32 of the 375 complaints about the 1997 KIA Sephia are about the airbag system — 9% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 65,500 miles.
32
Complaints
19
Crashes
0
Fires
14
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
AIR BAGS
DASHBOARD WARPED AND COMING UP AND TOUCHING WINDSHIELD. IT IS BREAKING OR BLOCKING THE VENT/DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER SYSTEM. THEREFORE THE WINDOWS BARELY DEFROST AND THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. I KNOW OF TWO OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE DASHBOARD. ALSO "DOOR OPEN" LIGHT REMAINS ON AND DRAINS BATTERY.
NHTSA complaint #10202861 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 KIA SEPHIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL REMAINS ILLUMINATED. HE DOES NOT KNOW IF THE AIR BAGS ARE WORKING PROPERLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO, ESPECIALLY SINCE HIS VEHICLE IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THE COST WOULD BE $750 TO HAVE THE SENSOR REPAIRED. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF THE NUMEROUS AMOUNTS OF COMPLAINTS, BUT IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 18,355 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300. UPDATED 09/05/07.
NHTSA complaint #10196469 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY DURING A FRONT END CRASH. INJURIES INCLUDED HEAD,NECK AND BACK .THE CAR WAS TOTALED.
NHTSA complaint #10186043 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DT: CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS HIT BY ANOTHER CAR ON AUGUST 15, 2005, AND THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. WERE STILL UNSURE OF THE EXTEND OF THE INJURIES TO THE CONSUMER. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNHELPFUL TO THE CONSUMER. THEY TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THE AIRBAGS SHOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES. ALTHOUGH OTHER INFORMATION THEY SENT HER SAID THAT THE AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED.
NHTSA complaint #10137621 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DT: THE CONTACT OWNED A 1997 KIA SEPHIA. CONTACT'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 35 MPH . UPON IMPACT, THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.THERE WERE THREE OCCUPANTS IN THE CAR ALL WEARING SEAT BELTS. THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT BROKE . THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT HAD NOT BEEN ON IN THIS VEHICLE NOR WAS IT ON AFTER THE CRASH. ONE PERSON SUSTAINED INJURIES BECAUSE OF THE SEAT BELT. SHE BROKE TWO RIBS.
NHTSA complaint #10131172 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION HEAD ON . SEAT BELT BROKE, THROWING THE CONSUMER THREW THE DRIVER'S WINDSHIELD. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK CONSUMER IS IN A COMA.
NHTSA complaint #10087858 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
THE DASHBOARD LIFTED UP FROM THE CHASSIS OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THERE WAS A HOLE THAT BURNED INTO THE TOP OF THE DASHBOARD. THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED WITH THE AIR BAGS NOT DEPLOYING OR DEPLOYING PREMATURELY. *AK *SC
NHTSA complaint #10082004 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
THE DASHBOARD ON THIS YEAR VEHICLE STARTS TO CURL AND IS HEADING TOWARDS THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG WHICH MAY POP AND CAUSE INJURIES OR FATALITIES. THE DASHBOARD ALSO BREAKS THE PLASTIC VENTS WHICH THEN DOES NOT DISTRIBUTE THE AIR ON THE DEFROSTER PROPERLY WHICH THEN COULD ALSO CAUSE FATALITIES OR INJURIES.
NHTSA complaint #10039524 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMERS' VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE REAR END AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH. NEITHER THE DRIVER NOR PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10015761 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DRIVER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. AK
NHTSA complaint #10003911 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
INTERIOR SYSTEMS:PASSIVE RESTRAINT:AIR BAG:SIDE DOOR:PASSENGER SUMMARY: DASHBOARD HAS COME APART. ALSO, SEALS AROUND AIRBAG ON PASSENGER'S SIDE HAS LIFTED UP, EXPOSING PARTS UNDERNEATH. HEATER VENT ON DASH HAS CRACKED
NHTSA complaint #10000854 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ON 3/25/02. A WOMAN HIT ME IN THE REAR END OF MY CAR AND MY SEAT RELEASED AND THE BACK OF THE SEAT WENT COMPLETELY BACK. I HAD TO STURGGLE TO SIT UP AFTER THE IMPACT AND REALIZED SHE HAD PUSHED ME INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. A SCHOOL BUS WAS COMING HEAD ON INTO ME. I HAD TO PULL MYSELF FORWARD WITHOUT THE BACK OF MY SEAT FOR SUPPORT AND STEER BEST I COULD OUT OF THE PATH OF THE BUS. MY SEAT SHOULD NEVER HAVE RELEASED LIKE IT DID. MY AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. AND LUCKILY I WAS COHERANT ENOUGH TO MISS GETTING HIT HEAD ON AND INJURING CHILDREN. THE WOMAN WHO HIT ME DID NOT SEE MY TURN SIGNAL AND WAS GOING TOO FAST FOR CONDITIONS. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN AN AWFUL ACCIDENT HAD I NOT BEEN ABLE TO PULL MYSELF UPRIGHT FROM THE BACK OF MY SEAT FALLING DOWN. MY SHOES FLEW OFF AND I WAS LAYING DOWN INTO THE BACK SEAT LOOSING MY STEERING AND COULD NOT REACH THE PEDDLES SINCE I WAS THROWN SO FAR BACK. I DID HAVE MY SEAT BELT ON WHICH I AM SURE DID SAVE ME FROM HITTING THE WINDSHIELD. HOWEVER, IT DID NOT WORK LIKE IT SHOULD SINCE I WAS SO FAR BACK. HAD I BEEN HIT BY THE BUS A THAT MOMENT, I MIGHT HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. NLM
NHTSA complaint #759896 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
MY DOUGHTER REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 40-45 MPH. THE DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT LOCK UP, ALLOWING THE DRIVER'S AND A PASSENGERS HEAD TO HIT THE WINDSHIELD. DRIVER AND ONE PASSENGER SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION, FACE LACERATIONS, HEAD NECK AND BACK INJURIES. THE DRIVER ALSO RECEIVED A HAND AND PELVIC INJURY. THE 2ND PASSENGER SUSTAINED NECK BACK AND LEG INJURIES. THE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT WAS SO BAD IT PUSHED THE DASH BACK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED!
