Kia Niro Hybrid Recalled Once more For Potential Hearth Threat From Dangerous Relay

Kia Niro house owners take discover. The automaker is recalling sure 2017-2018 Niro hybrid crossovers for a second time over a possible hearth danger. Dealerships could not have accurately accomplished repairs the primary time the automaker recalled them. The brand new recall impacts the identical 27,030 autos.

Kia initially recalled these Niro crossovers in 2018 when it found a problem with the Principal Relay contacts making insufficient connections. This might trigger elevated electrical resistance, producing warmth and probably resulting in a hearth. The Principal Relay is positioned within the Energy Relay Meeting below the rear seat.

Nevertheless, the automaker has found some autos marked as repaired below the unique recall nonetheless have the faulty half put in. Kia first heard of the difficulty in June when a supplier recognized the supply of a burning scent as coming from a melting Energy Relay Meeting. It contacted Kia in regards to the challenge. The automaker’s information confirmed that the automobile had been repaired below the primary recall in 2019, nevertheless it nonetheless had the unique half.

Kia would establish three extra autos within the following months that had been marked as repaired however had the faulty half put in. This prompted the automaker to randomly audit 4 beforehand recalled autos that had accomplished the restore. The corporate found that the 4 Niros had the alternative half put in, and none confirmed any indicators of a connection challenge. Nevertheless, the automaker would discover a fifth affected automobile in October, prompting it to challenge a second recall for the fashions.

Kia is anticipated to mail out proprietor notification letters on January 9, 2023. Sellers will examine the Energy Relay Meeting and both substitute it or the Principal Relay. The restore is freed from cost.

This isn’t Kia’s first time issuing a second recall for a mannequin this yr. The automaker needed to re-recall sure 2008-2009 Sportage crossovers for a possible hearth danger, which Kia and its sibling Hyundai have struggled with just lately. In September, Kia issued a recall for its Sorento and Sportage for a circuit board that might catch hearth. In August, Kia recalled the Telluride for a trailer wiring module challenge.