Recall Summary
| Recall number | 26V545000 |
| Issued by | National Highway Traffic Safety Administration |
| Date | 2026-08-21 |
| Company | Kia America, Inc. |
| Units affected | 21,290 |
| Severity | Not classified |
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 o
Read the official National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recall notice
kia america recall 26V545000 affects 21,290 model year 2025 Kia EV9 electric SUVs. Kia America, Inc. filed the recall with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on August 21, 2026. The problem involves the front passenger seat occupant detection system. A child in the front seat may face greater injury risk if the air bag deploys in a crash. If you drive an EV9, this guide explains what the recall covers and what to do next.
What the Kia America Recall Covers
This kia america recall covers a single vehicle line. The affected product is the 2025 Kia EV9, a three-row electric SUV. NHTSA lists the total population at 21,290 vehicles. The recall carries agency campaign number 26V545000. Kia assigned its own internal number, SC379, to the same action.
The component at issue is the occupant detection system, often shortened to ODS. This system sits inside the front passenger seat. It uses a sensor mat and a bladder tube to estimate the weight of whoever is sitting there. The vehicle software then decides how the front passenger air bag should behave. For example, it may suppress deployment for a small occupant.
According to the agency record, the fix involves the ODS mat and the bladder tube. Dealers will inspect those parts and replace them. They will also confirm the routing of the tube is correct. That language suggests the concern involves how the parts were installed or positioned. However, the agency record does not spell out a root cause beyond the remedy description.
Not every 2025 EV9 is necessarily included. Recalls are typically limited to vehicles built within a specific production window. As a result, the only reliable way to confirm your vehicle is by VIN. NHTSA has said VINs for this kia america recall become searchable on NHTSA.gov on September 4, 2026.
The Hazard and Reported Injuries
The hazard in this kia america recall is straightforward. If the occupant detection system does not read the front passenger correctly, the air bag may behave the wrong way. A child seated in front could then be exposed to a deploying air bag. Front air bags deploy with substantial force. That force is calibrated for adults, not small bodies.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: a child in the front seat may be at a greater risk of injury if the air bag deploys during a crash. This is a crash-dependent hazard. In most cases, nothing happens during normal driving. The risk only materializes in a collision severe enough to trigger deployment.
The agency record does not state whether any injuries have been reported in connection with this recall. We are not claiming injuries have occurred, and we are not claiming they have not. Readers should treat the official NHTSA notice as the authoritative source. Additional detail may be added to the public file over time.
| Recall number | 26V545000 |
|---|---|
| Issuing agency | National Highway Traffic Safety Administration |
| Recall date | August 21, 2026 |
| Company | Kia America, Inc. |
| Product | 2025 Kia EV9 |
| Units affected | 21,290 |
| Severity classification | Not classified |
| Kia recall number | SC379 |
It is worth noting what “not classified” means here. NHTSA vehicle recalls do not use the tiered class system that the FDA applies to devices and food. As a result, the absence of a severity class is normal for an auto recall. It does not mean the agency considers the issue minor.
What To Do If You Own This Product
Start by confirming whether your specific vehicle is included. Find your 17-character VIN on the driver-side dashboard or the door jamb sticker. Beginning September 4, 2026, enter it at NHTSA.gov to check this kia america recall. You can also enter it on Kia’s owner recall lookup page.
Kia will mail owner notification letters starting October 20, 2026. However, you do not have to wait for a letter to act. If your VIN shows as affected, you can contact a Kia dealer directly. Ask about recall SC379 when you call to schedule.
The remedy is free of charge. Dealers will inspect and replace the ODS mat and bladder tube with new parts. They will also ensure proper routing as necessary. You should not be billed for parts or labor under this kia america recall. That is a legal requirement for safety recalls, not a courtesy.