NHTSA complaint #754210 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WITH A SPEED OF 40 MPH, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT LOCK, THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED, THE POLICE REPORT STATES THAT THERE WERE NO INJURIES, CONSUMER STATES THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR HAD BEEN REPLACED THE DAY BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #563540 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WITH A SPEED OF 40 MPH, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT LOCK, THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED, THE POLICE REPORT STATES THAT THERE WERE NO INJURIES, CONSUMER STATES THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR HAD BEEN REPLACED THE DAY BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #563540 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
DASHBOARD HAS COME APART. ALSO, SEALS AROUND AIRBAG ON PASSENGER'S SIDE HAS LIFTED UP, EXPOSING PARTS UNDERNEATH. HEATER VENT ON DASH HAS CRACKED, CAUSING HEATER TO BECOME INOPERATIVE.
NHTSA complaint #883629 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
CONSUMER INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE SHE REAR-ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.
NHTSA complaint #882901 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DURING VEHICLE ACCIDENT NO DEPLOYMENT OF BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS, INJURIES DUE TO DEFECTIVE AIR BAGS. *MJS
NHTSA complaint #552369 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DRIVER-SIDE AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY DURING HEAD-ON COLLISION.
NHTSA complaint #718078 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH DRIVER WAS HIT ON RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE ,8 INCHES AWAY OFF CENTER. UPON IMPACT, , DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED BACK AND NECK INJURIES, AND PASSENGER SUFFERED SKULL LACERATIONS AND CONCUSSION. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. NO INDICTATION OF DUAL AIRBAGS BEING DEFECTIVE OR INOPERATIVE.
NHTSA complaint #849886 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT HAS COME ON. INDICATING AIRBAGS ARE INOPERATIVE.THEY WERE FIXED ONE AT THE TIME, BUT PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED.
NHTSA complaint #838504 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL IMPACT AT ABOUT 30 MPH, AND DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, WHICH DID NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN THIS ACCIDENT. NO PRIOR PROBLEM OR WARNING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #836898 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED; WARPED FRONT BRAKE ROTORS, CAUSING EXTENTED STOPPING DISTANCE, RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL/CRASH. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.
NHTSA complaint #703389 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
ON 12-10-98, CAR WAS HIT AND CONSUMER RAN WITH HER BABY INSIDE. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, BUT ONE WEEK LATER THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.
NHTSA complaint #832491 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING CRASH WHICH THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD WAS SMASHED INTO THE FRON SEAT AND THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. DRIVER INJURIES INCLUDED TWO HERNIATED DISCS IN HIS NECK AND ONE IN HIS BACK.
NHTSA complaint #536422 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DURING REAR END COLLISION.
NHTSA complaint #533178 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WVIOENT DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS RESULTED IN INJURIES. OWNER INDICATED THAT SHE DIDN'T HIT ANYTHING OR RUN OVER ANYTHING AS WELL.
NHTSA complaint #817359 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION, SPEED UNDETERMINED, IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ALSO THERE IS MAJOR FRONT END DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #819402 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
DURING FRONTAL IMPACT AT SPEEDS OF 46MPH, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *DUP OF 813636, ADDED 0N 25-FEB-98.
NHTSA complaint #813669 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DUAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND FRONT AND REAR PASSNGER'S SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY DID NOT RESTRAIN, ALLOWING DRIVER'S CHEST TO IMPACT STEERING AND CSS TO BE THROWN FORWARD. INJURIES: BACK, NECK.HEAD AND CONCUSSIONS FROM CSS STRAPS.
NHTSA complaint #813636 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.