Kia Recalls 80,000 Electric and Hybrid Vehicles Over Airbag Safety Concern

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Kia Recalls 80,000 Electric and Hybrid Vehicles Over Airbag Safety Concern

Kia Motors has initiated the largest electric and hybrid cars recall in history across the U.S. by selling over 80,000 of these products with a main issue being regarding serious concerns involving the deployment of the air bag and seatbelt. This is according to the United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which on Saturday reported the recall: The trouble is such that it could lead to great danger to the safety of passengers in case of a collision.

Which Vehicles Are Affected?

Recall- Several models of mass-selling Niro in Kia, and those included are:

  • Kia Niro (2023-2025)
  • Kia Niro EV (2023-2025)
  • Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid (2023-2025)

This is a serious recall; hence users need to take this recall seriously considering the fact that it affects some key safety features functioning directly.

What Is the Problem?

The NHTSA claims that the issue is in the floor wiring assembly that is under the front passenger seat. After a while, this wiring assembly might get damaged, which would lead to serious malfunctions. It may damage the vehicle so much that the front airbags and seat belts would not deploy during a collision as they should.

This failure can lead to a hazardous scenario where safety-related mechanisms do not initiate in a critical condition. The second concern has been the accidental firing of airbags, which may be unnecessary at some situations. Both situations pose critical risk factors to injury of passengers.

The NHTSA, in its official statement highlighted that,

“Air bags and seat belts that deploy improperly, or an airbag deploying unintentionally, can increase the risk of injury in a crash.”

What Should Vehicle Owners Do?

Kia has promised to start informing the affected vehicle owners by March. Once notified, owners will be directed to take their vehicles to the nearest authorized Kia dealership.

For floor wiring assembly of the dealerships, an assessment will be performed and necessary remedies that will be considered to correct such a problem in the wiring. This may result in repairing the wiring assembly or replacing it wholly or rerouting it to be able to enjoy the proper usage of air bags and seatbelts. Above all, everything under this recall will be totally free of cost.

Kia’s Recall Reputation

This is not the first time Kia has faced safety-related recalls. In 2023, the automaker recalled nearly 63,000 units of its EV6 model produced between 2022 and 2024. The EV6 recall addressed a separate issue that could cause a sudden loss of drive power, thereby increasing the risk of accidents.

Whereas Kia has indeed been very proactive about addressing these issues, the string of recalls underscores the need for more effective quality control processes, especially for its electric and hybrid lineup.

Key Takeaways for Kia Vehicle Owners

If you own one of the models affected by Kia Niro, it is quite important to stay alert for communications from Kia or NHTSA in regard to a recall. Your contact information needs to be current with Kia, so you won’t miss some important notifications.

In the meantime, owners should avoid tampering with the vehicle’s wiring or attempting DIY repairs. Instead, rely on trained professionals at authorized dealerships to carry out the necessary inspections and fixes.

Conclusion

Vehicle recalls, while inconvenient, are a vital measure to ensure the safety of drivers and passengers. Kia’s latest recall of over 80,000 vehicles underlines the importance of addressing potential safety risks promptly. By taking proactive steps, Kia aims to protect its customers and reinforce confidence in its electric and hybrid vehicle offerings.

If you are a Kia owner, act right away when notified and take the free inspection and repairs. Safety comes first and taking care of this problem immediately will help ensure the safety of you and your family on the road.

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