Vehicle recall 21V137000 · March 4, 2021
Kia Sportage and Cadenza
The electrical circuit in the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may short-circuit, which can cause a fire in the engine compartment.
Source: NHTSA data as of September 22, 2026. Last refreshed Sep 23, 2026, 2:43 AM UTC.
Park affected vehicles outside, away from buildings, until they are repaired. This is the manufacturer’s safety advisory for this recall.
- Summary
- Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2021 Sportage and Cadenza vehicles. The electrical circuit in the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may short-circuit, which can cause a fire in the engine compartment.
- Consequence
- An engine compartment fire can increase the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures as a precaution until the recall repair is complete. Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace certain fuses in the electrical junction box. Vehicles equipped with an electronic parking brake (EPB) will also receive a HECU software update. Repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on April 30, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC206.
- 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.
Recall details
- NHTSA campaign
- 21V137000
- Reported to NHTSA
- March 4, 2021
- Filed by
- Kia Motors America
- Manufacturer campaign
- SC206
- Owner notification
- April 30, 2021
- Vehicles potentially affected
- 379,931
- Initiated by
- the manufacturer
- Components
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip › Control unit/module
Vehicles covered
As listed by NHTSA. A recall usually covers only some vehicles of each model and year, often a production date range.
- Kia Cadenza (2017-2019): 2019, 2018, 2017
- Kia Sportage (2017-2021): 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017
Has your Kia been repaired?
Recalls here come from NHTSA’s records for the model and year. Not every vehicle of a model is included in every recall, and this site can’t see whether a repair has been done. Only a VIN lookup can tell you that.
NHTSA’s VIN search doesn’t show recalls that were already repaired, recalls more than 15 years old, or some small manufacturers’ recalls. A Kia dealer can also check your VIN. Recall repairs are free.