34 complaints reported

2006 Kia Optima Air Bags

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
34
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
2

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Jul 2016

I ALSO HAVE THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYS ON. I CHECKED AND FOUND OUT THERE IS A RECALL FOR DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG ON 2006 KIA OPTIMA, BUT THE DEALERSHIP SAID MY CAR IS NOT COVERED UNDER THIS RECALL. THIS RECALL NEED TO COVER ALL 2006 KIA OPTIMAS SINCE SO MANY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jul 2016
Jun 2016

THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYS ON. I CHECKED AND FOUND OUT THERE IS A RECALL FOR DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG ON 2006 KIA OPTIMA, BUT THE DEALERSHIP SAID MY CAR IS NOT COVERED UNDER THIS RECALL. THIS RECALL NEED TO COVER ALL 2006 KIA OPTIMAS SINCE SO MANY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2016
May 2016

MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON A FEW MONTHS AGO WHEN I WAS DRIVING TO WORK THE LIGHT CAME ON AND HAVE NOT GONE OFF YET. I TOOK IT TO GET A DIAGNOSE AND WAS TOLD IT WAS A SENSOR IN THE SEAT AND I SHOULD HAVE IT REPLACED. WELL I HAD SOMEONE PUT IN A DIFFERENT SEAT AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT DID NOT GO OFF. NOW IT'S TIME FOR MY INSPECTIONS AND I CAN'T EVEN GET IT DONE BECAUSE THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS STILL ON.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Nov 2015
Jan 2016

ON 1/11/16, I TOOK MY OPTIMA TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP (LOKEY IN CLEARWATER FLORIDA) BECAUSE THE AIR BAG LIGHT SUDDENLY CAME ON AND I WANTED AN UPDATE ON ALL APPLICABLE OPTIMA MODELS AND YEARS. I PAID $135.29 FOR THEM TO JUST LOOK AT THE PROBLEM. THEY INFORMED ME THAT MY OPTIMA HAS NO RECALLS AND THAT MY DRIVER`S SIDE SEAT BACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED IN ORDER TO REPAIR THE AIRBAG PROBLEM. PARTS FOR THIS ALONE WERE QUOTED TO ME TO BE OVER $1248.71 THEIR REPAIR ORDER (#26083616/1) NOTED THAT THE AIRBAG PROBLEM WAS "A LOOSE CONNECTION."

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Dec 2016
Jun 2015

I RECEIVED MY RECALL LETTER FOR THE CLOCK SPRING REPLACEMENT, MIND YOU THE ILLUMINATE LIGHT WASN'T ON, MADE THE APPOINTMENT TO GET THE PART REPLACED FROM MY LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP THEY SAID IT WILL TAKE TWO HOURS SO I LEAVE THE CAR THERE THEY CALL ME ON MY CELL PHONE RAMPING ABOUT OTHER ISSUE WITH THE CAR WHICH ARE NOT DOT PROBLEMS SO I SAY NO THANKS I CAN HANDLE THEM MYSELF , GO PICK UP THE CAR AND THEY TELL ME THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AND THERE'S A PROBLEM AND ITS GONNA COST 110 DOLLARS TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM,,, WOULDN'T THIS BE COVERED BY THE RECALL??? WHY SHOULD I PAY FOR MANUFACTURER DEFECT MY PREGNANT WIFE DRIVES THIS CAR SO NEEDS TO BE SAFE, HELP WITH THIS ISSUE SINCERELY THANKS *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jun 2015
Jun 2015

I HAVE MY VECHILE FOR A FEW MONTHS I KEPTED UP WITH MANTAINCE. NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND ALL OF SUDDEN THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. I WASN'T FOR SURE WHICH SIDE IT WAS FOR SO I GOT IT LOOKED AT AND I WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD NEED TO REPLACE PASSENGER SEAT BACK ASSEMBLY

