Kia has a recall (the federal safety agency campaign number: 12v244000) for year 2006-2008 rio vehicles, my kia rio is a 2008 however it is not listed under the VIN due to I'm guessing being manufactured after the cut off date, however the air bag light has now come on and the passenger warning light no longer works. I had my car diagnosed today and kia informed me it was the sensor in the passenger seat that had cracked. From the recall notification. The front passenger seat occupant sensor mat can experience fatigue cracking. If sufficient cracking occurs, the occupant classification system (ocs) will cease to function such that the system will not be able to detect whether a child passenger is in the seat and the airbag will deploy during a crash necessitating deployment. I'm asking/wondering how I can get my vehicle on the recall list if possible. The dealership is now telling me I need to have the entire seat replaced at $2500 to fix the issue. Is this how the sensor was repaired under the recall or are they able to replace just the cracked sensor? Its sounding a little fishy that they cant replace just the sensor. My vehicle is still at kia so I don't have my VIN# on me at the moment. I would like a reply if possible and can give my VIN at that time.
2008 Kia Rio airbags complaints
Page 2 of 2: complaints 11 to 27 of 27, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 kia rio. While driving at 30 MPH, the air bag warning light illuminated. The failure recurred several times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the occupant classification system mat needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 106,000.
The airbag light illuminated & will not go off. After having a diagnostics run on it I was told I had to replace ocs mat sensor. You can't buy just the sensor, you have to buy the seat which contains the sensor for $800. When I called kia $ questioned the recall, I was told my VIN did not qualify. Funny how I see so many complaints that read just like mine about a 2008 kia rio. I think the recall should extend further to protect the consumer from being ripped off.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 kia rio. The contact stated that the air bag warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the VIN was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 12v244000 (air bag). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 46,000.
I have driver/passenger and side airbags. I was blindsided by a dodge dakota on the passenger side. Her vehicle slammed both of my doors on the passenger side so badly neither one would open and my daughter had to climb out of my side. One was directly at the side airbag, my car was totaled to say the least as it had multiple damage to it. What should I do about the airbags not deploying?
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 kia rio. The contact stated that while parked, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis. The technician stated that the ocs in the front passenger's seat would have to be replaced. The contact referenced the federal safety agency campaign number: 12v244000 (air bags) but was advised by the manufacturer that the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 65,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 kia rio. The contact stated that the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis. The technician stated that the seat sensor would have to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated the VIN was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 12v244000 (air bags). The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 65,000. Updated 4/24/13 *cn updated 05/17/2013
I have a 2008 kia rio. The air bag light on the dash came on may 30, 2011. The dealership says the air bags will not work with this light on. The car has 77,000 miles on it and the kia dealership says that the airbag system is not covered after 60,000 miles. I have been told that I would have to replace the entire passenger side seat to get the new sensor needed at a cost of over $500. For what I have read on internet forums, the airbag system sensors and/or wires to the system malfunctioning on the 2008 kia rio seems to be a common problem, in addition to other models. When I spoke with the dealership in athens, ga, they indicated I could just wear my seat belt. I believe kia needs to consider a recall.
(2008 kia rio) - passenger side air bag fails to stay on.... It comes on maybe every 1 of 5 times.... I have tried every thing to get it to work....when stopped a stop sign I turn the car of and back on (nothing)... It needs a key to turn it on and off . I have even put weights on the seat but nothing ..... Will not turn on ......then some days it turns on just fine ..... But!!!!!.... It also turns off while driving ( after a lot of research I found multi able complaints on the passenger side air bag this needs a recall (a on of key) and to be looked at on all cars like this ......the kia lot will look at it soon hope its not on one of its I want to work days so I can show them what I mean......also ...the sensor part cost around $400 and several people said they had to replace them 2 or more times ....
Passenger airbag sensor in 2008 kia rio lx does not work properly, because the light saying "passenger airbag off" is on even when adult passenger is in front passenger seat. This happens about 1 in 3 times the vehicle is entered, and shifting around with vehicle running does not trip the sensor to activate the airbag. Dealer was notified and replaced the seat bottom/sensors but the problem still persists. This is a safety concern because if an accident happens and the sensor is not working properly, the passenger could be seriously injured or killed. I think this may need to be a recall or design change for kia since the replaced sensor was not a fix to the problem.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 kia rio lx. The contact was stopped to make a left turn when another vehicle crashed into the contacts vehicle. The force of the crash pushed the contacts vehicle into a ditch. The contact stated the rear and front ends of the vehicle, including the frame was damaged. The air bags did not deploy. The contact also stated that a month before the crash, a deer crashed into the vehicle and the front air bags did not deploy. The contact stated that two passengers sustained neck injuries. A police report was available. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000 miles.
I was involved in a car accident. I was headed west down a two-way street when a car ran the stop sign and crashed into me as I was entering into the intersection. The car was going a high speed when the collision occurred. My whole front end of car was smashed in, my car had been hit so bad until the gadgets in the cabinet of my car were all out of place. My passenger head was busted open and I sustained head, neck, back and rib injuries. We were both wearing seat belts. My passenger weighted over 170 pounds which mean her airbag should have deployed as well as mines but they did not. I have filed a claim with the person whose fault it was insurance company. I have did research online and realized that other kia cars dating back to 2000 models airbags did not deploy either. I have a 2008 kia rio lx I bought it brand new off the lot. This problem should not have occurred.
Tl*the contact owns a 2008 kia rio. The contact stated that when an occupant is seated in the passenger seat, the air bag indicator is supposed to be off. The air bag indicator should always be illuminated unless more than 70 lbs. Is seated in the passenger seat. The contact stated that the indicator will not dim the majority of the time. The dealer has been notified and stated that no repairs will be made because the vehicle was designed in that manner. The failure and current mileages were 3,026.
The passenger side air bag does not come on with my wife setting in the front seat. She weights 110# and the dealership stated that she was to light to turn the airbag on. It seems to me that a person 110# should turn the airbag system on. We feel that there is a problem with the design of the system. There was no accident yet but if it did occur there would be no airbag protection for the passenger. Please take action as this is a real safety issue.
Tl*the contact owns a 2008 kia rio lx. While driving approximately 40 MPH, the contact rear ended another vehicle. The vehicle was completely destroyed and none of the air bags deployed. Prior to the failure, she never noticed any air bag warning lights illuminated on the instrument control panel. The contact has pictures of the incident and a copy of the police report. The failure and current mileages were 5,000.
While driving on a local road traveling between 35-40 MPH, I swerved to avoid hitting a dear and hit a telephone pole head on. I was taken to the emergency room with injuries to my neck, back, left shoulder and left knee. My air bag did not deploy.
Tl*the contact owns a 2008 kia rio. While driving 45 MPH, the contact rear ended another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy and the contact's chest struck the steering wheel. He has a pacemaker and was transported to the hospital. A police report was filed. The fuel system was unknown. The failure and current mileages were 48.
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