• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

Highway Loss Data Institute Bulletin Vol. 35, No. 40 : December 2018 Noncrash fire claim frequencies for Kia and Hyundai midsize four- door cars and SUVs—an update Summary In September 2018, the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) conducted a study comparing noncrash fire insurance losses for five specific Kia/Hyundai vehicles with other vehicles of the same size and class (HLDI, 2018a). The study results indicated increased noncrash fire risk for several model years of the Kia Optima, Kia Sorento, Hyundai Sonata, Hyundai Santa Fe, and Santa Fe Sport. Based on discussions with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation, the engine type was considered as a possible contributing factor for the elevated noncrash fire risk. This study expands on the original study by analyzing noncrash fire claim frequency by engine variant. The model years and vehicles analyzed in this report include the 2011–15 Kia Optima (midsize four-door car), 2011–15 Kia Sorento (midsize SUV), 2011–14 Hyundai Sonata (midsize four-door car), 2011–12 Hyundai Santa Fe (midsize SUV), and 2013–14 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport (midsize SUV). As shown in the following figure, the 2.0-liter turbocharged engine had the highest average noncrash fire claim frequency (4.2 claims per 10,000 insured vehicle years) followed by the 2.4-liter engine (2.7). Comparatively, the average noncrash fire claim frequency for the control vehicles was only 1.7 per 10,000 insured vehicle years. Observed noncrash fire claim frequencies for Kia and Hyundai vehicles versus control vehicles by engine type 4.5 4.0 3.5 3.0 2.5 2.0 1.5 1.0 0.5 0.0 2.0-liter 2.4-liter 3.3-liter 3.5-liter control turbocharged engine engine engine engine group Introduction In September 2018, HLDI conducted a study investigating noncrash fire insurance losses for several Kia and Hyundai vehicles. That study was based on a petition by the Center for Auto Safety, which indicated there was a high volume of complaints for the 2011–14 Kia Optima, Kia Sorento, Hyundai Sonata, and Hyundai Santa Fe. HLDI’s own analysis found significantly higher noncrash fire claim frequency for several model years of these vehicles. HLDI shared these results with NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation. Based on these discussions, it was believed that problems with the engine may be a contributing factor to the elevated noncrash fire risk. This study expands on the prior study by examining noncrash fire claim frequencies by engine type for the affected vehicles. Method Insurance data Automobile insurance covers damage to vehicles and property in crashes plus injuries to people involved in crashes. Different insurance coverages pay for vehicle damages versus injuries, and different coverages may apply depending on who is at fault. This study is based on comprehensive coverage. Comprehensive coverage insures against theft or physical damage to insured people’s own vehicles that occurs for reasons other than crashes. Losses due to noncrash fires are covered under comprehensive coverage. Insurance measures Noncrash fire claim frequency is the number of noncrash fire claims divided by comprehensive exposure, expressed