Defect
On certain vehicles, the wiring under the front passenger seat may not have been routed correctly. As a result, the wiring could become damaged when the seat is moved. If this happens, the airbags and seat belt pretensioners may not work and/or the airbag system may not turn off the passenger-front airbag when an infant or child seat is in the front passenger seat. This problem could also cause the passenger side seat airbag to inflate unexpectedly. Note: This recall only affects vehicles equipped with a manual front passenger seat. This recall also affects Niro hybrid and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) models.
Safety Risk
Airbags and/or seat belt pretensioners that don't work properly could increase the risk of injury in a crash. Additionally, an airbag that deploys without a crash could create a risk of injury.
Remedy
Kia will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your vehicle to a dealership to inspect and, if necessary, replace the wiring under the front passenger seat. The dealer will also reroute and install covers to protect the wiring.
