Recall 12V244 affects 72,568 2006-2008 Kia Rio vehicles for a passenger-seat sensor mat that fails to detect children. Free repair at a franchised Kia dealer.
Kia is recalling 72,568 2006-2008 Rio vehicles because the front passenger seat occupant sensor mat can crack from fatigue, stopping the occupant classification system from recognizing a child in that seat. If that happens, the passenger air bag will deploy in a crash requiring deployment, increasing injury risk to the child; the Kia dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The front passenger seat in the 2006-2008 Kia Rio uses an occupant sensor mat as part of the occupant classification system, or OCS. That mat helps the air bag system decide whether someone in the seat is a child passenger, so the system can choose the correct front passenger air bag response.
On affected Rio vehicles, the sensor mat can develop fatigue cracks. If the cracking becomes severe enough, the OCS stops working as intended. The air bag system then cannot tell whether a child passenger is in the seat. In a crash where the front passenger air bag deploys, it will deploy even when the seat is occupied by a child passenger.
There is no warning sign before failure. The defect is inside the seat sensing system, so an owner should not expect a sound, smell, or change in how the car drives before the OCS stops detecting properly.
Who's affected?
Covers three Rio model years with the same front air bag sensor and control module issue.
| 2006 Kia Rio | front air bag |
|---|---|
| 2007 Kia Rio | front air bag |
| 2008 Kia Rio | front air bag |
| Units affected | 72,568 |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific car is included.
What's the safety risk?
The safety risk is specific to a child in the front passenger seat: an air bag deployment increases the risk of injury to that child. Keep children out of the front passenger seat until the recall repair is complete. Repair will be free at any franchised Kia dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2006-2008 Kia Rio is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Kia dealer to ask about the free OCS seat sensor mat replacement that restores the system's ability to identify a child in the front passenger seat.
- Reference recall number 12V244 when you call Kia or the dealer.
- Bring the recall notice if Kia mailed one, along with any repair paperwork tied to the passenger-seat sensor mat.
- Keep children out of the front passenger seat until the repair is complete.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Kia technician replaces the OCS seat sensor mat in the front passenger seat. That mat is part of the occupant classification system, which helps the vehicle identify the passenger seat occupant for airbag deployment logic. The final dealer repair will be free once available, with parts and labor covered under the recall. Ask the Kia service desk to confirm the campaign is open for your VIN before scheduling service.
Timeline
| May 31, 2012 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| July 26, 2012 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 12V244?
Recall 12V244 covers 72,568 2006-2008 Kia Rio vehicles with a front passenger occupant sensor mat that can fatigue crack. If the occupant classification system stops detecting a child passenger, the passenger air bag can deploy in a crash, increasing injury risk. Kia dealers replace the OCS seat sensor mat for free.
What should I do if my 2006-2008 Kia Rio is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific Rio is included in recall 12V244. If it is, contact a franchised Kia dealer to schedule the OCS seat sensor mat replacement. Reference recall number 12V244 when you call. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the defect repair at no cost, and Kia's remedy states that dealers will replace the OCS seat sensor mat free of charge. Any franchised Kia dealer can handle the recall repair for an included VIN.
What is the safety risk in recall 12V244?
The risk is injury to a child in the front passenger seat. If the occupant sensor mat cracks enough for the occupant classification system to stop working, the system cannot detect a child passenger, and the passenger air bag can deploy during a crash.
What if I bought my Kia Rio used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the VIN, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific 2006-2008 Kia Rio is included, then call a franchised Kia dealer and reference recall number 12V244.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/12V244000 |
|---|---|
| Kia customer service | 1-800-333-4542 |
| NHTSA recall # | 12V244 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 12V244000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Defect / Noncompliance Notice (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on June 2, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →