Kia Niro Electric Cars Recalled as Company Cites Possible Fires

Kia is yet again issuing a car recall over defects that could cause vehicle fires.

This time, the company is calling back more than 2,200 Niro sport utility vehicles. High voltage battery safety plugs could overheat and melt, which can cause the SUVs to stall or catch fire, Kia recently told federal regulators.

“Over time, the contact surfaces of the high voltage battery safety plug may develop high electrical resistance,” Kia said in a defect notice filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. “Although the exact cause of this high resistance in the safety plug has not been confirmed, Kia suspects it is due to a supplier deviation in the manufacturing of the Female-Female (F-F) terminal.”

“If high electrical resistance occurs while driving or during battery charging, the safety plug may melt, thereby increasing the risk of loss of motive power and/or fire,” the automaker continued. “A loss of motive power increases the risk of a crash. A fire increases the risk of injury.”

The new recall covers certain 2022 Kia Niro electric SUVs. The company has already issued two recalls in recent years over different fire risks in some 27,000 Niro SUVs from model years 2017 and 2018. 

Earlier this year, Kia and parent company Hyundai called back some 3.4 million vehicles, citing brake fluid leaks that they said could spark fires. 

That recall covers a wide range of Hyundai models from 2010 through 2015, including the Accent, Elantra and Tucson. Kia models from 2010 through 2019, including the Cadenza, Optima and Sorento, are also covered.

More recently, Kia said it would recall nearly half a million Telluride SUVs because of fire risks related to overheating power seats. 

This time around, Kia plans to notify owners of recalled Niro SUVs via mail by July 19. Car owners, in the meantime, can check the NHTSA website to see if their vehicles are covered by the recall.

How the California Lemon Law Works

There is good news for Kia, Hyundai and other car owners in California: You do not need to wait around for recalls to get defective vehicles fixed. You have some valuable rights and protections under the state’s lemon law.

The lemon law generally requires auto manufacturers to perform repairs on vehicles while they are under warranty. It also forces carmakers to buy back vehicles that they are unable or simply refuse to fix. That means compensating the owner for the vehicle’s purchase price, along with financing charges, rental car costs and other related expenses.

There is no specific number of repair requests or attempts that must occur before the buyback requirement kicks in. An experienced California lemon law attorney can help you understand your rights and take action.

Talk with a California Lemon Law Attorney

If you have been stuck with a defective or malfunctioning vehicle, a California lemon law attorney at Bickel Sannipoli APC can help you fight back.  

Call us at (888) 800-1983 or contact us online to speak with a California lemon law attorney.