2007 Kia Optima Air Bags

AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON/ WOULD NOT GO IN GEAR. *TR

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 $1400.00. 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. *TR

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.... *TR

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 $1500.00 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. *TR

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. *KB

TL* 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.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON INDICATING A FAULTY AIR BAG MODULE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE ENTIRE WIRING HARNESS AND AIR BAG MODULE. THE CONTACT STATED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THEY COULD NOT REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO THE FAULTY AIR BAG. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000.

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. *TR

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. *TR

TL* 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. *LJ UPDATED 08/17/10

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! *TR

WHEN MY WIFE SITS IN THE PASSENGER SIDE OF OUR KIA OPTIMA APPROXIMATELY 20% OF THE TIME THE "AIRBAG OFF" LIGHT NEVER TURNS OFF. WE HAVE FOLLOWED THE INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE DEALER ON HOW TO PROPERLY SIT IN THE SEAT ETC. WE HAVE HAD THE DEALER LOOK AT THE VEHICLE TWICE AND SO FAR THEY HAVE REFUSED TO FIX IT. MY WIFE'S WEIGHT VARIES FROM 130-140LBS. AT MY FIRST VISIT TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY TOLD ME THE WEIGHT LIMIT WAS 110LBS. THIS PAST VISIT WE WERE TOLD THE LIMIT WAS 120LBS. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY NHTSA THAT THEY TEST WITH A CRASH DUMMY WEIGHING 108LBS SO REGARDLESS MY WIFE IS WELL OUTSIDE OF THE WEIGHT THRESHOLDS. THIS IS A DUPLICATE OF ORIGINAL COMPLAINT 10299891. I WAS TOLD BY NHTSA THAT ADDING THE WEIGHTS OF OCCUPANTS WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO THEM. *TR

WHEN MY WIFE SITS IN THE PASSENGER SIDE OF OUR KIA OPTIMA APPROXIMATELY 20% OF THE TIME THE "AIRBAG OFF" LIGHT DOES NOT TURN OFF. WE HAVE FOLLOWED INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE DEALER ON HOW TO PROPERLY SIT IN THE SEAT ETC. WE HAVE HAD THE DEALER LOOK AT THE VEHICLE TWICE AND SO FAR THEY HAVE REFUSED TO FIX IT. *TR

TL*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.

FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT REMAINS ILLUMINATED APPROXIMATELY 60% OF THE TIME WHEN SEAT IS OCCUPIED BY A PASSENGER. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR IN APRIL 2007. FROM ALL I HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET, THIS IS THE MOST PREVAILING PROBLEM KIA OWNERS HAVE. KIA ACKNOWLEDGES THIS IS TRUE, BUT SAYS THIS IS SIMPLY HOW THE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED. THEIR ONLY SOLUTION IS THAT PASSENGERS MUST SIT BOLT UPRIGHT AND WEIGH OVER 130 POUNDS. THEY ALSO ADVISE ME TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND RESTART IT TO "FIX" THE PROBLEM. NOT GOOD!!! *TR

IN 2007 I PURCHASED A NEW KIA OPTIMA 4CYL AUTOMATIC FROM A LOCAL DEALER. SOON AFTER, I DISCOVERED THAT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT WOULD SOMETIMES REMAIN ILLUMINATED WHEN THERE WAS A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT, MEANING THAT THE AIRBAG WAS OFF. KIA AUTHORIZED DEALER SAID THAT UNLESS PASSENGER IS SITTING IN UPRIGHT POSITION EXACTLY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SEAT, THE SENSOR WILL NOT WORK PROPERLY. WE ALSO NOTED THAT IF PASSENGER NOT SITTING CORRECTLY AT FIRST COUPLE OF MINUTES OF DRIVE, BUT THEN REPOSITION HIMSELF IN UPRIGHT POSITION, SENSOR WILL NOT REACT AND AIR BAG WILL BE OFF UNTIL CAR RESTARTED. DEALER SAID THAT SENSOR IS CHECKING FOR PASSENGER ONLY ONCE AT THE BEGINNING OF DRIVE AND DOES NOT RE-CHECK DURING THE DRIVE. IT SEEMS NOT LOGICAL - IF I AM PICKING UP THE PASSENGER AFTER HOUR OF DRIVE WITHOUT TURNING THE MOTOR OFF, THE SENSOR SHOULD SENSE THE PASSENGER AND TURN ON THE AIR BAG. THE DEALERS ANSWER ABOUT UPRIGHT POSITION OF PASSENGER IS NONSENSE - OUR NISSAN QUEST 2004 HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS AND NISSAN COMPANY DID VOLUNTARY RECALL AND RE-DESIGN THE SEAT CUSHION SENSOR TO THE BIGGER AND MORE SENSITIVE ONE, SO POSITION OF THE PASSENGER ON THE SEAT DOES NOT MATTER ANYMORE. AS I SEE FROM SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH (JUST SEARCH FOR "KIA OPTIMA PASSENGER AIR BAG PROBLEM"), THERE IS A LOT OF CUSTOMER'S REPORTS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. IT LOOKS LIKE KIA COMPANY FOUND THAT DESIGN FLAW FOR SORRENTO MODEL, BUT I BELIEVE THEY WILL NEED TO CHECK OPTIMA 2007 AS WELL. I'VE BOUGHT KIA DUE TO ADVERTISEMENT OF KIA CAR'S 5-STAR SAFETY RATING, BUT NOW I AM REALLY CONCERN ABOUT SAFETY OF MY LOVED ONES IF THEY ARE ON THE PASSENGER SEAT IN MY CAR. IT IS A QUITE DANGEROUS CAR DEFECT AND I HOPE MY COMPLAINT WILL SPEED UP KIA RESPONSE TO THE POTENTIAL LIFE-THREATENING PROBLEM. *TR

