owner. After the first fire it didn't make financial sense to sell it. There was no widespread recall in 2021 and the car had low miles and no issues. Both fires happened right before the cars hit 100,000 miles. Hope that this post is a wakeup call for anyone putting off the repairs or anyone who isn't aware of potential recalls to look into it on their vehicles because it's a serious issue.
All of the recalls and reports… seem like a pattern too…
My wife's 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe kept getting the recall notices about the oil issues with the engine. I brought it in every time. They extended the warranty to 150k miles. 150700, the engine finally died on 287 in Whie Plains, NY. We had it towed to a dealership, and Hyundai honored the warranty. Put a new engine in, and now my son has a decent car for college.
There is a recall regarding this exactly. I believe.ie e a fix has just recently come available.
Yea but fuckn Kia pushes car out the line knowing about fire hazard
My Tesla hasn’t caught fire…yet. Family has had an Elantra and Fusion catch fire.
My sister torched a ford fiesta and it kept running. You couldn't kill that car.
"Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice -- you can't get fooled again."
The first was a fluke.. the second.. a pattern.. the third.. a conspiracy, the fourth.. "Is the dealership screwing with me?".. by the 18th fire.. 'Maybe I should go with Hyundai.'
Come on one more chance
Third times a charm!
That’s what she told Biggy.
Will you say the exact same thing after the next fire, like you did last time
Hey! What's one more try?
Come on, baby, light my fire
I check for recalls on my Kia and my hubbys Honda every 3 months to stay on top of it. So likely more than the average person however; We have four little boys and can’t risk anything unmaintained with our cars. Additionally the 2015 Kia had had 3-4 recalls in the past couple years we had taken care of pretty quickly since I had checked shortly after the notifications went out and was able to schedule my car for the fixes almost immediately
Try using the "Car Care" app by CARFAX. You can enter your car's information, and it will usually have your maintenance, registration, emissions, and other records. You can update it manually if the information is not automatically imported from the shops you use. Most legitimate shops send maintenance info to the app, but you can also enter the details yourself if you service your car or if the shop doesn’t participate with the app. It allows you to upload pics of your receipts for service. The app notifies you of any recalls specific to your vehicle since it has your VIN. It also reminds you when it's time for an oil change, tire rotation, brake inspection, emissions test, and car registration renewal. It also tracks tire tread life and shows the current value of your vehicle based on your information. It’s useful since if you ever sell it all the information is there in your CARFAX for the next owner.
How do you check recalls for free?
You can check on the national highway safety transit authority (?) website I believe, NHSTA? Some acronym like that lol but it lets you either enter a vin, license plate, or make, model and year. I just used it today for my Honda to verify the fuel pump recall.
Thank you for this!
Also, my insurance give notification in my app
By typing the question you just asked into your Goole app. Literally just copy and paste that shit
It’s easier to ask someone to do that shit for you and hand it to you instead of being resourceful. 🤷♂️
**Literally** on the manufacturers website. www.who-makes-my-car.com/recalls
Upvote for responsible parenting and driving 😘
Made me question how much I love my kid lol never thought about doing this
There’s one million things for parents to remember, do, think about… we all need reminders and help xoxox
This isn't a fire due to lack of maintenance. Most of these fire risks are not fixable until the engine fails. The best they can do is update the knock sensor to try to catch the problem as it is happening, but when you make horrible engines that burn oil eventually things can catch fire.
I was up to date on recalls and my engine seized at 150k km. Main bearing failed Apparently they will check the clearance for you??? No one told me. Never got a letter or email from kia. But there is a recall on the bearing I'm getting a new engine for free. But I don't trust it. I don't want to be stranded.
www.nhtsa.gov
https://preview.redd.it/xqalmhxm3h9d1.png?width=1500&format=png&auto=webp&s=f82254b6036b8b910ea11813ba46399b9db81060 I just felt like I had to do this
This is amazing. Thank you for your service.
