Along with its sister brand Hyundai (HYMTF) , South Korean automaker Kia is a notable cornerstone in the electric vehicle market.
Though its EV sales significantly lag behind the market leader, Tesla (TSLA) , Kia's experience as a traditional automaker gives it a leg-up over its startup rivals when it comes to its approach to providing "electrified" vehicles to its customers.
Supplementing sales of its unique EVs like the EV6 crossover and the three-row EV9 SUV are "electrified" versions of its traditional gas-powered cars, including the hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions of the Sportage crossover, the larger Sorento SUV, and the compact Niro crossover.
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According to Kia, sales of its EVs saw a 74% year-over-year increase in 2024, which it largely credits to the variety of vehicles it can provide to its customers
"Kia has solidified its leadership position within the EV market thanks, in part, to the successful launch of our flagship EV9 SUV and the introduction of Carnival hybrid powertrain, actively responding to the evolving demands of the market," Seungkyu (Sean) Yoon, president and CEO, Kia North America and Kia America said in a statement.
However, sales success rarely comes without hiccups, and Kia's latest can present a dangerous situation for the occupants of its cars.
Kia
Kia issues recall for Niro crossover
Kia is recalling 80,225 of its compact Niro crossover SUVs due to a defect that can drastically affect the operation of one of the front passenger airbags. This critical safety device can affect the safety of an occupant in the front passenger seat in the event of a crash.
According to new documents released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), certain 2023 to 2025 model year Niro EV, Niro Hybrid, and Niro Plug-in Hybrids built between 2022 and 2024.
According to the agency and the manufacturer, the affected models are equipped with a manually operated front passenger seat (one that isn't powered by electric motors). Wiring underneath the front passenger seat could be damaged from frequent front-seat adjustment, which can cause the airbag and the seatbelt pretensioner to not function and cause the "inadvertent deployment of the passenger side airbag"— which can cause injury.
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"The floor wiring assembly beneath the front passenger seat may become damaged, which can prevent the front airbags and seat belts from deploying properly or cause an unintended side curtain airbag deployment," the NHTSA said.
"The nondeployment of the airbag(s) and/or seatbelt pretensioner(s) in a crash sufficient to warrant a deployment, the inability to suppress the passenger frontal airbag for a child or small occupant, or the inadvertent deployment of the passenger side airbag increases the risk of injury," Kia said in a statement to dealers.
In the United States, 21,909 Niro EVs built between August 10, 2022, and December 13, 2024, are affected by the recall. Additionally, 49,535 units of the Niro Hybrid produced between June 21, 2022, and December 17, 2024, as well as 8,811 units of the Niro plug-in hybrid (PHEV) made between July 11, 2022, and December 16, 2024, are also affected by this recall.
Kia says affected owners should schedule service appointments with their local Kia dealers. Kia technicians will inspect and replace the floor wiring assembly, properly route the harness, and install extra protective coverings at no charge to owners.
According to Kia, affected owners will be notified by mail by late February 2025.
Related: Popular Hyundai cars face massive recall for dangerous defect
This is by far the largest recall affecting the Kia Niro; however, it follows other major recalls affecting Hyundai Motor Group vehicles in the last few months.
Last month, Kia's sister brand, Hyundai, recalled more than 200,000 of its cars and SUVs in the U.S. due to an issue with its rearview cameras that can cause a safety hazard. The issue, which affected the 2021 to 2022 Santa Fe, Santa Fe HEV, Elantra, Elantra HEV, and 2022 Elantra N and Santa Fe PHEV, came after some drivers complained that the images produced by its rearview cameras were "intermittent, distorted, or inoperative."
The month prior, Hyundai, Kia and the related Genesis luxury brand recalled over 200,000 of their EVs due to an issue that could result in a loss of driving power and pose a safety hazard to drivers.
According to the NHTSA, 145,235 units of the 2022 to 2024 model year IONIQ 5, 2023 to 2025 model year IONIQ 6, Genesis GV60, Genesis GV70 "Electrified" and 2023 to 2024 models of the Genesis G80 "Electrified" cars, as well as 62,872 units of the 2022 to 2024 models of the Kia EV6 hatchback have an Integrated Charging Control Unit's (ICCU) fuse that can fail, putting drivers at risk of a loss of power that can lead to a crash.
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