NHTSA Recall 26V545000: Air bags: front passenger
Kia America, Inc. reported this safety recall to NHTSA on , covering an estimated 21,290 vehicles. It affects 2025–2026 Kia EV9.
| NHTSA campaign | 26V545000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer campaign | SC379 |
| Component | AIR BAGS › SENSOR › OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION › FRONT PASSENGER |
| Report received | August 21, 2026 |
| Initiated by | Manufacturer |
Defect
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."
Safety 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.
Vehicles covered by recall 26V545000
Being listed here means the campaign covers the model year, not that every car was built with the defect or is still unrepaired. Enter your VIN above to check your specific vehicle. Recall repairs are free at authorised dealers. Source: NHTSA, October 2026.