Kia Recalling 37,000 Minivans Over Rear Hub Bearing Failures

Kia Motors America Inc. (USA, a division of Kia Motors, South Korea, itself a division of Hyundai) is recalling 37,358 of its best-selling Sedona minivans sold in the United States, model years 2003 through 2005. 2003 Kia Sedona The rear wheel hub assembly bearings on some minivans equipped with alloy wheels are prone to failure. The environment leading to the failure is that alloy wheels on some of the minivans are prone to accumulating water and contaminants around the hub assembly's dust cap area. When the hub assembly becomes contaminated by water and/or debris, it will fail prematurely. The NHTSA recall campaign number is 05V232000. The Kia recall SC-049. The Sedona's rear wheel hub assembly bearings are produced in Korea. Introduced in 2002, Sedona is a front-drive-only chassis equipped with a solid rear axle. The content of the NHTSA recall is: Summary: ON CERTAIN MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH ALLOY WHEELS, MOISTURE CAN ACCUMULATE AROUND THE REAR HUB CAPS CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE OUTER WHEEL BEARING. Consequence: WHEEL BEARING FAILURE MAY OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR HUB CAPS. UPON INSPECTION, SOME VEHICLES WILL ALSO REQUIRE REPLACEMENT OF THE REAR OUTER BEARINGS AND/OR HUB ASSEMBLY. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON JUNE 6, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542. Notes: KIA RECALL NO. SC-049. CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236.