TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: AIRBAG CONTROL UNIT (ACU) INSPECTION & REPLACEMENT - This bulletin provides information associated with the "Warranty Extension Program" (WTY027) to inspect and, if necessary, replace the Airbag Control Unit (ACU) with a new one on 2017MY Cadenza (YG) produced from June 2, 2016 through July 12, 2017 and Sportage (QL) vehicles produced from December 10, 2015 through April 11, 2017. If these vehicles exhibit an MIL "ON" and one or more of the DTCs listed in the table below are stored, the ACU is to be replaced. Follow the procedure outlined in this publication for the inspection of DTCs and ACU replacement.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2017 Kia Sportage airbags problems
severe 15 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
15
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
6crashes
7injuries
What stands out
Among the 15 model years of Kia Sportage in our records for airbags problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering airbags on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
WARRANTY EXTENSION: OWNER NOTIFICATION - This document is the owner notification advising that Kia is extending the New Vehicle Limited Warranty coverage for repairs related to the illumination of the Airbag Warning Light in 2017 MY Sportage vehicles from 5 years/60,000 miles to 15 years/unlimited miles, whichever comes first, starting from the date the vehicle was first put into service. This warranty extension is to address certain Airbag Warning Light ON conditions at no cost to you.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗WARRANTY EXTENSION: REIMBURSEMENT FORM - This document is a Reimbursement Request form for 17 MY Sportage customers which was mailed with the customer letter advising them to submit the form if they had paid for repairs for this same matter prior to the warranty extension program launch.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗WARRANTY EXTENSION: DEALER PRINCIPAL MEMO - This document is the announcement to the dealer principals that Kia is extending the New Vehicle Limited Warranty coverage for the repairs related to the Airbag Warning Light ON for 2017 MY Sportage and 2017 MY Cadenza vehicles from 5 years/60,000 miles to 15 years/unlimited miles, whichever comes first, starting from the date the vehicle was first put into service. This warranty extension is to address certain Airbag Warning Light ON conditions.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗WARRANTY EXTENSION: DEALER PARTS AND SERVICE MANAGER MEMO - This document is the announcement to the dealer Parts and Service Managers that Kia is extending the New Vehicle Limited Warranty coverage for the repairs related to the Airbag Warning Light ON for 2017 MY Sportage and 2017 MY Cadenza vehicles from 5 years/60,000 miles to 15 years/unlimited miles, whichever comes first, starting from the date the vehicle was first put into service. This warranty extension is to address certain Airbag Warning Light ON conditions.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Fifteen owners of 2017 Kia Sportages report two major categories of airbag trouble: failure to deploy during documented crashes and warning lights indicating system faults.
Non-deployment in crashes. Six owners describe airbags that did not deploy during collisions severe enough to total vehicles or cause hospitalization. A rear-end impact at 30-35 MPH, a T-bone at a traffic light, a 20 MPH rear-end while the driver was falling asleep, a head-on collision at roughly 45-50 MPH (the other vehicle's airbags worked), a 73 MPH deer strike, and a 70 MPH interstate barrier impact—all resulted in zero airbag activation despite meeting deployment thresholds. Owners sustained fractures, concussions, back and neck injuries. One owner's 17-month-old was in a rear-facing seat during a frontal collision. When notified, the manufacturer told one owner that airbags "do not always deploy in the event of a crash" and declined to assist.
Warning lights and module faults. Nine owners report airbag warning lights that stay on, typically caused by airbag control module failure, seat belt sensor malfunction, or improper grounding of side airbags. One diagnostic scan revealed trouble code B1375 (passenger airbag module). Most owned vehicles with low mileage (26,000 miles, 71,256 miles) and no accident history. Dealership repair quotes ranged from $1,000 to $2,600. Most owners were outside the warranty window and received no manufacturer support.
Failure modes owners describe
Airbag non-deployment in frontal/severe crashes
Airbags failed to deploy during multiple documented collision events, including head-on, rear-end, and side-impact crashes at speeds ranging from 20 to 73 MPH. Owners reported totaled vehicles and serious injuries (concussion, fractured chest, back and neck injuries) when systems should have activated.
When: During crashes at various mileages: 66,000 miles (rear-end); 17,000 miles (T-bone); 80,495 miles (rear-end); 73 MPH impact (deer strike, new vehicle); 70 MPH highway barrier impact
Symptoms owners cite: Airbags do not deploy during high-impact collisions; Severe vehicle damage (crumpled front end, hood lift, windshield cracking, engine block displacement); Owner occupant and passenger injuries despite significant impact forces
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer told one owner that 'air bags do not always deploy in the event of a crash; therefore they could not assist.' No recalls issued for non-deployment failures documented in these complaints.
Airbag warning light with control module faults
Dashboard airbag caution light illuminates and remains on, typically traced to airbag control module malfunction or sensor failure. Owners report persistent warning light with no history of accident, suggesting manufacturing or assembly defect.
When: Lighting up at various mileages: 71,256 miles; 26,000 miles; during routine operation at low mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light turns on and stays illuminated; Light does not clear after vehicle restart; No apparent impact or accident history
Codes mentioned: B1375 (passenger-side defective airbag module)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership quote for airbag control module replacement: $1000+; another dealership quoted $2600 for passenger airbag replacement. Owners outside warranty coverage denied manufacturer assistance.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recalls or Technical Service Bulletins mentioned. Owners report warranty has expired and manufacturer provides no support.
Airbag sensor/grounding issues
Airbag warning light caused by driver-side seat belt sensor malfunction or improper grounding of front side airbag. One owner reported front side airbag 'not grounded properly' with risk of random deployment or failure to deploy.
When: At approximately 70,000+ miles in one case; timing unclear in seat belt sensor case
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light illuminates; Diagnostic scan reveals seat belt sensor or grounding fault; Risk of random deployment or non-deployment
Repairs/costs cited: Front side airbag replacement required; specific costs not cited for this failure mode.
Airbag physical damage/partial deployment
Passenger compartment airbag (console-mounted, front passenger position) shows physical signs of partial deployment or damage without any collision history or apparent external impact. Owner suspects manufacturing defect.
When: No accident history; discovered during vehicle ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag appears partially deployed in console compartment; No visible damage to vehicle exterior or impact evidence; Owner and multiple inspectors agree appearance inconsistent with normal storage state
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer declined assistance citing expired warranty, despite suspected manufacturing defect.
Dashboard damage at airbag location
Owner reported two V-shaped cracks in dashboard panel in front of passenger-seat airbag location, discovered after hearing loud cracking noise while driving. Unclear if cracks indicate internal airbag separation or adjacent structural failure.
When: Discovered during routine driving at unspecified mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Loud cracking noise heard while driving; Two V-cracks visible in dashboard panel covering passenger airbag area; Cracks suggest internal stress or component failure
Synthesized from 15 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had airbags trouble with your 2017 Kia Sportage?
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 2017 Kia Sportage?
It's a meaningful issue. 15 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 17,000 and 71,246 miles, with the median around 62,999. A quarter of owners report trouble before 17,000; a quarter make it past 71,246. 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/2017/Kia/Sportage.
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.