A few hundred Kia Sorento Plug-in Hybrid and Hyundai Santa Fe Plug-in Hybrid models need repairs in the United States due to a potential fuel leak.
Separate recalls issued by Kia and Hyundai reveal that the fuel tanks of both vehicles may have been improperly manufactured, which could result in a fuel leak at the seam between the tank halves, increasing the risk of a fire.
Read: Kia Sorento And Sportage Owners Urged Not To Park Their SUVs Inside
Hyundai’s recall notice states that “insufficient molding caused by a malfunction of the material grinder prior to mold extrusion” is the reason for the potential fuel leak. Owners may notice the smell of fuel or a visible fuel leak because of the fault.
Kia North America first became aware of a potential issue in June 2022 when it received a warranty claim involving a fuel leak tank on a 2022 Sorento Plug-in Hybrid. It received a second warranty claim in July 2022 and sent the faulty fuel tanks to Kia HQ where they were investigated and the problem was identified.
The recall involves a total of 34 Kia Sorento Plug-in Hybrid models built between April 12, 2022, and April 26, 2022, in addition to 326 examples of the Hyundai Santa Fe Plug-in Hybrid assembled from April 11, 2022, to July 21, 2022.
Kia says that owners of impacted Sorento models will be notified from March 22, 2023, while Hyundai will let its owners know from March 26, 2023. Owners will be instructed to take their vehicle to either a Kia or Hyundai dealership where, if necessary, the fuel tank will be replaced with a new one.
