TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: SIDE AIRBAG (SAB) INSPECTION AND REPLACEMENT FOR DTC(S) B1380/B1384 (WTY036) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information associated with the ‘Warranty Extension Program’ (WTY036) to diagnose and repair certain airbag warning light 'ON' conditions on 2019-2020MY Optima (JFa) vehicles produced from May 21, 2018 through June 23, 2020. The affected vehicles may exhibit an airbag warning light 'ON' with DTC B1380 and/or B1384 due to the front seat Side Airbag (SAB) connector experiencing higher th
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2020 Kia Optima airbags problems
severe Owners of the 2020 Kia Optima have filed 6 NHTSA complaints about the airbags at roughly $1,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See airbags across all vehicles →
Complaints
6
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
| Model year | airbags complaints |
|---|---|
| 2016 Optima | 19 |
| 2018 Optima | 9 |
| 2019 Optima | 12 |
| 2020 Optima (this page) | 6 |
4crashes
4injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 6 airbags complaints filed for the 2020 Kia Optima, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 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
Of the 15 model years of Kia Optima we track for airbags problems, this one has the fewest owner complaints on file (6).
No new NHTSA airbags complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 5 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
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.
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: SIDE AIRBAG (SAB) INSPECTION AND REPLACEMENT FOR DTC(S) B1380/B1384 (WTY036) - This bulletin provides information associated with the 'Warranty Extension Program' (WTY036) to diagnose and repair certain airbag warning light 'ON' conditions on 2019-2020MY Optima (JFa) vehicles produced from May 21, 2018 through June 23, 2020. The affected vehicles may exhibit an airbag warning light 'ON' with DTC B1380 and/or B1384 due to the front seat Side Airbag (SAB) connector experiencing higher than normal resistance. The warranty coverage for repairs related to the front seat SAB due to illumination of the airbag warning light has been extended to 15
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: WARRANTY EXTENSION: SIDE AIRBAG (SAB) INSPECTION ANDREPLACEMENT FOR DTC(S) B1380/B1384 (WTY036) - This bulletin provides information associated with the 'Warranty Extension Program' (WTY036) to diagnose and repair certain airbag warning light 'ON' conditions on 2019-2020MY Optima (JFa) vehicles produced from May 21, 2018 through June 23, 2020. The affected vehicles may exhibit an airbag warning light 'ON' with DTC B1380 and/or B1384 due to the front seat Side Airbag (SAB) connector experiencing higher than normal resistance. The warranty coverage for repairs related to the front seat SAB due to illumination of airbag warning light has been extended to 15 years/unl
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗WARRANTY EXTENSION: OWNER NOTIFICATION (WTY036) - This document is the owner notification advising that Kia is extending the New Vehicle Limited Warranty coverage, to all owners, for repairs related to the illumination of the Airbag Warning Light in 2019-2020 MY Optima 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 the Airbag Warning Light ON condition.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗WARRANTY EXTENSION: REIMBURSEMENT FORM (WTY036) - This document is a Reimbursement Request form that 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 ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
My vehicle was moving when a Ford 150 pulled out in front of me. Forward collision worked & slowed the vehicle to 35mph. I hit the truck doing severe front end damage to my car. The airbags did not deploy what so ever.
Had airbags trouble with your 2020 Kia Optima?
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 2020 Kia Optima?
It's a meaningful issue. 6 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?
Based on the 6 complaints filed, airbags issues most often appear around 24,576 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
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/2020/Kia/Optima.
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.