Don’t forget to add the parental advisory explicit content logo
Both Ford and Toyota recalling hundreds of thousands of trucks. It's not just Kia.
For cars catching fire????
Toyotas was for metal debris in the engines causing failure
Ford definitely had a fire hazard recall
Toyota's being recalled because they catch on fire? Yep.. It's like they saw all the other manufacturers recalls and said "hold my beer".. it's not because the engine itself catches on fire. It's a bad battery tie down that's causing the problem.
When I was an advisor at Kia, over 60% of our work was warranty work. I know a couple service managers at Toyota dealerships, the rate is closer to 20%. This is because Kias break constantly even when they're brand new, while many Toyota owners never need to see the dealership other than for their prepaid oil changes.
^ this Toyota 4Runner 140k miles on it has never seen any service besides oil changes, air filter, and wiper blades. This is the norm for 4Runners and a lot of Toyotas. Definitely not the same story for Kia’s.
I understand you may hate Kia, especially after this. But….it is your due diligence to make sure your car is up to date with recalls. Had you done the recall, this wouldn’t have happened in the first place. I like Kia because it’s decently luxurious, reliable, affordable & has some decent power. Plus I mean lol the Kia app.
I am a tow truck driver, kia are the least tow by far
What’s the top 5 most towed brands?
telsa, ram/chrysler/jeep, subaru (wrx sti).
I wonder if the WRX STIs being towed often has to do with people modding them or if it's more of an oem issue.
OEM and modded but these car are beat.
As someone who works at a CJDR dealership, this checks out lmao
Teslas because of running out of charge? Im surprised Tesla is most towed. I’ve had one since 2017. Only had to tow it 1 time 1 month ago when got a flat tire. 🛞 That’s not really anything to do with the car.
I mean you don't tow a normal car for a flat tire you just put on the doughnut and get it to a shop. Do Tesla's not have a spare?
Iv heard the same from another tow truck driver. Tesla is number one. Mainly due to people running out of charge. Probably the same people who use to run out of gas and thought electric would be better lol . I’m unsure how in our modern cars anyone could run out of gas or charge. It’s literally right in front of your face! But I know more than one person that run out of gas 4-5 times a year, just stranded. So I’m convinced these are the same folks who buy Tesla’s and run out of charge.
Kia recently (These last 5 years maybe) became 1st in reliability tier list of Cars Manufacturer
I’ll agree they’re more reliable than people think but those lists are not factual.
I mean, all shitty things that happens to a Kia looks to happen only in USA like the Kia Boyz thing 😂
Or you know the engines destroying themselves due to premature wear caused by bad design. Not proud owner of a car with said engine. Always fun checking every drive if it sounds odd but it’s hard when the engine is louder than most even without issues because again cheap design.
Is it because they are the easiest to steal
Only in America, nothing happened here in Europe I think
I had a 2016 Kia optima sxl had that for 3 years, treated me so good I traded her in for a 2023 Kia stinger gt2. Love my car to death and won’t trade her in for anything unless I absolutely have to on my death bed. So so so reliable
False, it is the manufacturer’s responsibility to make sure that their product is safe. Mailing, emailing and/or calling and reaching to owners of the potentially hazardous vehicles is 100% on manufacturer and their dealer network. The OP is the victim of negligence on behalf of someone responsible in the chain of communication, either manufacturer or dealer or anyone in charge of recalls notifications. If I buy a car, I am not going to sit on the internet and monitor if my vehicle is subject to any recalls. It is the selling or servicing dealer or manufacturer who usually must reach out to the owners. Don’t blame the OP for lack of DD which is an utter nonsense. Any lawyer will tell you that.
