On January 20, 2012, Kia announced a recall of 146,000 vehicles for faulty airbags that may not deploy in the event of a collision. Kia reports that in most cases the driver would be warned of the airbag defect by a warning light, and that it has not heard of any injuries related to the damaged product.

The recall includes the Optima sedan from 2006-2008 and the Rondo wagon from 2007-2008. This recall came not long after Hyundai, the parent company of Kia, recalled 205,000 vehicles for a similar problem. The defect in the airbag comes from the clock spring, a component found in the steering wheel. Over time, the clock spring assembly may wear and become damaged or defective as a result. According to Kia, this damaged clock spring may prevent the airbag from deploying in a crash.

Even though Kia has reported that no serious injuries have occurred, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has reported that this defect could pose a serious safety risk to those involved. The NHTSA and Kia’s objective is to get the cars back to the dealership for repair before any serious injuries occur. The recall is expected to begin in March.