Table 1 shows two common seat belt related problems of the 2002 Kia Motor Optima.
| Problem Category | Number of Problems |
|---|---|
| Front Seat Belt Retractor problems | |
| Seat Belt problems |
While at a complete stop because of road construction, the consumer's vehicle was rear ended by another vehicle at 40 mph. Upon impact, none of the frontal air bags deployed, and the driver's side seat belt failed to retract. Also, driver's side seat back reclined backwards onto the rear seat. Driver sustained severe bruises to chest/breast bone/lungs/heart/lower abdominal, and left leg.
: the contact stated that while driving at 40 mph, the vehicle was filled with the smell of burning rubber. This was closely followed by an appearance of white smoke. The smoke was coming from the seat belt harness area on the passenger side of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a service dealer, where the dealer was unable to determine the problem.