Kia Australia has recalled 4,817 examples of the MY26 K4 hatch over a rear seatbelt that may not do its job in a crash. The notice is listed on the government recall portal as REC-006571 and covers 2025 and 2026 build K4 hatches across all variants.
The fault
The rear centre seatbelt anchor buckle may have been incorrectly assembled, which means the belt may not latch or operate as intended. In a crash, a belt that does not latch properly leaves that occupant poorly restrained, so the risk of injury or death rises for anyone sitting in the middle rear seat.
Cartell Assessment
Credit to Kia for catching an assembly fault early, on a car that has only just gone on sale here. The middle rear seat is the one most often used for a child in a booster, which is exactly where you want the belt to work every time. There have been no reported incidents in Australia so far.
AU Outlook
Owners will be contacted by Kia and asked to book their car in with an authorised dealer, where the buckle will be inspected and replaced if needed at no charge. If you own a recent K4, there is no reason to wait for the letter: the repair is free and quick.
