Kia will recall almost 150,000 older Optima sedans and Rondo crossover utility vehicles because of a defect that could prevent the driver’s side airbag from deploying in a collision, the company said. The South Korean automaker said the recall includes 2006-2008 Optimas and Rondos from the 2007-2008 model years. The company no longer sells the Rondo.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said that the clock-spring assembly used in the airbag system can become damaged over time and prevent the airbag from deploying. The problem triggers the airbag warning light to go on in an affected vehicle, according to Kia. Drivers of cars that don’t have the warning light illuminated have a functioning airbag, according to the automaker.
Kia said it learned of the problem in November and is not aware of any accidents or injuries caused by the defect.
Kia is one of the fastest-growing auto brands in America. Its sales rose almost 36% last year, to 485,492 vehicles, making its U.S. sales bigger than older nameplates such as Buick, Jeep and Volkswagen.
Source: ChicagoTribune