Kia Canada says it is conducting a “product improvement campaign” and recalling 79,301 vehicles in order to update software that detects potential problems before an engine fails.
Current engine control module software might not notify owners of potential engine failures before they happen, Transport Canada says on its website. An engine failure would cause a sudden loss of power with an inability to restart, the safety agency warns. A sudden loss of engine power could increase the risk of an accident.
The affected vehicles include the Kia Optima, Sorento and Sportage and range from the 2014 through 2018 model years. The Sorento was the automaker’s top-selling vehicle last year with 15,579 sold.
Kia Canada will notify owners of affected vehicles by mail. They will be instructed to take their vehicle to a dealer to update the software.
Hyundai Canada is already conducting a similar recall.
