Kia America has issued a voluntary recall of its Sportage SUVs with the 2023 model year. The company says a brake booster diaphragm might become askew. It could result in an internal vacuum leak. A misaligned brake booster could even cause the loss of the power brake assist.

The loss of the power brake assist can make driving dangerous. It can make the distance needed to stop longer. This increases the risk of a vehicle crash.

The South Korean carmaker said the issue could affect 98,944 of its Sportage compact SUVs.

Understanding the Issue

The defective brake booster diaphragm is reportedly supplied by Mobis Mexico. The company is a subsidiary of the Hyundai Motor Group. The brake booster assembly has part number 59110-CW200.

Kia found out about the problem in January. The company received many reports of diagnostic trouble codes in its lean combustion. These all came from the brake booster’s internal vacuum leaks. The company contacted Mobis Mexico and had them look into the cause of the problem.

Mobis engineers found a gap in the brake booster’s shell. This could let the diaphragm slip out of its conventional position.

The subsidiary’s regional office informed Kia of their findings. Kia North America then did an analysis of its warranty data. It found 65 complaints made about hard brake pedals.

What Can Consumers Do?

Kia is advising vehicle owners to head to the nearest licensed dealership. The dealer will check the brake booster. It will also replace it if necessary. This service is free of charge.

The company will also send out owner notification letters by July 21, 2023.

Vehicle owners can also contact Kia’s customer service at (800) 333-4542. They can use the code SC272 for this recall.