Theta II Engine Recall Affected Vehicles: Hyundai & Kia Full List

What Causes the Failure

During machining of the engine block, residual metal debris was not adequately cleaned from oil passages. The debris circulates with engine oil and damages the connecting rod bearings, leading to rod knock, oil starvation, and eventual engine seizure. Knock sensor detection system (KSDS) software was rolled out as a partial mitigation; it does not prevent the underlying defect but warns the driver before catastrophic failure.

Theta II Affected Vehicles (2.0L & 2.4L)

Data sourced from NHTSA recall database (nhtsa.gov/recalls). Always verify with your VIN before purchase or repair.

How to Check Your VIN for Open Recalls

Recalls are tied to specific VINs, not just model years. Run yours through these free tools before you buy, sell, or schedule a repair:

1. NHTSA VIN Lookup - nhtsa.gov/recalls. Enter your 17-character VIN; shows every open federal safety recall.
2. Manufacturer site - Honda, Toyota, Ford, GM, Hyundai, Kia, Stellantis, and Nissan all run their own recall portals. These sometimes list service campaigns and TSBs that NHTSA does not.
3. Dealer service department - Open recall work is free for the life of the vehicle. No appointment fee, no parts fee.

Use our free VIN decoder to pull build info, or run a free AI diagnosis if you already have symptoms.

Class Actions & Legal References

Theta II coverage is anchored by:

• In re Hyundai and Kia Engine Litigation (C.D. Cal., 2021 final approval) - class settlement valued at over $760M. Provides lifetime powertrain warranty on covered VINs, reimbursement for prior repairs, and goodwill payments.
• NHTSA Consent Order (2020) - $210M civil penalty against Hyundai/Kia for delayed recall reporting.

Frequently Asked Questions