Kia is recalling more than 21,000 electric SUVs because of an airbag sensor issue that could increase the risk of injury to children riding in the front passenger seat.
The recall covers 21,290 Kia EV9 SUVs from the 2025 and 2026 model years, according to documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
The issue involves the vehicles Occupant Detection System, or ODS, which may fail to deactivate the front passenger airbag when a child or child restraint is in the seat. An airbag that deploys in those circumstances could increase the risk of injury in a crash.
The defect means the affected vehicles do not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards, according to the documents.
Drivers may notice an airbag warning light on the instrument cluster. A seatbelt reminder chime may also sound to indicate that the front passenger is not wearing a seatbelt even when the seat is empty.
Kia did not say whether it is aware of any injuries related to the issue, according to the report.
The automaker advises drivers not to install a child restraint system in the front passenger seat and says children ages 13 and younger should ride in the rear seat.
Kia dealers will inspect affected vehicles and replace the ODS mat and bladder tube with new parts as necessary. Dealers will also make sure the components are properly routed. The repairs will be performed free of charge.
Kia expects to begin mailing notification letters to affected owners on Oct. 20, according to the report.
The recall comes after Kia recalled more than 460,000 Telluride SUVs in July over a separate fire risk after an earlier repair failed to resolve the problem.
That recall covered 462,869 Telluride vehicles from the 2020 through 2024 model years. Owners were advised to park outside and away from other vehicles and buildings because of the risk of a fire while driving or parked.
Federal regulators said at the time that seven seat fires and 11 cases of seat motors melting had been reported. The issue involved a front power seat switch that could become dislodged, misaligned or damaged, potentially causing the seat motor to run continuously and overheat.
Vehicle identification numbers covered by the latest EV9 recall are expected to become searchable on NHTSAs recall website beginning Sept. 4.
起亚汽车因安全气囊传感器问题召回逾2.1万辆电动SUV，该缺陷可能增加前排乘客座位儿童受伤的风险。
根据提交给美国国家公路交通安全管理局（NHTSA）的文件，此次召回涉及21,290辆2025及2026款起亚EV9 SUV。
该问题涉及车辆的乘员检测系统（ODS），当座椅上有儿童或儿童安全座椅时，该系统可能无法关闭前排乘客安全气囊。在此情况下弹出的安全气囊可能会增加碰撞中受伤的风险。
文件显示，该缺陷导致受影响车辆不符合联邦机动车安全标准。
驾驶员可能会注意到仪表盘上的安全气囊警示灯亮起。即使前排座位无人乘坐，安全带提醒铃声也可能响起，提示乘客未系安全带。
据报道，起亚公司未说明是否知晓与该问题相关的任何伤亡情况。
该汽车制造商建议驾驶员不要在副驾驶座位安装儿童约束系统，并指出13岁及以下儿童应乘坐后排座位。
起亚经销商将对受影响车辆进行检查，并根据需要更换ODS垫和膀胱管为新部件。经销商还将确保这些组件正确安装到位。所有维修服务均免费提供。
据报道，起亚汽车预计将于10月20日开始向受影响的车主寄送通知函。
此次召回源于起亚汽车7月因另一火灾隐患召回逾46万辆Telluride SUV车型，此前进行的维修未能彻底解决问题。
此次召回涉及2020至2024款共计462,869辆Telluride车型。由于存在行驶或停放时起火的风险，厂商建议车主将车辆停放在室外，并远离其他车辆和建筑物。
联邦监管机构当时表示，已收到7起座椅起火和11起座椅电机熔化的报告。该问题涉及前排电动座椅开关可能出现松动、错位或损坏的情况，可能导致座椅电机持续运转并过热。
涉及最新EV9召回车辆的识别码预计将于9月4日起在美国国家公路交通安全管理局（NHTSA）召回网站上开放查询。
