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Kia Optima trunk latch may crack, trapping someone inside

NHTSA campaign 23V594000 · Reported Aug 24, 2023 · Kia America, Inc.

medium How serious is it? About this label

Someone inside the trunk compartment could become trapped, which increases their risk of injury. The notice does not tell owners to stop driving.

Key facts

NHTSA campaign number	23V594000
Reported to NHTSA	Aug 24, 2023
Manufacturer	Kia America, Inc.
Part affected	Latches/locks/linkages:trunk Lid:latch
Vehicles covered	2 model/year combinations, model years 2018
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 Optima and Optima Hybrid cars. The base of the trunk latch can crack. When it cracks, the trunk can no longer be opened from the inside. Federal safety rules require a way to open the trunk from inside, and these cars do not meet that rule. A dealer will replace the trunk latch base at no cost, so the trunk can be opened from the inside again.

What you should do

1. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if your car is included.
2. Contact a Kia dealer, or Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542, to schedule the latch replacement.
3. 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 23V594000. More in how recalls work.

Affected vehicles (2)

2018 Kia Optima
2018 Kia Optima Hybrid

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 Door and Trunk Latch Recalls: What Can Fail · all 3 Kia recalls in this area

Other Kia Optima recalls

Jul 19, 2019Kia Optima Collision Braking Software May Not Engagemedium
Mar 8, 2018Kia Optima Hybrid Battery Protection Device Issuehigh

Official notice

Component: LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LATCH
Summary: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Rio, 2016-2018 Optima, 2017-2018 Optima Hybrid and Optima Plug-in Hybrid vehicles. The trunk latch base may crack, preventing the opening of the trunk from the inside. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 401, "Internal Trunk Release."
Safety risk: A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the trunk latch base subassembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 19, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC278.

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