NHTSA recall 16V231000
A recall listed here may apply to a vehicle of this year, make and model. Only the manufacturer can say whether it applies to one vehicle: check the VIN with the official lookups.
| Published by | NHTSA (United States) |
|---|---|
| Campaign number | 16V231000 |
| Manufacturer's number | SC131 |
| Manufacturer | Kia Motors America |
| Reported | 2016-04-21 |
| Owners notified | 2016-05-06 |
| Component | AIR BAGS:FRONTAL |
| Units potentially affected | 17 |
| Report | Quarterly report 6, for 2017 quarter 3 |
|---|---|
| Filed with NHTSA | 2017-10-19 |
| Vehicles in the campaign | 17 |
| Reported remedied | 16 (94%) |
| Reported unreachable | 1 |
| Reported removed | 0 |
These are the manufacturer's totals for the whole campaign at the end of 2017 quarter 3, as filed with NHTSA. They do not say whether one vehicle has been remedied: check the VIN with the official lookups. The reports are from data as of 2026-10-19.
What is wrong
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2016 Kia Optima vehicles manufactured November 10, 2015, to February 12, 2016. In these vehicles, a chemical enhancer required for the for the second stage deployment of the driver's frontal air bag was not loaded, resulting in the second stage not deploying in necessitating crashes.
What can happen
If the second stage air bag does not deploy it increases the risk of injury or death.
The remedy
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began on May 6, 2016. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC131.
Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
| 2016 KIA OPTIMA | Built 2015-11-10 to 2016-02-12. |
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A vehicle with no link is not in this site's catalog, which covers cars, multipurpose vehicles and trucks by model year. The campaign is from data as of 2026-10-19.
Bulletins for the same vehicles and component
| TSB-SC-131 | 2016-09-14. Service bulletin. "VOLUNTARY SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN: DRIVER’S FRONTAL AIRBAG MODULE REPLACEMENT (SC131) - THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES THE PROCEDURE TO REPLACE THE DRIVER’S FRONTAL AIRBAG MODULE OF SEVENTEEN (17) 2016 MY OPTIMA VEHICLES, PRODUCED FROM NOVEMBER 10, 2015 THROUGH FEBRUARY 12, 2016. A SECONDARY CHEMICAL ENHANCER REQUIRED FOR THE PROPER DEPLOYMENT OF SECOND-STAGE FRONTAL AIRBAG WAS NOT LOADED DURING THE AIRBAG INFLATOR BUILD AT THE SUPPLIER. AS A RESULT, THE SECOND STAGE OF THE DRIVER’S FRONTAL AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IF THE VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN A CRASH THAT TRIGGERS THE SECOND-STAGE DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER’S FRONTAL AIRBAG. TO CORRECT THIS CONDITION, KIA IS REQUESTING THE COMPLETION OF THIS VOLUNTARY SAFETY RECALL ON ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES. BEFORE CONDUCTING THE PROCEDURE, VERIFY THE VEHICLE IS INCLUDED IN THE LIST OF 17 AFFECTED VINS (LISTED ON PAGE 7)." |
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A bulletin is the manufacturer's note to its dealers. It is not part of this recall.