The defect
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Sorento, 2021-2022 Sorento Hybrid (HEV), 2022-2023 Sorento Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV), and 2017-2022 Sportage vehicles equipped with a tow hitch harness installed as original equipment, or purchased as an accessory through a Kia dealership. Debris and moisture accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (PCB) may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire.
The risk
A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
The remedy
Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will inspect the vehicle, and, as necessary, replace the fuse and/or tow hitch harness module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 11, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC249.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Kia Sorento | 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 |
| Kia Sorento Hybrid | 2021, 2022, 2023 |
| Kia Sorento Phev | 2022, 2023 |
| Kia Sportage | 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 |
Components: TRAILER HITCHES
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kia Sorento | 2016 | 1,258 | 8 |
| Kia Sorento | 2017 | 808 | 4 |
| Kia Sorento | 2018 | 255 | 3 |
| Kia Sorento | 2019 | 433 | 2 |
| Kia Sorento | 2020 | 138 | 1 |
| Kia Sorento | 2021 | 254 | 4 |
| Kia Sorento | 2022 | 193 | 6 |
| Kia Sorento Hybrid | 2021 | 21 | 2 |
| Kia Sorento Hybrid | 2022 | 12 | 4 |
| Kia Sorento Hybrid | 2023 | 32 | 2 |
| Kia Sorento Phev | 2022 | 22 | 5 |
| Kia Sorento Phev | 2023 | 8 | 2 |
| Kia Sportage | 2017 | 403 | 4 |
| Kia Sportage | 2018 | 164 | 3 |
| Kia Sportage | 2019 | 71 | 2 |
| Kia Sportage | 2020 | 162 | 2 |
| Kia Sportage | 2021 | 54 | 2 |
| Kia Sportage | 2022 | 46 | 1 |
Other trailer hitches recalls in 2022
8 of the 933 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2022 concerned the trailer hitches; Kia America, Inc. filed 73 campaigns in all.
| 22V657000 31 Aug 2022 | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. |
| 22V633000 18 Aug 2022 | Hyundai Motor America |
| 22V626000 15 Aug 2022 | Kia America, Inc. |
| 22V499000 12 Jul 2022 | Vermeer Manufacturing Company |
| 22V366000 20 May 2022 | Joe's Trailer Mfg. |
| 22V229000 8 Apr 2022 | Big Tex Trailer Manufacturing, Inc. |
| 22V157000 15 Mar 2022 | Winnebago Towable |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2022