The Kia K5 mid-size sedan is being recalled for side airbags that can fail to deploy in a crash, the NHTSA disclosed last week.Â
The recall encompasses nearly 189,000 sedans from the 2021-2023 model years. Prior to the redesigned 2021 model, the Kia mid-size sedan was called the Kia Optima.Â
The side airbags may not deploy when they should because they may have been installed improperly in Kia’s massive factory in West Point, Georgia. It’s the only Kia plant in the U.S., and it also produces the Kia Telluride three-row SUV and Kia Sorento mid-size SUV. The airbag issue only affects the K5.Â
The side curtain airbags are mounted in the roof above the side doors and are meant to prevent head injuries and block glass from shattering in the cabin in the event of a crash from the side. Kia is aware of no injuries or crashes related to the defective airbags.Â
This recall is…
