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Kia America is initiating a recall affecting 39,536 of its 2021-2023 Sorento LX vehicles due to a potential fire hazard, according to a report submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The issue stems from a suspected quality problem with a wire harness supplied by Aptiv, a Tier 2 OEM supplier based in Mexico. This defect could lead to the blower motor resistor and connector overheating when the HVAC system is operating on fan speed setting 3 with the ignition on.
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The overheating condition, while rare, carries the risk of causing a fire within the vehicle. Warning signs that owners might observe include the blower motor becoming inoperable, a burning or melting smell emanating from the vents, or visible smoke. The root cause has been identified as production variances, including wiring gauges that are thinner than specified, attributed to quality control issues at the supplier. While the defect was not corrected in production for the recalled model years, 2024 Sorento vehicles are equipped with a different HVAC system and consequently different components.
Kia will be notifying owners by first-class mail with instructions to bring their vehicles to a Kia dealership for repair. The remedy involves replacing both the blower motor resistor circuit harness and the blower motor resistor with improved parts. The new harness will come from a different supplier that has no suspected quality control deviations. Kia will reimburse owners for repair expenses they may have already incurred, in accordance with their General Reimbursement Plan. The VINs of affected vehicles will be searchable on October 9, 2025. Dealer notification for the recall is scheduled to begin and end on September 26, 2025, with owner notifications starting on November 24, 2025. A phased remedy owner notification is planned to conclude by December 31, 2025. Owners seeking more specific information about their vehicle’s involvement in the recall are advised to contact Kia’s Customer Care Center or their local Kia dealer.
Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from Kia America, Inc.
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