KIA SPORTAGE (2020) recall — Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Kia recalls certain 2017-2021 Sportage vehicles due to potential engine compartment fire from electrical short circuits in brake system. Free repairs available.
Use caution until it’s fixed
An engine compartment fire can increase the risk of injury.
Contact the company & request your remedy
What happened, in plain English
Kia is recalling certain 2017-2021 Sportage vehicles because a short circuit in the brake system's electrical circuit could cause an engine fire. This risk requires owners to park away from structures until repairs are done. Read more at govinfonow.com/recall/79787-kia-sportage-2020-engine-fire-risk-from-brake-system-recall.
Source Summary by GovInfoNow · govinfonow.com/recall/79787-kia-sportage-2020-engine-fire-risk-from-brake-system-recall · Updated October 4, 2026 · Official notice: NHTSA #21V137000
Cite this page
“Kia Sportage 2020: Engine Fire Risk from Brake System Recall.” GovInfoNow, updated October 4, 2026. https://govinfonow.com/recall/79787-kia-sportage-2020-engine-fire-risk-from-brake-system-recall. Based on NHTSA recall #21V137000 (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=21V137000).
Why it’s dangerous
The electrical circuit in the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may short-circuit, which can cause a fire in the engine compartment. This fire could increase injury risk if it occurs while the vehicle is parked.
Who’s affected
Owners of 2017-2021 Kia Sportage vehicles are affected. Drivers with electronic parking brakes are at higher risk due to potential software issues.
How to tell if you have this one
Check if your 2017-2021 Kia Sportage has a short circuit in the brake system's electrical circuit. The recall covers vehicles with electronic parking brakes that need a software update.
- Brand
Kia- Category
Vehicle
What to do — step by step
Park Away From Structures
Move your vehicle to a safe location away from buildings or flammable materials until repairs are completed.
Contact Kia Customer Service
Reach out to Kia at 1-800-333-4542 to schedule a free repair for the electrical circuit issue.
Get HECU Software Update
If your vehicle has an electronic parking brake, Kia will provide a software update for the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit.
What NHTSA says to do
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.
Questions people ask
Is this recall affecting my 2020 Sportage?
Yes, if your 2017-2021 Sportage has the electrical circuit issue in the brake system.
How do I know if my vehicle needs the software update?
Vehicles with electronic parking brakes will receive the HECU software update as part of the recall.
Will the repair fix the fire risk?
Yes, replacing the fuses and software update should eliminate the short circuit risk.
Contact Kia
We’ve drafted a message you can send Kia to request your refund or repair — edit it as you like.
Subject: Recall 21V137000 — Kia Kia Hello, I own a Kia that is covered by recall 21V137000 from Kia. The official recall notice states: 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. I’m writing to arrange the remedy described in the recall (a refund, repair, or replacement as applicable). Could you please tell me the next steps to resolve this? Thank you.
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Where this comes from
The facts (hazard, remedy, dates, manufacturer) are pulled from the official NHTSA recall record. The plain-language summary and step-by-step checklist are written by GovInfoNow to make the official notice easier to act on — they don’t replace it.
- Official source: NHTSA Recall #21V137000 (April 3, 2021)
- Plain-language summary written by qwen3:4b on October 4, 2026, from the official record above. Not reviewed by a person — if it conflicts with the NHTSA notice, the notice is correct. Report an error on this page.
- GovInfoNow is an independent service and is not a government agency. We republish official NHTSA recall data; we don’t issue, amend or administer recalls.