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2006 Kia Optima airbags problems

46 complaints (30% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 50,000. 1 crash reported.

owner complaints
46
of this car's complaints
30%
typical mileage
50,000
crashes
1
recalls
1

Which part fails

  • Frontal: sensor/control module
    10
  • Frontal
    4

At what mileage

Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.

0k-25k
25k-50k
50k-75k
75k-100k
100k-125k
125k-150k
150k-175k
175k-200k
200k+

Kia Optima airbags problems in other years

20012005201020152020

Specific symptoms reported on the 2006 Kia Optima airbags

Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.

Airbag light 35

Related recalls

Air bags: frontalReported January 17, 2012 · 145,755 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Kia motors america, inc. (kia) is recalling certain model year 2006-2008 kia optima vehicles manufactured from september 29, 2005, through january 29, 2008, and model year 2007 and 2008 kia rondo vehicles manufactured from september 13, 2006, through march 21, 2008. The clock spring contact assembly for the driver's side air bag supplemental restraint system (SRS) may become damaged through usage over time. If the clock spring contact assembly becomes damaged, the driver's air bag electrical circuit will experience a high resistance condition potentially causing the driver's air bag to not deploy.
Risk
If the clock spring develops high resistance, in the event of a crash, the drivers air bag will not deploy and will not be able to properly protect the driver, increasing the risk of injuries.
Remedy
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the vehicle's air bag clock spring contact assembly, free of charge. The safety recall began on july 11, 2012. Owners may contact kia customer assistance center at 1‑800‑333‑4542.

Recall number 12V014000 · Recall details

What 2006 Kia Optima owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Mar 8, 2018 · Airbags, Seat belts · 96,000 miles · TX

Air bag lights won't turn off constantly on all the time

Filed Jul 18, 2016 · Airbags · OH

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.

Filed Jun 27, 2016 · Airbags · GA

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.

Filed May 30, 2016 · Airbags · 115,075 miles · VA

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.

Filed Jan 15, 2016 · Airbags, Fuel system · 96,000 miles · MS

I had a recall on airbags took it twice to dealer and the light is still on will not go off. Also when I stop and get gas and after I finish pump on the inside it smell so loud just like I waste it on me I have took it to let them check it out cannot find out where it come from

Filed Jan 13, 2016 · Airbags · 78,263 miles · FL

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."

Filed Nov 11, 2015 · Airbags, Electrical · 152,000 miles · SC

Airbag- we started the car up and the airbag light came on and has not went off (other than when the car is shut down). After research discovered that an airbag failure was part of a recall for this model, but only for optima's manufactured from sept 2005 forward. This one was manufactured a few weeks prior, yet has the same problem. After a google search, the issue can be found on optima's with a manufacture date as far back as april of 2005. The recall needs to be expanded to all 2006 models. Driver door locks- when the door is locked, it will not unlock without a lot of playing with the fob or using key and 'getting lucky' to grab the handle at the correct time while doing so, otherwise it locks back immediately upon pulling the handle. This is a safety issue on 2 levels. 1-if for whatever reason your travels take you through rough neighborhoods, the ability to lock the doors could save your life if you come across the wrong people. However, you can not lock them because if you have an accident and the car catches on fire or you need to escape the vehicle quickly, the door will not unlock so you can open it leaving you trapped in the vehicle. After performing a search on google, this issue seems to be with the lock actuator and is effecting optima's dating back to the 2002-2003 models. Both of these issues seriously need to be dealt with by kia. Either issue is setting up a scenario that will result in the death of the driver, if a severe accident occurs.

Filed Jun 27, 2015 · Airbags · 135,773 miles · NY

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

Filed Jun 16, 2015 · Airbags · WI

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

Filed Mar 16, 2015 · Airbags · 122,000 miles · KY

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?

Questions about the 2006 Kia Optima airbags

Does the 2006 Kia Optima have airbags problems?

Owners have filed 46 complaints about the airbags of the 2006 Kia Optima, 30% of all its complaints, more than any other problem.

At what mileage do 2006 Kia Optima airbags problems start?

The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 50,000 miles.

Was there a recall on the 2006 Kia Optima airbags?

Yes, 1 recall: 12V014000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.

What year does the Kia Optima have bad airbags?

The Kia Optima model years with the most airbags complaints are 2007 (65 complaints), 2013 (62 complaints) and 2008 (57 complaints).

Other 2006 Kia Optima problems

Locks 27Electrical 23Engine 16Lights 16Transmission 14Visibility 13Body 12Fuel system 9Acceleration 7Suspension 6Tires 5Seats 4Steering 2Seat belts 1Wheels 1

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