Kia to recall 150,000 vehicles because of air-bag defect
Kia Motors America will recall almost 150,000 older Optima sedans and Rondo crossover vehicles because of a defect that could prevent the driver’s side air bag from deploying in a collision, the company said.
The South Korean automaker said the recall covers 2006 to 2008 Optimas and Rondos from the 2007 and 2008 model years. The company no longer sells the Rondo.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said the clock-spring assembly used in the air-bag system can become damaged over time and prevent the air bag from deploying. The problem triggers the air-bag warning light to go on in an affected vehicle, according to Kia. Drivers of cars that don’t have the warning light illuminated have a functioning air bag, the automaker said.
Kia said it learned of the problem in November and is not aware of any accidents or injuries caused by the defect.
Kia is one of the fastest-growing auto brands in America. Its U.S. sales rose almost 36% last year, to 485,492 vehicles, surpassing those of older nameplates such as Buick, Jeep and Volkswagen.
