The defect
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLES MAY EMIT A "CLICK" SOUND DURING THE BUCKLING PROCESS THAT IS SIMILAR TO THE SOUND EMITTED WHEN A BUCKLE IS BEING LATCHED, WHEN IT IS NOT.
The risk
THE LATCH CAN THEN PULL OUT OF THE BUCKLE WHEN TENSION IS APPLIED.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLES. THE RECALL BEGAN AUGUST 16, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Kia Sephia | 1999, 2000 |
| Kia Sportage | 1999, 2000 |
Components: SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
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 Sephia | 1999 | 428 | 5 |
| Kia Sephia | 2000 | 266 | 1 |
| Kia Sportage | 1999 | 284 | 3 |
| Kia Sportage | 2000 | 304 | 2 |
Other seat belts recalls in 2004
36 of the 601 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2004 concerned the seat belts; KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC. filed 38 campaigns in all.
| 04V608000 18 Dec 2004 | WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES, INC. |
| 04V592000 15 Dec 2004 | VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC |
| 04V595000 15 Dec 2004 | TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 04V593000 15 Dec 2004 | PORSCHE CARS NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 04V582000 10 Dec 2004 | MAZDA NORTH AMERICAN OPERATIONS |
| 04V550000 18 Nov 2004 | HONDA (AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.) |
| 04V532000 2 Nov 2004 | DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION |
| 04V407000 17 Aug 2004 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2004