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jun 2015
Mar 2015

I PURCHASED MY 2006.5 KIA OPTIMA ON NOVEMBER 6, 2014. BEFORE MY TEST DRIVE THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED BUT THEN TURNED OFF, I SAID SOMETHING TO THE DEALERSHIP (NOT A KIA DEALER) AND THEY DIAGNOSED IT AND TOLD ME IT WAS THE AIRBAG MODULE AND THAT THEY WOULD ORDER A NEW ONE AND REPLACE IT FREE OF CHARGE. AFTER WAITING 3 MONTHS FOR THE NEW MODULE TO COME IN, I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THE 2006-2008 KIA OPTIMA'S HAVE AN AIR BAG RECALL, SO I CONTACTED A KIA DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL AND THAT IF I WANTED THEM TO LOOK AT MY CAR AT ALL IT WOULD BE $99 PLUS THE HOURLY FEE (I DON'T EVEN WANNA KNOW WHAT YHR HOURLY FEE IS). BUT SINCE MY CAR FALLS IN THAT YEAR RANGE AND IS HAVING THE AIRBAG ISSUE, SHOULD IT BE KIA'S RESPONSIBILITY TO INVESTIGATE AND IF NEEDED, CORRECT THE PROBLEM? *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jul 2014
Nov 2014

DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT ON AND DOES NOT TURN OFF. CALLED KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND THEY STATED MY VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED BY THEIR CURRENT RECALL FOR THIS OBVIOUS ON GOING PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAGS. MY CASE NUMBER WITH KIA IS [XXX]. THIS SEEMS TO BE A REAL SAFETY PROBLEM IF THE AIR BAGS DO NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Nov 2014
Mar 2014

THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT WAS COMING ON AND OFF FROM THE FIRST MONTH OF TAKING NEW CAR DELIVERY. I IMMEDITELY REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY DID NOT TAKE ANY ACTION, SINCE IT WOULD HAPPEN RANDOMLY.A RECALL WAS DONE ON THE 2006.5 OPTIMA IN 2012.THE CHECK AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE DRIVERS DASH THAT COMES ON IGNITION FAIL TO GO OFF FOR THE FIRST TIME ON 03/30/2014.I TOOK IT MY ORIGINAL DEALER, WHO SAID THE WHOLE SYSTEM WOULD NO LONGER WORK, BECAUSE THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG WAS NOT WORKING.THE WANTS ME TO PAY $1750 TO REPAIR THE WHOLE AIR BAG SYSTEM, THAT WAS DEFECTIVE FROM THE FIST MONTH OF TAKING DELIVERY. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2007
Jun 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V014000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2013
Mar 2013

I GOT A LETTER BACK IN 2012 ABOUT A RECALL ON MY AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP ON COVINGTON PIKE IN MEMPHIS TENN. AND THEY SAID THEY REPLACED THE PART BUT MY AIR BAG LIGHT IS BACK ON AS OF 04/03/2013 BEING BACK ON FOR 5 OR 6 MONTHS. I DO NOT THINK THEY REPLACED WITH A NEW PART BECAUSE IN ABOUT 20 MINUTES OR LESS THEY WAS FINISH WITH ME. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Apr 2011
Nov 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE CLOCK SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BUT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V014000 (AIR BAGS; FRONTAL). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Oct 2011
Nov 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V014000 (AIR BAGS: FRONTAL) THAT MAY BE RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Aug 2012
Apr 2012

2006 KIA OPTIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO RECALL NOTICE AND REPAIRS CONCERNING AIR BAG CLOCK SPRING CONTACT ASSEMBLY. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS CHARGED A $113.00 FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. HOWEVER, ACCORDING TO THE RECALL LETTER, IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING A LIFETIME WARRANTY FOR THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG CLOCK SPRING CONTACT ASSEMBLY, KIA WAS TO REPLACE THE CLOCK SPRING CONTACT ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Mar 2012
Jan 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE VIN FAILED TO QUALIFY FOR THE RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V014000 (AIRBAGS:FRONTAL). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Nov 2011
Nov 2011

