Kia is recalling tens of thousands of Sportage, Sportage Hybrid, Sportage Plug-In Hybrid, Niro Hybrid, Niro Plug-In Hybrid, Soul, and Telluride models in the United States as select vehicles have faulty instrument cluster software.
The South Korean automaker states that the aforementioned models fitted with a digital instrument cluster with a 4.2-inch display have software that may result in cluster booting errors when operating in conjunction with electrical noise caused by voltage instability while the vehicle is starting.
Booting errors could cause the instrument cluster screen to become blank, meaning drivers would be unable to see certain indicators, including the tire pressure monitoring systems, required by select Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. Kia says the inability to show certain indicators could increase the risk of a crash.
The recall involves Kia Sportage models built between September 16, 2022, and February 28, 2023, Sportage Hybrid and Plug-In Hybrid models manufactured from September 19, 2022, to February 13, 2023, Niro Hybrid and Plug-In Hybrid models made between September 14, 2022, and March 8, 2023, Souls built from September 15, 2022 to February 13, 2023, and Kia Telluride models built between September 2, 2022 and February 22, 2023.
Read: Kia Telluride Owners Are Complaining That Their High Beams Are Dying, NHTSA Investigates
A total of 108,936 vehicles are being recalled. The Kia Sportage accounts for the largest percentage of impacted models, totaling 24,873 units plus the additional 10,866 examples of the Sportage Hybrid and Plug-In Hybrids that have been recalled. Some 12,132 Kia Niros are involved, a total of 30,113 Kia Soul models have been recalled, and a total of 25,101 Tellurides need repairs.
Kia will inform owners of impacted models of the recall from May 26 where they will be instructed to take their vehicle to a dealership where new software will be installed.
