A defect in some of the vehicles’ piston rings could damage the block and even poses the risk of a fire
- Kia is recalling some 137,256 newer vehicles in the U.S. for a possible engine problem
- Bad piston rings could cause severe engine damage, and even pose a fire risk
- It’s unclear how many vehicles are affected by the same issue in Canada
A specific problem was identified regarding deviations in quality by the supplier of the engine’s piston rings. Over time, a faulty piston ring could damage and score the walls of an engine cylinder, an event which could very likely lead to increased oil consumption.
The recall specifically states this may cause “abnormal noise from the engine,” and continued operation in this state could cause engine damage and/or seizure. If the latter happens, it could blow a rather inconvenient hole in the block, from which oil could leak and start a fire. Affected owners will be notified to take their machines to a Kia dealer for inspection and, if necessary, total engine replacement.
We’ve reached out to those in the know at Kia Canada for clarity and will update this post appropriately.
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