WenmarOpen by Wenmar Pro

NHTSA recall 20V519000

NHTSA advises: park outside, away from buildings, until the repair is done.

A recall listed here may apply to a vehicle of this year, make and model. Only the manufacturer can say whether it applies to one vehicle: check the VIN with the official lookups.

Campaign
Published byNHTSA (United States)
Campaign number20V519000
Manufacturer's numberSC197
ManufacturerKia Motors America
Reported2020-08-27
Owners notified2020-10-20
ComponentSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
Units potentially affected440370
Part numbers58920-1U000, 58920-2T870, 58920-2T550, 58920-4C870, 58920-4C550
Remedy progress the manufacturer reported
ReportAnnual report 3, for 2024 quarter 4 to 2025 quarter 3
Filed with NHTSA2025-10-28
Vehicles in the campaign440370
Reported remedied177718 (40%)
Reported unreachable25966
Reported removed45280

These are the manufacturer's totals for the whole campaign at the end of 2025 quarter 3, as filed with NHTSA. They do not say whether one vehicle has been remedied: check the VIN with the official lookups. The reports are from data as of 2026-10-19.

What is wrong

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Optima and 2014-2015 Sorento vehicles. Brake fluid may leak inside the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU), possibly resulting in an electrical short.

What can happen

If the HECU short circuits, there is an increased risk of an engine compartment fire.

The remedy

Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the HECU for leaking brake fluid and replace the HECU if necessary, free of charge. Owners are advised to park outside and away from other vehicles and structures until the recall repair is completed. The recall began October 20, 2020. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC197.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Vehicles this campaign lists
2013 KIA OPTIMA
2014 KIA OPTIMA
2015 KIA OPTIMA
2014 KIA SORENTO
2015 KIA SORENTO

A vehicle with no link is not in this site's catalog, which covers cars, multipurpose vehicles and trucks by model year. The campaign is from data as of 2026-10-19.

Investigated as PE19004

This recall followed 1 NHTSA investigation. An investigation is NHTSA looking into a possible defect. It is not a finding that a defect exists, and it does not say that any one vehicle is affected.

NHTSA investigations that led to this recall
PE19004Preliminary evaluation, opened 2019-03-29, closed 2021-12-22. Non-crash Vehicle Fires. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY:RELAY; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY:SOLENOID; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OTHER FUEL TYPES:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CRANKCASE (PCV); ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE); ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING; ENGINE; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BACK UP LIGHTS; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BACK UP LIGHTS:SWITCH; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS:SWITCH; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS:SWITCH; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS:UNIT; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:CONCEALMENT DEVICES; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH; EXTERIOR LIGHTING; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS:SWITCH; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:FLASHER UNIT; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH; UNKNOWN OR OTHER.

From NHTSA's investigation file, as of 2026-10-19. The JSON has NHTSA's summary of each.

Bulletins for the same vehicles and component

Bulletins for the same vehicles and component
VSC148TSB2017-08-02. Service bulletin. TSB: REAR WHEEL SPEED SENSOR HOUSING COVER INSPECTION AND/OR REPLACEMENT (SC148) - VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN - This bulletin provides the procedure on how to inspect, clean and seal or, if necessary, replace the rear wheel speed sensor (WSS) housing covers on certain 2011-2015MY 2WD Sorento (XMa) vehicles, produced from October 24, 2009 through April 30, 2014, originally retailed and/or currently registered in the coastal states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas. If the rear wheel hub comes into contact with a significant amount of seawater, the water can enter the rear wheel speed sensor housing covers and may interrupt the rear wheel speed sensor signal and illuminate the Anti-Lock Braking System (?ABS?) and/or Electronic Stability Control (?ESC?) warning lights in the instrument cluster.
VSC148OWNER2017-08-02. Service bulletin. SC148OWNER - OWNER NOTIFICATION LETTER -Notifying owners that Kia is conducting a Voluntary Service Campaign to inspect, clean, and seal, or if necessary, replace the rear wheel speed sensor housing covers on certain 2011-2015 MY Sorento 2-Wheel Drive (2WD) vehicles originally purchased and/or currently registered in the coastal states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Texas.
VSC148DPSM2017-08-02. Service bulletin. SC148DPSM - DEALER PARTS & SERVICE MANAGER NOTIFICATION LETTER - Notifies dealer principals of a Voluntary Service Campaign to inspect, clean, and seal, or if necessary, replace the rear wheel speed sensor housing covers on certain 2011 - 2015 MY Sorento 2-Wheel Drive vehicles originally purchased and/or currently registered in the coastal states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Texas.
VSC148DP2017-08-02. Service bulletin. SC148DP - DEALER PRINCIPAL NOTIFICATION LETTER - Notifies dealer principals of a Voluntary Service Campaign to inspect, clean, and seal, or if necessary, replace the rear wheel speed sensor housing covers on certain 2011 - 2015 MY Sorento 2-Wheel Drive vehicles originally purchased and/or currently registered in the coastal states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Texas.

A bulletin is the manufacturer's note to its dealers. It is not part of this recall.

Check one vehicle officially