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Kia Telluride, K5, Forte Airbag Sensor May Fail

NHTSA campaign 21V164000 · Reported Mar 11, 2021 · Kia Motors America

high How serious is it? About this label

If a crash happens with a child in that seat, the air bag may deploy without the system correctly detecting the child restraint, which the notice says can increase the risk of injury to the child. The notice does not tell owners to stop driving.

Key facts

NHTSA campaign number	21V164000
Reported to NHTSA	Mar 11, 2021
Manufacturer	Kia Motors America
Part affected	AIR Bags: AIR Bag/restraint Control Module
Vehicles covered	3 model/year combinations, model years 2021
Do-not-drive advisory	No
Park-outside advisory	No
Repair	Free at any franchised dealer

What's wrong, in plain English

Kia is recalling certain Telluride, K5, and Forte vehicles because a sensor in the front passenger seat, called the occupant detection system, may fail to detect when a child restraint seat has been installed there. This detection system is used to help determine whether the front passenger air bag should deploy in a crash. Dealers will replace the detection unit so it can properly sense a child seat in that seating position, at no cost to the owner.

What you should do

Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if your vehicle is affected.
Contact a Kia dealer, or Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542, to schedule the repair.
The repair is free of charge.

Where do I find my VIN, and what do I tell the dealer?

Your VIN is the 17-character code on the lower left of the windshield, on your registration and usually on your insurance card. Enter it at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether this recall is still open on your car. When you call the dealer, say you have an open safety recall and give them NHTSA campaign number 21V164000. More in how recalls work.

Affected vehicles (3)

2021 Kia Forte
2021 Kia K5
2021 Kia Telluride

Who to contact

Kia — official Kia recall lookup

Customer service: 1-800-333-4542

Any franchised dealer for the brand can do the repair. Phone numbers are taken from manufacturer sites and recent NHTSA notices; if one has changed, the number in your own recall letter is the one to use.

The bigger picture

Kia Air Bag Recalls Cover Deployment and Child Detection Problems · all 8 Kia recalls in this area

Other Kia Telluride recalls

Jul 2, 2026Kia Telluride Power Seat Motor Fire Riskcritical
Jun 2, 2026Kia Telluride Driver Seat Belt May Not Extendhigh
Mar 6, 2026Kia Telluride Rear Seat Belt Buckle May Not Latchhigh
Feb 23, 2026Kia Telluride Seat Frame May Not Restrain Occupanthigh
Oct 31, 2025Kia Telluride Spare Tire May Impair Brakingmedium
Jul 28, 2025Kia Telluride door trim molding can peel off vehiclemedium

All 19 Telluride recalls

Official notice

Component: AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE
Summary: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2021 Telluride, K5, and Forte vehicles. The Occupant Classification and Detection System (OCS/ODS) unit may not detect the presence of a child restraint system in the front passenger seat. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Safety risk: In the event of a crash, deployment of the front passenger air bag, with a child in that seat, can increase the risk of injury to the child.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the OCS/ODS unit, free of charge. The recall began March 18, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC207.

Verify your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov. Recall repairs are free of charge by law.