The defect
KIA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2008 RIO VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 20, 2005, THROUGH DECEMBER 9, 2007. THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANT SENSOR MAT CAN EXPERIENCE FATIGUE CRACKING. IF SUFFICIENT CRACKING OCCURS, THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) WILL CEASE TO FUNCTION SUCH THAT THE SYSTEM WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DETECT WHETHER A CHILD PASSENGER IS IN THE SEAT AND THE AIRBAG WILL DEPLOY DURING A CRASH NECESSITATING DEPLOYMENT.
The risk
AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT WITH A CHILD IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT INCREASES THE RISK OF INJURY TO THAT CHILD.
The remedy
KIA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE OCS SEAT SENSOR MAT, FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 26, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA CONSUMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-333-4542.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Kia Rio | 2006, 2007, 2008 |
Components: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE
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 Rio | 2006 | 74 | 1 |
| Kia Rio | 2007 | 46 | 1 |
| Kia Rio | 2008 | 46 | 1 |
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