Kia India Recalls Carens MPV Over a Defective Airbag Control Unit

44,174 units of the Carens MPV have been recalled over a potential fault in the airbag control unit; The problem will be rectified with a free-of-cost software update.

Recalls are a common norm in the Automotive Industry. These are generally carried out to rectify the manufacturing defects that can lead to improper functioning of any specific component in the vehicle. In the latest round of recall, Kia has called back its Carens MPV over a possible fault in ACU (Airbag Control Unit).

Kia Carens Recall: All Details

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A total of 44,174 units of the Carens MPV have been recalled by Kia. The reason behind this recall is the faulty airbag control unit (ACU). As per the Korean carmaker, the fault will most likely be rectified by a software update which will be carried out free of cost. If the fault persists, the carmaker may choose to replace the unit itself. The owners of the vehicles involved in this recall will be personally informed about this recall. The customers can further book an appointment as per their convenience and the issue will be thoroughly checked and resolved.

Commenting on the recall, the brand said “This voluntary recall campaign is being undertaken by Kia India, to inspect any potential error in Airbag Control Module (ACU) software in the Kia Carens. The company will take utmost care to minimise inconvenience to customers throughout the process of this campaign.”

Kia Carens Recall: Function of ACU (Airbag Control Unit)

The ACU is a very crucial component in the airbag mechanism. The unit works as the brain of the airbag system by taking the input from crash sensors, assessing the situation and triggering the deployment of airbags at the correct time. So a fault in the ACU is a safety hazard for the customers and this is the reason behind this mass recall.
This is not the first time a car manufacturer has recalled a vehicle over a potential airbag issue. Earlier, Maruti Suzuki recalled 166 units of Dzire Tour S due to a fault in the airbag control unit (ACU) and promised to replace them free of cost.

Kia Carens is priced from Rs. 9.60 lakhs to Rs. 17.70 lakh (ex-showroom) in India. The MPV is offered in three engine options, namely a 1.5 litre NA Petrol, 1.5 litre CRDi diesel and a 1.4-litre tGDi petrol. The power output and torque from these engines stand at 115 bhp/ 144Nm, 115 bhp/ 250 Nm and 138 bhp/ 242 Nm respectively. The transmission options include a 6-speed manual, 6-speed torque converter and a 7-speed DCT. Kia offers the Carens in a total of 19 variants and 6/7 seater configurations.

One of the main highlights of the Carens is the long list of standard safety features. These include 6 airbags, ESC (Electronic Stability Control), ABS, Brake Assist, all four disc brakes, rear parking sensors and Highline TPMS (Tyre Pressure Monitoring System).

The Carens takes on the likes of Maruti Suzuki XL6 and Ertiga, Hyundai Alcazar, Mahindra Marazzo and other seven-seater SUVs/MPVs in the segment.

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