IN 2007 I PURCHASED A NEW KIA OPTIMA FROM COLEMAN KIA IN TRENTON, NJ. SOON AFTER, I DISCOVERED THAT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT WOULD SOMETIMES REMAIN ILLUMINATED EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS AN ADULT PASSENGER IN THE SEAT, MEANING THAT THE AIRBAG WAS NOT ACTIVATED. THE DEALER PERFORMED A SYSTEM CHECK AND DETERMINED THAT THE SYSTEM WAS PERFORMING TO SPECIFICATIONS. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. THE DEALER THEN SAID THAT THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM UNLESS THE CONDITION OCCURRED IN THEIR PRESENCE.THIS TIME WHEN THE PROBLEM RECURRED I RETURNED TO THE DEALERWITH MY WIFE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THIS TIME, THE SEAT CUSHION ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. THE NEXT TIME THE PROBLEM OCCURRED, THE DEALER PROVIDED ME WITH A BULLETIN FROM KIA OUTLINING PROPER SEATING POSITIONS. I WAS ALSO ADVISED THAT IF THE PROBLEM RECURRED (WHICH IT DID) THAT I SHOULD PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURN THE IGNITION OFF, HAVE THE PASSENGER GET OUT AND THEN BACK IN AND THEN RESTART THE CAR. THIS SHOULD ALLOW THE ONBOARD COMPUTER TO RESET AND (HOPEFULLY) RECOGNIZE THE PRESENCE OF A FRONT SEAT PASSENGER. AT THIS POINT, I CONTACTED KIA'S REGIONAL OFFICE TO FILE A COMPLAINT. THE REFERENCE # IS K1580673. AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED WITH KIA'S FIELD TECHNICAL REPRESENTATIVE. IN THE MEANTIME, I WAS TOLD TO PLACE A TOWEL ON THE SEAT TO MORE EVENLY DISTRIBUTE PASSENGER WEIGHT?? ON 07/30/09, KIA'S FIELD TECH INSPECTED THE CAR AND DETERMINED THE AIRBAG SYSTEM WAS OPERATING TO DESIGN INTENT. SINCE THEN, I HAVE DISCOVERED NUMEROUS OTHER CONSUMER COMPLAINTS DOCUMENTING THIS PROBLEM. IT IS NOW CLEAR THAT KIA IS WELL AWARE OF THIS CONDITION BUT HAS REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE FLAW IN THE DESIGN OF THE SYSTEM. SO FAR, KIA'S ONLY RESPONSE IS TO CITE IMPROPER SEATING POSITIONS. NEEDLESS TO SAY, THE POSITION OF THE PASSENGERS TORSO, ARMS OR LEGS SHOULD NOT PREVENT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SYSTEM FROM OPERATING PROPERLY. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM BEFORE A TRAGEDY OCCURS....MARK LUDWIG *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA OPTIMA. WHENEVER AN OCCUPANT WAS POSITIONED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED 80% OF THE TIME WHEN AN OCCUPANT WAS DETECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON NINE SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR THE IDENTICAL FAILURE, BUT THERE WERE NO RESOLUTIONS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 27,000.

THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT STAYS ILLUMINATED WHEN MY WIFE SITS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. SINCE SHE ONLY WEIGHS ABOUT 100 POUNDS I CALLED KIA THEIR REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME THAT IT TOOK 120M POUNDS TO TURN THE LIGHT OFF. THIS DOES NOT SOUND CORRECT TO ME. THE VEHICLE IS A 2007 KIA OPTIMA. ANY HELP THAT YOU CAN GIVE ME WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED *TR

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. *TR

TL*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 *BF

WARNING LIGHT FOR PASSENGER AIR BAGS IS DEFECTIVE TO THE EXTENT THAT PASSENGER MUST SIT IN SEAT AN EXACT, CERTAIN WAY UPON FIRST ENTERING VEHICLE. IF SAID PASSENGER DOES NOT POSITION THEMSELVES CORRECTLY, SENSORS IN SEAT WILL NOT ANALYZE PERSON CORRECTLY, AND SUBSEQUENTLY THE AIR BAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF CRASH. KIA DEALERS HAVE RECEIVED A BULLETIN FROM KIA CORP., PERTAINING TO THIS MATTER, SO SEVERAL CONSUMERS HAVE APPARENTLY NOTICED THIS RATHER SERIOUS ISSUE AND REPORTED THE PROBLEM. MY VEHICLE RECENTLY WAS CHECKED BY A KIMECHANIC FOR THE FORMENTIONED PROBLEM, AND FOUND NO HISTORY OF FAILURES IN THE SYSTEM OF MY VEHICLE. *TR

WE PURCHASED OUR 2007 KIA OPTIMA THIS YEAR IN APRIL AND EVER SINCE WE'VE HAD THE CAR WE'VE HAD ISSUES WITH AIR BAG SENSOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SEAT. I RIDE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND ABOUT 30% OF THE TIME THE AIR BAG IS OFF LIGHT DOESN'T TURN OFF WHEN I'M SITTING IN THE SEAT, ONCE I LIFT MY REAR END OFF THE SEAT AND PUT IT BACK DOWN THEN THAT LIGHT GOES OFF. I'VE TAKEN THIS IN TO THE DEALER ONCE ALREADY AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING APPARENTLY WRONG, WE BROUGHT THE CAR HOME AND WITHIN 2 DAYS THE PROBLEM WAS RECURRING. THE CAR WILL BE RETURNED TO THE DEALER FOR A SECOND TIME WITH THIS ISSUE, I JUST WANT MY AIR BAG TO GO OFF IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, I BELIEVE THAT'S FAIR. THE LAST TIME WE TOOK IT IN THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH SENSOR ACCORDING THE COMPUTER, THEY RESET THE COMPUTER AND SENT US ON OUR WAY. HOPEFULLY THIS TIME WE'LL BE MORE SATISFIED WITH THE CONCLUSION OF THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM. *TR

THE KIA OPTIMA WAS PURCHASED IN AUGUST 2007. WITHIN A FEW WEEKS, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT SIGNALS THAT THE AIRBAG IS OFF AS IF THERE WERE NO PASSENGER WHEN A PASSENGER IS PRESENT. THIS OCCURS EVEN THOUGH THERE IS A PASSENGER WEIGHING BETWEEN 120 AND 150 POUNDS PROPERLY SEATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT ABOUT 25% OF THE TIME OVER THE LAST 2 MONTHS . OFTEN, BUT NOT ALWAYS, THE LIGHT GOES OUT IF THE CAR IS SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED. THE CAR HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR 5 TIMES. SEAT HARNESS CONNECTIONS WERE CHECKED, THE SEAT BOTTOM WAS REPLACED AND, MOST RECENTLY, THE SEAT MODULE WAS INCLUDING A "REPROGRAMMED". HOWEVER THE FAILURES CONTINUE. THERE IS ANOTHER REPAIR APPOINTMENT SCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER 15, 2007. PASSENGER SAFETY IS AT RISK BECAUSE THE AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IF THE INDICATOR LIGHT IS ON. *TR

THE KIA OPTIMA WAS PURCHASED IN SEPTEMBER 2007. WITHIN A FEW DAYS, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT SIGNALS THAT THE AIRBAG IS OFF AS IF THERE WERE NO PASSENGER WHEN A PASSENGER IS PRESENT. THIS OCCURS EVEN THOUGH THERE IS A PASSENGER WEIGHING OVER 120 POUNDS PROPERLY SEATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT ABOUT 75% OF THE TIME OVER THE LAST MONTH . SERVICE APPOINTMENT SCHEDULED FOR 11/13/07. *TR