Hydrolic Electronic Control Unit Recall

[RedHotStinger]

The HECU is in direct control of the ABS actuators on all four wheels. If the unit is shorted out by a brake fluid leak internally it could cause one, two, or more wheels to go into full anti-lock mode and possibly cause a massive torque steer situation to happen; at highway speeds it would be very difficult to react too. It is also tied into the proportioning valves on the master cylinder and could reduce braking force suddenly (part of the traction control system). I have been in a car that had the passenger side front brake go into full antilock due to a ABS system failure (not a Kia but a American brand). ABS triggers two or more wheels at the same time to balance the force on the chassis and to prevent instability. It pulled the steering wheel right out of my hand when it pulled and I was in a ditch before I could get my hand on the wheel again. After living through that with only minor injuries I swore that any brake issues will be dealt with swiftly. The days of the driver having control over the brakes is a long distant memory. Give me a regular non anti-lock brake system any day; I do not need a computer to control the brakes in the snow or other abs inducing situation. I was taught how to control a car when its stability is compromised.

Once the fuse(s) blow it cuts power to the HECU but in the time it takes to reach the current limit a lot of stuff can go wrong in the unit itself. It will be worse if it is a gradual build up. The wires between the HECU and the fuse block will have the insulation burn before the current limit of the physical wire/fuse is reached. The burning insulation can then cause other items to start burning and can quickly get out of control. The HECU could be damaged internal for a period of time before it goes into a full on short and you could get intermittent issues with multiple systems. That is why they tell you to stop, turn off the car, and have it towed if you get any malfunction indicators. You could have a HECU going into the death spiral. It could also be a failure unrelated to the HECU but they do not want the driver to take that chance. It costs Kia a lot less to fix a failed HECU than to replace a torched car.

I have put in a freedom of information act request to get the exact number of suspected defective units. The answer could be either enlightening or down right scary.

 

[StingertimeNC]

sounds like Kia is banking on the slow death route. Lots of malfunction lights etc before total, catastrophic failure. I guess maybe they are rolling the dice a little.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Well, you have stuck your neck out here. We'll be expecting you to post everything.

I have put in a freedom of information act request to get the exact number of suspected defective units. The answer could be either enlightening or down right scary.

 

[MerlintheMad]

I do not need a computer to control the brakes in the snow or other abs inducing situation. I was taught how to control a car when its stability is compromised.

Why are you into any modern, 'puter-fangled car, then?

 

[RedHotStinger]

Reliability (supposedly) and a warranty for the daily driver. Driving the '69 Hemi Charger to work everyday is not practical. And the older Chevy is getting up there in miles and years to be a daily; still a fine car but do not rely on it with every turn of the key. The Stinger scratched the right itch at the time - can pass on the highway with ease, relatively comfortable ride (the suspension is a little stiff even in comfort - will work on that soon), acceptable fuel economy (supposedly there is a aftermarket 24 gallon gas tank on the horizon), damn tired of American made junk, and I like the styling.

 

[RedHotStinger]

Well, you have stuck your neck out here. We'll be expecting you to post everything.

There is no guarantee they will grant my request. I have filed a few dozen requests over the years and maybe had a hand full actually get granted. Even if it does get granted it could be months or more till I actually get it. No harm in trying. The more people that request the information the better the odds of someone succeeding.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Reliability (supposedly) and a warranty for the daily driver. Driving the '69 Hemi Charger to work everyday is not practical. And the older Chevy is getting up there in miles and years to be a daily; still a fine car but do not rely on it with every turn of the key. The Stinger scratched the right itch at the time - can pass on the highway with ease, relatively comfortable ride (the suspension is a little stiff even in comfort - will work on that soon), acceptable fuel economy (supposedly there is a aftermarket 24 gallon gas tank on the horizon), damn tired of American made junk, and I like the styling.

So, "the fire hazard" (HECU incidence of failure) is low enough to not keep you awake at night, I gather.

 

[RedHotStinger]

So, "the fire hazard" (HECU incidence of failure) is low enough to not keep you awake at night, I gather.

Actually I sleep quite well at night. The cabin air filter intake is right above the HECU so any burning smell will be very quickly noticed. I have a fire extinguisher mounted in front of the driver's seat (everyone of my cars has one). Kia roadside assistance is a phone call away if the idiot lights start turning into a christmas light display. Kia dealers are getting shipped replacement HECUs to have on hand and repairs are being given priority in the service department. And if it does catch fire I am guaranteed a replacement vehicle as any fire damage would instantly total the vehicle. And the whole thing will be handled by my insurance company. All I have to do is go pickup the keys and new car the next day.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Do you hold a percentage chance of fire in your head, when you drive a car that is being talked about this way? I do: and it's six vehicles out of well over 10K (for the year 2019): no other Stinger model years have even been talked about in connection to FIRE; yet the first we heard of was a rear fuse caused fire in 2018. I don't even bother trying to figure that many zeroes after the decimal.

