Kia Issues Recall in Vehicles Sold in US, Over 80,000 Affected By Potential Air Bag Issue

Kia America is recalling over 80,000 vehicles due to potential damage to the floor wiring located beneath the front passenger seat, which could interfere with the proper deployment of airbags and seat belts.

According to documents submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, damaged wiring could also lead to the unintended deployment of the side curtain airbag.

The recall applies to 80,255 Niro EV, Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV), and Hybrid models from the 2023-2025 model years.

To address the issue, Kia dealers will inspect, replace, and reroute the floor wiring assembly as needed at no cost to vehicle owners. Additionally, they will install protective wiring covers. Kia plans to notify owners through letters mailed in March.

This recall follows a previous one in November when Hyundai and Kia recalled more than 208,000 electric vehicles to address a faulty transistor in a charging control unit.

The defect could prevent the 12-volt battery from charging, potentially resulting in a loss of drive power and an increased risk of a crash.