Kia recalls Stinger, K900 sedans for increased fire risk

Kia is recalling 36,248 sedans equipped with its 3.3-liter twin-turbo V-6 engine because a hose can deteriorate and lead to an oil leak that can spark a fire, the NHTSA disclosed Monday.

Specifically, the left-hand turbocharger has an oil feed pipe and hose that prematurely wears away, exposing it to excess heat from the exhaust manifold. The deterioration can cause oil leaks, which combined with the hot exhaust elements, can trigger and engine fire while driving.

The recall primarily affects the 2018-2023 Kia Stinger midsize sedan, although 792 units of the 2019-2020 Kia K900 full-size sedan are also included. Both cars were discontinued, with 2023 marking the last year of the performance-minded Stinger and 2020 the last year of the luxury-leaning K900. 

Kia found 25 instances of oil leaking, and one engine fire, though Kia wasn’t aware of any crashes or injuries related to the recall. 

Kia and parent company Hyundai have struggled with engine fire issues across their respective lineups in recent years. In September, Hyundai followed Kia’s recall of 1.7 million cars for an electrical short that could cause an engine fire. Other issues included an oil pump that could overheat, a short in the anti-lock braking system, and a rod bearing that could puncture an engine block, all increasing the risk of an engine fire.

Between the two brands, the current Stinger recall marks the seventh engine-fire related recall in the last three years, mostly for different reasons on different engines.

In the current recall, owners can expect notification by mail, prompting them to bring their cars into a Kia dealer to replace the turbocharger hose assembly. It won’t cost owners anything but time, and reimbursement will be provided to Kia owners who have previously paid to have the fix completed. For more info, contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542 or visit Kia’s recall hub.