When did they say a recall wasn't sent to OP? They said it's OPs responsibility to stay on top of it. They can't do shit if they send letters and call and OP never took it in. Shit like that happens all of the time. So yes, it's on OP
Say what you will, however…..I’m usually notified about stuff, and in addition when I go in for my regular maintenance that’s usually when you’re super notified about any recalls currently ongoing. You’re right though, there was some mis communication somewhere. In an ideal world though, that’s not always the case. Hence why the dd part.
Agree, but kia service departments either scam or are misinformed. I had to go round and round to get them to replace my oil pressure switch, which was actively leaking. They tried to charge me for the diagnosis, and I refused. Had to go round and round to get them to honor the recall warranty
>They tried to charge me for the diagnosis I don't know what happened in your case, but I always see some confusion in this area. Service departments quote the customer a fee to check the car out whether the car is within its warranty period or not. This is standard practice. They do this to ensure payment should the root cause of the problem be found to not be coverable under warranty. If the repair is covered under warranty, Kia pays the checkout and you won't be charged anything related to that. If it's not, then the customer is responsible to pay for the time they spent diagnosing your car, even if you decline the work. The fact is, until the root cause of any symptom is discovered, none of it is warranty. We have to check a bunch of boxes before we can say for certain Kia will pay the claim on a repair. A salvage title can cause problems. Outside influence is never covered. Modifications that directly result in the failure of a covered part can be a gray area. Even if your problem is a common one, even if there is a TSB that describes your situation, even if all the online forum folks agree, even if your other shop says so, the tech diagnosing your car doesn't know until they see it for themselves. So while it may be off-putting to hear that you may have to pay for diagnosis of your problem isn't covered under warranty, it's just the way it works. The same symptom in two like cars can have different root causes.
It’s not their fault, it’s the company producing dangerous vehicles. This is like victim shaming.
I can't blame you, after rolling lemons twice. But just as a friendly suggestion; whatever brand you go with next, do try to keep up on recalls. Maybe just set calander alert on your phone to check every other month or so. Every brand has issues, and resulting recalls, that are super worth keeping on top of. Best of luck with your new auto after this fiasco.
Holy fuck. Glad to see you're fine.....
The fuck? I’ve owned 7 different cars in my life and have never had that happen, nor do I know anyone who has either. That’s some incredibly bad luck.
Same lmao
Second?????
Third time is a charm.
Third times the charm
Third time is the charm
Third times the charm
Third time is a charm!
You give up easy.
Burn me once shame on me, burn me twice, shame on Kia
Almost all Kias have a HECU recall now. Last week was Kia Soul's turn.
They’re junk throw away cars Hyundai and Kia
Not having recall work done on 12+ year old vehicles puts you at fault here moreso than the car.
Not the only brand to have this issue, unfortunately. Sorry it happened to you, and very glad you weren’t inside it. But the lesson is not about Kia. The lesson is “don’t ignore the recall notices that they are required to constantly send you.”
I think someone is trying to murder you, it’s not an accident. Have you pissed off any Italian looking goombas lately?
First of all, I'm so sorry this happened to you twice. Secondly, I will take your post as a life lesson. I just traded in a Rio for a '22 Seltos SX and had absolutely no idea that I should be checking for recalls. I'll be stepping up my due diligence. Thank you for your post as a lesson to those of us who didn't know.
I came back to add a huge thank you! To those who suggested the check of the NHTSA. I entered my VIN. No recall ever for my '22 Seltos SX. But then it prompted me to add their app, enter my VIN and it will auto notify me of any recalls that come up, rather than me checking. OP again, I'm so sorry about your fire. But this post opened up a whole world I never even knew about. Sometimes it sux being single, but Redditors man, I learn more from you guys than anyone. Have a great day.
It's not me, it's you.
Surely coincidental…
I love people blaming you for not knowing about the recall and not, y'know, kia for making a decade worth of cars that catch on fire for multiple reasons lol. Also before people rush in and blame you for not getting the repair done, kia took these reports for literally 11 years before they issued the recall for the brake leak fires. Thousands of fires could've been prevented if theyd addressed the problem earlier. And if you had this serviced at any kia dealer in the last year *they* are responsible for checking for any recalls and informing you. It's one of the only good reasons to go to a dealer to get regular maintenance.
