Kia Cars Recalled Over Airbag Defects

The Korean automaker Kia is recalling certain car models for airbag defects, according to the Wall Street Journal. The car manufacturing giant said that the clock spring contact assembly for the driver’s airbag supplemental restraint system could wear over time, making it susceptible to non-deployment of the airbag. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has reported that the recall will affect 2006 through 2008 Kia Optimas and 2007 and 2008 Kia Rondos.

If the clock spring develops high resistance, in the event of a crash, the driver's airbag will not deploy and will not be able to properly protect the driver, increasing the risk of injuries.

Allegedly, the damage sustained by the clock spring over time could lead to increased resistance to the electronic circuit. The NHTSA stated that "If the clock spring develops high resistance, in the event of a crash, the driver's airbag will not deploy and will not be able to properly protect the driver, increasing the risk of injuries." Kia says that it has not yet received reports of any injuries or deaths associated with this defect, but has received a number of warranty claims to that effect.

Kia said that the defect should illuminate the airbag warning light on the dashboard. The automaker has indicated that the recall will happen sometime in March, and that owners will be able to bring their car in to a dealership to have the problem fixed free of charge. Other car manufacturers have faced similar problems with airbag electrical systems, pushing Hyundai and Chrysler to issue recalls of their own in the past few months.

The non-deployment of an airbag because of a manufacturing defect could have disastrous consequences for the driver of a vehicle. It is difficult to quantify how many lives are saved through airbag use, but the NHTSA estimates that around 8,000 lives were saved due to airbag deployment between 1991 and 2001.