2023 Kia Sportage Curtain Air Bag Recall (22V878)
Kia America, Inc. · 76,918 vehicles · Reported November 28, 2022
Kia America, Inc. is recalling 76,918 2023 Kia Sportage vehicles. The side curtain air bags may have been twisted during installation. A twisted air bag can deploy improperly, increasing the risk of injury. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 22V878 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 22V878000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | SC257 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | November 28, 2022 |
| Manufacturer | Kia America, Inc. |
| Vehicles | 2023 Kia Sportage |
| Units affected | 76,918 |
| Component | Air Bags > Side / Window > Curtain |
| Safety risk | A twisted air bag can deploy improperly, increasing the risk of injury. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2023 Kia Sportage in recall 22V878?
The side curtain air bags may have been twisted during installation.
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Sportage vehicles. The side curtain air bags may have been twisted during installation.
Is it safe to drive a 2023 Sportage with recall 22V878?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A twisted air bag can deploy improperly, increasing the risk of injury.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: A twisted air bag can deploy improperly, increasing the risk of injury.
NHTSA has not issued a do-not-drive or park-outside warning for this recall. Still, get the repair done as soon as it is available, and stop driving if you notice symptoms related to the curtain.
Which vehicles are included in recall 22V878?
Recall 22V878 covers 76,918 vehicles: 2023 Kia Sportage.
NHTSA lists 76,918 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Kia | Sportage |
What is the fix for the Sportage curtain air bag recall?
Yes. Dealers will inspect and reinstall the side curtain air bags as necessary, free of charge.
Dealers will inspect and reinstall the side curtain air bags as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 28, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC257.
When was recall 22V878 announced?
Kia America, Inc. reported recall 22V878 to NHTSA on November 28, 2022. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as December 28, 2022.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| November 28, 2022 | Kia America, Inc. filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 22V878000. |
| December 28, 2022 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 46 months ago. If your Sportage was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Sportage is part of recall 22V878?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 22V878 is open on your Sportage, it will be listed there.
The fastest check is NHTSA’s VIN lookup. Type in the 17 characters from your registration or insurance card. Because only some 2023 Sportage vehicles are included, the VIN check is the only reliable way to know. A brand-new recall may take several days to show up.
What should Sportage owners do about recall 22V878?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 22V878000 applies to your Sportage.
- Book the recall appointment with any authorized Kia dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
- Keep a copy of every repair order. Check that each one lists your complaint, the mileage, and the dates in and out.
- Keep a simple log of any curtain symptoms with dates and mileage. Video of a warning light or the problem happening is strong evidence.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the recall repair does not fix it, or the vehicle keeps going back for the same issue, talk to a lemon law attorney.
What are Sportage owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 190 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 11 of them about the air bags.
Since recall 22V878 was reported on November 28, 2022, owners have filed 9 complaints with NHTSA about the air bags on these vehicles. 0 of them (0%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt.
How we counted: we matched NHTSA owner complaints for the model years in this recall that list the air bags and were received on or after November 28, 2022, then flagged narratives that describe a repeat failure or a problem returning after a dealer repair, recall service or software update. Data from NHTSA, accessed October 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related air bags issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 190 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 11 of them involve the air bags. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2023 Kia Sportage: 190 complaints in total, 11 about the air bags
A few excerpts from owner complaints filed with NHTSA (unverified, lightly trimmed):
The contact owns a 2023 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed through an intersection, the vehicle was struck on the passenger side front quarter panel by another vehicle that had failed to yield.
2023 Kia Sportage owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11651092, filed March 27, 2025
I was involved in a motor vehicle collision where my vehicle sustained significant front-end damage and was later declared a total loss by my insurance company. Despite the severity of the impact, the front airbags did not deploy.
2023 Kia Sportage owner, MI, NHTSA complaint 11713494, filed January 26, 2026
My airbag light has been on since I got my vehicle. The dealership said it is the front side impact sensor that is failing. If I were to get into an accident my front airbag would not deploy. The dealership has seen the light and confirmed the problem.
2023 Kia Sportage owner, NE, NHTSA complaint 11461210, filed April 18, 2022
Can recall 22V878 make my Sportage a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
Recall 22V878000 does not automatically make your Sportage a lemon. California's Song-Beverly Act asks two questions: does a warranty defect substantially impair the vehicle's use, value or safety, and did the manufacturer fail to fix it in a reasonable number of tries (Civ. Code 1793.2(d))?
Air bag defects are hidden until the moment they matter most. A recall repair may replace an inflator or sensor, but if warning lights return or the system faults again, that is a repeat repair for a safety defect.
The recall repair is available at dealers. If it works, great. If the same symptom comes back, the recall visit is one repair attempt and the next visit is another.
California law presumes a reasonable number of attempts has been made if, within 18 months or 18,000 miles of delivery, the same problem was repaired two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for any covered defect, or the vehicle was out of service for repairs more than 30 days in total (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Some of these require written notice to the manufacturer. A claim can still succeed outside that window.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your Sportage been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Kia Sportage recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 22V878
Did the recall 22V878 fix work?
Since recall 22V878 was reported on November 28, 2022, owners have filed 9 complaints with NHTSA about the air bags on these vehicles. 0 of them (0%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt. If your vehicle still has the problem after the recall repair, go back to the dealer, get a repair order, and talk to a lemon law attorney.
When will owners be notified?
According to NHTSA, owner notification letters were or are scheduled to be mailed December 28, 2022.
Is the 22V878000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Sportage is part of recall 22V878000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
What if my air bag light stays on after the recall repair?
Go back to the dealer. A warning light that returns means the system may not deploy correctly, and the visit is another repair attempt for a safety defect.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 22V878000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Kia. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.