2008 Kia Optima: airbags did not deploy in a crash

Filed Jan 6, 2021 · Airbags, Body · 100,000 miles · CA · crash · 1 injury

I was driving southbound on sepulveda blvd on sep 6 at 0800am and I was over halfway through the green light when I was struck by a toyota making a left turn on a green light who did not yield. The driver [xxx] struck my car on the front and left driver bumper and fender causing extensive damage. He failed to yield, lied about it and the front and side air bags did not deploy. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Nov 27, 2015 · Airbags · CA · crash · 1 injury

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 kia optima. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 85 MPH, the driver lost control of the vehicle. As a result, the contact went into an embankment and crashed into a telephone pole. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed. The driver sustained minor injuries and the front passenger was killed. The vehicle was towed to a police impound lot. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. The VIN was unavailable.....updated 12/30/15 *bf

Filed May 21, 2015 · Airbags · WA · crash · 1 injury

Wife was coming back from walking the dogs in the park, at the park she was feeling dizzy, when she sat down in the car she was feeling better. As she was driving home, she passed a school and saw the sign to slow down. After that, she blacked out and she woke up after the accident, in a ditch on the other side of the street. She had hit a fence then head-on into a tree. The whole time all the air bags didn't deploy. The air bags not deploying is the reason for this complaint updated 05-27-15 *bf.....updated 06-12-15 *bf updated 06/23/15

Filed Jul 2, 2014 · Airbags · 39,700 miles · RI · crash

Driver on opposite side if road crossed center lane and crashed into the drivers side of my car, damaging the entire drivers side from the headlights to the taillights. It is within $1000 of being totaled, but the low mileage is what saved us by bringing the value up. The driver was going approximately 25-30mph when her car struck mine and she did not apply the brakes at all. She hit my car and the car behind me as well. My side airbags did not deploy during the impact, as I feel they should have. There were no other passengers in the car, and there have not been any issues with the air bag system that I am aware of.

Filed Apr 16, 2014 · Airbags · 6,492 miles · TN

Passenger air bag light comes on and reads, air bag off and stays o with an adult passenger in front seat. This is an intermittent problem which has been in different dealerships a number of times (ten) and has never been resolved. Kia said that they are not interested in making repairs because of the age and mileage on the vehicle. The light was on at one time when at the dealership and a diagnosis was performed. I was told that there was no problem found. The problem with this statement is that if the light is on and there a person in the seat, and an accident was to take place, the air bag would not deploy. I feel that this a real safety problem, one that should be address by kia and repaired or replace the vehicle because of the danger to the passenger in the front seat. I know I could just trade the vehicle in to get rid of my problem, but that will not solve the problem with the vehicle and the next owner will have the same safety issue. This condition can happen at any speed both or residential and expressways, it stays on until I turn the ignition off and stop the car. How do I know, if this system is ever working properly? ..updated 04-16-14

Filed Jun 25, 2013 · Airbags, Body · 689,000 miles · WI · 1 injury

While traveling at the posted speed limit of 55 MPH a deer ran into the side of my 2008 kia optima which is equipped with side air bags in which the drivers side door was pushed in on the driver and the drivers side widow was destroyed inflicting cuts on the driver and with the entire drivers side of the vehicle received extensive damage including the hood of the vehicle. The side air bags never deployed to ensure the safety of the driver even with the severity of the impact of which kia national headquarters was contacted and the explanation was that the vehicle was not moving sideways at impact and this is why the air bags did not deploy! This is not a valid excuse to me or I would think an consumer purchasing this vehicle with the assumption that they have side air bag protection!

Filed May 14, 2012 · Airbags, Engine · MA · crash

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 kia optima. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH the driver lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a tree. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed and a fatality was reported. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure and current mileage was unknown. Updated 06/12/12*lj the consumer stated a recall came in the mail on april 12. 2012. Prior to the accident, there was a loud noise coming from under the hood. Updated 06/13/12

Filed Jan 16, 2012 · Engine · 36,000 miles · PA · crash · 1 injury

My 2008 kia optima stalled, without warning, while driving approximately 35-40 MPH on a busy highway near an exit. The car lost all power, including steering. The car ended up riding a guardrail and landed on top of it. The end result was, for me, a broken neck! There was absolutely no warning prior to this happening. I was on my way to pick my 3 year old son up from school. Had he been in the car, this may have been catastrophic! My airbags did not deploy! This is unacceptable. The car is undergoing bodywork repairs and I am scared to death to step foot in this death trap ever again. Calls to the kia dealer where I bought the car go unanswered, as they usually do. This is serious! If your optima has stalled while driving without warning please post a complaint. This needs to be a recall!

Filed Jan 9, 2010 · Airbags · 11,700 miles · NC

We have a 2008 kia optima, with 12,000 miles.. The passenger side airbag indicator light malfunctions. While people are seated, it comes on, indicating the air bag is off; which means, in case of accident it will not deploy. It has done this recently on three separate occasions with three different medium to large adults. We have taken this to the local kia service twice and have been told each time, "you are not sitting correctly." they even supplied us with a "service bulletin" instructing employees how to respond when people report this concern... Instructing the consumer how to "sit correctly." after, much conversation with the local kia dealership employees, everyone, the service manager, tech, and company manager agreed that we had a problem but they couldn't fix it. Their reason was kia would not recognize it as a problem and would not cover it under the warranty. As a matter of fact, the manager reported to me that the kia rep was not pleased that the employees had used the word "problem" when referring to my situation. This is a major safety concern and it leaves me with a car, that when the light comes on, I have to stop and move the passenger to the back seat, as the airbag would not deploy in case of an accident. Upon checking the internet, I have discovered pages of others reporting this same problem with the same inane instructions of "not being seated properly." if the kia's sensor is that sensitive, it needs to be fixed. We feel this needs to be addressed and that kia needs to admit the problem and fix it!

Filed Dec 1, 2008 · Brakes · 2,600 miles · IN · crash

Tl*the contact owns a 2008 kia optima. While driving approximately 25 MPH in the rain on a highway and applying pressure to the brake pedal it locked up. The contact attempted to drive the vehicle to the emergency lane and was unsuccessful. He rear-ended the proceeding vehicle and caused a multi-vehicle traffic collision. The air bags did not deploy with the impact to the front of the vehicle. The "air bag" warning light indicator illuminated on the instrument panel and remained on until the engine was shut off. In addition, the seat belt shoulder harness straps were non-functional on the front passenger side. The police and ambulance arrived and a police report was filed. There was no personal injury. The vehicle sustained damages and was driven to his residence. The failure and current mileages were 2,600.