as claims per 10,000 insured vehicle years. Typically, under comprehensive insurance coverage, claim frequency is expressed as claims per 1,000 insured vehicle years. This distinction is made because noncrash fire claims are filed infrequently. Exposure is the length of time a vehicle is insured under a given coverage type and is measured in in- sured vehicle years. An insured vehicle year is one vehicle insured for 1 year, two vehicles insured for 6 months, etc. Subject vehicles Table 1 shows comprehensive exposure, noncrash fire claims, and noncrash fire claim frequency for the five target vehicles by engine type. The examined vehicles include the 2011–15 Kia Optima, 2011–14 Hyundai Sonata, 2011–15 Kia Sorento, 2011–12 Hyundai Santa Fe, and 2013–14 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The hybrid versions for both the Kia Optima and Hyundai Sonata were excluded from the statistical analysis due to limited data. Note that the 2011 Kia Sorento has an existing noncrash fire recall (#10V388000). According to the recall, approxi- mately 35,000 Kia Sorento vehicles were potentially affected. Table 1: Kia and Hyundai comprehensive exposure, noncrash fire claims count, and noncrash fire claim frequency by engine type Engine type Exposure Claims Claim frequency 2011–15 Kia Optima 2.0-liter turbocharged engine 411,730 204 5.0 2.4-liter engine 1,892,499 537 2.8 Total 2,304,229 741 3.2 2011–14 Hyundai Sonata 2.0-liter turbocharged engine 436,398 182 4.2 2.4-liter engine 3,617,587 982 2.7 Total 4,053,985 1,164 2.9 2011–15 Kia Sorento 2.4-liter engine 1,686,811 435 2.6 3.3-liter engine 244,852 39 1.6 3.5-liter engine 717,173 140 2.0 Total 2,648,836 614 2.3 2011–12 Hyundai Santa Fe 2.4-liter engine 347,296 73 2.1 3.5-liter engine 324,533 40 1.2 Total 671,829 113 1.7 2013–14 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport 2.0-liter turbocharged engine 241,025 69 2.9 2.4-liter engine 394,948 86 2.2 Total 635,973 155 2.4 HLDI Bulletin | Vol 35, No. 40 : December 2018 2 Two control groups were constructed to accurately measure insurance losses relative to the Kia/Hyundai midsize four- door cars and SUVs (Table 2 and Table 3). The control groups consisted of all midsize four-door cars and SUVs manu- factured in model years 2011–15, except for vehicles with a documented noncrash fire-related recall. Other gaps in model year availability were due to production either being terminated on certain vehicles or not yet started. Table 2: Noncrash fire midsize four-door cars control vehicle population Make Series Model years Exposure Noncrash fire claims Claim frequency Acura TSX 4dr 2011–14 344,320 37 1.1 Buick Verano 4dr 2012–15 535,166 83 1.6 Chevrolet Malibu 4dr (NEW) 2011–12,2014–15 2,617,380 600 2.3 Chrysler 200 4dr 2WD 2011–12,2014 799,692 193 2.4 Dodge Avenger 4dr 2WD 2011–12,2014 636,535 219 3.4 Ford Fusion 4dr 2WD 2012, 2015 1,502,125 228 1.5 Ford Fusion 4dr 4WD 2012, 2015 54,271 7 1.3 Ford Fusion hybrid 4dr 2WD 2012, 2015 43,147 5 1.2 Honda Accord 4dr 2011–12 2,472,506 293 1.2 Mazda 6 4dr 2WD 2013, 2015 210,071 18 0.9 Mitsubishi Galant 4dr 2WD 2011–12 124,217 24 1.9 Nissan 810/Maxima sedan 2011–14 986,975 243 2.5 Nissan Altima 4dr 2011–15 5,116,372 997 1.9 Nissan Altima hybrid 4dr 2011 15,884 2 1.3 Toyota Camry 