Following initial action in March affecting around 200 vehicles, Kia is now issuing a new recall expanding the population to nearly 17,200 Sorento Hybrid and Sorento Plug-in Hybrid SUVs to resolve potentially exploding seat belt pretensioners.
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The new recall affects model-year 2021-22 Sorento Hybrids and model-year 2022 Sorento PHEVs. In the event of a crash, the front driver-side or passenger-side seat belt pretensioner(s) may explode upon deployment, projecting metal fragments into the vehicle, striking occupants and resulting in injury.
Startling though it might sound, Kia isn’t the only one dealing with this risk right now: Related automaker Hyundai issued a similar recall in May for more than 239,000 vehicles.
As with both the Hyundai recall and the original Kia recall, dealers will resolve the issue by securing the pretensioners with a cap for free. Kia will begin notifying owners starting Aug. 19, but those with further questions can call the automaker at 800-333-4542 (Kia’s number for this recall is SC241), the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s vehicle-safety hotline at 888-327-4236, or visit its website to check your vehicle identification number and learn more.
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