Side/window Air Bag problems of the 2009 Kia Motor Spectra

Passenger side airbag remains "off" even when occupied. Took to dealer and was told it would be $1900 to replace the entire seat which is where the sensor is kept. Blue book value of the car is not even $5000, seems ridiculous to spend that much for an entire seat when the whole car is barely worth that much! as a serious safety concern I feel like kia should be doing something about this.

The contact owns a 2009 kia Spectra. The contact stated that the air bag warning lamp flashed sporadically, which indicated a malfunction. As the failure progressed, the front passenger side air bag flashed off and on intermittently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer on multiple occasions. The technician indicated that there was no failure, but rather the weight capacity in the front passenger seat. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was not available.

On 12-13-11, at 6:15pm my wife (driver) and daughter (passenger) were involved in a mva in which they were "t" boned by a 2002 chevy suburban. At no time did the supplemental side air bags deploy, and this subsequently caused glass to implode on my wife in her scalp and hair. Contacted kia USA ([xxx]) who stated that the accident was not a near fatal accident, therefore the air bags acted accordingly. I find this to be ridiculous! and I'm being nice here. Requesting a full investigation into this failure or false sense of security we are led to believe. I have photos of the damaged caused. Subsequently, the other driver was charged and repairs have been made, but I feel that this matter needs attention. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Friday evening before last, my daughter (17 yrs old and a senior in high school) was riding with her friend and was hit by a car in the right front bumper area. The car my daughter was riding in, a 2009 kia Spectra, was totaled. Yet, despite the massive amount of damage to the car, the passenger airbag did not deploy nor did the seat belt lock. Hence, my daughter was knocked unconscious for about 45 minutes, her nose was broke, she received blood in the ventricles of the brain and she is extremely sore, to say the least. Funny thing is that the driver's dad took the brand new car (5,000 miles and 3 months old) to the dealer over the passenger air bag about two weeks before the accident. He was told that a passenger had to be 100 lbs and be seated just right in the passenger seat in order for the airbags to engage. The emt/firemen who rescued by daughter can all vouch for this. How is it that kia can advertise 'airbags' as a safety feature when they only deploy randomly?.

The contact owns a 2009 kia Spectra ex/lx/sx. The contact stated that another vehicle crashed into the passenger front side of her vehicle. Upon impact the air bags failed to deploy and the restraint system failed to secure her in the seat. As a consequence she sustained severe injuries to the upper and lower part of her body. The cause of the failures has not been determined. She has a copy of indiana police report 09022263. She filed complaint number k1645446 with the manufacturer. Pictures of the failure are available. The failure and current mileages were 9,000. Updated 11/04/09. Updated 11/05/09.