This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
The front passenger airbag deactivation light remains lit when there is a passenger in the front seat. This problem has existed from the time we purchased the car to the present. Problem is intermittent but frequent, so there is no trust that a front seat passenger is protected at any given time. We were told to drive the car into the dealer when the light was on, which we did. Dealer questioned the weight of passenger (not the issue), then replaced the bladder in the seat and suggested to front seat passenger to "sit squarely & properly" in the seat. Then told us when this happens again, to execute the following sequence: Stop & turn off car, undo seat belt, get out, get back in, close door, buckle up and restart car, "and see if the light stays off". totally unrealistic on an interstate or in traffic. Sometimes we have done the recommended sequence 4-5 times before the light stays off. Indicator may start off dark and then light up after several minutes, a half hour or several hours of continuous driving. We have returned to the dealer several times for this issue and were told that the car was performing according to manufacturer specifications. There was a recall for the driver air bag but nothing for the passenger air bag. The internet has pages and pages of complaints about this issue. Kia turns a deaf ear or they just don't know how to fix this. 8 years of the same problem is too long and there is no way I can afford a new car. Somebody please push them to investigate this problem and find a solution before someone dies.
I have notified Kia customer service to no avail. I also notified NHTSA a while back and no follow up nor any recalls. Affected area is front passenger side seat which affected and shows air bag is off when some is sitting on the seat. Please issue a recall.
While driving on hywy 80 West, hit black ice, lost control of vehicle. Vehicle spun and then flipped end over end causing extensive impact to front and rear of vehicle. Vehicle is equipped with 6 air bags. Not one of them deployed!!!! by the grace of god no one was killed. The two occupants were injured and had to have medical treatment.
I just had the clock spring recall fixed, and I am being told that the OCS sensor mat in the passenger seat, that will cost me $1600. I did some research on this issue and found that there are other Optima owners with this same issue. There is a recall on this part in the same year ranges on the rio. I would bet they used the same brand and sensor in probably all the cars in these years, so why only recall one model ? this is clearly a safety issue that needs to be the responsibility of the manufacturer, and they know and understand this due to them having one recall out already. I don't feel I should pay to have my car repaired when rio owners don't for the same safety issue. My car will not pass inspection with the airbag light on. Kia should be responsible for replacing this sensor to keep my family safe while driving. They designed this faulty sensor in the passenger seat and don't have an affordable way to fix it. Other than this issue my car in great shape. Hoping you will advocate for the safety of our family. Thank you
The contact owns a 2007 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving 50 mph, the vehicle veered to the left and the contact lost control and crashed into a tree. The air bags did not deploy. The contact sustained injuries to the back, neck and left arm that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 134,000.....updated 04/08/15
- Prairieville , LA, USA
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Air bag lights com on with no accidents involved. I called Kia customer service and they stated that it was my issue not theirs. I have filed previous time and yet no answer from anyone. Kia owner are being left out on these recalls on air bags. They had in the past recalls on the same issue. Air bags.
Numerous times I have notified Kia on air issues and they fall deaf ears. Car with less than 100, 000 miles and air bag light is on. It seems that Kia has no concern on auto safety. Please issue a recall on this issue before someone actually dies from this defective product.
The passenger airbags have never worked properly. The indicator stays on most of the time when a passenger is sitting in the seat. Kia dealers were told about this over the years, but nothing was done about it. They tried to convince us that passenger was not sitting in the seat properly, and needed to sit a certain way for it to work.
Back when the clock spring had a recall we had it fixed, shortly after the repair the airbag light came back on they told us it was up to us to repair with a costly bill. Our state inspection ran out and the car was rejected due to the airbag light being on. They ran diagnosis and it came back to the OCS sensor mat in the passenger seat, that will cost me $1800. I did some research on this issue and found that there are other Optima owners with this same issue. There is a recall on this part in the same year ranges on the rio. I would bet they used the same brand and sensor in probably all the cars in these years, so why only recall one model ? this is clearly a safety issue that needs to be the responsibility of the manufacturer, and they know and understand this due to them having one recall out already. I don't feel I should pay to have my car repaired when rio owners don't for the same safety issue.
Light turned on for air bag while turn vehicle on. No accident. Called Kia on this issue. And explained to them that there was a recall on this before SC0094. And they stated that they were sorry but that campaign is over. So they showed no concern on airbag safety. Updated 3/18/2015.
The contact owns a 2007 Kia Optima. The contact stated that his vehicle was repaired under recall NHTSA campaign number: 12V014000 (air bags) but the problem persisted. The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 79,000.
Air bag SRS light stays on.... talked to dealer.. they said Kia haven't recall this part yet. The passenger air bag senor in the seat need to be reset. Vehicle can't pass inspection.
I have already taken my Optima to the dealer for this recall already and they fixed the recall the first time, but I took it again last week for the same thing and now they are telling me that I have to pay for a diagnostic fee so they can tell me what the problem is ? the problem is that the dealer wants to charge me for something that they know what it is and it is a defect and they want me to pay for it. This a recall and they need to fix it and not me pay for it....
Air bag dash board light came on. Before this the passenger sensor would be hit or miss. Dealership says there is a short in the sensor in the passenger seat cushion and it needs to be replaced for $1400. It cost me $60 just for them to tell me about this problem. There are way too many other people having the same issue for this to be ok.
How many people must lose their lives in order for the government to issue a mandatory inspection of Kia manufacturing plants regarding air bag failures. I own two Kia vehicles and both of them have the main air bag light illuminated on the dash. A recent visit to the dealer added insult to injury when they indicated that it would cost $1500 to replace a passenger seat due to a internal short of the OCS/mat airbag system. This is not acceptable. My wife and daughter are driving vehicles with airbag failures from day one of purchase. Kia must be standing in line for future lawsuits.
At 63,000 miles, the red airbag light came on and stayed illuminated. Took it to the dealer, and they said the adult/child sensor needed to be replaced or neither front airbag would work. Estimate was $1,600 prepaid. Prior to this, no problem with airbag sensors in this vehicle.
The contact owns a 2007 Kia Optima. The contact stated the air bag warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The manufacturer was notified, but denied any assistance with repairs to the vehicle. The dealer was not contacted and the vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 40,533 and the current mileage was 40,353.
2007 Kia Optima air bag warning light stay on and will not go out until the engine is shutoff. There have been numerous of complaints to Kia concerning this problems.this is a safety issue and Kia needs to fix the problems. NHTSA please investigated Kia air bag warning light problems.
I have a Kia Optima 2007, I bought it brand new in 2007. The air bag light is on and they have not fixed it under warranty at all. Also the engine light has come on and they will not fix that as well. I have had to change the rotors on the car only a year into driving it. The air bags will not deploy in the event there is a crash which is a danger to me and my kids. I have tried to reason with Kia and they want nothing to do with me at all.
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- Ewing, NJ, USA