FaultScore

KIA airbag problems

Owners have filed 3,432 complaints with NHTSA about the airbag system on KIA vehicles — 6% of everything reported about the brand, across 37 models. The model that accounts for most of them is the KIA Sorento, worst in 2011.

These are raw counts. A model that sold in millions appears near the top for that reason alone — the grade never compares one model with another.

3,432

Complaints

6%

Share of all KIA complaints

1,321

Crashes

25

Fires

Which KIA models have the most airbag problems

Sorento 719 20.9%

Worst in 2011

Optima 571 16.6%

Worst in 2007

Spectra 366 10.7%

Worst in 2009

Sportage 297 8.7%

Worst in 1997

Forte 292 8.5%

Worst in 2014

RIO 274 8.0%

Worst in 2006

Sedona 240 7.0%

Worst in 2006

Soul 199 5.8%

Worst in 2011

Sephia 174 5.1%

Worst in 1999

Rondo 53 1.5%

Worst in 2007

Amanti 40 1.2%

Worst in 2005

SPECTRA5 28 0.8%

Worst in 2006

K5 26 0.8%

Worst in 2021

Worst KIA model years for airbag problems

Vehicle Complaints Share of that year Median miles Grade
2011 KIA Sorento 183 9% 95,300 D
2006 KIA Sedona 81 14% 85,000 C
2012 KIA Sorento 80 7% 93,500 D
2009 KIA Spectra 78 51% 71,000 F
2007 KIA Optima 67 31% 73,500 F
2008 KIA Sorento 67 21% 38,500 F
2014 KIA Forte 63 10% 83,000 F
2007 KIA Sorento 61 27% 10,000 F
2008 KIA Spectra 61 37% 63,500 F
2013 KIA Optima 61 3% 86,400 F
2013 KIA Sorento 60 5% 85,000 D
2007 KIA Spectra 58 28% 86,400 F
2008 KIA Optima 58 31% 55,843 F
2006 KIA RIO 51 57% 65,000 F
2014 KIA Sorento 51 4% 80,000 F
2006 KIA Spectra 49 38% 56,500 F
2012 KIA Optima 48 4% 84,000 D
2006 KIA Optima 46 21% 50,000 D
2005 KIA Sorento 45 10% 65,000 F
2005 KIA Spectra 43 33% 26,732 F