Kia is recalling 80,255 electric, plug-in hybrid and hybrid vehicles in the United States because of improper airbag and seat belt deployment.
The affected vehicles are the 2023-2025 Niro EV, Plug-in Hybrid, and Hybrid vehicles.
Wiring damage may prevent the front air bags and seat belts from deploying properly or cause an unintended side curtain air bag deployment, the company said.
Air bags and seat belts that deploy improperly or an air bag deploying unintentionally can increase the risk of injury in a crash, NHTSA said.
Kia discovered the potential problem in November 2024 and there have been no injuries related to the issue in vehicles with power seats or a manual front passenger seat.
To remedy the situation, dealers will inspect, replace and reroute the floor wiring assembly, as necessary, for free. In addition, dealers will install wiring covers. Owners will be notified by letters mailed in March.
The recall follows one in December, when Kia recalled nearly 23,000 of its EV9 electric SUVs sold in the United States due to missing bolts in the second and third-row seats, and one in November, when Hyundai and Kia recalled over 208,000 electric vehicles to fix a transistor in a charging control unit that could be damaged and stop charging the 12-volt battery.
