My 2007 Kia Optima seems to be having issues with the driver side airbag and randomly with the radio/cruise control setting on the steering wheel. My problems did not appear to start until after the steering column was replaced back in October of 2009 due to the noises that was coming from it. The air bag light has recently come on and stays on. One dealer said that the code that they were getting is that clock spring in the steering column need to be replaced again and would not be covered. Another dealer states that they are not getting any codes and the air bag would need to be replaced at $1200. The noise from the steering column can still be heard and I was told that it is the bearing in the steering column and there is nothing that they can do about that. The issues with the controls on the steering wheel is random and the dealer states that it never duplicates for them. Now that the warranty period is over I would have to pay out of pocket even though some of the issues started before the warranty was out and it was supposed to be noted in their system. Kia headquarters open up a case with no resolution other than no of the dealers called their helpdesk for help or made any claims of my issues. They suggested they I take the car back and have the dealer call them and reference the case number. I have check to see if there has been in recalls on my particular vehicle and it appears to have not been any. Although there have been other Kia owners to post this same issues on the internet and basically have the same results there are still no recalls. Just the dealers try this and that. The owners paying for what supposed to be the resolution to the problem and it really is not. The problem may go away for a while and then shortly return. It is more like getting the run around with wasted time and money.

- Charlotte, NC, USA

Purchased my Kia Optima new in 07.. for the past 5 months the dashboard air bag sensor has been on. I called the dealership, they said there is nothing they can do for it and that more than likely its just the sensor and the air bags should deploy when they are suppose to.. I also was told that if the light is on that means the air bags are not going to deploy. So basically there is nothing anyone can do and who knows if it is going to work!

- Highlands, TX, USA

The contact owns a 2007 Kia Optima. The vehicle was parked with a passenger occupying the vehicle when the air bag warning light illuminated. The dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The failure persisted and when the contact would shut off the engine and restarted the vehicle, the light would shut off. The failure persisted intermittently. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer seven times. Two new seat bottoms were reprogrammed for the front passenger's seat in order to correct the failure. The failure mileage was 14,851 and the current mileage was 23,013. Updated 08/11/10. Updated 08/17/10

- Wrightstown, WI, USA

The contact owns a 2007 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the passenger side air bag indicator would illuminate intermittently. The failure occurred 75% of the time and he could never determine when it would illuminate or dim. He took the vehicle to the dealer four times within two years, but they could never duplicate the failure and provide a remedy. The manufacturer stated that they would collect service records and get back with him. The current mileage was approximately 11,800 and failure mileage was approximately 100.

- Columbia , MO, USA

The contact owns a 2007 Kia Optima. While driving 50 mph, the vehicle slid and struck a guardrail while avoiding another vehicle. The roads were wet due to rainy conditions. After striking the rail, the front end slid and the passenger side was damaged. None of the air bags deployed. The vehicle had to be towed to a shop and was considered to be destroyed by the insurance company. The contact stated that due to the severity of the crash, the air bags should have deployed and may have failed due to a defect in the vehicle. A police report was filed. The current and failure mileages were 33,000. Updated 11-25-08

- Orlando, FL, USA

We own a 2007 Kia Optima. The passenger side airbag dashboard indicator light continuously shows that the airbags are in the off position which means that they may not deploy during a collision. We took our new car to the dealer where it was purchased twice and was told both times that the problem was a manufacturing "flaw" and that no repair was possible. They refused to even look at it.

- Saint Louis, MO, USA

The contact owns a 2007 Kia Optima. The contact stated that when small framed passengers occupy the front passenger seat, the air bag warning light illuminates on the instrument control panel. This indicates that the front passenger side air bag is inoperative and may not inflate in the event of a crash that merits air bag deployment. The failure may result in injury to the passenger. The dealer stated that his model was not included in NHTSA campaign id number 08V161000 (air bags), although the failures were identical. Currently, the dealer is replacing the seat assembly, which contains the air bag sensors. The failure and current mileages were 23,000. Updated 09/13/08. The seat belt was replaced.

- Goodyear, AZ, USA

The contact owns a 2007 Kia Optima. While driving 30 mph, the anti-lock brakes failed. The contact veered off the road, drove into the embankment, and struck a tree. The rear end of the vehicle spun around and a tree crashed through the windshield. The vehicle flipped over and landed upright. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed. The vehicle was presumed to be completely destroyed. Kia stated that they would send out a representative to determine why the air bags and antilock brakes failed. The wife sustained bruises and all the occupants were wearing their seat belts properly. The VIN was unknown. The current and failure mileages were 11,000. Updated 02-12-08 bf * the consumer stated does not feel fairly compensated for the loss of the vehicle due to the defect. Updated 02/12/08

- Hamilton, IL, USA