Kia Motors America recall 22V560

Affected vehicles (1)

Component / system

Defect

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2013 Optima vehicles. The right and left headliner plates may not be secured properly, which can result in the plates detaching in the event of a side curtain air bag deployment.

Risk / consequence

A plate that detaches during a crash may strike an occupant, increasing their risk of injury.

Remedy

Dealers will secure the headliner plates, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 26, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC245.

Chronology of events

1. May 9, 2022

   May 9, 2022 Kia America, Inc. (KUS) Legal department receives product liability lawsuit alleging a metal bracket injuring a driver during the deployment of the side curtain airbag in a 2012MY Optima (QF) produced at Kia Georgia and equipped with a panoramic sunroof. May 12-June 16, 2022 KUS Legal notifies Kia North America (Kia NA) Safety Office of lawsuit. KUS Legal works with plaintiff’s counsel to schedule vehicle inspection.

2. Jun 29, 2022

   June 29, 2022 Kia NA Safety Office engineers inspect the subject 2012MY Optima. Driver’s side headliner plate is found in occupant compartment and concludes headliner plate may have potentially detached from headliner during deployment of the side curtain airbag.

3. Jul 7, 2022

   July 7, 2022 Kia NA Safety Office reviews engineer’s inspection findings and provides inspection photos and preliminary findings to Kia Corporation (Kia HQ) for its review and further investigation. Kia HQ begins its evaluation of issue and possible causes.

4. Jul 8, 2022

   July 8, 2022 Kia NA Safety Office begins preliminary field data analysis of 2011-2015MY Optima to determine if other similar incidents exist.

5. Jul 21, 2022

   July 21, 2022 Kia HQ provides Kia NA Safety Office with its evaluation of inspection photos identifying insufficient adhesive on headliner plate. Kia HQ confirms same headliner plate design and manufacturing process applied to Optima (QF), including those equipped with and without a panoramic sunroof starting in 2012MY. Kia HQ also confirms that the 2011-2015MY Optima (TF) manufactured in Korea has a different supplier and different adhesive application process to the headliner plate from the Optima (QF) manufactured at Kia Georgia. Kia HQ also identifies no similar incidents globally.

6. Jul 22, 2022

   July 22, 2022 Kia NA Safety Office completes field data analysis and confirms no other similar incidents for the 2011-2015MY Optima manufactured in Korea or Georgia.

7. Jul 25, 2022

   July 25, 2022 Kia NA decides to recall the 2012-2013MY Optima vehicles manufactured at Kia Georgia. One (1) injury (product liability lawsuit), no fatalities, crashes or fires.

Notification schedule

Dealer notification

SEP 22, 2022 - SEP 22, 2022

Owner notification

SEP 26, 2022 - SEP 30, 2022