This page is for personal, non-commercial use. You may order presentation ready copies to distribute to your colleagues, customers, or clients, by visiting https://www.parsintl.com/publication/autoblog/

Kia is recalling its 2012-2013 Optima sedan to address headliner panels that may not be adequately secured, allowing them to come free in a collision and become projectiles in the cabin. The recall covers every 2012-2013 model year Optima manufactured at Kia Georgia from August, 2011 through September, 2013, for a total of 257,998 units. 

"The subject vehicles are equipped with headliner plates designed as part of the energy absorbing structure of the headliner. Under certain circumstances, the headliner plate(s) may detach from the headliner upon deployment of the side curtain airbag(s), increasing the risk of injury to an occupant," Kia's defect report said. 

Unlike the plastic panels covering interior components along the sides of the upper vehicle cabin, these plates are part of the Optima's crash structure and should remain secured to prevent additional hazards in the event of a crash. Kia was made aware of the issue when a lawsuit was filed earlier this year on behalf of an owner who claimed to have been injured by a bracket that detached from the structure of their vehicle when the airbag deployed. 

Kia says vehicles produced in Korea for other markets source the components from a different supplier whose procedures better secure the components to the body; no incidents have been reported outside of the United States. 

Please sign in to leave a comment.

Get recall details from the NHTSA and find out what to do if your car been recalled.

Altercation at GM's Orion Assembly plant leaves one dead

Car buyers paying more than MSRP feel lasting resentment

Turn your car into a comfortable camper for less than $100

Why so many supercars have Montana license plates

Here's the 2023 Ford Maverick Tremor in the flesh

Glass roofs are actually bad

News, Reviews, Photos, Videos delivered straight to your in-box.

Thanks for subscribing. Check your in-box to get started.

We get it. Ads can be annoying. But ads are also how we keep the garage doors open and the lights on here at Autoblog - and keep our stories free for you and for everyone. And free is good, right? If you'd be so kind as to allow our site, we promise to keep bringing you great content. Thanks for that. And thanks for reading Autoblog.

You still haven't turned off your adblocker or allowed our site. It only takes a few seconds.

You must be logged in to perform that action.

Please enter a display name