Recall 21V164 affects 142 2021 Kia K5, Forte, and Telluride vehicles for faulty child-restraint detection. Repair is free at any franchised Kia dealer.
Kia is recalling 142 2021 K5, Forte, and Telluride vehicles because the Occupant Classification and Detection System can fail to detect a child restraint system in the front passenger seat. In a crash, the front passenger air bag can increase injury risk to a child in that seat, and Kia dealers will complete the repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The occupant classification and detection system in the 2021 Kia K5, Forte, and Telluride is the front passenger seat sensing system. It reads weight and seat inputs so the vehicle can decide how the front passenger air bag system should respond. When it identifies a child restraint in that seat, the system is supposed to show the PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator and manage the air bag accordingly.
On affected vehicles, the OCS/ODS unit was calibrated incorrectly. That means the sensor unit can miss a child restraint in the front passenger seat. The hardware is not described as broken; the problem is that the unit has the wrong calibration, so Kia replaces it with a properly calibrated unit.
The warning sign is visible on the dash. If a child restraint is in the front passenger seat and the PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator stays off, the system is not showing the status it should show.
Who's affected?
Spans the K5, Forte, and Telluride in the 2021 model year. Each model is tied to both the front passenger occupant detection sensor and the air bag control module.
| 2021 Kia K5 | front air bag |
|---|---|
| 2021 Kia K5 | air bag system |
| 2021 Kia Forte | front air bag |
| 2021 Kia Forte | air bag system |
| 2021 Kia Telluride | front air bag |
| 2021 Kia Telluride | air bag system |
| Units affected | 142 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle.
What's the safety risk?
If a child is in the front passenger seat during a crash, front passenger air bag deployment can increase the risk of injury to the child. The warning sign is the "PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF" indicator staying off when it should be on. Keep children out of the front passenger seat and schedule the repair soon. Repair is free at any franchised Kia dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2021 Kia K5, Forte, or Telluride is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Kia dealer to schedule the free OCS/ODS unit replacement, which fixes the front passenger child-restraint detection problem.
- Bring the recall notice if Kia mailed one. Reference recall number 21V164 and Kia recall SC207 when you call.
- Keep children and child restraints out of the front passenger seat until the repair is complete.
- Call Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542 with questions about scheduling or the owner letter.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Kia technician replaces the OCS/ODS unit in the front passenger seat sensing system. That unit is part of the system that tells the vehicle whether the front passenger position is occupied and how the occupant protection system should respond. Parts and labor are free under the recall. Kia's General Reimbursement Plan covers repair expenses owners already paid before the recall. Bring repair invoices or other documentation to the service desk, or contact Kia customer service.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| March 11, 2021 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| March 16, 2021 | Dealer notification began |
| March 16, 2021 | Dealer notification ended |
| March 18, 2021 | Owner notification mailed |
| March 18, 2021 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 21V164?
Recall 21V164 covers 142 2021 Kia K5, Forte, and Telluride vehicles with an occupant classification and detection system fault. The front passenger sensor can fail to detect a child restraint system, so Kia dealers will replace the OCS/ODS unit for free.
What should I do if my 2021 Kia K5, Forte, or Telluride is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific 2021 Kia K5, Forte, or Telluride is included in recall 21V164. If it is, contact a franchised Kia dealer to schedule the OCS/ODS unit replacement. Reference Kia recall number SC207 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
No owner payment is required. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to perform safety recall repairs at no cost. Kia dealers will replace the OCS/ODS unit free of charge for vehicles included in recall 21V164, regardless of where the vehicle was purchased.
What is the safety risk in recall 21V164?
The safety risk is injury to a child seated in the front passenger seat during a crash. If the system fails to detect a child restraint, the front passenger air bag can deploy and increase injury risk to the child.
What if I bought my 2021 Kia K5, Forte, or Telluride used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the VIN, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm inclusion in recall 21V164, then contact a franchised Kia dealer or Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542 with recall number SC207.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/21V164000 |
|---|---|
| Kia customer service | 1-800-333-4542 |
| NHTSA recall # | 21V164 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 21V164000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Misc. Document (PDF)
- Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 23, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →