Front Air Bag Sensor Control problems of the 2004 Kia Motor Spectra

Warning light for airbag on the speedometer panel stays on. Dealer and kia tech first replaced passenger seat cover and drivers side seat buckle because they were shorted out. This did not solve the problem. They then said the problem was because of some fluid spilled on computer under cup holders in the center council. (why would anyone put a liquid sensitive product under a cup holder?) they stated that pin 3 on the computer connector was shorted out. I then pointed out that pin 3 was a ground pin. Kia has had massive failures with their early airbag systems and have refused to fix an item that was the bases for choosing their product. Kia has since introduced a new airbag product that seems to work flawlessly. This new product should be offered at no expense to those of us that were provided a inferior and unsafe product.

Problems began October 15, 2005 details of problems: 03/25/05 - a/c vents broken - dealer replaced "nozzle assy - ctr ai" 10/15/05 - check engine light is on - dealer states 'heater circuit malfunction' replaced "02 sensor assy" and reset codes 10/28/05 - check engine light is on and battery went dead (I had it jumped by aaa)- dealer cannot find problem 10/28/05 - emblem cracked on steering wheel - dealer states 'flaw in material' replaced driver side srs bag 11/29/05 - check engine light is on - dealer states p0442 gas cap not sealing & p0455 canister not sealing - dealer replaces gas cap and canister, also orders new ecm 11/29/05 - dealer recalled: sc053 reprogram OCS seat control and sc055 Spectra air bag -dealer replaces items for recall 01/03/06 - check engine light is on - dealer states 'logic error in ecm - dealer replaced ecm 01/11/06 -check engine light is on - dealer states 'poor ground at ecm' was instructed by tech line to replace spark plugs; dealer repaired ground and replaced spark plugs 01/23/06 - engine light is on - dealer states problem at ecm - kept car for repairs 02/13/06 - dealer states that Spectra cannot be repaired at this time. They also state that another car with a similar problem has been sent back to korea so that they can find the problem. Dealer's estimated time to repair my car 2 months from now (has been at dealer since 01/23/06 - 20 days) as stated by keith emmerman, kia palmdale service manager. Mr. Emmerman also stated that I am required, as the Spectra owner, to come pick up my car un-repaired and drive it anyway. I have been told by the kia dealership in palmdale, that the problem the kia is having is in the computer. They do not know how to fix it and want me to drive it any way. The car has been in the shop several times for different problems and now 3 times for the ecm. Now they want me to pick up the car and drive it even though the problem has not been fixed and they don't know how to fix it.

My complaint is not a traditional "failure" as you are accustomed to receiving on your website. My complaint is that kia has redesigned the airbag module in their newly designed Spectra model, and do not appear to have any plans for retro-fitting the new design to same model Spectras manufactured before Jan 2005. The new design was an improvement to allow the Spectra to raise its "poor" offset iihs frontal crash rating to something better. The new tests of the redesigned module upgraded offset frontal crash results to "acceptable". Smaller venting holes in the airbag are described as the primary change. It is stated that the test car was indeed a 2004. 5 model retrofitted with the new airbag module. My complaint is that if kia could retrofit an 2004. 5 model at to obtain a new test from iihs, they should be willing to offer that module upgrade free-of-charge to purchasers of the 2004. 5 and 2005 models built before Jan 2005. See the links below for more of the specific iihs details. . Read more...

Front air bag light doesn't consistently turn on when an individual is in the passenger seat. The consumer was told by the dealer that the air bag system activates at approximately 125 pounds. The consumer and passenger are both underweight to activate the system.

2004 kia Spectra. The consumer states the passenger seat has a feature that has a light that comes on if the person in the seat is less than 90 pounds, stating the airbag is off. This light comes on when there is an adult in the seat. The vehicle has been taken to the dealership, the seat was sent to houston, and it was recalibrated. The seat was doing the same thing, and nothing could be done until the dealership talked to a kia representative. This problem occurred since the purchase of the vehicle.

The dealer never disclosed the existence of the air bag sensor system. The air bad posed a possible safety risk to consumers that were petite and weighed 125 pounds or less.

2004 kia Spectra ex experienced air bag warning light problems. Person in passenger seat system not recognizing them. The consumer was informed that there was nothing the mechanic could do to remedy the problem. The air bag light did not consistently turn on when individuals were in the passenger seat.

While the passenger seat was occupied air bag sensor appeared on the dashboard. Vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that air bag sensor needed to be replaced. However, the mechanic was unable to locate the sensor. Therefore, mechanic replaced the passenger's seat. The problem recurred. Engineer informed consumer that the problem could not be duplicated. Also, stated that if vehicle was involved in a frontal collision the air bags would deploy.