The defect
KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC. (KIA) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2008 KIA OPTIMA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 29, 2005, THROUGH JANUARY 29, 2008, AND MODEL YEAR 2007 AND 2008 KIA RONDO VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 13, 2006, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2008. THE CLOCK SPRING CONTACT ASSEMBLY FOR THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS) MAY BECOME DAMAGED THROUGH USAGE OVER TIME. IF THE CLOCK SPRING CONTACT ASSEMBLY BECOMES DAMAGED, THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT WILL EXPERIENCE A HIGH RESISTANCE CONDITION POTENTIALLY CAUSING THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG TO NOT DEPLOY.
The risk
IF THE CLOCK SPRING DEVELOPS HIGH RESISTANCE, IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE DRIVERS AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY AND WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PROPERLY PROTECT THE DRIVER, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURIES.
The remedy
KIA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE VEHICLE'S AIR BAG CLOCK SPRING CONTACT ASSEMBLY, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 11, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-333-4542.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Kia Optima | 2006, 2007, 2008 |
| Kia Rondo | 2007, 2008 |
Components: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
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 | 2006 | 155 | 2 |
| Kia Optima | 2007 | 167 | 2 |
| Kia Optima | 2008 | 144 | 3 |
| Kia Rondo | 2007 | 117 | 3 |
| Kia Rondo | 2008 | 97 | 3 |
Other air bags recalls in 2012
22 of the 583 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2012 concerned the air bags; KIA MOTORS CORPORATION filed 11 campaigns in all.
| 12V540000 15 Nov 2012 | VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC |
| 12V527000 8 Nov 2012 | CHRYSLER GROUP LLC |
| 12V528000 8 Nov 2012 | Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing |
| 12V522000 31 Oct 2012 | General Motors LLC |
| 12V492000 9 Oct 2012 | MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC. |
| 12V488000 5 Oct 2012 | Ford Motor Company |
| 12V439000 10 Sept 2012 | Volvo Cars of N.A., LLC |
| 12V432000 5 Sept 2012 | HONDA (AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.) |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2012