2.9

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
48,972 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2009 Kia Spectra:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #11

Aug 082019

Spectra

  • 120,000 miles
Airbag warning light is always on even if seat is occupied. In addition the airbag "off" message was displayed next to the clock and is always in the 'off', position. Both lights remain in that condition whether the vehicle is stationary mode (in park) or driving in motion. A safety inspection showed a B1448 code.

- Fredericksburg, VA, USA

problem #10

Oct 012018

Spectra

  • 95,600 miles
Takata recall, had new tires put on and now I have a light on on my dash all the time, I guess the tire place threw away or kept special valve stems, how do I turn off light. The front seat, seat cushion came loose from the seat frame while I was driving down a canyon road, now I can lift the seat cushion and see the frame and floor below and dint know if cushion will come compleatly off next time I drive down the canyon road

- Lake Isabella, CA, USA

problem #9

Mar 162017

Spectra

  • 100,000 miles
At about 100,000 miles, the "airbag is off" light stayed on until the car was restarted. This is city driving with a passenger of 150 lbs. Took the Kia to the dealership with the light on and they verified the OCS sensor mat malfunction. The OCS sensor mat was replaced March 16, 2017. About a week later, after starting the car and with someone in the passenger seat, the airbag light came on, did its check, but then came on again while driving. This has happened various times. The dealership had the Kia for about a week and could not duplicate the problem. Several months later, customer service then told us to take the car to another dealership. That next dealership stated that the airbag will work whether the light is on or off. Nobody from Kia has confirmed that statement.

- Wilmington, DE, USA

problem #8

Jun 152014

Spectra

  • miles
The contact owns a 2009 Kia Spectra. The contact stated that the air bag warning sensor illuminated continuously and caused the passneger seat to malfunction. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the air bag sensor and the passenger seat needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Richfield, WA, USA

problem #7

Feb 122014

Spectra 4-cyl

  • miles
Air bag light will not go off. I did take my car to a Kia dealership and they told me that I would have to replace my entire passenger seat, in order to fix the air bag system. They wanted to charge me about $2,000 because my vehicle is no longer under warranty. In February of 2014, was when the incident first started to happen and is when I brought my car to the dealership. I was told it was dangerous to drive around with my air bag system messed up. I did look to see if there were any recalls or complaints about the vehicle but I did not find any at that time. I did make a complaint on some other site but I just learned about this site within the last couple of months and just noticed that I am not the only one who is going through the same problems....updated 10-26-15

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #6

Aug 302014

Spectra

  • 71,000 miles
My airbag light had been flashing off and on intermittently, and I had thought that it was when there was no weight in the passenger seat to activate it. At some point after that, it stopped flashing and was on constantly. I brought my car in for its yearly inspection and it was not passed due to the fact that my air bag system had been disabled. This was due to a faulty sensor in the front passenger seat. This will cost me over $2000 to fix and is a safety hazard for my day to day driving. I was informed that if I were to get into a collision that my air bags would not deploy. I contacted several dealerships and the Kia company itself and was told that my warranty had just expired and that I would have to repair this in full myself. I have read several complaints of the same nature and I cannot believe that the company will not recall this part and provide peace of mind and safety to its customers.

- New Bedford, MA, USA

problem #5

May 202015

Spectra

  • miles
The airbag light on my Kia Spectra stays on and the Kia dealership quoted me $1600 for the B1448 code which is passenger seat mat occupancy sensor or something like that, and my car is under 80000 miles. I think that amount is really high for a senor to fix and Kia should fix and recall the airbag issue since it is a high risk for the safeties of american lives. NHTSA should make Kia recall the airbag issue. Thank you

- Fort Polk, LA, USA

problem #4

Jun 122014

Spectra 4-cyl

  • 74,000 miles
The airbag warning light came on. Took the car to morrie's minnetonka Kia dealer. They diagnosed the ocr seat mat failed causing the airbag system to become inoperative. Quoted $1,941.02 for repair needing a replacement seat cushion assembly par KI88202-2F703390. The seat ocr failure should not disable the entire airbag system. This is a design flaw and with the very expensive fix I believe most are just driving the car without repair. I think Kia should recall or provide a part to disable the switch making the front passenger airbag inoperable. This would be much safer than disabling the entire airbag system. Not under 100,000 mile 10 year warranty. This seat was rarely used and is in perfect condition. Less than 10% of miles had anyone in the passenger seat.

- Crysal, MN, USA

problem #3

Feb 012013

Spectra 4-cyl

  • 65,000 miles
I own a Kia Spectra 2009 at the beginning of the month the airbag light on the dash came on and stays on. The airbag light that is in the center console for the passenger seat (which indicates if on/off) is not working at all. Called Kia and spoke with a representative and was told because of the mileage the warranty not cover this. Took it to the dealer and the cost of the seat replacement is going to $1637.31. By the looks of this it is an ongoing problem with certain models for Kia. I can not justify this amount for the passenger seat replacement. Was also told by the representative that it would be forwarded to a manager to see if any assistance could be offered for the replacement of the seat. In the state that I live in this vehicle will not pass state inspection.

- Plattsburgh, NY, USA

problem #2

Dec 072010

Spectra

  • 13,096 miles
Passenger seat does not always sense there is a passenger setting in the seat. The dealer replaced the passenger seat once and it did work ok for about two months they now refuse to work on it till they see proof of it not working. They claim company policy will not allow them to work on it. I feel they are putting my passengers in the way of harm and could be liable for injury or death.

- Arlington, TX, USA

problem #1

Mar 012009

Spectra

  • miles
I purchased a new Kia Spectra (2009) November, 2008 and within few months I started experiencing low back pain. I tried to sell the car without luck. I tried to trade it in but didn't do it because of the low price that was offered to me by dealers. The pain started to get worse even if I drive it for short distances. I have been taking pain pills otc or by prescription without much help. Recently I sought the services of a chiropractor hoping for better pain management. He took two X-rays, did a spine adjustment, spine traction treatments and tens. My X-rays show that I have misalignment of the spine between L4-L5 which could be as a result of the poor lumbar support of the driver's seat in my car. I have no previous history of back pain or any trauma to my back. Just wanted to know if you can help [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Round Rock, TX, USA