Kia Recalls 400,000+ Cars Due To Faulty Airbags Which Won’t Work In Accident: India Impacted?

Kia is recalling over 410,000 of its cars in the US since there is a problem which prevents airbags from inflating in a crash.

Certain Forte small cars from the 2017 and 2018 model years along with Sedona minivans and Soul small SUVs from 2017 through 2019
are affected.

The Issue

There is an electrical problem within the airbag control unit (ACU) which determines whether to deploy airbags in a crash.

The company said that the cover of the ACU may come into contact with a memory chip which could damage the electrical circuit.

As a result, airbags may fail to activate and deploy in the event of an accident and cause serious injuries to the occupants.

Rectification

Drivers may notice that the airbag warning light is illuminated on the dashboard if the condition is present.

Kia dealerships will inspect the ACU and either update the software in case there is no lit airbag warning light or replace it if the light is present.

No Incidents Yet

The service will be free of charge as all recall repairs are.

Owners will be notified by mail starting March 21.

Kia reported to US safety regulators that the problem was identified in Korea last July.

It received 13 customer complaints and 947 warranty claims but no crashes or injuries were reported.

Kia India Appoint New Sales Chief

Kia India has appointed MyungSik Sohn as Chief Sales Officer with immediate effect.

He will manage the planning and execution of sales strategies to drive the company’s growth. 

He will also work with Kia India’s current leadership to expand its reach in tier 3, 4, and upcountry markets.

Carens Coming To India 

The Kia Carens will arrive in India in February.

This is the automaker’s fourth model in India after the Seltos, Carnival and Sonet.

Both online and offline bookings started from January 14 for the booking amount of Rs 25,000.

It will be offered in five trims: Premium, Prestige, Prestige Plus, Luxury, and Luxury Plus and as both 6- and 7-seaters.

It is expected to be priced between Rs 14 lakh and Rs 19.5 lakh and will take on the Tata Safari, Mahindra XUV700, MG Hector Plus and Hyundai Alcazar.