Kia recalls in CanadaTheta II and GDI engines, ABS fires, and why the Rondo keeps coming up
Updated September 2026 · Sourced from Transport Canada
Kia's Canadian recall history is dominated by two stories: gasoline direct-injection engine failures (2019–2021) and the September 2023 ABS-module fire recall covering about 276,000 vehicles across nearly every model sold from 2010 to 2019.
The Kia Rondo recall page is one of the most-visited pages on this site because "2015 Kia Rondo problems" is still a live question for used-car buyers.
The media and the government are inefficient in disseminating critical recall information to consumers. Often times it takes days or weeks before a major recall is announced by the media.
Consumers are asked to be proactive, but they are at the mercy of slow channels to receive important news. Some recalls aren't even mentioned anywhere except official channels.
Kia's September 2023 ABS recall covered about 276,000 Canadian vehicles from Sportage to Soul.
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Engine recalls: Sorento, Sportage, Optima, Forte, Soul, Rondo (2019–2021)
Extensive engine campaigns have affected popular models across Canada: the Rondo, Forte, Sportage and Sorento engine recall (February 2021, about 49,000 vehicles), the Optima, Forte Koup, Sportage, Sorento, Forte and Soul engine recall (December 2020), the Kia Rondo 2015 recall, the Soul engine recall (2020), and the Sorento, Sportage and Optima engine recall (2019).
Like Hyundai, Kia resolved a Canadian class-action settlement addressing Theta II engine bearing failures, offering extended warranty coverage and repair reimbursement for eligible owners.
ABS module fires (2023)
In September 2023, Kia issued a major "park outside" warning covering the September 2023 ABS recall — Sportage, Optima, Forte, Forte Koup, Rondo, Borrego, Sorento, Soul and more (about 276,000 vehicles).
As with related Hyundai models, electrical shorting inside the hydraulic electronic control unit posed a fire risk even while turned off, requiring an urgent fuse replacement.
2026 so far
New campaigns continue in 2026, including the Telluride electrical recall (July 2026, about 21,000 vehicles).
Transport Canada has logged 141 vehicle recalls covering about 1.2 million vehicles in Canada so far in 2026 — roughly one vehicle recall every 1.8 days.
What to do if your Kia is recalled
- Find your 17-character Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on the driver-side dashboard, door jamb, or registration.
- Check the VIN on Transport Canada's recall database or Kia Canada's official VIN lookup tool.
- Recall repairs are free at any authorized Kia dealership, regardless of ownership history.
- If the notice advises you to "park outside", park away from buildings and garages until the recall repair has been completed.
Other makes
Looking for another make? See Hyundai recalls in Canada or browse all vehicle recalls in Canada.
Related recall guides
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Information presented from Recalls and Safety Alerts dataset, provided by the Government of Canada through the Open Government initiative and is subject to the Open Government License.
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