Kia is recalling 188,912 K5s from the 2021 to 2023 model years as their side curtain airbags may not have been installed correctly. This could result in them failing to deploy properly, which increases the risk of injury or death.
The recall impacts vehicles built in Georgia between March 27, 2020 and November 16, 2022. It also involves certain models built between November 17, 2022 and December 9 of that year as their side curtain airbags may have been installed before the inspection and verification process was updated on November 17.
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Owners will be notified by mail and they’ll be instructed to take their K5 to a dealership, where technicians will “inspect the condition of the side curtain airbags and if necessary, reinstall the side curtain airbag(s) correctly.”
The recall comes less than two months after an engineer at the Kia North America Safety Office discovered a crash where a driver’s side curtain airbag may have deployed improperly. This kicked off an investigation and Kia Georgia engineers inspected the vehicle and confirmed the improper installation of the driver’s side curtain airbag, while the passenger side airbag was installed correctly.
Since that determination, Kia has looked over the records and is not aware of any other improper deployments. No injuries or fatalities have been reported and the recall is being billed as a “precautionary measure.”
