According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Kia is recalling more than 80,000 of its Niro vehicles over a problem that could prevent their seat belts and airbags from working properly.
The automaker said in a report filed with NHTSA that frequent adjustments to the front passenger’s seat could pose a serious safety hazard by damaging the wires under the seat that protect critical features such as airbags and seat belts. controls the This can prevent airbags from deploying properly during a crash, deploying unexpectedly or not switching off for smaller passengers, increasing the chance of injury, the report said.
The recall affects 80,255 Niro, Niro EV and Niro plug-in hybrid vehicles manufactured between August 10, 2022 and December 13, 2024, and equipped with a manual front passenger seat. As of Jan. 10, no accidents, injuries, fatalities or fires have been reported, according to NHTSA.
Kia owners will be notified by March whether to bring their vehicle in for inspection at the nearest dealership. Dealership personnel will check the wiring under the front passenger seat, repair or adjust as necessary and add a protective cover to prevent damage.
