The defect
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Rio, 2016-2018 Optima, 2017-2018 Optima Hybrid and Optima Plug-in Hybrid vehicles. The trunk latch base may crack, preventing the opening of the trunk from the inside. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 401, "Internal Trunk Release."
The risk
A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.
The remedy
Dealers will replace the trunk latch base subassembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 19, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC278.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Kia Optima | 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| Kia Optima Hybrid | 2017, 2018 |
| Kia Optima Phev | 2017, 2018 |
| Kia Rio | 2016, 2017 |
Components: LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LATCH
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 | 2016 | 759 | 5 |
| Kia Optima | 2017 | 257 | 3 |
| Kia Optima | 2018 | 233 | 2 |
| Kia Optima Hybrid | 2017 | 26 | 2 |
| Kia Optima Hybrid | 2018 | 3 | 2 |
| Kia Optima Phev | 2017 | 23 | 2 |
| Kia Optima Phev | 2018 | 8 | 2 |
| Kia Rio | 2016 | 78 | 2 |
| Kia Rio | 2017 | 31 | 2 |
Other latches/locks/linkages recalls in 2023
11 of the 894 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2023 concerned the latches/locks/linkages; Kia America, Inc. filed 73 campaigns in all.
| 23V775000 17 Nov 2023 | Ford Motor Company |
| 23V502000 21 Jul 2023 | Ford Motor Company |
| 23V373000 25 May 2023 | Autocar, LLC |
| 23V324000 4 May 2023 | Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC |
| 23V231000 31 Mar 2023 | Gulf Stream Coach, Inc. |
| 23V187000 20 Mar 2023 | Nissan North America, Inc. |
| 23V166000 14 Mar 2023 | REV Recreation Group |
| 23V161000 10 Mar 2023 | Kibbi, LLC |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2023