Have a lemon? Contact Allen Stewart
Kia Motors America will recall more than 20,000 hybrid vehicles suffering from clutch defects.
The Irvine, California-based manufacturer will recall 27,029 2017 Kia Niro vehicles built between Nov. 1, 2016 and Sept. 11, 2017. The company’s report to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) states the affected vehicles contain hydraulic clutch actuators with damaged oil seals.
Do you own a lemon Kia? Allen Stewart can help.
According to Kia, burrs in the clutch’s inner housing can damage the oil seal, letting oil leak and accumulate in the phase cap area. This can potentially cause electrical shorts and in some cases fires.
Kia issued a recall chronology stating the company sent a quality information report to parent company Kia Motors Corporation on Dec. 7, 2017 regarding reports of hydraulic clutch actuator diagnostic trouble codes. The parent company worked with component supplier Luk of Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany to evaluate the trouble codes’ potential causes. The supplier identified oil leaking from the clutch actuator as a potential cause.
Kia Motors Corporation conducted vehicle testing from March until April 12, 2018. Engineers determined the leaks could cause increased fire risk. The company decided on April 16, 2018 to conduct a safety recall.
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the hydraulic clutch actuator caps for leaked oil and replace the assembly if needed, or replace the cap with additional sealant. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall is expected to begin June 15, 2018. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia’s number for this recall is SC163. Concerned Kia owners can also visit the NHTSA’s website and enter their VIN to see if their vehicle is included in any recalls.
Your vehicle’s manufacturer is legally required to fix any recalled problems for free. If the dealership refuses to fix the part or tries to charge you for the repair, contact the manufacturer immediately. The Highway Safety Act of 1970, which created the NHTSA, requires car manufacturers to pay for the recall and replacement of a defective part.
If the manufacturer fails to repair, replace, repurchase, or provide your recalled vehicle’s loss value, they are violating the warranty and a lawyer may be able to assist you. Lemon law attorneys help their clients by dealing directly with the manufacturer on the clients’ behalf, working to promptly resolve the issue and get their clients back on the road. Thanks to the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, attorneys can seek their fees directly from the manufacturer, meaning a client can obtain legal counsel without having to pay attorneys’ fees directly out of pocket.