Kia Issues Vehicle Recall Covering 87,000 Vehicles Due to Potential Fire Hazard

Kia Motors America has issued a vehicle recall covering 87,000 of the manufacturer’s 2014 model year Forte Sedans, due to reports of faulty engine parts that could cause the vehicle to catch fire.

The vehicle recall notice was issued on Saturday, January 24th, and covers Kia Fortes manufactured between December 5th, 2012, and April 17th, 2014. A piece in the cooling fan was found to overheat, which could lead it to melt and start a fire in the engine. Ironically, cooling fans are supposed to cool the engine down, to prevent overheating and fire-starting.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration stated that the vehicle recall will officially begin in February. Kia will replace parts associated with the engine problem, as well as update the vehicles’ software, at no cost to the consumers.

Kia claims that it has not received any notices about personal injuries associated with the engine problem, but the NHTSA stated the safety agency received numerous complaints about the vehicles’ engines catching fire, and sending smoke into the car.

One consumer reported to the NHTSA that their vehicle became “engulfed in flames” as it was warming up; another reported that the car began smoking while driving down the road.

What To Do If You Have Been Injured, and the Manufacturer Did Not Issue a Vehicle Recall

If a defect in your vehicle caused a car accident, you may not know immediately what recourse you have. Although the law is complicated, you do have legal recourse against the vehicle’s manufacturer. It is important for manufacturers to pay attention to the quality of their products and issue vehicle recall notices in a timely fashion – however, not all automobile manufacturers will do so, and consumers can be seriously injured or killed.

Under products liability law, it’s the injured party’s burden to prove that the product was defective. Therefore, it is important that the product be inspected by one or more qualified experts to determine the exact nature of the defect and whether that defect caused the harm suffered. If the product is not recovered, the customer may be left with no proof that the product was defective.

Every year, thousands of consumers sustain serious injuries from defective products. A defective product lawyer can help you with an injury you may receive. Many of these injuries could be avoided if the manufacturers or distributors of these products took additional steps to ensure consumer safety. Defective products that commonly cause injuries include medical devices, pharmaceutical products, and other defective products such as toys, cars and automotive parts.

The Strom Law Firm Can Help with Personal Injury and Vehicle Recalls

If you have experienced a problem with a defective product in your automobile, especially if a defective part has led to an auto accident or personal injury, and a proper vehicle recall notice has not been issued, you may be entitled to compensation. The attorneys at the Strom Law Firm can help. We can help you with complicated auto insurance claims, and make sure you receive the compensation you deserve to help you with lost income and medical bills. Our attorneys are licensed to practice in South Carolina, Georgia, and New York. We offer free, confidential consultations to discuss the facts of your case, so contact us today at (803) 252-4800.