ONE DAY THE DOOR ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE CAR WOULDN'T OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. I CALLED KIA AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY COULD DO BECAUSE THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT. AFTER RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET, THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH THIS PARTICULAR CAR. I CALLED AND NOTIFIED KIA CONSUMER RELATIONS AND AGAIN WAS GIVEN THE SPEECH OF IT'S NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND BASICALLY THEY DIDN'T WANT TO HEAR ABOUT IT. I ALSO IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE TELEPHONE CALL, FILED A WRITTEN COMPLAINT WITH KIA AND HAVE YET TO HEAR ANYTHING FROM THEM ABOUT THIS. I HAVE ALSO INCLUDED IN THIS COMPLAINT THE AIR BAG LIGHT THAT THE DEALER CANNOT FIND OUT WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT. I DID A VERY SIMPLE SEARCH AND IT WAS ABLE TO FIND MANY PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE AND MAYBE YOU CAN FORCE KIA TO DO A RECALL AND FIX THIS FAULTY PARTS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED IN THESE VEHICLES. THANK YOU! *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Feb 2011
Sep 2011

IN A 2006/2007 KIA OPTIMA, "PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF" LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATES REGARDLESS OF SEATED PASSENGER WEIGHT OR OCCUPANCY. THIS COULD LEAD TO FAILURE TO DEPLOY AIRBAG IN A FRONTAL COLLISION RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. RESETTING THE COMPUTER TEMPORARILY DEACTIVATED THE LIGHT, BUT PROBLEM PERSISTS. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2011
Jun 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FIVE TIMES FOR THE SIMILAR FAILURE. THE AIR BAG MODULE WAS REPLACED DURING THE PREVIOUS REPAIRS; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: May 2006
Mar 2011

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SINCE MARCH 2011, SHE NOTICED THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUTSIDE THE WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 74,600. UPDATED 5/2/11 *CN UPDATED 05/11/11

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jul 2011
Nov 2010

2006 KIA OPTIMA. DISCOVERED "AIR BAG" LIGHTED ICON ON DASH JUST PAST THE WARRANTY EXPIRATION. (DRIVER-SIDE BAG). PAID $125 "DIAGNOSTIC," ONLY TO BE TOLD "AIR BAG DOESN'T WORK," --DUH! DEALER WANTS ANOTHER SOME $500 TO EXPLORE CAUSE, AND ANOTHER SOME $500 TO "MAYBE" FIX IT. [XXX] RIP-OFF! (WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 60,000 MILES BECAUSE I AM THE 2ND OWNER---ANOTHER RIP-OFF BY KIA). CAN'T AFFORD THE REPAIRS, SO MY LIFE IS IN KIA'S HANDS!!!!. I WILL NEVER BUY NOR RECOMMEND ANOTHER KIA. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2010
Aug 2010 Injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES WHERE THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS RESET BUT FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. ON A LATER DATE WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE AIR BAG UNEXPECTEDLY DEPLOYED IN THE CONTACT'S FACE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SEVERE SWELLING TO THE FACE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,298 . UPDATED 12/10/10. *LJ UPDATED 12/17/10

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Apr 2010
Aug 2009

THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. WHEN A PASSENGER SITS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND BUCKLE THE SEAT BELT, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT DOES NOT GO OUT OR IT WILL GO OUT AND BACK ON. IT IS NECESSARY TO SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND RESET THE COMPUTER FOR IT TO WORK PROPERLY. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Oct 2008
Apr 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WOULD SPORADICALLY ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, WHICH INDICATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG WAS INOPERATIVE. THE FAILURE COULD PREVENT THE AIR BAG FROM DEPLOYING IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 43,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Apr 2009
Mar 2009

AIR BAG LIGHT ON DASH WILL NOT GO OFF. PASSENGER AIR BAG ON/OFF LIGHT NOT ALWAYS WORKING. DEALER SAYS $115 FOR TEST. IF WARRANTED THEY WILL PAY. IF NOT I WILL PAY. READ OF MANY REPORTS LIKE THIS. 87,000 MILES. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2009
May 2008 Crash Injury

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA OPTIMA. ON AUGUST 3, 2008, THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A THREE VEHICLE CRASH. HER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE PRECEDING VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. ON TWO OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE AIR BAG LIGHT KEPT ILLUMINATING. DURING THE FIRST REPAIR, THE DEALER REPLACED A WIRE SHORTAGE. DURING THE SECOND REPAIR, THE WIRING HARNESS WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE TOW YARD. THE MANUFACTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 46,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Mar 2008

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2006 Kia Optima has 34 Air Bags complaints on file. 1 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.