[car fanatics]

NHTSA
Photo credit: garyromekia
June 5, 2012
By: CF staff

Kia is recalling certain model/ year 2006-2008 Rio vehicles, manufactured from February 20, 2005, through December 9, 2007. The front passenger seat occupant sensor mat can experience fatigue cracking. If sufficient cracking occurs, the occupant classification system will cease to function such that the system will not be able to detect whether a child passenger is in the seat and the airbag will deploy during a crash necessitating deployment.

Air bag deployment with a child in the front passenger side seat increases the risk of injury to that child.

Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the OCS seat sensor mat, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during July 2012. Owners may contact Kia consumer assistance center at 1-800-333-4542.