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        SACRAMENTO –  The California Air Resources Board (ARB) today announced the recall of 26,539 Kia passenger cars that failed to meet the state's evaporative emission standards.

        "This failure is the result of defective hoses Kia purchased from an outside vendor, but the auto company is required to remedy the problem," said ARB Chairman Dr. Alan C. Lloyd.

        The recall effort started July 15 with letters mailed to vehicle owners advising them to take the cars to Kia dealerships to have them repaired.  As required by ARB regulations, the repairs will be done at no cost to the vehicle owners.

        The recall applies to 1996 and 1997 Kia Sephia vehicles built between July 1, 1995 and November 4, 1996.  The repairs, estimated to cost Kia $1.7 million, involve changing all vapor hoses in the fuel tank area.

        ARB's In-Use Compliance Program  tested a representative sample of Kia vehicles owned by average consumers.  Half of the vehicles failed to meet evaporative emission standards because of defective, leaking hoses that recover gasoline fumes from the vehicles' fuel systems.

        Vapor leaks present a health hazard to vehicle occupants, and contribute smog- forming emissions to the air.  If all the vehicles in question had active leaks, they could have contributed approximately 25 tons-per-year of smog-forming emissions to California's air.