 

[RedHotStinger]

The rear fuse most likely was a manufacturing defect in either the fuse panel or the wiring going into it; it will have been investigated. Statistically it will be very unlikely to happen to more than a couple of cars again; sucks for those owners but they have recourse and a chance to get out of the vehicle before they get injured. If it was in the dash that is a different story. Any car can have this type of issue. You cannot stop living your life in fear of it. Statistically based on a established data available now we will have probably 30% (educated guess) of the affected HECUs in the recalled range being defective, a portion of those will never degrade into failure (you will be driving around with a defective one and never know it), a portion of those will cause issues and trigger idiot lights, and a portion of those will short and either malfunction badly and/or catch fire. It will be years before there is enough data to put numbers to those possibilities.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Perspective is good. So far we have a handful of fires from all causes since the car debuted: out of scores of thousands of sold vehicles. I have not heard of any sudden brake or other failures attributed to this HECU issue. And Kia has said nothing about any of those possibilities; only a fire hazard possibility. I think that the chance of sudden ABS FUBAR is less than the miniscule chance of a fire.

 

[David Truax]

Got my wiring kit today from kiapartsnow....had no idea they are not too far from here. Now gotta find time to install it

 

[Zstinger]

New Stinger, first time posting. Just got the repair, replace of HECU module. Took several hours but received a (free) loaner. Look at it this way, I've had Chev and Fords with drivability / tranny issues had to fight for years to get fixed even under warranties. KIA seems to want to fix these things...so happy so far. Enjoy your rides!!

 

[RedHotStinger]

Just got my Stinger back after getting the fuse kit installed. Still have the factory installed HECU; will be keeping a very close eye and nose on it.

 

[MerlintheMad]

New Stinger, first time posting. Just got the repair, replace of HECU module. Took several hours but received a (free) loaner. Look at it this way, I've had Chev and Fords with drivability / tranny issues had to fight for years to get fixed even under warranties. KIA seems to want to fix these things...so happy so far. Enjoy your rides!!

You took a while to say Hi. "New" Stinger, means recently acquired? If you got the TSB done, that means you bought a 2019. Did it come with those aftermarket wheels? They look really good; looks like they're TSW; I have TSW's "Watkins" wheels for my summer tires.

 

[SKStinger]

New Stinger, first time posting. Just got the repair, replace of HECU module. Took several hours but received a (free) loaner. Look at it this way, I've had Chev and Fords with drivability / tranny issues had to fight for years to get fixed even under warranties. KIA seems to want to fix these things...so happy so far. Enjoy your rides!!

Welcome. The repair is not a new HECU module. It’s two wires and two fuses. A fire prevention fix but not a root cause fix. I wouldn’t go praising Kia yet.

 

[Zstinger]

You took a while to say Hi. "New" Stinger, means recently acquired? If you got the TSB done, that means you bought a 2019. Did it come with those aftermarket wheels? They look really good; looks like they're TSW; I have TSW's "Watkins" wheels for my summer tires.

Bought new 10/2019 put the wheels on this last summer have 9k on her now they are TSW love em

 

[Zstinger]

Welcome. The repair is not a new HECU module. It’s two wires and two fuses. A fire prevention fix but not a root cause fix. I wouldn’t go praising Kia yet.

Your right receipt says ‘rewire kit’ this is the first new car I’ve owned for a year now have not had her back for any squeaks or rattles so far so we’ll see

 

[BadBrad]

I am considering getting a Stinger GT1 , but just saw this post. Does anyone know if this issue is present in the 2021 models? It is my understanding that the 2021 models are the same as the 2020 models. How does this issue compare to other car recalls? This may be a show stopper for me.

 

[SKStinger]

I am considering getting a Stinger GT1 , but just saw this post. Does anyone know if this issue is present in the 2021 models? It is my understanding that the 2021 models are the same as the 2020 models. How does this issue compare to other car recalls? This may be a show stopped for me.

The recall is for 2019 3.3s. Nothing for newer models yet.

Recalls are a common occurrence these days and are good things. It’s better for the consumer for a manufacturer to identify and correct a defect than to try and avoid one. I wouldn’t let a recall deter you from buying one.