DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE HYDROPLANED AND CRASHED INTO A WALL FOUR TIMES SMASHING ALL FOUR CORNERS OF THE VEHICLE. ALL SIX AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO ANY OCCUPANTS.
2005 kia Spectra airbags problems
severe 39 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100
Complaints
39
Recalls
0
Crashes
14
Avg fix
$1,100
What owners are reporting 11 most recent
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD RED TURNED OFF REGARDLESS OF THE WEIGHT OF THE PASSENGER SITTING IN THE SEAT. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES. WHEN AT THE DEALER THE AIR BAG LIGHT RED CORRECTLY, THEREFORE NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. *AK
AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IS ACTIVATED. CAR HAS NOT SUSTAINED DAMAGE. SEAT OR SENSOR MALFUNCTION MAY CAUSE AIRBAG NOT TO DEPLOY IN CRASH.
TAKATA RECALL CONTACTED LOCAL KIA AND REFERRED TO NATIONAL PHONE 1-800-333-4542 WHERE A REPRESENTATIVE (JESSICA) STATED THAT KIA DOES NOT USE TAKATA AIRBAGS ON ANY OF THEIR VEHICLES; THEREFORE, NO NEED TO REPLACE. END OF CONVERSATION.
THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON IN MY 2005 KIA SPECTRA EX. THE ERROR CODE SAVED INDICATES THE OCS SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT HAS FAILED. THERE IS AN NHTSA ACTION NUMBER (PE15031) FOR THE SAME ISSUE AND MODEL CAR BUT FOR LATER PRODUCTION YEARS. IT INDICATES THAT THE ISSUE WILL BE REPAIRED FOR UP TO 15 YEARS FROM THE DATE OF PURCHASE. WHY DOES THIS NOT COVER THE 2005 YEAR AS WELL?...UPDATED …
WHILE STOPPED ON A SMALL HILL IN TRAFFIC, I WAS REARENDED BY A FORD TRUCK WHO WAS GOING ABOUT 35MPH. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL FOR INJURIES TO MY KNEES AND MY NECK. I SEE THERE ARE MANY MANY MANY COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAGS. THERE DEFINITELY IS A MAJOR PROBLEM AND A RECALL SHOULD BE ORDERED. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WHICH COULD RESULT IN DEATH. ALSO…
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY, EVEN WHEN A PASSENGER WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHERE THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED. UPDATED 1/10/2007 - *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER THREE TIMES BUT THE SERVICE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE ISSUE.
DT: THE CONTACT STATES THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG HAS A SEAT SENSOR AND IT SHOULD TURN THE AIR BAG ON WHEN THERE IS A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. THE PASSENGER IS AN ADULT MALE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO A DEALERSHIP, THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THEREFORE, THERE HAVE BEEN NO CORRECTIONS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. *NM UPDATED 11/29/2005 - THE FAILURE OCCURS EACH TIME THE MALE PASSENGER SAT IN TH…
I PURCHASED A 2005 KIA SPECTRA EX ON JULY 11, 2005 AND HAVE ALSO BEEN EXPERIENCING ISSUES WITH MY "ADVANCED" PASSENGER AIR BAG SYSTEM. AS OTHER POSTERS HAVE STATED, THE LIGHT HAS COME ON WHILE DRIVING WHEN A PERSON OF PROPER STATURE IS IN THE SEAT AND STAYS OFF FOR VARYING AMOUNTS OF TIME. I LIVE IN MASSACHUSETTS THANKFULLY WE HAVE THE LEMON LAW HERE THAT ALLOWS YOU SOME PROTECTION FOR DEFECTS O…
Common questions
How serious is the airbags problem on the 2005 kia Spectra?
It's a meaningful issue. 39 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?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
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.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. 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.
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