The Kia Niro has made its name as a comfortable and capable crossover in recent years. However, the model is now under the spotlight due to an expansive recall in the US and beyond.
As per the NHTSA report, the recall covers 80,255 examples of the Kia Niro Hybrid, Plug-in Hybrid, and EV. Specifically, the recall is targeting models fitted with manually adjustable front seats.
The problem is not with the seats themselves, but the way they interact with the wiring of the vehicle. Kia has discovered that repeatedly sliding the front passenger seat can snag and damage important wiring below. This can impact the operation of the airbags and the seatbelt pretensioners.
In affected vehicles, airbags and seatbelt pretensioners may not deploy in the event of a crash. Alternatively, the passenger-side airbag may go off randomly, even without a crash. There may also be malfunctions where the airbag function is not disabled when a small child is using the front passenger seat.
All of these malfunctions have a likelihood of increasing the risk of injury. Indeed, a spontaneous airbag deployment could cause injury all by itself. Owners may get an early alert of the problem via the illumination of the airbag warning light.
The recall is being handled through Kia dealerships, which will inspect vehicles for damage to the critical wiring harness under the front passenger seat. Those with damage will have the wiring replaced. In addition, the wiring will be rerouted and fitted with a protective cover to ensure seat movement will not cause damage in the future.
Vehicles affected were produced for the 2023 to 2025 model years. Of the total recall population, Kia estimates roughly 1% may actually be subject to the defect. Nonetheless, the full population will receive recall works to eliminate the issue going forward. Works will be carried out at Kia’s expense, and owners will be notified via first-class mail.
It’s a quirky problem, and one that feels like something from the past. Modern automobiles normally have their wiring well secreted away, and design reviews normally catch such problems well before production. Regardless, this one slipped through the cracks at Kia.
If you’ve got a Niro that’s subject to the recall, be sure to get the work done so your passenger airbag doesn’t suddenly go off like a party popper. That won’t be fun for anyone, and your passenger will probably end up ruining your manually-adjusted seat in the process. Not worth the mess.
Image credits: Kia
Hey it could always be worse. That surprise airbag deployment could be like the locker room surprise airbag deployment from the movie Men at Work. Talk about a “code brown” moment!
So I hear Kia is going to co-opt Pontiac’s old slogan: “We are driving excitement!”
Great! Not only did they break your glasses, now you don’t have airbags for when you collide with the oncoming traffic! Yay!
Surprise! Surprise! – Gomer Pyle
I guess Kia saw Jaguar taking an hiatus and decided to fill the ‘classic electrical problems’ marketshare.
Yep got to get our’s in for the campaign. We have one of the higher end specs with the harmon audio but the passenger seat is not power so that is not a given that you aren’t going to have a problem.
I don’t know about KIA but normally the seat wiring is part of the main body harness that runs across the vehicle. I wonder if they are going to replace the whole harness or they are going to splice wires in a critical safety item.
Forget Coffee, this Kia will wake you up in the morning.
(Three guys in matching red robes and red broad brimmed hats come into the room)
“NOOObody expects the Spanish Inquisition! Get… the SURPRISE AIRBAG!!”
*holds up steering wheel airbags with orange traffic cones loosely taped to the front and aims at a crowd of innocent DMV patrons.*
All around the mulberry bush,
the Niro chafed its wires.
The Niro thought it was all in fun,
pop goes the airbag!
Time for a Niro replacement?
They could call it the Gallba, Outho, or Vitelius, but they’ll probably just settle on a more permanent model call the Vespassian.
Excellent comment
I hear that the Harman/Kardon audio system is great for playing lyre music if the car burns.
That interior pic is really crying out for some “BANG” “POW” Adam West era Batman graphics.
Except today it would be YEET! and SKRRT! and GYATT!
I can just see Schwarzenegger YEETING Devito right out the window.
Now you have me curious as to what the best font would be for a big YEET! blasting out of a Kia air bag.
Comic Sans, obviously.
Or Impact, since those Gen Z kids love teh memez so much.