Kia recently announced a recall for 2008 and 2009 Kia Sportage vehicles for a risk of fire. The electronic control unit for the hydraulic fluid module can overheat and cause a fire. The recall notice advises owners to park the car outside but doesn’t say why. I currently represent an owner of one of these vehicles in a lawsuit filed before the recall was announced. In my case and in several other reports of fires in 2008 and 2009 Sportages, the cars caught fire after they were turned off. My understanding is that a module can continue to run after the car is shut off and hydraulic fluid leaking on that module starts a fire.
The recall does not say that fires can occur when the vehicle is off. That missing information from the recall could lead some owners to incorrectly think that it is ok to keep the vehicle in the garage when it is off when it is most definitely not ok. It is extremely important that any vehicle involved in the recall be stored outside and not in a garage until taken to a dealership for recall repairs because if the car catches fire in an attached garage, the fire could not only destroy the vehicle but also endanger the entire house and anyone inside.
Owners of 2008 or 2009 Kia Sportage vehicles should immediately go to safercar.gov and search for recalls by VIN (Vehicle Identification Number). For these vehicles with an open recall, you should contact your Kia dealership to get the repairs performed and park the car outside until the recall repairs have been completed. If Kia refuses to repair your vehicle in a reasonable amount of time or if your Sportage has already been damaged by fire due to the hydraulic fluid module, contact Roseman Law Firm and Attorney Christina Gill Roseman at www.helpforlemoncars.com or 1-800-745-5259 for a free consultation and free Lemon Law help if your case is accepted.