2021 Kia Stinger Antilock Brake Control Module Recall (20V518)
Kia America, Inc. · 28,200 vehicles · Reported August 27, 2020
Kia America, Inc. is recalling 28,200 2021 Kia Stinger vehicles. Kia Motors America (Kia) recalled certain 2019 Stinger vehicles equipped with 3.3L T-GDI engines on August 27, 2020. On December 30, 2020, Kia expanded the recall population and added certain 2018-2021 Stinger vehicles. While driving, an engine compartment fire may occur in the area where the Anti-lock Brake Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) is located. An engine compartment fire can increase the risk of injury or crash. Park outside and away from buildings until it is repaired.
Recall 20V518 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 20V518000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | SC196 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | August 27, 2020 |
| Manufacturer | Kia America, Inc. |
| Vehicles | 2021 Kia Stinger |
| Units affected | 28,200 |
| Component | Service Brakes, Hydraulic > Antilock / Traction Control / Electronic Limited Slip > Control Unit / Module |
| Safety risk | An engine compartment fire can increase the risk of injury or crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021 Kia Stinger in recall 20V518?
Kia Motors America (Kia) recalled certain 2019 Stinger vehicles equipped with 3.3L T-GDI engines on August 27, 2020.
Kia Motors America (Kia) recalled certain 2019 Stinger vehicles equipped with 3.3L T-GDI engines on August 27, 2020. On December 30, 2020, Kia expanded the recall population and added certain 2018-2021 Stinger vehicles. While driving, an engine compartment fire may occur in the area where the Anti-lock Brake Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) is located.
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.
Is it safe to drive a 2021 Stinger with recall 20V518?
Park it outside. NHTSA lists a fire risk for recall 20V518, so keep the vehicle away from buildings until it is repaired.
NHTSA lists this as a Park Outside recall because of a fire risk. Park the vehicle outside and away from buildings until the repair is done, even if you have not noticed any problem.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: An engine compartment fire can increase the risk of injury or crash.
Which vehicles are included in recall 20V518?
Recall 20V518 covers 28,200 vehicles: 2021 Kia Stinger.
NHTSA lists 28,200 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Kia | Stinger |
What is the fix for the Stinger antilock brake control module recall?
Yes. Kia will notify owners, and dealers will install a new fuse kit in the electrical junction box, free of charge.
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will install a new fuse kit in the electrical junction box, free of charge. Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures as a precaution until the recall repair is complete. The recall began November 30, 2020. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC196.
When was recall 20V518 announced?
Kia America, Inc. reported recall 20V518 to NHTSA on August 27, 2020.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| August 27, 2020 | Kia America, Inc. filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 20V518000. |
This recall was filed 74 months ago. If your Stinger was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Stinger is part of recall 20V518?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 20V518 is open on your Stinger, it will be listed there.
The fastest check is NHTSA’s VIN lookup. Type in the 17 characters from your registration or insurance card. Because only some 2021 Stinger vehicles are included, the VIN check is the only reliable way to know. A brand-new recall may take several days to show up.
What should Stinger owners do about recall 20V518?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 20V518000 applies to your Stinger.
- Park outside and away from buildings until the repair is done.
- Call a Kia dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
- Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
- Keep a simple log of any control unit and module symptoms with dates and mileage. Video of a warning light or the problem happening is strong evidence.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the recall repair does not fix it, or the vehicle keeps going back for the same issue, talk to a lemon law attorney.
What are Stinger owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 17 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 6 of them about the brakes.
Since recall 20V518 was reported on August 27, 2020, owners have filed 6 complaints with NHTSA about the brakes on these vehicles. 1 of them (17%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt.
How we counted: we matched NHTSA owner complaints for the model years in this recall that list the brakes and were received on or after August 27, 2020, then flagged narratives that describe a repeat failure or a problem returning after a dealer repair, recall service or software update. Data from NHTSA, accessed October 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related brakes issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 17 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 6 of them involve the brakes. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2021 Kia Stinger: 17 complaints in total, 6 about the brakes
Examples of what owners have reported to NHTSA (unverified excerpts):
At certain times when I am braking the brake "skips" it's like i am unable to brake so I end up braking late. It's become a safety hazard since there are times when I have almost hit another car.
2021 Kia Stinger owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11678569, filed August 5, 2025
Tl* the contact owns a 2021 kia stinger. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 20v518000 (service brakes, hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair.
2021 Kia Stinger owner, GA, NHTSA complaint 11407571, filed April 12, 2021
The contact owns a 2021 Kia Stinger. The contact stated that the dealer had previously replaced the rotors twice; however, the failure recurred with a metal-to-metal noise while the brake pedal was depressed. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brakes failed to stop the vehicle immediately.
2021 Kia Stinger owner, GA, NHTSA complaint 11478620, filed August 10, 2022
Can recall 20V518 make my Stinger a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
A recall by itself does not make a car a lemon. Under California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, what matters is whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs the vehicle's use, value or safety, and whether the manufacturer or its dealers fixed it within a reasonable number of attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
If the 2021 Kia Stinger brakes have needed more than one trip to the dealer, keep every repair order. Brake defects are treated as serious safety problems under California law.
The recall repair is available at dealers. If it works, great. If the same symptom comes back, the recall visit is one repair attempt and the next visit is another.
California law presumes a reasonable number of attempts has been made if, within 18 months or 18,000 miles of delivery, the same problem was repaired two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for any covered defect, or the vehicle was out of service for repairs more than 30 days in total (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Some of these require written notice to the manufacturer. A claim can still succeed outside that window.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your Stinger been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Kia Stinger recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 20V518
Did the recall 20V518 fix work?
Since recall 20V518 was reported on August 27, 2020, owners have filed 6 complaints with NHTSA about the brakes on these vehicles. 1 of them (17%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt. If your vehicle still has the problem after the recall repair, go back to the dealer, get a repair order, and talk to a lemon law attorney.
Is the 20V518000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Stinger is part of recall 20V518000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
What should I keep for a possible lemon law claim?
Keep every repair order, the recall owner letter, your purchase or lease contract, and notes on dates, mileage and symptoms. Make sure each dealer visit is written up, even when the dealer says it cannot find a problem.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 20V518000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Kia. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.