Kia changed the shape of the plunger on June 14th, 2017 but will need to fix all the vehicles that were manufactured before that date.

More About the Nu Oil Pan Recall ∞

• The affected vehicles include 2017-2018 Forte vehicles with 2-liter Nu engines built before June 14th, 2017.
• Kia discovered this problem while researching all the terrible problems that caused another major Nu engine recall.
• The recall (#SC210) is expected to begin June 11th, 2021.

And while it's only happened in "limited cases", there's a whole busted connecting rod blasting a hole through the engine block, allowing oil to leak into the exhaust system where it'll catch on fire and burn the car to the ground situation to worry about.

More About the Nu Oil Ring Recall ∞

• The affected vehicles include the 2020-2021 Soul and 2021 Seltos with a 2-liter Nu MPI four-cylinder engine.
• Considering the recall (#SC209) isn't expected to start until June 11th, 2021, there's a pretty good chance the number of fires will grow.
• Make sure you're not one of them by paying attention to any unusual engine noises or illuminated oil warning lights.
• All of the affected engines will need to be torn apart and inspected for damage, and the engine will be replaced if neccessary.
• Vehicles may also receive some piston ring noise sensing system software to allow for earlier detection.

About the lawsuit ∞

• These gasoline direct injection (GDI) engines are plagued with problems. From bearing failure, to connecting rod knocks, to oil consumption, and yes – engine infernos.
• The plaintiff bought their car used and shortly after learned that the car needed a new short block to the tune of $7,000. The work also took 6 months because there're a backorder on parts.
• The lawsuit wants more help for 2012-2015 Forte, 2012-2015 Forte Koup, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, 2012-2013 Sorento, 2014-2015 Soul, and 2012 Sportage owners.

The following vehicles will need to be repaired if they’ve received an engine replacement as part of this 2017 recall:

• 2011-2014 Optima (built between 08/12/2010 and 05/14/2014)
• 2012-2014 Sorento (built between 04/19/2011 and 02/10/2014)
• 2011-2013 Sportage (built between 12/30/2010 and 08/30/2013)

Kia under investigation for their previous handling of engine-related recalls and there is concern that this campaign is too limited in scope. However, with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) affected by the US government shutdown, we have to trust that the automaker has cast a wide enough net.

Hyundai has issued a recall for 100,000 vehicles with the same problem.

That “special” investigation lasted until 2015 where it was determined the settlement should be reduced to $46,000 for just 150 eligible owners ($300/owner).

At the same time, the lawyer’s reward was reduced and, well, they didn’t like that. The decision was appealed to the judges of the Appellate Division of the Superior Court of New Jersey.

And in a twist, that panel of judges ruled to reinstate the original $6 million award to the plaintiffs due to recent case law unavailable to the trial judge.

But guess what? Kia has appealed the appeal which means the case rolls on long after most of these cars were sent to the great scrapyard in the sky.

CAS says Kia and Hyundai have done nothing but provide empty statements about working directly with vehicle owners who report fires. In addition, both automakers seem to be waiting for NHTSA to conclude its investigation to determine if additional actions should be taken.

About half of these vehicles have already been recalled for multiple problems with the troublesome Theta II engine, but CAS says more needs to be done. Not only did the previous recalls exclude at-risk vehicles, but “repaired” cars are still catching on fire anyway.

A new recall may be even more important considering CAS knows of at least 12 fires that occurred in vehicles that had already been recalled due to engine-related problems.

This post originally appeared on HyundaiProblems.com.

Want to know if your vehicle is involved? Grab your VIN, give Kia a call at 800-333-4542, and ask about recall number SC167.

Don’t let anyone tell you that the Niro comes with seat heaters in the back row.

The legal wrangling, however, wasn't over. While the judge accepted the ruling, he decertified the case and forced owners to submit claims in order to be eligible for an award. A "special master" was assigned to handle those claims and determine the award amount.

A new special master was appointed and in 2015 determined only 150 Sephia owners who filed claims had proven their damages and those owners would receive about $46,000, for all of them. But Regina Little, the original plaintiff, would get nothing because the special master concluded she didn't qualify.

It took 7 years for the "special master" to accept 150 claims. The award was brought down to $46,000 (Roughly $300/person).

If it's any consolation, attorneys in the case had requested $6.5 million (!!!) in fees and costs, but the judge reduced their award to $700,000 due to the the paucity of damages it recovered.

My favorite antidote, however, is this little nugget—The diffuser can also detach and hit occupants when the airbags deploy.

Talk about insult to injury.

When these things happen, the brake lights can turn – and stay on – even when you’re not stopping. This is just another in a long line of brake light switch problems for Kia. In 2013, they recalled more than 600,000 vehicles and then issued a follow-up recall in 2015.

OK, so it turns out rodents don’t really snack on the coating, but they do love chewing on it and making nests out of it.

