2025-2026 Kia EV9 recall: Occupant Detection System May Fail to Suppress Air Bag/FMVSS 208
Report received by NHTSA: Aug. 21, 2026.
Built by the Tribune's code from NHTSA's official records. No AI wrote this page. Updated Nov. 4, 2026.
- What's recalled
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."
- The risk
A child in the front seat may be at a greater risk of injury if the air bag deploys during a crash.
- Who's affected
21,290 vehicles potentially affected, according to NHTSA. Models: 2025-2026 Kia EV9.
- Compared with
Kia America, Inc. has 9 NHTSA recalls in 2026 so far, compared with 13 in all of 2025.
Counted by the Tribune from NHTSA's records since Nov. 1, 2016.
- Before this
138 earlier NHTSA recalls by Kia America, Inc. since Nov. 1, 2016; the 5 most recent:
- July 2, 2026 2022-2024 Kia EV6, 2024 Kia EV9 recall: Park Outside: High Voltage Battery May Catch Fire
- July 2, 2026 2020-2024 Kia Telluride recall: Park Outside: Fire from Overheated Power Seat Motors
- June 2, 2026 2027 Kia Telluride, 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid recall: Driver Seat Belt Strap May Not Extend/FMVSS 209
- April 10, 2026 Kia America, Inc. recall: Fuel Leak at Pipe Connection (agency record)
- March 20, 2026 Kia America, Inc. recall: Power Rear Seats May Trap a Person (agency record)
Counted by the Tribune from NHTSA's records since Nov. 1, 2016.
- What to do and when
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.
NHTSA's record, word for word
- Check it yourself
NHTSA's VIN lookup shows whether a specific vehicle has an open recall.
Models in this recall
- Kia EV9 2025-2026
The record as NHTSA published it
| NHTSA recall number | 26V545000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Kia America, Inc. |
| Recall type | Vehicle |
| Component | AIR BAGS |
| Report received by NHTSA | Aug. 21, 2026 |
| Potentially affected | 21,290 vehicles |
| Manufacturer's recall number | SC379 |
| “Do not drive” warning | No |
| Fire risk when parked (“park outside”) | No |
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recall records (public domain). NHTSA's record