Kia, Hyundai agree to settle class action lawsuits over engine fires


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WEBVTT BRINGS US EXCLUSIVE VIDEO OF THIS LATEST VEHICLE FIRE. >> MY CAR IS ON FIRE ON U.S. 27. >> IS ANYONE TRAPPED? >> NOPE. EVERYBODY GOT OU GREG: THAT 911 CALLER IS DANIEL ADAMS. HE WAS DRIVING THIS SUV. >> AND WHAT TYPE OF VEHICLE IS ON FIRE? >> A KIA SORENTO. GREG: ANOTHER OF THE MORE THAN 400 VEHICLE FIRES INVOLVING SOME KIA MODELS, AND SOME BY SISTER COMPANY HYUNDAI. MOST OFTEN, THERE’S LITTLE LEFT OF THOSE VEHICLES AND THERE’S NO COLLISION, NO EASY EXPLANATION. >> WAS IT AN ACCIDENT? >> NO. NO. THE CAR JUST STARTED ON FIRE AND THERE WAS FIRE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH IT. THEY NEED A FIRE TRUCK OUT HERE RIGHT AWAY. >> IT’S EXTREMELY FRIGHTENING. GREG: CHRISTINE ADAMS TELLS ME SHE AND HER HUSBAND AND THEIR 13 MONTH OLD SON CALHEN BARELY ESCAPED THE SUV SUNDAY AFTERNOON. >> WE SAW THE SMOKE, SMELLED IT, IT STARTED COMING THROUGH THE VENTS SAW THE FLAMES UNDER THE HOOD, VISIBLE FROM THE INSIDE OF THE CAR. BY THE TIME WE GOT THE CAR ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD THERE WAS THICK SMOKE AND FLAMES EVERYWHERE. GREG THIS IS WHERE THE FIRE TOOK PLACE ON U.S. 27 NEAR THE 4 CORNERS AREA. AS YOU WALK ALONG THE SIDE OF THE ROAD YOU SEE THERE IS NOT MUCH LEFT OF THIS VEHICLE, AFTER THE FIRE WITH THE IMAGES OF HER TOTALED KIA SUV IN HER MIND, SHE WENT ONLINE AND DISCOVERED OUR PRIOR WESH 2 INVESTIGATES REPORTS THAT SHOW ONE SPONTANEOUS FIRE AFTER ANOTHE FIRES THE GOVERNMENT SAYS IT’S INVESTIGATING. >> I THINK THEY SHOULD BE LOOKING INTO THE MANUFACTURERS AND SEEING WHAT THE PROBLEM IS GREG: WESH 2 INVESTIGATES CHECKED THE VIN ON THE ADAMS’ SORRENTO. NO CURRENT RECALLS, THOUGH SHE SAYS THEY HAVE HAD PRIOR SAFETY RECALLS AND JUST TWO MONTHS AGO, KIA REPLACED THEIR ENGINE THIS NOW BURNED ENGINE. FLORIDA DEMOCRATIC SENATOR BILL NELSON WANTS A DEEPER INVESTIGATION OF THE SPONTANEOUS VEHICLE FIRE HE TOLD WESH 2 INVESTIGATES, “IT’S CLEAR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MUST MAKE FINDING THE CAUSE OF THESE UNEXPLAINED FIRES A PRIORITY. IF THE REGULATORS CAN’T OR WON’T DO THE JOB THEN CONGRESS WILL NEED TO STEP IN.” A SPOKESMAN FOR THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION, NHTSA, DECLINED COMMENT ON ITS OWN INVESTIGATION OF THESE FIRES. KIA MOTORS AMERICA REQUESTED AND WE PROVIDED THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER FOR THE ADAMS’ SORENTO SO THEY CAN INVESTIGATE FU

Kia, Hyundai agree to settle class action lawsuits over engine fires

Kia and Hyundai announced Friday that they have agreed to settle class action lawsuits over engine fires.The settlement could give more than $760 million to Americans who own certain models of Hyundai and Kia vehicles. Vehicles in the settlement include 2.3 million Hyundai (2011-2019 Sonata, 2013-2018 Santa Fe Sports, 2019 Santa Fe, and 2014, 2015, 2018, and 2019 Tucson) and 1.8 million Kia (2011-2019 model year Sportages, Sorentos and Optimas) vehicles with 2.0-liter and 2.4-liter GDI engines.For nearly two years WESH 2 News Investigates has been reporting on Kia and Hyundai fires across Central Florida and the United States. The companies have recalled nearly 1.7 million vehicles in the United States to address the possibility of engine fires.Terms of the settlement include:Cash reimbursement for certain past repairs and related expenses, such as towing and rental cars;Cash compensation for certain past trade-ins, sales, and in lieu of certain repairs;Free inspection and repair or replacement of damaged engines;Lifetime warranty coverage for short block assembly repairs for original and subsequent owners;Free installation of the knock sensor detection system software update;Various goodwill compensation for customers inconvenienced by previous lengthy engine repair times, denied warranty coverage, and vehicle loss of value, among other provisions

ORLANDO, Fla. —

Kia and Hyundai announced Friday that they have agreed to settle class action lawsuits over engine fires.

The settlement could give more than $760 million to Americans who own certain models of Hyundai and Kia vehicles.

Vehicles in the settlement include 2.3 million Hyundai (2011-2019 Sonata, 2013-2018 Santa Fe Sports, 2019 Santa Fe, and 2014, 2015, 2018, and 2019 Tucson) and 1.8 million Kia (2011-2019 model year Sportages, Sorentos and Optimas) vehicles with 2.0-liter and 2.4-liter GDI engines.

For nearly two years WESH 2 News Investigates has been reporting on Kia and Hyundai fires across Central Florida and the United States.

The companies have recalled nearly 1.7 million vehicles in the United States to address the possibility of engine fires.

Terms of the settlement include:

  • Cash reimbursement for certain past repairs and related expenses, such as towing and rental cars;
  • Cash compensation for certain past trade-ins, sales, and in lieu of certain repairs;
  • Free inspection and repair or replacement of damaged engines;
  • Lifetime warranty coverage for short block assembly repairs for original and subsequent owners;
  • Free installation of the knock sensor detection system software update;
  • Various goodwill compensation for customers inconvenienced by previous lengthy engine repair times, denied warranty coverage, and vehicle loss of value, among other provisions



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