Kia Recalls Over 80,000 Vehicles in the U.S. Over Airbag and Wiring Issues
Kia America has issued a recall for more than 80,000 vehicles due to a defect involving floor wiring beneath the front passenger seat. The issue could interfere with the proper deployment of airbags and seat belts or trigger unintended side curtain airbag deployment, according to filings with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
The recall affects 80,255 vehicles from the 2023 to 2025 model years, including the Niro EV, Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV), and Hybrid models.
To address the problem, Kia dealers will inspect the affected floor wiring assembly, replacing and rerouting it if necessary, at no cost to owners. Protective wiring covers will also be installed as part of the fix. Kia plans to notify vehicle owners by mail in March 2025.
This recall follows a previous one in November 2024, when Kia and Hyundai recalled over 208,000 electric vehicles to fix a transistor issue in the charging control unit. That defect posed a risk of power loss, potentially leading to crashes.
Owners are advised to contact Kia dealerships for further assistance or visit the NHTSA website for additional recall information.
