Kia Sedans Recalled to Fix Emergency Trunk Release

A broken latch on the Rio and Optima sedans could trap a person in the trunk

Jon Linkov, Consumer Reports Autos Editor.

By Jon Linkov
Autos Editor

August 31, 2023

Kia has announced the recall of more than 319,000 Rio and Optima sedans from the 2016 through 2018 model years because the base of the trunk latch may crack. If this happens, the trunk may not be able to be opened from the inside with the emergency trunk release handle. This means the vehicles fail to comply with federal safety standards.

The Details

Vehicles recalled: 319,436 Kia vehicles, including the 2016-2017 Rio, 2016-2018 Optima, and 2017-2018 Optima Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid.

The problem: The trunk latch base may crack, which could prevent the trunk from being able to be opened from the inside. Therefore, the vehicles do not comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 401.

FMVSS 401 “establishes the requirement for providing a trunk release mechanism that makes it possible for a person trapped inside the trunk compartment of a passenger car to escape from the compartment.”

The fix: Dealers will replace the trunk latch base subassembly, free of charge.

How to contact the manufacturer: Owners may call Kia at 800-333-4542.

NHTSA campaign number: 23V594. Kia’s number for the recall is SC278.

Check to see whether your vehicle has an open recall: NHTSA’s website will tell you whether your vehicle has any open recalls that need to be addressed.

If you plug your car’s 17-digit vehicle identification number (VIN) into NHTSA’s website and a recall doesn’t appear, your vehicle doesn’t currently have any open recalls. Because automakers issue recalls often, and for many older vehicles, we recommend checking back regularly to see whether your vehicle has had a recall issued.

Stay informed about recalls that might affect your vehicle using our Car Recall Tracker. Create a free account now to become a CR member.

Stay informed about recalls that might affect your vehicle by using our Car Recall Tracker. Create a free account now to become a CR member.

Jon Linkov

Jon Linkov is the deputy auto editor at Consumer Reports. He has been with CR since 2002, covering varied automotive topics including buying and leasing, maintenance and repair, ownership, reliability, used cars, and electric vehicles. He manages CR’s lineup of special interest publications, hosts CR’s “Talking Cars” podcast, and writes and edits content for CR’s online and print products. An avid cyclist, Jon also enjoys driving his ’80s-era sports car and instructing at track days.