In the meantime, follow the guidance that already applies to every vehicle with a front air bag. NHTSA and the American Academy of Pediatrics both recommend that children under 13 ride in the back seat. Typically, that is the safest position regardless of any recall. For questions, Kia Customer Service can be reached at 1-800-333-4542. You can also review the official NHTSA recall notice for campaign 26V545000.
Keep your paperwork. Save the recall letter, the dealer repair order, and any communication about scheduling. Those documents establish when you were notified and when the repair happened. In most cases, that record is only useful for resale value. Occasionally, it matters for other reasons.
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Does a Kia America Recall Mean You Can Sue?
No. A recall is a safety action, not a lawsuit. When a manufacturer issues a recall, it is notifying regulators and owners of a defect and offering a fix. That process runs through NHTSA under federal motor vehicle safety law. It is entirely separate from any court case.
A kia america recall by itself does not create a legal claim. If your vehicle is recalled and repaired for free and nothing bad happened, there is generally nothing to sue over. The remedy is the outcome the system is designed to produce. That is how safety recalls are supposed to work.
Legal claims typically require more than a defect notice. In most product injury cases, a person must show an actual injury and a causal link between the defect and that injury. Damages must also be provable. Those elements are fact-specific and vary by state law.
If you or a family member were hurt in a crash involving an affected vehicle, talk to a licensed attorney in your state. An attorney can evaluate whether the facts support a claim. Many offer free consultations. You may be eligible to pursue a claim in some circumstances, but no one can promise an outcome, and nothing here guarantees compensation.
How Recalls Connect to Mass Tort Cases
Recalls and lawsuits are separate, but they sometimes intersect. A recall notice creates a documented record. It identifies the defective component, the affected population, and the date the manufacturer acknowledged the problem. As a result, plaintiffs’ attorneys often use recall filings as evidence in later litigation about timing and knowledge.
History offers examples. The Takata air bag inflator recalls, which grew to tens of millions of vehicles, ran alongside extensive multidistrict litigation and a bankruptcy proceeding. Philips recalled certain CPAP and ventilator devices in 2021 over sound abatement foam, and that recall was followed by consolidated federal litigation. However, in both situations the lawsuits rested on alleged injuries and specific facts, not on the recall alone. That distinction matters, and it applies equally to this kia america recall.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my EV9 is part of this kia america recall?
Check your VIN at NHTSA.gov starting September 4, 2026, or on Kia’s owner site. You can also call Kia Customer Service at 1-800-333-4542 and reference recall SC379. A dealer can look it up for you as well.
Is it safe to drive my Kia EV9 in the meantime?
NHTSA did not issue a do-not-drive or park-outside advisory for this campaign. The hazard involves front passenger air bag behavior in a crash. As a precaution, keep children under 13 in the back seat, which is standard safety guidance regardless of any recall.
Will I have to pay for the repair under this kia america recall?
No. The agency record states the remedy is free of charge. Dealers will inspect and replace the ODS mat and bladder tube at no cost to you. If a dealer tries to charge you, contact Kia Customer Service.
Were You Injured by a Recalled Product?
A recall by itself is a safety action, not a legal claim. However, if a recalled product caused a real injury, you may be eligible to pursue compensation. A licensed attorney can review your situation at no upfront cost — most work on contingency, meaning you pay nothing unless you recover.
Official Sources & Resources
Verify every recall against the issuing agency before acting:
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: official recall database — the record of truth for this notice
- CPSC: cpsc.gov — household goods, toys, furniture, appliances
- FDA: fda.gov — food, drugs, and medical devices
- NHTSA: nhtsa.gov — vehicles, tires, and child car seats
- USDA FSIS: fsis.usda.gov — meat, poultry, and egg products
Content last reviewed September 2026. This is general educational information, not legal advice. If you notice outdated information, please contact us.
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Attorney Advertising. The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. A product recall is a safety action by a manufacturer or regulator and does not by itself establish liability or create a legal claim. No attorney-client relationship is created by accessing or using this content. Every case is unique. If you believe you were harmed by a recalled product, consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction.