The defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE SIDE AIR BAG WIRE HARNESS FOR THE DRIVER POSITION COULD BE MIS-ROUTED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN IT BEING PINCHED OR CUT BY THE SEAT CUSHION TILT MECHANISM.
The risk
DAMAGE TO THE WIRE HARNESS COULD RESULT IN THE SIDE AIR BAG NOT DEPLOYING IN AN ACCIDENT.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL CHECK FOR PROPER ROUTING OF THE SIDE AIR BAG WIRE HARNESS AND SECURE IT IN PLACE WITH A PLASTIC TIE-WRAP. IF THE WIRE HARNESS IS DAMAGED, IT WILL BE REPLACED. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MAY 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Kia Optima | 2001 |
Components: AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kia Optima | 2001 | 143 | 3 |
Other air bags recalls in 2001
14 of the 461 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2001 concerned the air bags; KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC. filed 38 campaigns in all.
| 01V372000 11 Dec 2001 | TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 01V373000 5 Dec 2001 | DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION |
| 01V347000 6 Nov 2001 | HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY |
| 01V318000 3 Oct 2001 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 01V306000 25 Sept 2001 | TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 01V237000 20 Jul 2001 | EUROPA INTERNATIONAL, INC. |
| 01V222000 2 Jul 2001 | SAAB CARS USA, INC. |
| 01V168000 18 May 2001 | SAAB CARS USA, INC. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2001