Front Air Bag Sensor Control problems of the 2008 Kia Motor Spectra

The airbag sensor in the passenger seat appears to be failing, similar to other kia models. The light indicating the airbag is off is illuminated when the vehicle is occupied by an adult.

Airbag mat sensor failed. Seems to be very common unfortunately. No accident or injury as of yet.

The sensor light turned on and disabled airbags. We took it to the all star kia in baton rouge off of siegen lane. They told us it would be 1549. To fix it. I contacted corporate office spoke to ralph howard, he told me he would send the case to regional office since I wanted them to pay for it. Three days later ralph howard called me and said they would pay for half of the cost, we declined he said he would then send it to the regional office. I reminded him he had said that three days ago. Finally I reach a ms. Jessica in regional who was not very pleasant and she said it was no longer under warranty, so they could not pay for it. I told her I would not let this go. Today 4-13-15 she called and left a message on my phone saying that the dealer would pay half of the cost and that I had 30 days to accept. I feel like this should of been a recall since there are so many consumers with this same problem same model car. They recalled 146,000 thousand other cars different models and years for the same thing. Just want them to be honest and do the right thing.

The passenger detection sensor in the passenger seat would sometimes work on and off while driving, or while they shifted in the seat. The light that says the passenger airbag was off would stay on (meaning the sensor would not detect someone in the seat) and the red error light on the dash would stay on. Now the sensor does not work at all (and has not for the past few years). This was after the warranty expired and asking my mechanic said I should take it to an upholsterer to get it fixed. The issue still has not been fixed due to the estimated cost.

The sensor in the passenger seat was found to be defective during a state inspection. I had to replace the seat, which cost me $2,231. 93. I was told by the autoshop, and by 2 different kia dealerships that this seems to happen alot in kias. I thinik that kia should reimburse me for this but don't know how to go about that. I see that they have recalled other models for airbag malfunctions. This model should be looked into as well.

Vehicle hit from rear at high rate of speed and pushed into vehicle to drivers side and vehicle in front. Fire dept at scene said the vehicle was impacted where airbag sensor is and should have gone off. No airbags went off. Driver with serious injuries. Children in back seat very minor injuries.

My son has a 2008 kia Spectra and I have a 2009 kia Spectra. Both cars have difficulty turning on the front passenger air bag when the car is/has been cold and my wife sits in the front passenger seat. She weighs approx 105 pounds and when the cars have been sitting in the cold, the sensors in the seat do not register that she's there. Consequently the passenger air bag is automatically turned off and would not deploy if we were in an accident. I have spoken with the kia dealer about it and they say that if functions normally. But it doesn't. If the weather's warm, neither car seems to have the problem as often.