4dr 2WD 2011–13, 2015 6,018,456 768 1.3 Toyota Camry hybrid 4dr 2011–13, 2015 471,175 46 1.0 Volkswagen CC 4dr 2WD 2011 70,783 18 2.5 Volkswagen CC 4dr 4WD 2011 1,774 — 0.0 Volkswagen Jetta hybrid 4dr 2013 23,616 3 1.3 Volkswagen New Jetta 4dr 2013 537,632 76 1.4 Volvo S40 4dr 2WD (NEW) 2011 23,112 5 2.2 Total 22,605,211 3,865 1.7 Table 3: Noncrash fire midsize SUV control vehicle population Make Series Model years Exposure Noncrash fire claims Claim frequency Chevrolet Truck Captiva sport 4dr 2WD 2013–15 239,701 59 2.5 Chevrolet Truck Equinox 4dr 2WD 2011–15 2,808,220 350 1.2 Chevrolet Truck Equinox 4dr 4WD 2011–15 1,309,862 171 1.3 Dodge Truck Nitro 4dr 2WD 2011 80,987 25 3.1 Dodge Truck Nitro 4dr 4WD 2011 84,615 21 2.5 Ford Truck Edge 4dr 2WD 2014–15 277,271 24 0.9 Ford Truck Edge 4dr 4WD 2014–15 274,193 21 0.8 Ford Truck Explorer 4dr 4X2 2011–12, 2014–15 818,475 110 1.3 Ford Truck Explorer 4dr 4X4 2011–12, 2014–15 996,453 141 1.4 Ford Truck Flex 4dr 2WD 2011–12, 2014–15 264,790 34 1.3 Ford Truck Flex 4dr 4WD 2011–12, 2014–15 115,921 16 1.4 GMC Truck Terrain 4dr 2WD 2011–15 1,205,882 160 1.3 GMC Truck Terrain 4dr 4WD 2011–15 634,803 82 1.3 Honda Accord Crosstour 4dr 2WD 2011–12 89,233 14 1.6 HLDI Bulletin | Vol 35, No. 40 : December 2018 3 Table 3: Noncrash fire midsize SUV control vehicle population Make Series Model years Exposure Noncrash fire claims Claim frequency Honda Accord Crosstour 4dr 4WD 2011–12 104,685 13 1.2 Honda Pilot 4dr 2WD 2011, 2013–15 689,972 98 1.4 Honda Pilot 4dr 4WD 2011, 2013–15 1,420,406 151 1.1 Hyundai Veracruz 4dr 2WD 2011–12 61,820 6 1.0 Hyundai Veracruz 4dr 4WD 2011–12 38,073 10 2.6 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT 4dr 4WD 2012–15 45,410 10 2.2 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4dr 2WD 2015 124,719 12 1.0 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4dr 4WD 2015 518,946 60 1.2 Jeep Liberty 4dr 2WD 2011–12 152,623 27 1.8 Jeep Liberty 4dr 4WD 2011–12 588,575 131 2.2 Jeep Wrangler 4dr 4X4 2014–15 847,080 206 2.4 Mazda CX-7 4dr 2WD 2011–12 213,618 20 0.9 Mazda CX-7 4dr 4WD 2011–12 19,775 9 4.6 Mazda CX-9 4dr 2WD 2011–15 230,437 17 0.7 Mazda CX-9 4dr 4WD 2011–15 279,761 34 1.2 Mitsubishi Endeavor 4dr 2WD 2011 10,616 1 0.9 Mitsubishi Endeavor 4dr 4WD 2011 40,833 5 1.2 Nissan Murano 4dr 2WD 2011–12 210,412 20 1.0 Nissan Murano 4dr 4WD 2011–12 352,905 44 1.2 Nissan Murano Crosscabrio 4WD 2011–12 17,186 2 1.2 Nissan Pathfinder 4dr 4X2 2011–15 495,646 57 1.2 Nissan Pathfinder 4dr 4X4 2011–15 650,689 94 1.4 Nissan Pathfinder hybrid 4dr 2WD 2014 3,105 - 0.0 Nissan Pathfinder hybrid 4dr 4WD 2014 5,118 2 3.9 Nissan Xterra 4dr 4X2 2011–15 77,907 5 0.6 Nissan Xterra 4dr 4X4 2011–15 268,761 22 0.8 Subaru B9 Tribeca 4dr 4WD 2013–14 9,080 - 0.0 Toyota 4Runner 4dr 4X2 2011–15 335,003 32 1.0 Toyota 4Runner 4dr 4X4 2011–15 792,926 69 0.9 Toyota FJ Cruiser 4dr 4X2 2011–14 11,576 2 1.7 Toyota FJ Cruiser 4dr 4X4 2011–14 217,419 30 1.4 Toyota Highlander 4dr 2WD 2012–13, 2015 662,648 52 0.8 Toyota Highlander 4dr 4WD 2012–13, 2015 1,069,878 83 0.8 Toyota Highlander hybrid 4dr 4WD 2012–13, 2015 64,732 6 0.9 Toyota Venza 4dr 2WD 2011–15 333,389 30 0.9 Toyota Venza 4dr 4WD 2011–15 315,633 23 0.7 Total 20,481,767 2,611 1.3 HLDI Bulletin | Vol 35, No.

Load more

  13

Copy Link