Safety Recall NHTSA · 18V161000 Reported March 8, 2018

Voltage protection device may activate

Kia America, Inc. · N/A · 1,710 vehicles potentially affected

NHTSA ID
18V161000
Manufacturer Campaign
SC162
Manufacturer
Kia America, Inc.
Component
N/A
Vehicles Affected
1,710
Recall Type
Vehicle
Report Received
March 8, 2018
Completion Rate
81.71

Defect Summary

Kia motors america (kia) is recalling certain 2017-2018 kia optima hybrid vehicles. these vehicles are equipped with a voltage protection device (vpd), designed to protect the high voltage battery module, that may activate inadvertently.

Safety Consequence

If the vpd activates while the vehicle is being operated in electric vehicle (ev) mode, there may be a loss of power, increasing the risk of a crash.

Corrective Action

Kia will notify owners, and dealers will remove the vpd switch and install two newly designed battery management systems (bms) that contain overvoltage protection devices (opds), free of charge. the recall is expected to begin may 2018. owners may contact kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. kia's number for this recall is sc162.

What you should do

  1. Look up your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm this recall applies to your vehicle.
  2. Contact an authorized Kia America, Inc. dealer and reference recall ID 18V161000 or campaign SC162.
  3. Schedule the free repair. By federal law, the manufacturer must remedy the defect at no cost.
View Official NHTSA Notice →
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FAQ: Recall 18V161000

Your rights, the repair process, and what each field on this page means.

What is recall 18V161000?

NHTSA recall 18V161000 was issued by Kia America, Inc. on March 8, 2018. It addresses: Voltage protection device may activate. The recall affects approximately 1,710 vehicles, with the defect involving the N/A component.

How do I get this recall repaired?

Contact any authorized Kia America, Inc. dealer and reference NHTSA recall ID 18V161000 or the manufacturer campaign number SC162. Under federal law, the repair is completely free regardless of vehicle age or owner history.

Is my vehicle included in this recall?

The only way to confirm is to look up your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. NHTSA's tool will tell you if VIN-by-VIN this exact recall applies.

How long do I have to get a recall repair done?

There is no expiration on most federal safety recalls. Even if your vehicle is years old and you bought it used, the manufacturer is required to perform the repair at no cost.

Where does the data on this page come from?

All information on this page is sourced directly from the U.S. Department of Transportation public dataset for NHTSA recalls. Last refreshed: 2026-05-22. For the most current official notice, visit nhtsa.gov/recalls.