Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Kia sedona. While the vehicle was parked, it rolled back and crashed into another vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was not filed. There were no injuries sustained. The contact was able to drive the vehicle away from the scene. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 150,000. Updated 02/03/17*lj *cn
2005 Kia Sedona airbags problems
severe 11 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
11
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
8crashes
10injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 11 airbags complaints filed for the 2005 Kia Sedona, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 150,000+ mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Among the 12 model years of Kia Sedona in our records for airbags problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
No new NHTSA airbags complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 9 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: This model has a documented history of airbag non-deployment in crash scenarios where they should have activated, leading to serious occupant injuries—and some owners also report persistent warning lights with expensive quoted repairs that Kia refuses to address under warranty. Before buying a used 2005 Sedona, have the airbag system professionally scanned and tested, and verify no previous crash history on the title.
Owners of the 2005 Kia Sedona report three distinct airbag problems. The most serious is non-deployment during impact. Across five complaints, airbags failed to inflate during rear-end collisions at 60 mph, side impacts at 45 mph, frontal crashes with wildlife at 43 mph, ice-related loss-of-control incidents at 30 mph, and even a slow roll-back collision. Injuries from these failures include head trauma, neck and back strain, eye damage, and fractures—some severe enough to require emergency transport and ongoing medical treatment. One owner suffered long-term psychological effects from the accident.
In stark contrast, one complaint describes both airbags deploying at just 2 mph during a minor pole strike, causing unnecessary finger and arm injuries.
Two owners report an airbag warning light that illuminates and never goes out. Kia quoted between $100 and $1,500 for diagnosis and repair, but owners balked at the cost—and the company appears unwilling to address it under warranty. One owner's vehicle has zero accident history yet still carries the warning light.
Same Kia Sedona airbags reports on nearby years: 2006
Failure modes owners describe
Airbag failure to deploy in frontal/side collisions
Multiple owners report airbags not deploying during rear-end collisions, side impacts, and frontal crashes at speeds ranging from 30–60 mph, resulting in unprotected occupant contact with interior surfaces and serious injuries.
When: 18,500 to 175,000 miles; incidents occurred during active crashes at various speeds
Symptoms owners cite: Airbags did not deploy during rear-end collision at 60 mph; Airbags did not deploy during side-impact crash at 45 mph; Airbags did not deploy during frontal impact with deer at 43 mph; Airbags did not deploy during ice-related loss-of-control crash at 30 mph; Airbags did not deploy during parked vehicle roll-back collision
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer diagnosis not completed in several cases; vehicles destroyed in multiple incidents
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer was notified in at least one case (narrative #2)
Improper airbag deployment at low-speed impact
One owner reports both airbags deployed during a very low-speed (2 mph) collision with a pole while making a right turn over a speed bump, causing occupant injuries inconsistent with the severity of the crash.
When: 108,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Both airbags deployed at 2 mph during low-impact pole strike
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not diagnosed or repaired; occupant sustained finger injuries and arm swelling
Airbag warning light remaining on
Two owners report an illuminated airbag dash light that persists indefinitely, even in vehicles with no accident history. Kia quotes diagnostic/repair costs between $100 and $1,500 but does not resolve the issue.
When: On-demand; no mileage or timing specified in narratives #10 and #11
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light illuminated and persistent; Light comes on and never goes out
Repairs/costs cited: Kia quoted $100–$1,500 for diagnosis and repair but owners did not authorize due to cost; issue not resolved
Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Kia sedona. The contact stated that while driving at 43 MPH, a deer jumped in front of the vehicle which caused a crash and the air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained injuries to the chest and back which required medical attention. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate…
Had airbags trouble with your 2005 Kia Sedona?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the airbags problem on the 2005 Kia Sedona?
It's a meaningful issue. 11 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,100.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Across the 10 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 47,500 and 108,000 miles, with the median around 103,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 47,500; a quarter make it past 108,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,100 for airbags repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to airbags?
No active recalls currently cover airbags issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2005/Kia/Sedona.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.