Why is KIA recalling 80,000 vehicles? Reason explained 

Kia America is recalling over 80,000 vehicles in the U.S. due to concerns over faulty airbag and seat belt deployment caused by damaged wiring on the floor.

According to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), this recall affects the Kia Niro EV, Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV), and Hybrid vehicles, with model years from 2023 through 2025.

The problem involves the floor wiring assembly under the front passenger seat. The wiring in question can become damaged over time, resulting in the possible failure of the front airbags as well as the seat belts in a crash, the NHTSA said.

Additionally, the damage may cause an unintended deployment of the side curtain airbags, which may increase the risk of injury or crash. Highlighting the seriousness of the issue, the NHTSA said in a statement:

"Airbags and seat belts that deploy improperly or unintentionally can significantly heighten the risk of injury during a crash."

The company has stated that it will contact owners of the affected vehicles via letter, which should be sent by March 2025. Those vehicle owners will then be advised to take their cars to the closest Kia dealership for a free inspection and repair.

Dealers will check in on the floor wiring assembly for signs of damage, replacing or rerouting as necessary, and will install covers that protect the wiring to prevent the issue from recurring. The company also told customers that all needed repairs would be made at no cost.

According to AP News, Kia is no stranger to issues of safety. In November 2024, Kia, as did its affiliate Hyundai, called back more than 208,000 electric vehicles to fix a different problem, a transistor in the charging control.

Owners of affected models can confirm if they're included in the recall at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website, or by contacting their local dealer.

Kia's Journey to Success in the American Market

Founded in May 1944, Kia Corporation is Korea’s oldest automobile manufacturer. The company started out making bicycles and motorcycles but has since become a global automotive powerhouse.

According to Kia, today, the company builds over 1.4 million cars in a year across 14 manufacturing and assembly units which are located in eight different countries. They started making cars in 1974 when they began production of the Brisa, which has over 70 years of automotive history.

In 1992, Kia Motors America was established and in 1993, the first Kia vehicles were sold from four dealerships in Portland, Oregon. Since then, the Korean-based car company has systematically expanded across the U.S.

In October 2006 the company opened its first manufacturing unit in the U.S. in Georgia, with a $1 billion investment. They later introduced the Seltos, a new and improved SUV, in 2019. The car has since quickly grown to become one of America's favorite vehicles.