28 of the 58 complaints filed about the KIA SPECTRA5 are about the airbag system — 48% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2006.
28
Complaints
48%
Share of all complaints
4
Crashes
0
Fires
AIR BAGS
LIGHT STAYS ON IN THE KIA SPECTRA AIRBAG SYSTEM PASSENGER SEAT MAT IS BAD
NHTSA complaint #11073830 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
PURCHASED A 2008 KIA SPECTRA 5 IN 2009. FOR 3 YEARS IT WAS A GOOD COMMUTER CAR. THEN WEIRD THINGS STARTED HAPPENING OUT OF THE BLUE. FIRST, THE CAR WOULDN'T ALLOW US ACCESS BY USE OF THE KEY FOB. IT WOULD UNLOCK THEN LOCK. THE VEHICLE FLIP THE DOOR UNLOCK LEVER BACK AND FORTH LIKE A GHOST WAS MOVING. SECOND, THE CAR WOULD BLOW A FRONT HEAD LAMP ALMOST EVERY 6 MONTHS LIKE CLOCK WORK WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO DRIVE FROM PARK. THIRD, THE FRONT CONSOLE CONTROLLING THE FAN, HEAT ETC. WOULD JUST STOP WORKING ONLY TO START WORKING A FEW HOURS OR DAYS LATER. ESPECIALLY PROBLEMATIC IN WINTER. FOURTH, THE OCS SENSOR MAT FOR THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG HAS MALFUNCTIONED. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS MOVING OR STATIONARY. IN ADDITION THE CAR HAS A DANGEROUS LAG IN GAINING SPEED WHEN TRYING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC AT HIGH SPEEDS ON INTERSTATES. I GUESS I'M JUST WAITING FOR THE NEXT GREMLIN TO APPEAR. WILL NEVER OWN A KIA AGAIN.
NHTSA complaint #11054208 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
PASSENGER AIR BAG COMMUNICATION ERROR. B1449 AIRBAG CODE. IT WILL NOT SHUT OFF. I AM UNABLE TO GET STATE INSPECTION. 8/29/17
NHTSA complaint #11020410 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
WE HAVE HAD NO ACCIDENTS, BUT THE MAT SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SENSOR HAS GONE BAD CAUSING THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE DASH TO STAY ON. THE DEALER WAS ABLE TO DETERMINE THIS BY GETTING A B1448 CODE WHEN DIAGNOSING THE ISSUE. MANY OTHERS HAVE COMPLAINED OF THIS SAME ISSUE WITH THIS AND OTHER KIA VEHICLES. THE PART IS PROHIBITIVELY EXPENSIVE AT APPROXIMATELY $1600 FOR PARTS AND LABOR.
NHTSA complaint #11006451 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
AIRBAG LIGHT ON DUE TO FAULTY PASSENGER SIDE SEAT SENSOR. EXORBITANT COST TO REPLACE. CAN'T AFFORD.
NHTSA complaint #11004241 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT ON JUNE 19, 2017. A VEHICLE HIT MY KIA AT A SPEED OF 30 - 40 MPH IN THE FRONT DRIVER'S WHEEL BASE. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN OUT OF A SHOPPING CENTER, MOVING LESS THAN 10 MPH.
NHTSA complaint #11001237 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND WAS TOLD BY MECHANIC THE SENSOR WAS FAULTY AND IT'S AROUND 2000$ TO FIX. WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION WITHOUT REPAIR. STARTED AROUND 60,000 MILES. THIS IS RIDICULOUS, OTHER KIA MODELS HAVE BEEN RECALLED. WHAT CAN ANYONE DO?
NHTSA complaint #10992971 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SPECTRA 5. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON AND OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,989.
NHTSA complaint #10898341 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR HAS GONE BAD ON MY 2008 KIA SPECTRA 5. CAR HAS 77,522 MILES. WAS TOLD BY KIA DEALER THAT SEAT BOTTOM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1700. SAFETY IS THE CAR MANUFACTURE'S BIG SELLING FEATURE. A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED BY KIA IN MY OPINION.
