U.S. safety regulators step up probe into Hyundai, Kia engine fires

The Nationwide Freeway Traffic Basic safety Administration (NHTSA) has stepped up its probe into motor fires that have plagued some Hyundai Motor Co and Kia Motors Corp cars for a lot more than 6 years.

The U.S. car basic safety agency explained it experienced opened an “engineering analysis” covering about 3 million cars to consider, amongst other things, the efficacy of remembers initiated by the two automakers. The agency additional that it was mindful of 161 fires transpiring perhaps thanks to motor failures.

An engineering analysis is the subsequent move in a procedure that could direct to a recall, while from time to time NHTSA closes these probes with no requiring any action.

The agency experienced opened an investigation in 2019 covering the 2011-2014 Kia Optima and Sorento and the 2010-2015 Kia Soul, alongside with the 2011-2014 Hyundai Sonata and Santa Fe to investigate situations of non-crash fires.

Hyundai explained on Monday it continues to completely cooperate with NHTSA in regards to non-collision motor fires. Kia did not react to a request for remark.

The two South Korean businesses experienced agreed to a report $210 million civil penalty past calendar year after regulators explained they failed to recall one.6 million cars for motor difficulties in a well timed style.