Air Bag Not Deploy problems of the 2012 Kia Motor RIO

My air bag sensor light has been on for a little over two weeks now. I was hoping the issue would correct itself and it didn't. So I brought it to a dealer yesterday. The price they quoted for parts is 913 for an osc mat and 296 for a clock assembly part. That's over 1000, not including labor. I am very upset and confused at the cost I'm being quoted to repair the matter. Just my luck of course, the warranty covering this expired about 2 mos ago, per the dealer. I really would like some feedback from the manufacturer on why the cost is so high, considering the current value of the vehicle as a whole. It's not reasonable and not economical if I have to pay for a similar issue in the future. The light stays on after I start my vehicle; typically it should flash on for a few sec immediately after starting and then turn off; but the light never turns off; the issue hasn't seemed to affect my driving; but it does concern me if I don't pay to correct the matter that the airbag may not deploy during a wreck or conversely it may deploy at a wrong time, causing unnecessary damage.

We ran into a telephone poll at about 25 miles an hour and the air bags did not deploy and seat belts did not look, passenger hit the windshield with head and driver hit his chest into the steering wheel and hurt chest.