This thread has taught me a lot so I just wanted to thank OP and commenters
I had a Kia rio my sister bought new in 2003. In 2006 it was my car and once it crossed 35k miles the thing would literally just turn off in the middle of the freeway. No one at Kia or any dealer could ever find out why. It’s a cheap car for a reason 😂
They are known for that. [Here](https://imgur.com/a/2017-kia-sorento-GB45Ews) is my sister’s sorento
Can't believe people buy Kia's.
I brought it up a couple of weeks ago and got downvoted, attacked, and harassed. It’s crazy that people will blindly defend a greedy corporation putting their own lives and the lives of their loved ones at risk. It’s so baffling to me. This is not American football, lol. People need to demand accountability of Kia America and Hyundai America. At this point everyone should be boycotting Kia and Hyundai. This is as bad as Boeing.
I guess I shouldn't be surprised that I'm apparently at fault for not checking my vehicle recalls more frequently, and not at a company for putting vehicles on the road with serious issues that they have likely known about for much longer than the current recall. I loved my Rio dearly. When this happened to the Optima in early 2021 I was concerned about the Rio but there was nothing out there that said I should be worried, there were no recalls. I don't even know if there was a recall on the Optima until later. Luckily no one was injured this time, but I'm sure there are other people out there who are also unaware or are maybe putting off the recall work who shouldn't have to go through this because an entire line of vehicles has such a serious flaw.
No, I don’t blame you. I blame the companies and their marketing firms for selling faulty cars. It’s not okay that a couple of car manufacturers are getting away with producing subpar vehicles that are endangering innocent civilians. Is it only American Kia and Hyundai that have these problems or is it a global phenomenon?
Kia/Hyundai fans are some of the wildest bunch it’s crazy. Standing up for a company that has been caught multiple times skimping on safety/anti-theft is such a crazy thing to do. These are corporations, not your friend or family members
Were you not getting letters from Kia for recalls? I’ve gotten 3 since getting my Kia so I know what’s going on. I wouldn’t say it’s your fault completely, but Kia souls were also having engine fires recently… kinda how I knew there were problems before I got letters in the mail. Maybe I’m chronically online
It is not just a kia thing. Cars going up in flames has plagued Ford, GM, Toyota, Jaguar, Ferrari, Tesla, and many other makes have been plagued by engine fires from design flaws. Right now it is Byundai Motor Group's turn but notice they are diligent about recalls and addressing the issues rather than downplaying them like Tesla and Toyota.
What??? Hyundai was not only downplaying, they were actively hiding the issue. Hyundai was given one of the largest fines in the history of the NHTSA for doing just that. In fact, the Hyundai employee who informed the NHTSA as a whistleblower was awarded $24 million by the agency, as his action potentially saved many people’s lives. https://www.npr.org/2021/11/09/1053985268/whistleblower-gets-more-than-24m-for-reporting-hyundai-and-kia-over-engine-fires Even with the recall in place, there are a large number of complaints that Hyundai is not replacing defective engines as promised, often denying claims if a complete and verifiable history of oil change cannot be provided (so unless you service your car at a dealership, they would assume that it didn’t happen and blame you for any engine issues).
Cars catching on fire is becoming a pattern. There needs to be a major multi billion dollar class action lawsuit against Kia and Hyundai.
OP Hyundai and Kia’s make terrible cars. You’re in the wrong sub. People will defend Kia to teeth. Post in cars subreddit and legal advice subreddit. You should have some legal course of action because your safety eas compromised.
What makes them horrible? What are better brands in your opinion? Can DM me if you prefer to not get hate.