NHTSA complaint #10838105 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
LIGHT FOR PASSENGER AIRBAG GOES OFF WITHOUT AN OCCUPANT IN THE SEAT, THEN THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE DASH COMES ON..SUSPECT THE SENSOR IN THE SEAT IS BAD. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE VEHICLE..BEFORE IT WAS AN OCCASIONAL THING. NOW ITS EVERYTIME I START THE VEHICLE TO DRIVE
NHTSA complaint #10787481 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS STAYING ON AND FLICKERS BACK AND FORTH WHEN SOMEONE LIGHT SITS IN THE FRONT SEAT. THE AIRBAG IS NOT GOING TO DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT AND IM AFRAID MY LOVED ONES WILL BE SERIOUSLY INJURED DUE TO THIS MALFUNCTIONING SAFETY FEATURE. KIA IS RESPONSIBLE FOR REFUNDING ME THE $2100 IN EXPENSES FOR THIS AIRBAG SENSOR AND LABOR TO REPLACE IT. I WILL NEVER BUY A KIA VEHICLE AGAIN. IT IS CORPORATE-SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY THAT KIA LACKS. THEY CHOSE NOT TO RECALL THIS DEFECTIVE PART THAT IS SO IMPORTANT IN PROTECTING THEIR CUSTOMERS. THEY OBVIOUSLY HAVE NO CARE FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS' WELL-BEING.
NHTSA complaint #10765359 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD TURN ON AND OFF WHEN THERE WAS A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. AFTER A COUPLE OF MONTHS, THE LIGHT BEGAN TURNING ON AND OFF EVEN IF THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS EMPTY. NOW THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON, BUT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON AND HAS BEEN FOR ABOUT 1 WEEK. THIS IS A 1 OWNER VEHICLE AND HAS NEVER BEEN IN ANY TYPE OF COLLISION.
NHTSA complaint #10764689 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
MY CAR HAS BEEN IN A FENDER BENDER OR TWO (ALWAYS BEING HIT FROM BEHIND) BUT NEVER ENOUGH IMPACT TO CAUSE THE AIRBAGS TO GO OFF. MY LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR WELL OVER A YEAR AND WHEN I CONTACTED MY CAR DEALERSHIP ABOUT IT, THEY TOLD ME I HAD TO REPLACE MY AIRBAG SYSTEM COSTING SOMEWHERE IN THE RANGE OF $2000 TO $3000. I HAVE PUT MY CAR IN THE SHOP ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND THEY SAY THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH ANYTHING TO BE MAKING THIS LIGHT STAY ON. I HAVE HEARD FROM OTHER KIA OWNERS THAT ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE BUT KIA IS NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS MALFUNCTION. I HAVE NOT SEEN ANY RECALLS CONCERNING AIRBAGS BUT FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN AND READ, THERE REALLY SHOULD BEFORE SOMETHING CATASTROPHIC HAPPENS. I WILL NEVER PURCHASE FROM KIA AGAIN. THEY ARE VERY HARD TO DEAL WITH AND DO NOT KEEP THEIR PROMISES OR MAKE GOOD ON THEIR VEHICLES.
NHTSA complaint #10763252 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
WAS IN A FRONT END COLLISON ON PASSENGER SIDE BROKE WINDSSHIED RIPPED THE. WINDSHIELD FRAME ON PASSANER SIDE UP WHICH DAMAGED FRAME ON PASSANGER DOOR SIDE MIRROR ON OUTSIDE DESTROYED AIR BAG ON PASSENGER SIDE CONTANTMENT DAMAGED WHAT I AM REALLY UPSET ABOUT IS THAT THE FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY ALL THAT HAPPENED WAS THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG CONDAINMENT JUST BROKE SLIGHTLY OPENED MY GRANDSON WAS IN THAT SEAT HE WAS LUCKY HIS HEAD DID NOT GO THROUGH WINDSHIELD WHAT SAVED HIM WAS SAFTEY BELT HOWEVER THE DAMAGE TO THE CAR IS 4000 AND THE BIGGEST EXPENSE IS HAVING TO REPLACE AIR BAGS WHICH ARE DEFECTIVE AND THE AIR BAG COMPARTMENT THIS IS TOTALLY A MAJOR PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10717696 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
DEFECTIVE O.C.S. MAT IN PASSENGER SEAT. CAR PROS IS CHARGING $1500.00 TO REPAIR THEIR DEFECTIVE SENSOR. SAFETY CONCERN....THEY RECALLED RIO...WON'T RECALL SPECTRA5 BECAUSE IT IS "NOT AN ISSUE".
