Fire engulfs Michigan man's Kia; he's not the only one

[Rhiannon12866]

Matthew Rose described his beloved 2012 Kia Optima as a “big toasted marshmallow.”

Seeing a car burst into flames for no apparent reason was a new experience. And, it seems, Rose isn’t the only Kia or Hyundai driver to experience something so scary.

Rose said his Optima delivered great gas mileage for his 45-minute commutes back and forth to work in Grand Rapids. He really loved that midsize car.

But then it burned to a crisp on Feb. 28.

“This was the first brand-new car I’d ever purchased in my life. I never had any real major issues with it, except for some recalls and guest service bulletins here and there,” said Rose, 53, a systems analyst from Holland, Michigan. “When I took it in, people were friendly at the dealership. It was a comfortable car to drive. It was kind of a shock that it just, all of a sudden, it did this.”

The company said in a statement that Kia has taken proactive steps to address an engine manufacturing issue that “can, in rare instances, result in a non-collision fire, including the recall of more than 680,000 vehicles, and is committed to taking any necessary actions in a timely manner.”

But a consumer advocacy group wants a total 2.9 million Kias and Hyundais recalled: 2011-14 Kia Sorento, Kia Optima, Hyundai Sonata and Hyundai Santa Fe; and 2010-15 Kia Soul.


Much more (Includes video): https://www.freep.com/story/money/cars/2019/03/11/kia-catches-fire/3105713002/



Matthew Rose was driving home from work in Grand Rapids on Feb. 28, 2019 when his Kia Optima stalled and he pulled to the side of the highway. He noticed smoke, then flames. (Photo: Matthew Rose)

[Historic NY]

1. They know they have a problem. Apparently gambling just how many engines

they need to replace is another thing. The engine lockup or seize.

Engine seizure often causes these internal parts to break and knock a hole in the engine, permitting fluids to leak and ignite a fire.


https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181214005531/en/Hagens-Berman-Hyundai-Kia-Owners-Sue-Engine]

[Rhiannon12866]

2. Thanks so much for the link!

And obviously there's a problem - so why is it taking them so long to address it? That article's from December and this guy's car burned less than 2 weeks ago... They're playing the odds?

[Auggie]

3. My grandfather used to say if people knew what was going on inside the engine,

they'd be afraid to drive their cars. Yeah, this was decades ago, and safety technology has come a long way since my grandfather's time. But the fact remains internal combustion engines are just that: a near infinite number of contained explosions happening just a few feet away from you that, under the right circumstances, can become a large one.

[Rhiannon12866]

4. And we've certainly had recalls for a lot less, seems like there's another one every other day

And I don't think that having your engine catch on fire is a minor glitch...

[Eugene]

5. Reuters: U.S. states probing Hyundai, Kia over vehicle fires: Connecticut AG

U.S. states probing Hyundai, Kia over vehicle fires: Connecticut AG

(Reuters) - A group of U.S. states is investigating Hyundai Motor Co and Kia Motors Corp for potential unfair and deceptive acts related to reports of hundreds of vehicle fires, Connecticut Attorney General William Tong said on Monday.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hyundai-motor-fires-investigation/u-s-states-probing-hyundai-kia-over-vehicle-fires-connecticut-ag-idUSKCN1QZ2EI