Kia Issues Urgent Recall for Over 80,000 Vehicles Amid Dangerous Airbag Deployment Risk

Kia America is recalling over 80,000 vehicles due to safety concerns related to floor wiring beneath the front passenger seat.

The affected models include the 2023-2025 Niro EV, Plug-in Hybrid, and Hybrid vehicles. Issues with the wiring can hinder proper deployment of airbags and seat belts, significantly compromising passenger safety.

Additionally, damaged wiring may lead to unintended activation of the side curtain airbags, as noted in documents submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Specifically, the recall impacts a total of 80,255 vehicles. To rectify the issue, dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace or reroute the wiring assembly at no cost to owners. Wiring covers will also be installed to prevent further damage. Notifications to vehicle owners will be mailed out in March.

This recall follows a previous incident in November, when Hyundai and Kia collectively recalled over 208,000 electric vehicles due to a faulty transistor in the charging control unit, which posed risks of battery failure and potential loss of drive power.