Kia Recalling Spectra Models Over Fears that the Fuel Tank May…Fall Off

South Korea’s Kia Motors said Friday it will recall certain Spectra LD vehicles from the 2004-2007 model year in the United States over a corrosion issue that could cause the fuel tank to fall from the car. The recall covers 58,322 Kia Spectra models build from November 7, 2003, through March 6, 2007, and sold or currently registered in states that rely heavily on road salt to melt ice in the winter.

The states are Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia.

The automaker informed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration [NHTSA] there’s a chance that due to prolonged exposure to salt, the fuel tank straps which hold the tank may rust and the tank can fall to the ground, causing a fuel leak and possibly a fire.

Kia said that its dealers will replace the fuel tank straps and attaching hardware with new zinc coated parts, with the service being performed free of charge. The automaker told the NHTSA that safety recall is expected to begin during June 2011.

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