The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has announced the recall of 72,568 Kia vehicles as the result of a defect in the front air bag sensor and control module.
The occupant sensor in the front passenger seat mat could experience fatigue cracking; if this cracking is sufficient, the sensor can no longer function and will not be able to detect that a child is in the seat. This defect can result in a malfunction causing air bag deployment during an accident when a child passenger is in the front seat, increasing the risk of serious injury to the child.
The vehicles included in this recall are model years 2006 – 2008 Rio passenger cars manufactured from February 20, 2005 through December 9, 2007. Kia will notify owners of the recall and dealers will replace the occupant classification system seat sensor at no-cost. This recall should begin during July 2012. If owners would like additional information, they may contact the Kia Consumer Assistance Center at (800) 333-4542 or the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at (888) 327-4236. The campaign number for this recall is SC097.
If you have suffered injury as the result of an air bag defect in New Jersey, the NJ air bag defects attorneys at Blume Forte can help you understand your legal rights and options. To find out whether you may have a meritorious claim, contact us at 973-845-4421 for a no-cost consultation.