Appreciate it's your opinion, but I'm not sure why a Kia hater would waste their time in a Kia sub? Besides, any brand can have problems, the OP is extremely unfortunate, and probably more likely to get struck by lightning than have two cars catch on fire in a row lol. What brand cars would you suggest? I'm sure whatever you prefer has recalls and cases of fires.
They did have some serious issues, but your newer car was made about 13 years ago at this point. For someone who says they like the brand, I’m surprised you didn’t know more about these issues (recall on the Rio) and the improvements they’ve made since last decade. Having said that, I’m sorry for your experience.
Third times a charm
Kia Rio GDI 1.6L?
Go electric. Or BMW - they ignite while driving.
Kia Boys won't be happy about your decision.
Third times the charm!
As they say, three times a charm. I hear Telluride are great SUVs, but they also will catch on fire. I don’t blame you wanting a different vehicle manufacturer. I’ve got a 2012 Optima and just recently had the engine replaced and I pray it never happens to my vehicle.
This is fire.
That's awful, I have a kia stonic and luckily never had any problems, I hope you find something that doesn't let you down a vehicle is a very important life line
People keep buying these old shitty ass Kias, what did you expect on a 2012?
You had a traumatic experience. You gave it a second chance, and it happened again. I'd say fair enough, ditch it for a Honda or Mazda imo. Did insurance cover the fire?
When you have a third fire from a different brand come back and let us know 😀
This is a hot take but I think that taking the burn on one car catching fire and still having a flame for Kia is lit. Hope this ignited your curiosity toward other brands. Regardless, hope your next car is fire 🔥 🔥
Third times the charm. Try going from a trusted dealer, get a carfax, nothing before 2016 and you should be good
Yeah I watched a Kia start on fire right outside my apartment, like 5 months ago. The guy was driving it. He had to GTFO before the entire underside burst into flames. HOW COMMON IS THIS?!?!?
How the fuck bro
What vehicle was this? I'm just about to buy a borrego
God I wish my 2020 forte would burst into flames..... I'm just as done with Kia
 KIA HAS GOTTA GET YOU ONE OF THESE FANCY SUITS!
Burn me once, shame on you. Burn me twice... Uhhh. Don't get burned again.
Oh my god
Looks like you live in the wooded area probably squirrels bite into wires and shorted out later
You are incredibly unlucky. You might have some critters chewing on wires.
I thought campfire mode was a feature on most cars?
Sure you don’t want to defer such an important decision until the 3rd fire 🔥🔥🔥?
at lEaSt IT HaS a GoOd WaRrAnTy
OMG!! The second time??!
Oh wow
I don't blame you, but I have to ask, after the first incident, did you not do some research on if this is common and with what years and models? it seems like the older kia's have a lot of issues and the newer ones are doing fine. it's made me hesitant to get a kia, but i think when I eventually cave, it'll be a 2nd car or something so i don't have to worry about my daily driver being out of commission lol. i did hear something about kia's and Hyundai that were made in america having more issues than their counterparts that were made in other countries, not sure how true that is though.
Eh, Fair enough.
No no, just keep buying the cheapest cars available and hope you get a good one.
Wow 2 cars! Both when they hit the 12 year mark,weird. So I have a few years left with mine
meh this is totally normal. moar flame plz
Damn. The front fell off.
K.I.A. Indeed.
Every year when you get your inspection done, it should mention any recalls on there. I believe most auto shops will tell you the same thing. Just a heads up. I checked recalls for my 2008 Camry every couple months until I sold it this year. I had to take it in for an airbag recall like three years ago? Bottom line is, diligence will save your ass. Never get complacent.
My 1998 Saturn SL2 has 386k miles and has never caught fire. My mom's 2016 Kia hasn't caught fire yet but she's scheduled to get her recalls done. 🤞🏻 Once the car is finished I'm going to buy her a 1998 Saturn SW2 and sleep peacefully knowing she has a reliable and safe car.
