Recall 22V447 affects 17,199 2021-2022 Kia Sorento Hybrid and Sorento PHEV vehicles for exploding seat belt pretensioners. Repair is free at any franchised Kia dealer.
Kia is recalling 17,199 2021-2022 Sorento Hybrid and Sorento PHEV vehicles because the front driver-side or passenger-side seat belt pretensioner can explode during a crash. Metal fragments can strike occupants and cause injury, and Kia dealers will complete the free repair.
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What's wrong?
The front seat belt pretensioner in a 2021-2022 Kia Sorento Hybrid or Sorento PHEV is part of the front seat belt assembly. In a crash, it fires a small gas generator that tightens the belt quickly, helping hold the driver or front passenger in position while the restraint system works.
In the recalled vehicles, the pretensioner pipe can become overpressurized during certain crashes. When that happens, the pretensioner can explode as it deploys instead of staying contained inside the seat belt assembly. Kia says the corrected front pretensioners use a secured cap on the micro gas generator and delivery pipe, which keeps the deployment hardware contained.
There is no warning sign before failure. The pretensioner is crash-activated, so an owner is not expected to hear, feel, or see a problem during normal driving before the part deploys.
Who's affected?
The Sorento Hybrid and Sorento PHEV scopes point to the same front passenger seat belt assembly, listed under pretensioner and front seat belt component labels.
| 2022 Kia Sorento Hybrid | seat belt |
|---|---|
| 2022 Kia Sorento Hybrid | seat belt |
| 2021 Kia Sorento Hybrid | seat belt |
| 2021 Kia Sorento Hybrid | seat belt |
| 2022 Kia Sorento PHEV | seat belt |
| 2022 Kia Sorento PHEV | seat belt |
| Units affected | 17,199 |
A matching year and model does not confirm inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether this recall applies to your specific SUV.
What's the safety risk?
An exploding seat belt pretensioner can send metal fragments into the cabin, striking occupants and causing injury. There is no warning sign before this failure, so schedule the recall repair soon and avoid delaying service if your VIN is included. Repair is free at any franchised Kia dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2021-2022 Kia Sorento Hybrid or Sorento PHEV is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Kia dealer to schedule the free seat belt pretensioner cap repair that helps contain metal fragments if the pretensioner deploys in a crash.
- Bring the recall notice if Kia mailed one. If not, reference recall number 22V447 and Kia recall SC241 when you call.
- Ask the dealer to complete the new remedy even if the vehicle was repaired under recall 22V-127.
- Keep using the seat belts until the repair is complete; the recall fix addresses pretensioner deployment in a crash, not normal belt use.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Kia technician secures the front seat belt pretensioners with a cap. The recall repair is available now, and parts and labor are free. Kia says vehicles already repaired under the previous recall still need this newer remedy completed. If you've already paid for a related pretensioner repair, Kia's standard reimbursement plan covers repair expenses already incurred. Bring your receipts or repair documentation to the service desk, or contact Kia customer service to start the claim.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| June 23, 2022 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| June 23, 2022 | Dealer notification began |
| June 28, 2022 | Dealer notification ended |
| August 17, 2022 | Owner notification mailed |
| August 19, 2022 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 22V447?
Recall 22V447 covers 17,199 2021-2022 Kia Sorento Hybrid and 2022 Kia Sorento PHEV vehicles with front seat belt pretensioners that can explode during deployment in a crash. Metal fragments can enter the cabin and injure occupants. Kia dealers will secure the pretensioners with a cap for free.
What should I do if my 2021-2022 Kia Sorento Hybrid or Sorento PHEV is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 22V447. If it is, contact a franchised Kia dealer to schedule the seat belt pretensioner cap installation. Reference recall number 22V447 or Kia recall SC241 when you call. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair safety defects at no cost, and Kia dealers will secure the affected seat belt pretensioners with a cap free of charge. Parts and labor are covered at any franchised Kia dealer.
What is the safety risk in recall 22V447?
The safety risk is injury from metal fragments inside the vehicle during a crash. If an affected front seat belt pretensioner explodes when it deploys, fragments can strike occupants. Kia's remedy is a dealer-installed cap that secures the pretensioner.
What if I bought my Kia Sorento Hybrid or Sorento PHEV used?
The free repair still applies. Federal recall law requires the remedy regardless of ownership history. If Kia did not mail you a notice, check your VIN to confirm whether your specific vehicle is included, then contact a franchised Kia dealer and reference recall 22V447 or SC241.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/22V447000 |
|---|---|
| Kia customer service | 1-800-333-4542 |
| NHTSA recall # | 22V447 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 22V447000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Misc. Document (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 20, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →