Manufacturer recall number

Kia recall SC131

Q: Is SC131 the same recall as 16V231000?

Yes. SC131 is Kia’s own number for it; 16V231000 is NHTSA’s. One recall, two references.

Kia calls it SC131. NHTSA filed it as campaign 16V231000 on Apr 21, 2016: air bags on the 2016 Kia Optima, 17 vehicles potentially affected. One recall, two numbers — the dealer quotes the manufacturer’s, the federal record carries NHTSA’s.

The full filing, 16V231000 →Check a VIN at NHTSA Kia’s own VIN lookup →

What NHTSA has under this number

Source: 49 CFR Part 573 filings

NHTSA campaign	Vehicles	Component	Filed	Affected	Severity
16V231000	2016 Kia Optima	Air Bags	Apr 21, 2016	17	high

Problem Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2016 Kia Optima vehicles manufactured November 10, 2015, to February 12, 2016. In these vehicles, a chemical enhancer required for the for the second stage deployment of the driver's frontal air bag was not loaded, resulting in the second stage not deploying in necessitating crashes. Risk If the second stage air bag does not deploy it increases the risk of injury or death. Fix Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began on May 6, 2016. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC131.

The manufacturer’s own words as filed for 16V231000. Every model year it covers, the build window and the filed PDFs →

Two numbers, one recall

Every safety recall carries two identifiers. SC131 is the number Kia assigned in its own system: it is what appears on the owner letter, on the dealer’s service screen and on the repair order. 16V231000 is the number NHTSA filed the same recall under when the manufacturer reported it, and it is the one every federal record, this site included, is keyed on.

The repair is free by federal law for vehicles up to fifteen years old. Whether one particular vehicle is included is settled by its VIN against the manufacturer’s build list, not by its model year.

Check one specific vehicle

Both lookups check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list and say whether the repair is still outstanding on that vehicle.

NHTSA VIN recall lookup →Kia’s own VIN lookup →

Common questions

Source: NHTSA, 49 CFR Part 573

Is SC131 the same recall as 16V231000?

Yes. SC131 is Kia’s own number for it; 16V231000 is NHTSA’s. One recall, two references.

Which vehicles does SC131 cover?

2016 Kia Optima, 17 vehicles by the manufacturer’s count. A recall covers a build range, so the VIN decides whether one particular vehicle is in it.

Does the SC131 repair cost anything?

No. The manufacturer must remedy a safety defect at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from first sale.