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Kia Motors Complaint - Passenger Air Bag Sensor - Passenger Air Bag
Complaint
GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA -- I recently bought a 2007 Kia Sorento.
The dash has a light to show when the passenger air bag is off. When no one sits in the passenger front seat, the light comes on. In my vehicle, even when there is someone sitting in that seat, the light will remain on. This means if a front end collision occurs, the passenger side air bag will not deploy. This is very dangerous. One of the main reasons I purchased the Kia was due to the amount of air bags all around the interior.
I have had service to check this out at two dealerships and the computer does not register any sensor malfunctions in the history. The service manager himself stated he has had several complaints about this very problem. He stated it depends on the exact way a passenger positions themselves in the first few moments of sitting. I took him for a test drive myself and it worked perfectly when he was sitting, but the light has come on with each other passenger. The sensor is a gel pad in the seat and must have appropriate weight placed on it to activate the air bag and allow deployment when necessary. The sensor is not set properly for the average person. This could be a very dangerous situation.
I hope Kia Motors realizes the problem and finds a solution before someone is seriously injured.
The dash has a light to show when the passenger air bag is off. When no one sits in the passenger front seat, the light comes on. In my vehicle, even when there is someone sitting in that seat, the light will remain on. This means if a front end collision occurs, the passenger side air bag will not deploy. This is very dangerous. One of the main reasons I purchased the Kia was due to the amount of air bags all around the interior.
I have had service to check this out at two dealerships and the computer does not register any sensor malfunctions in the history. The service manager himself stated he has had several complaints about this very problem. He stated it depends on the exact way a passenger positions themselves in the first few moments of sitting. I took him for a test drive myself and it worked perfectly when he was sitting, but the light has come on with each other passenger. The sensor is a gel pad in the seat and must have appropriate weight placed on it to activate the air bag and allow deployment when necessary. The sensor is not set properly for the average person. This could be a very dangerous situation.
I hope Kia Motors realizes the problem and finds a solution before someone is seriously injured.
Comments:
Posted by Anonymous on 2008-03-27:
Just a question, when someone is sitting in the passenger seat are they wearing a seatbelt?? If the passenger is not wearing a seatbelt the airbag will not deploy in an accident.
Posted by songman on 2008-03-28:
Gald to hear see that other consumers are quite concerned about this serious issue pertaining to air bag deployment in certain Kia vehicles. I have a 2007 Optima, and I have been through it all just like yourself with the dealer. As they have said, even in writing, the particular way an individual sits in the front passenger seat, depends on how the sensors read or don't read that person. As you said in your posting, this could result in a serious problem in the event of a crash. I mean, yes the seat belts will and do help, but most vehicles today have air bags in addition to seat belts. So, they should be designed in a more user freindly way. In my opinion this problem we are experiencing is major flaw in the design of the cars from Kia. Beyond that, the Kia products are quite satisfactory!
Posted by safetyman on 2008-05-16:
This sensor has been an issue for a long time. My 2006 Sorento had the same problem & they could not figure out the problem. It finally started working right. The 2008 Sorento I am driving now once again has the same issue. The majority of the time it does not sense the difference of somebody in the seat or not. They are wearing the seatbelt as someone else questioned. A couple of times the sensor has activated with someone in the seat to then turn off a few minutes later. I have checked and cannot find any TSB's on this from the dealers either so they are either not addressing it or they are keeping this very quiet since it is a safety issue.
Posted by Hope Drums on 2008-08-09:
I'm glad to hear that there are other people out there that are having the same issue! We bought a new 08 Sorento from our local dealership in June and immediately noticed the problem. We have taken it back once and they said the sensor checks out at factory specs. Actually went there today, but the service department was closed. The one thing that sucks is that they had us sign an arbitration clause when we bought the vehicle. I'm not sure if it was for the local dealership or Kia Motors. Sounds like a class-action lawsuit in the making!!
Posted by Archie2 on 2008-08-09:
Kia is crap. One step up from a Chinese-made Cherry Amulet. It may pass the crash tests, but it will kill you by driving you crazy with all the other crap that goes wrong (which they'll tell you your car IS THE ONLY ONE).
Posted by Jim84 on 2009-01-27:
I have the same problem! New 2008 Kia Rio. Sitting properly; I'm protected. Raise my hand to scratch my nose; oh no I'm not protected, quickly proper position, thank God, protected again........so on and so on.......
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