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Kia seat belt recalls: pretensioners, retractors and child seat problems
Kia's seat belt recalls cluster around two themes. The first is the Sorento Hybrid, which appears twice: one recall for 2022 Sorento Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid, and a second for 2021-2022 Sorento Hybrid and 2022 Plug-in Hybrid, both because a front driver-side or passenger-side seat belt pretensioner may explode when it deploys in a crash. The second theme is belts that cannot restrain properly and therefore fail a federal motor vehicle safety standard: the 2024 EV9's front passenger retractor cover may not be secured, so the automatic and emergency locking retractors may not work as intended; the 2019 Sedona 8-passenger has a second-row middle buckle installed on the wrong side; and 2020 Telluride belts may not tightly secure a child restraint.
Warning signs to watch for
- On a 2019 Sedona, the second-row middle buckle is on the wrong side of the seat, so the 3-point belt cannot be used properly
- A child seat that will not stay tight in the front passenger, second or third row of a 2020 Telluride
- On a 2024 EV9, the front passenger belt retractor cover is not secured properly
- An EV9 front passenger belt that does not lock the way you expect when pulled out or in a sudden stop
- The Sorento Hybrid pretensioner defect gives no everyday warning — it only shows up during a crash
Is it safe to keep driving?
None of these five recalls tells owners to stop driving or park outside. The two Sorento Hybrid pretensioner recalls only fail during a crash, when the part can injure the driver or front passenger with fragments, so normal driving continues while you book the repair. The others call for avoiding specific seats: do not put a passenger or child seat in the 2024 EV9's front passenger position, do not seat anyone in the 2019 Sedona's second-row middle seat, and do not rely on the 2020 Telluride's affected positions for a child seat.
What the free repair involves
Repairs are all parts and labor at the dealer, free of charge. The 2022 Sorento Hybrid recall replaces the seat belt pretensioners; the later Sorento Hybrid recall secures them with a cap. The EV9 gets a new front passenger seat belt assembly. Sedona buckles are inspected and reinstalled on the correct side. Telluride vehicles are inspected, incorrect belt assemblies replaced, and the driver's belt with a non-U.S. label swapped.
Severity at a glance
| Severity | Recalls |
|---|---|
| high | 3 |
| medium | 2 |
Models affected most
Every recall in this group
| Date | Recall | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-05-14 | Kia EV9 front passenger seat belt may not lock | high |
| 2022-06-23 | Kia Sorento Hybrid seat belt tighteners can explode in crash | high |
| 2022-03-04 | Kia Sorento Hybrid front seat belt tensioner can explode | high |
| 2019-08-13 | Kia Telluride seat belts may not secure child seats | medium |
| 2019-03-18 | Kia Sedona middle seat belt buckle installed wrong side | medium |
Common questions
Why does the Sorento Hybrid have two pretensioner recalls?
They cover overlapping vehicles with different remedies. The 2022 recall covers 2022 Sorento Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid and replaces the pretensioners. The later recall covers 2021-2022 Sorento Hybrid and 2022 Plug-in Hybrid, and dealers secure the pretensioners with a cap instead.
Can I install a child seat in my 2020 Telluride before the recall repair?
The notice says the front passenger, second and third row belt assemblies may not tightly secure a child restraint system in a crash. Get the inspection and any belt replacement done before relying on those positions for a child seat.
What is wrong with the EV9 front passenger belt?
The front passenger seat belt retractor cover may not be secured properly, which can stop the automatic locking retractor and emergency locking retractor from operating as intended. That raises injury risk in a crash, and dealers replace the entire belt assembly.
A recall applies only to specific vehicles. Check your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.