Kia recalls almost 200,000 of its K5 sedans sold between 2021 and 2023 in the United States due to improperly installed airbags that might not properly deploy in the event of a crash. The recall affects 188,912 midsize sedans built at Kia’s Georgia plant. According to a report filed with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), the side curtain airbags may have been installed incorrectly during vehicle assembly. As a result, in a collision, the airbags may not deploy correctly, increasing the risk of injury.
The defect was discovered by the Kia North America Safety Office while an engineer was investigating the steering assist after a crash involving a 2021 K5. During the inspection, the engineer discovered that the driver’s side curtain airbag had possibly not been deployed properly. According to Kia, there have been no fatalities or confirmed injuries as a result of this issue.
