Kia is recalling 80,000 electric and hybrid vehicles for incorrect airbag deployment
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Kia is recalling more than 80,000 Niro vehicles due to a problem that might prevent seat belts and airbags from working correctly.
Frequent modifications to the front passenger seat may pose a major safety risk by destroying wiring beneath the seat that controls important systems such as the airbag and seat belts, according to an automotive study filed with the NHTSA. This might hinder airbags from correctly deploying after an accident, deploying suddenly, or failing to turn off for little passengers, increasing the risk of harm, according to the paper.
The recall applies to 80,255 2023-2025 Niro EV, Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV), and Hybrid cars.
According to the NHTSA, the floor wire assembly beneath the front passenger seat can get damaged, preventing front airbags and seat belts from properly deploying.
"Air bags and seat belts that deploy improperly or an airbag deploying unintentionally can increase the risk of injury in a crash," it said.
Vehicle owners will be notified in March whether they need to take their cars to their nearest dealership. The NHTSA stated that dealers will check, repair, and reroute the floor wire assembly as needed, free of charge.
The recall follows one in November, when Hyundai and Kia recalled over 208,000 electric cars to repair a broken transistor in a charging control unit, which might cause the 12-volt battery to cease charging. This, in turn, might result in a loss of driving power, increasing the likelihood of an accident.