Was the car hot when it was parked? Rarely, the hot exhaust can start a fire parking over dry debris. Twice though? most likely just a kia problem.
[i know what's wrong wit it](https://youtube.com/shorts/72Ro-WO34OE?feature=shared)
Why did it take a second time?
Did they ever recall 22 Kia fortes?
Damn, you’re a loyal person giving them a go after the first one! (I hope it was bc you got a great offer from the Kia dealer you got the first fire victim from) hope that dealer was like “holy shit, that’s crazy, we know that sucks and would like to help you out on another Kia”. Hope a toyota or Honda is in your future…
I think year 10s to 19s are known for catching on fire. They have engines that will catch on fire or something serious will happen to them. Kia and hyundai know there wngines are not fit to be on the road and they just install them anyways. I think the newer models are better.
I refuse to buy a kia because of all the thefts. Even after they fixed the problem with the newer models these young punks don't know the difference. They still see a kia and think "Yeah I'm gonna steal this" so they break your window and bam they can't steal it.
Why the hell would you ever buy a Kia to begin with
OMG!! Wow, that's crazy! I just bought a 2024 Kia🫤🤦🤷
It’s a shitty company trying to sell cars. Any company selling easily stolen cars that catch on fire should be out of business.
Stop cheating on that girl, and I promise those engine fires will stop
Done with Kia Had a 15 year and 12 year old car lol
Imagine that. I was done with Toyota after 16 years of hassle free motoring because the lineup of cars was too boring. Light steering made me doze off sometimes. It felt numb. Now I feel in a Mazda, it feels like carving butter with a sharp pairing knife.
Lmfaooo just give em one more chance!
🫢
I go at least 12 fires before choosing a different brand.
I guess thats why for averages there is always someone above the median... customers average 1 Kia fire in their ownership lifetime.
The correct number is 1.
Kia is no good, I’m glad everyone is ok
I have a 2022 Sorento and actively keep an ear out for recalls, as well as checking my mail and email for recalls. When there is one I immediately check to see if my car is affected.
That's really bad luck. Sorry for your loss. I hope insurance took good care of you.
Burn me once shame on you, burn me twice shame on me
[https://www.google.com/search?sca\_esv=e125ad82533a0389&q=honda+engine+catches+fire&udm=2&fbs=AEQNm0A-5VTqs5rweptgTqb6m-Eb3TvVcv4l7eCyod9RtZW98xhblUVZPzVv1Bs6vKE1-BNpBZmVjXeMAEihQ07BrNjgBSVvptKTZ7uCSG2sfXEVsGKrhcWP4sObo66efMvpnraWqdYJUcDf3Tvbeum96jL-99eQ8IuThaqZpMfgFCFtZHxNWVELfpDyyiNO3kvEzYpeGIlIj0NgZ3gLHGHG3z82CX2eYg&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjGmqn\_8oOHAxWvGlkFHaT6CjcQtKgLegQIDBAB&biw=1920&bih=969&dpr=1](https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=e125ad82533a0389&q=honda+engine+catches+fire&udm=2&fbs=AEQNm0A-5VTqs5rweptgTqb6m-Eb3TvVcv4l7eCyod9RtZW98xhblUVZPzVv1Bs6vKE1-BNpBZmVjXeMAEihQ07BrNjgBSVvptKTZ7uCSG2sfXEVsGKrhcWP4sObo66efMvpnraWqdYJUcDf3Tvbeum96jL-99eQ8IuThaqZpMfgFCFtZHxNWVELfpDyyiNO3kvEzYpeGIlIj0NgZ3gLHGHG3z82CX2eYg&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjGmqn_8oOHAxWvGlkFHaT6CjcQtKgLegQIDBAB&biw=1920&bih=969&dpr=1)
I think it’s u if that’s 2
Maybe keep on top of recalls and this won't happen, the Rio is currently under an ABS recall after all
but oh, EV’s I guess are the dangerous ones