NHTSA campaign 21V331000 · Kia campaign SC212
Kia Recall 21V-331: 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 21V331000 (Kia campaign SC212) was reported by Kia Motors America on May 10, 2021, 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 July 2, 2021, 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 21V331000 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
- 21V331000 (also written 21V-331 or 21V331)
- Filed by
- Kia Motors America
- Kia campaign number
- SC212
- 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: 70.54% (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 21V331000. 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 21V331000.
Defect description
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Optima and 2014-2015 Sorento vehicles previously recalled under recall 20V-519. Brake fluid may leak inside the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU), possibly resulting in an electrical short.
Safety consequence
An electrical short in the HECU increases the risk of a fire while parked or driving.
Manufacturer remedy
Owners are advised to park outside and away from other vehicles and structures until the recall repair is completed. Dealers will install a new multi-fuse, and inspect the HECU for leaks, replacing the HECU if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 2, 2021. This recall supersedes previous NHTSA recall number 20V-519. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC212.
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 21V331000
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.