Kia Forte Recall Issued Due to Cooling Fan Fire Risk, Engine Smoking

Almost 87,000 Kia Forte sedans are being recalled in the U.S., after the manufacturer received multiple reports that suggest the cooling fan resistors may overheat or melt, posing a risk that the vehicle may catch fire or the engines may smoke during use. 

The Kia Forte recall (PDF) was announced over by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), after determining the reports of engines smoking and vehicles fires were caused by thermally insufficient cooling fan resistors.

To date, several incidents have been reported involving Kia Forte engine problems and vehicle fires. However, no injuries or accidents have been linked to the problems, despite several reports involving close calls, according to the NHTSA.

In one incident, a consumer started their 2014 Forte to let it warm up and upon returning found the vehicle completely engulfed in flames.

Another owner reported that the vehicle began smoking under the engine while driving and when the driver pulled off the road to a gas station flames could be seen coming out from under the hood. The local fire department was called to extinguish the fire.

According to the NHTSA, the Kia vehicles are equipped with a cooling fan resistor that poses a threat of engine fires because the components were not designed to endure the levels of production needed to cool the engine parts. The NHTSA and Kia Motors concluded that the vehicles will require a new cooling fan resistor that is more thermal resistant to prevent overheating and further safety concerns.

The recall includes 2014 Kia Forte sedans equipped with 1.8L and 2.0L engines, which were manufactured between December 5, 2012 and April 17, 2014. The vehicles were manufactured by Kia Motors America at the Irvine, California assembly plant.

Kia Motors plans to notify all owners by first class mail with instructions to bring their vehicles to a Kia dealer for repair and also how to submit the costs for reimbursement. Kia does not plan to begin repairing the vehicles until late February which could cause more reports of fires or engines smoking to be recorded.

Owners with recalled Kia Forte vehicles produced from December 5, 2012 to January 27, 2014 will have the cooling fan resistor and multi-fuse unit replaced. Owners with vehicles manufactured from January 28, 2014 will only have the multi-fuse unit replaced, and owners of vehicles with 1.8L engines will also have the engine control unit software updated.

Owners are encouraged to report any adverse event related to the recall to the NHTSA and Kia Motors. Owners with further questions may contact the automaker at 949-468-4800 and reference the recall number SC113.