The company filed a recall report earlier this week which said that the cars’ Airbag Control Unit could come in contact with a memory chip on the vehicles’ circuit board which could in turn affect the electrical units that control the airbag’s deployment.
“Circuit damage may result in deactivated airbags that will not deploy in a crash,” the report stated.
The issue was first reported in Korea last July.
Which Models Are Being Recalled?
The Kia recall will affect drivers who own any of the following models:
2017 Kia Forte Koup2017-2018 Kia Forte2017-2019 Kia Sedona2017-2019 Kia Soul2017-2019 electric Kia Soul
Owners affected will see a warning light appear on their dashboard notifying them of the possibility of faulty airbags.
How Does the Recall Process Work?
Those affected can visit their local Kia dealership to resolve any issues.
After an inspection flags defects, Kia will either update or replace the airbag system free of charge.
Kia will also refund costs of previous related repairs owners may have had to pay for.
The car manufacturer has received 13 customer complaints regarding the airbag issue, and a further 947 warranty claims have been lodged.
No crashes, injuries, deaths, or fires related to the airbag issue have been reported.
Owners of the affected cars are expected to receive written notification from Kia warning of the issue, and can also contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542.
