CarRecallWatch- Component
- AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER
- Problem
- Kia America, Inc (Kia) is recalling certain 2025-2026 EV9 vehicles. Due to improper routing, the Occupant Detection System (ODS) may not deactivate the air bag when a child or child seat is in the front passenger seat. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
- Risk
- A child in the front seat may be at a greater risk of injury if the air bag deploys during a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and replace the ODS mat and bladder tube with a new one and ensure proper routing as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters will be mailed beginning October 20, 2026. Owners may contact Kia Customer Service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC379. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on September 4, 2026.
What this recall means for you
The occupant detection system in the front passenger seat may fail to switch off the front airbag when a child or child seat is present. Because the cable routing is improper, the system may not recognize the passenger, which means the airbag could deploy in a crash. A child in the front seat could then face a greater risk of injury from the airbag.
A dealer will inspect the vehicle and replace the occupant detection system mat and bladder tube with new parts, and make sure the tube is routed correctly where needed. The repair is free of charge at an authorized Kia dealer. Owner notification letters will begin mailing October 20, 2026, and you can contact Kia Customer Service at 1-800-333-4542 with questions. You can also check your vehicle identification number (VIN) for open recalls on NHTSA.gov, where affected VINs become searchable starting September 4, 2026.
Check whether this recall is open on your vehicle
Official recall notice
Affected vehicles
| Kia EV9 | 20252026 |
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