Affected Component: EQUIPMENT

Date Published
JUN 10, 2016
NHTSA TSB #
10094563
TSB Document
Summary
OWNER LETTER: WTY002 RIO - DEAR KIA RIO OWNER: KIA MOTORS AMERICAÂ’S HIGHEST COMMITMENT IS TO YOUR SAFETY. TO THAT END, KIA IS EXTENDING THE WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR THE FRONT PASSENGER OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) SENSOR MAT TO 15 YEARS WITH UNLIMITED MILEAGE, STARTING FROM THE DATE OF FIRST SERVICE. THIS WARRANTY EXTENSION ADDRESSES FAILURES OF THE OCS SENSOR MAT AS REPORTED BY SOME VEHICLE OWNERS. THE SENSOR MAT IS INTENDED TO DETECT CHILD SEATS AND SMALL STATURE OCCUPANTS WHO COULD BE HARMED BY DEPLOYMENT OF THE PASSENGER FRONTAL AIR BAG. IF THE SENSOR MAT IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY, THE OCS WILL NOT SUPPRESS THE AIR BAG. ACCORDINGLY, IF A CRASH OF SUFFICIENT SEVERITY OCCURS, THE AIR BAG WILL DEPLOY EVEN IF THE PASSENGER SEAT IS OCCUPIED BY A CHILD OR SMALL STATURE PERSON.