Kia recall announced for potentially loose ceiling plates

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Kia recall overview: 

• Who: Kia has recalled more than 250,000 of its 2012-2013 Optima vehicles.
• Why: The headliner plates in the ceilings of affected vehicles can detach, potentially hitting the driver and passengers and causing injuries.
• Where: The Kia recall is in the United States

Kia has recalled more than 250,000 of its 2012-2013 Optima vehicles as plates in the ceilings of the affected vehicles can come off, hitting and injuring people in the car. 

The Kia recall was posted Aug. 1 to the National Highway Traffic Safety website and applies to 257,998 Optimas.

The Kia recall says the right and left headliner plates in the vehicles’ ceilings may not be secured properly, which can result in the plates detaching in the event of side curtain airbag deployment.

“A plate that detaches during a crash may strike an occupant, increasing their risk of injury,” the notice says. 

Kia recall prompted by product liability lawsuit

Kia said it launched an investigation into the safety issue May 9 after its legal department received a product liability lawsuit alleging a metal bracket injuring a driver during the deployment of the side curtain airbag in a 2012 Optima. 

In June, engineers inspected the vehicles and found the driver’s side headliner plate in the occupant compartment, and concluded that the headliner plate may have detached from the headliner during deployment of the side curtain airbag, safety report documents said.

The company said dealers will put industrial-grade tape over the plates to help secure them. Notification letters will be sent Sept. 26.

Meanwhile, Kia is facing a class action lawsuit alleging it failed to disclose to consumers that its Kia and Hyundai model year 2011 through 2021 vehicles contain defects which makes them easier to steal, and therefore more prone to auto theft. 

Are you affected by this Kia recall? Let us know your thoughts on the recall in the comments! 

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