December 28, 2011, I noticed that my airbag light located on the dashboard continuously stays illuminated. I have taken it to the dealer to get it checked out. I was told that the airbag sensors are located in the driver/ passenger seats. The mechanic at kia dealer tried to fix the problem, but was unsuccessful. The service representative informed me that they would have to replace the sensors. I've viewed the complaints of people that own kia optima 2008. It states that these cars were recalled because of significant amount of defects. (I only have 43,000 miles) in addition, a week ago I've started hearing a ticking noise coming from the engine area when I accelerate going up in a roller coaster climbing position. Thank you for your expeditious response.
2008 Kia Optima airbags complaints
Page 3 of 3: complaints 41 to 57 of 57, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Passenger airbag says off when passenger is sitting in the front seat.
2008 kia optima. Passenger air bag light stays off even when 175 pound person is sitting in seat. Taken car in 4 times to be fixed. Kia says we are probably sitting in the seat wrong. Finally they replace seat. Still didnt solve problem. Doesent matter what speed.
When front seat passenger sits in the passenger seat of the 2008 kia optima, the airbag "off" indicator doesn't switch to on. I was told by dealer that the steps is that the car needs to be off, passenger sits, then turn the car on. This automatic feature is going to get someone killed . . . Not turning on the passenger restraint. Unless the car is off. True situation - my wife gets discharged from hospital from having a baby, I pull car around, get out, load items in the car. My wife gets in the car. Half way home, we realize the front passenger airbag is "off."
The passenger side airbag malfunctions. It may or may not engage when one sits in the seat. After moving around; getting out of car and/or refastening seat belt it will most of the time engages. The size of the person, the movement of the car (or not), and sitting position do not appear to matter. One knows that the airbag is not employed properly because the light indicating the functioning of the passenger side airbag will read "off."
I have a 2008 kia optima that I purchased brand new in 2007 I have noticed that when I have a passenger the airbag lights states that air bag is off this is scary are my passengers not being protected by the air bag.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 kia optima. While driving with an occupant in the passenger's seat, the contact noticed the passenger's air bag indicator light was not illuminated, indicating the air bag was not on. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the contact was informed there was nothing wrong with the vehicle. The contact was also informed that the vehicle must be started prior to having an occupant in the passenger's seat in order for the passenger air bag to function correctly. There were no repairs made to the vehicle. The failure and current mileages were 32,000.
I own a kia 2008 optima. Every 3-5 days the passenger airbag sensors do not detect a person sitting in the passenger seat. I can drive for miles and have the person adjust their position and it still doesn't register. It seems to occur with people between 120-160 pounds. They are all over 5'5". I have contacted kia corporate case #[xxx] . Because it happens every three to five days they won't do anything until the computer registers an error. The computer doesn't think anyone is there. It doesn't think there is an issue. They've basically told me when it happens to turn off the car and have the person get out of the car for 3 seconds and then try it again. This doesn't work well when you are picking hs kids up from school. You can't just stop your car in the middle of the street. I've done some research. It looks like kia has been aware of the problem since 2006. I believe it is a serious safety issue. If the system doesn't identify the person in the seat and there is a head on collision the airbag is not going to deploy. I have video and pictures of it recurring. Kia will don't accept it as evidence. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
Front passenger side air bag does not always activate when an adult sits in the front passenger seat. The dashboard light indicates that the airbag is off. Even with an adult weighing about 115 pounds occupies the seat.
Indicator light for passenger seat air bag has irregular performance. Can't depend on operation of passenger side air bag. Have made 4 or 5 complaints with dealer and no resolution. Looking at internet it appears this is a problem with various model years on the kia optima and other models within the kia family. Would like to have resolution prior to having an accident with someone in the passenger seat and the air bag does not function.
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!
Bought a new optima 2008. The passenger airbag is almost always off when a passenger is seating normally on the front seat. The dealer refuses to fix it despite the car being brand new.
Tl*the contact owns a 2008 kia optima. The contact stated that the passenger side air bag indicator illuminated, which meant that the air bag was deactivated. The indicator never illuminated to indicate that it was activated. The failure occurs intermittently and without warning. The contact finds this to be very unsafe because there was no guarantee that the air bag would activate in the event of a crash. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and they stated that because passengers were seated improperly, the air bag module would not activate. No repairs have been made. The manufacturer could not find any recalls; therefore, no compensation would be made. The failure mileage was 5 and current mileage was 5,843.
Dealer has put off for over a month repairing functionality of passenger air bag system. System does not work. One month with run around and dealer seemingly unable to express concern over this safety issue. Kia customer service notified.
Tl*the contact owns a 2008 kia optima. Two days after purchasing the vehicle, the air bag off warning light continued to illuminate on the instrument panel while a passenger was present. The dealer stated that the adult passenger would either have to ride in the back seat of the vehicle or carry a 10 lbs. Weight while riding in the vehicle because the air bag sensor would only detect 110 lbs. And up. The failure mileage was 18.
The passenger air bag does not activate with a 115lb woman in the seat. I have researched the web and understand that the air bag must activate in the event the occupant is 100lb or more. The manufacturer has indicated that their spec. Is 115lb.
Tl*the contact owns a 2008 kia optima. While the vehicle was idling or in motion, the air bag warning light would illuminate on the instrument panel, which indicated that it was deactivated. The front passenger side air bag senor does not operate when the occupant seated in the passenger seat weighs less than 105 pounds. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer and they stated that the sensor was operating properly. The failure continued and the contact was concerned of the safety risk involved with the air bag. The failure mileage was 50 and current mileage was 450.
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