Kia recalls over 80,000 vehicles due to airbag and seat belt concerns

 Kia will notify owners by March if their vehicle requires an inspection at the nearest dealership.

An all-electric KIA Niro EV on display in London in 2023. 

Jan. 26, 2025, 1:16 AM GMT+6

Kia is recalling over 80,000 Niro vehicles due to a potential issue that could affect the functionality of seat belts and airbags, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The automaker reported that frequent adjustments to the front passenger seat may damage wiring located beneath it, compromising critical safety features like airbags and seat belts. This could result in airbags failing to deploy during a crash, deploying unexpectedly, or not deactivating for smaller passengers, increasing the risk of injury.

The recall impacts 80,255 Niro, Niro EV, and Niro Plug-in Hybrid models produced between August 10, 2022, and December 13, 2024, with manual front passenger seats. As of January 10, no crashes, injuries, fatalities, or fires related to the issue have been reported.

Kia plans to notify affected owners by March. Customers will be instructed to bring their vehicles to a dealership, where technicians will inspect the wiring under the passenger seat, perform necessary repairs or adjustments, and install protective covers to prevent future damage.