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Kia K5 Side Curtain Airbags May Not Deploy Properly

NHTSA campaign 23V149000 · Reported Mar 7, 2023 · Kia America, Inc.

high How serious is it? About this label

Airbags that do not deploy as intended increase the risk of injury in a crash. The notice does not tell owners to stop driving.

Key facts

NHTSA campaign number	23V149000
Reported to NHTSA	Mar 7, 2023
Manufacturer	Kia America, Inc.
Part affected	AIR Bags:side/window:curtain
Vehicles covered	3 model/year combinations, model years 2021–2023
Do-not-drive advisory	No
Park-outside advisory	No
Repair	Free at any franchised dealer

What's wrong, in plain English

On some Kia K5 cars, the side curtain airbags may not have been installed correctly. These are the airbags that come down over the side windows. Because of how they were put in, they may not open the way they are supposed to in a crash. Dealers will inspect the side curtain airbags and reinstall them if needed, at no charge to the owner.

What you should do

1. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if your car is included. 2. Contact your Kia dealer, or Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542, to arrange the inspection. 3. The inspection and any reinstallation are 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 23V149000. More in how recalls work.

Affected vehicles (3)

2021 Kia K5
2022 Kia K5
2023 Kia K5

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 K5 recalls

Jan 27, 2026Kia Instrument Panel Display May Failhigh
Nov 17, 2025Kia K5 Fuel Tank Damage Risk of Firecritical
Jul 28, 2025Kia K5 rear window trim may loosen and detachmedium
May 27, 2025Kia K5 Parking Lights May Flicker From Software Errorlow
Oct 11, 2022Kia K5 and Sorento May Lose Powerhigh
Jul 8, 2021Kia K5 And Sorento Fuel Line Leakcritical

All 9 K5 recalls

Official notice

Component: AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN
Summary: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2021-2023 K5 vehicles. The side curtain air bags may have been installed incorrectly, causing them not to deploy properly in the event of a crash.
Safety risk: Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and reinstall the side curtain air bags, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 7, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC263.

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