NHTSA complaint #10654873 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR IS DEFECTIVE. WEIGHT SENSOR ON DASH WILL NOT WORK AND THE AIR BAG SYMBOL IS TURNED ON THE DASH. DEALERSHIP SAID IT WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE ENTIRE SEAT AT LEAST $1500.
NHTSA complaint #10652472 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD GO ON AND OFF WITH NOBODY IN IT. AFTER 3 MONTHS OF THAT THE LIGHT QUIT DOING THAT. THEN I NOTICED THAT THE RED WARNING LIGHT WAS ON. I WENT TO SELL THE VEHICLE BUT THE DEALERSHIP TOLD THE NEW BUYER THAT IT IS THE OCS PAD IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. CODE B1448. COULD YOU INFORM ME WHAT BAGS WILL NOT GO OFF WITH THIS LIGHT ON. I SEE THERE IS A BYPASS SWITCH YOU CAN BUY TO AVOID THIS SO THERE MUST BE A FEW OF THESE OUT THERE. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10639671 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
JUST AS OTHERS WITH MY SAME VEHICLE HAVE STATED, THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD COMES ON AND OFF AND IS A REAL SAFETY CONCERN.
NHTSA complaint #10618420 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT ON DASH BOARD WILL NOT GO OFF MOST TIMES, EVEN WHEN A 125 POUND PASSENGER IS IN SEAT. OCCASIONALLY DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT ALARM WILL NOT CHIME. HAD MECHANIC CHECK WIRING, HE REPLACED ALTERNATOR,BATTERY STILL THE SAME. KENWOOD STEREO WILL NOT TUNE IN FROM TIME TO TIME, EVEN WHEN IN MY SAME PARKING SPACE ALSO AS WE ARE DRIVING WITH SHIFTER LOCKED INTO DRIVE, THE ENGINE SEEMS TO CHANGE GEARS ON FLAT ROAD SURFACE AS IF IT IS IN 3RD GEAR THEN GOES INTO DRIVE. THERE IS NOTHING ELSE I CAN DO. ALREADY HAD MECHANIC LOOK AT THESE PROBLEMS. NO CODES ARE SHOWING UP, BUT OBVIOUSLY THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM THAT MAY NOT ALLOW PASSENGER AIR BAG TO DEPLOY OR DRIVER SEAT BELT TO ACTIVATE OR WHAT EVER ELSE IS CONTROLLED BY THE ELECTRICAL. ALSO HAVE A 2006 KIA WITH SOME ELECTRICAL PROBLEM THAT CAR STEREO SHOP COULD NOT GET A NEW STEREO INSTALLED TO WORK PROPERLY. OTHER WISE CAR IF VERY AFFORDABLE,NOT SURE HOW SAFE IT IS.
NHTSA complaint #10593860 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON, HAD A DIAGNOSTIC RAN ON IT CAME UP AS CODE B1448 OC PASSENGER SENSOR MAT DEFECT, LOOKS LIKE ITS SRSCM 70. WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS A TSB RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM, BUT WHEN I CALLED KIA, THEY SAID THAT IT WAS NOT FOR THIS MODEL. HOWEVER AFTER LOOKING UP THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET, A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH THIS CAR HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. NOT ONLY IS IT BAD ENOUGH THAT LOTS OF PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS, BUT KIA SAYS THAT THEY CAN'T REPLACE THE SENSOR BY ITSELF, I WOULD NEED TO BUY A NEW SEAT WHICH WOULD BE $1600 DOLLARS!!!! THAT'S RIDICULOUS. A PROBLEM SUCH AS THIS ONE SHOULD NOT BE SO EXPENSIVE TO FIX. DID KIA PUT THIS SENSOR THERE SO THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY ALMOST 2 GRAND TO FIX A CRAPPY ELECTRICAL JOB? BY THE WAY THIS IS NOT THE ONLY KIA AROUND THIS YEAR WITH THIS EXACT PROBLEM. RECALL THE SPECTRA5 TOO!!!!
NHTSA complaint #10565371 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.