The Recall Desk
Our severity:HighNHTSA·18V161000·Announced 2018-03-08

Kia Recalls 2017-2018 Optima Hybrids for Voltage Protection Device Defect

Kia is recalling 2017-2018 Optima hybrid vehicles because a voltage protection device may activate inadvertently, causing a loss of power in EV mode and increasing crash risk.

What this means for you

Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 3/5 (High).

Real risk of harm even if no illness or injury has been reported yet. Stop using the product and follow the agency's guidance.

Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a risk-of-harm product where a loss of power increases the risk of a crash, but no specific injuries or fatalities are reported in the source text.

Plain-English summary

Kia Motors America is recalling certain 2017-2018 Kia Optima hybrid vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with a Voltage Protection Device (VPD) designed to protect the high voltage battery module, which may activate inadvertently.

If the VPD activates while the vehicle is being operated in Electric Vehicle (EV) mode, there may be a loss of power, increasing the risk of a crash.

Kia will notify owners, and dealers will remove the VPD switch and install two newly designed Battery Management Systems (BMS) that contain Overvoltage Protection Devices (OPDs), free of charge. The recall is expected to begin May 2018. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC162. Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

The recalled product

Product
KIA OPTIMA
Brand
KIA
Manufacturer
Kia Motors America
Category
Vehicle — Hybrid Propulsion System
Hazard
Affected units
1,710

Is your product affected?

Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.

Model numbers (1)

  • OPTIMA

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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