NHTSA campaign 20V519000 · Kia campaign SC197
Kia Recall 20V-519: Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit May Short
- Park outside
- Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation
Owners are advised to park these vehicles outside and away from structures until the recall repair is done.
NHTSA recall 20V519000 (Kia campaign SC197) was reported by Kia Motors America on August 27, 2020, with 440,370 vehicles potentially affected (per NHTSA). NHTSA's record lists the Kia Optima and Kia Sorento for model years 2013–2015. Owners were notified on October 20, 2020, per NHTSA.
Updated daily from NHTSA's recall files
Is my vehicle included?
This page lists, by model year, the vehicles NHTSA's recall record names for campaign 20V519000 in the model years try.vin imports (1995 and later); NHTSA's own record can list more. A model year on the list doesn't mean every vehicle of that year is included, and some may already have been repaired.
To see whether a specific vehicle is included and still needs the repair, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Kia VIN check: decode a VIN to see its year, make and model.
Key facts
- NHTSA campaign
- 20V519000 (also written 20V-519 or 20V519)
- Filed by
- Kia Motors America
- Kia campaign number
- SC197
- Report received
- Potentially affected
- 440,370 vehicles (per NHTSA)
- Component
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic — Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip — Control Unit/Module
- Owners notified
Repair completion: 44.98% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated October 21, 2026)
NHTSA cautions against comparing completion rates across recalls or manufacturers. How try.vin reads them.
Vehicles listed for this recall
NHTSA's recall record lists these vehicles for recall 20V519000. try.vin imports model years 1995 and later, so NHTSA's own list can be longer. Model years with a try.vin recall page link to it. Build dates are NHTSA's range for a model year (per NHTSA); a vehicle built in that range is not necessarily included.
NHTSA's recall notice
As NHTSA's recall record states it for campaign 20V519000.
Defect description
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Optima and 2014-2015 Sorento vehicles. Brake fluid may leak inside the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU), possibly resulting in an electrical short.
Safety consequence
If the HECU short circuits, there is an increased risk of an engine compartment fire.
Manufacturer remedy
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the HECU for leaking brake fluid and replace the HECU if necessary, free of charge. Owners are advised to park outside and away from other vehicles and structures until the recall repair is completed. The recall began October 20, 2020. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC197.
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.
Sources
Official NHTSA notice for recall 20V519000
Campaign details come from NHTSA's recall files, which try.vin imports once a day. The plain-language subject and the completion rate come from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Recalls Data dataset. How try.vin reads recall data.