And if you’re wondering just how much damage a rodent could do, brace yourself.

Each time, Kia allegedly refused to cover the repairs under warranty, leaving a combined cost of nearly $9,300. While the plaintiff’s insurer has covered most of the cost of these repairs, the plaintiff has paid the $500 deductible three times ($1,500).

Kia was hit with a similar lawsuit earlier this year.

This lawsuit covers the 2012-2015 Kia Soul, Sorrento, Sedona, Sportage, Forte, Cadenza, Optima and Rio vehicles purchased or leased in the U.S.

Kia says the plaintiff “can't provide evidence that the wiring causes rodents and other creatures to damage the cars.” No word on if Kia's use of rodents in their advertising came up in court.

The [first recall](http://www.kiacomplaints.com /news/2014/kia-recalls-51k-souls/) was made back in 2014 with a follow-up recall the next year. A 3rd recall? It’s time Kia does some Soul searching … you had to know that was coming.

If your crankshaft breaks it’s going to be a bad day. A fire would just be the cherry on top.

A few months ago, Kia recalled 618,000 vehicles with Theta II engines that shipped with metal shavings due to a faulty manufacturing process. The recall only covered certain vehicles up to the 2014 model year.

This lawsuit alleges that faulty connecting rods can cause more metal shavings in the 2015-2016 Optima, 2015-2016 Sportage and 2015-2016 Sorento.

In either case, those metal shavings are really, really bad for the engine.

Other owners report paying more than $5,000 to replace engines in the affected Kia vehicles, not counting the expense of rental cars while waiting for repairs.

Yeesh.

This is not a Kia-only problem. Other automakers have made the switch to a soy-based wire coatings and are facing similar lawsuits including Honda, Toyota, Hyundai, and Subaru.

The lawsuit covers owners or lessees in California, Texas, and NJ with most of the 2012-2017 Kia lineup.

At this point, we know the widespread engine problems are caused by metallic debris left behind during mechanical deburring on the assembly line. Those tiny bits of metal are carried through the engine by oil, wreaking havoc on the way.

Hyundai first recalled their Theta II engines in September 2015. It took Kia nearly one and a half years to issue their first recall, despite overwhelming evidence of similar problems.

Parks’ car was going 90mph at the time of the crash. Even the parents of the two young boys think unintended acceleration is to blame.

Like most cars these days, the 2008 Optima’s throttle is controlled by an electrically operated throttle motor. These electronic throttles are increasingly popular with automakers even though engineering studies have shown them to be susceptible to sudden wide open throttle acceleration due to electromagnetic interference, fluctuations in electric current, and faulty wiring.

But you can’t really sue Kia over electronic throttles when everyone is using them. What this case will come down to Kia’s decision not to include a brake-throttle override, which is essentially software that allows the brakes to take precedence over the throttle if both are active at the same time.

We’ve been tracking Theta II engine problems for a while and let’s just say … they’re not good.

Last year, Kia was sued by owners who thought the automaker has been concealing the defect. And they may be on to something.

Hyundai ordered a recall of 470,000 Sonatas after the company learned their Theta II engine could seize from oil contaminated with metal shavings back in 2015. That prompted an engine review which revealed similar oil delivery problems in Kia vehicles. Kia, however, didn’t order a recall because no accidents or injuries has been reported.

But with warranty claims on then rise and Hyundai simultaneously recalling 572,000 vehicles with the same engines, the writing was on the wall.

This is a small recall, but affected owners shouldn’t wait to get it resolved when the recall starts on April 7, 2017.

At the very least, this isn’t going to help with your stopping distances and it will most likely happen without warning.

Admission of fault or not, this settlement could mean up to $4,900 for owners of the 3.5L Sorentos manufactured between March 1, 2002 to June 12, 2006. All claims for benefits under this settlement must be postmarked or submitted by May 17, 2017.

And you thought you were having a bad day.

Hyundai is facing a similar lawsuit that is currently awaiting final class-action approval.

The plaintiffs say Kia knows about the Theta engine problems, but refuses to freely repair the engines or order a recall. Another Theta II engine case with Sonata owners is awaiting final settlement approval.

The problem affects vans that were originally sold, or currently registered in, the salt belt states.

"Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia."

Road salt, man. It's great for melting ice and your car's underbody.

The recall is expected to begin on July 25, 2016.

1. If your car was originally sold or currently registered in a salt belt state, the latch will be replaced. Those states include:

"Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia."

2. In other areas, the secondary latch will be inspected, lubricated, and only replaced if needed.

The recall is expected to begin on July 25th, 2016.

The whole story is just sad. The Optima driver told authorities it felt like the gas pedal was stuck and she couldn’t get it to move. She died the next day of injuries sustained in the crash.

This isn’t the first time Kia has issued a recall for this problem. That’s soul annoying.

The problem was discovered during an internal investigation opened after three warranty claims. Thankfully there were no crashes reported.