RECALL: More than 30,000 Kia Sorento SUVs and Carnival people movers pose fire risk

Kia Australia has recalled 26,926 Carnival people movers and 3288 Sorento SUVs that could cause fires.

Sold between December 1, 2005 and December 31, 2010, 14,803 MY06-MY10 VQ-series Carnivals and 3288 MY06-MY09 BL-series Sorentos have a potential issue with their Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU), which can remain live after the ignition is switched off.

If moisture enters the HECU, an electrical short circuit can occur, which could result in a fire in the engine bay, therefore increasing the risk of injury to vehicle occupants and other road users.

In a separate recall, 12,123 MY11-MY14 VQ-series Carnivals with petrol engines sold from April 1, 2010 to December 31, 2015, have a possible problem with their fuel rail, which can develop a small heat-induced crack.

This could result in fuel leaking onto the road surface and causing a fire, which would once again increase the risk of injury to vehicle occupants and other road users.

Known owners affected by either recall will be contacted by Kia Australia with instructions to arrange an inspection and free-of-charge repair of their vehicle at an authorised service centre.

That said, in both instances, replacement parts won’t become available until July, at which point Kia Australia will contact known affected owners again to update them.

In the meantime, Kia Australia is asking owners caught up in the first recall to “park their vehicles outside, away from structures and other vehicles”.

Those looking for further information can contact Kia Australia directly by calling 13 15 42. Alternatively, they can reach out to their preferred dealership.

A full list of affected Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) can be found at the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s ACCC Product Safety Australia website.

The first recall notice is located here, while the second can be found here.