The contact owns a 2005 Kia Spectra. The contact stated that the air bag sensor in the front passenger seat failed. As a consequence in a situation that warrants the air bag may fail to deploy, which increases the risk of serious injury. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and a technician concluded that the entire air bag cluster under the seat needed to be replaced. However, the repair is not specified in the warranty so he would liable to pay the expense. The failure mileage was 82,000.

- Muskegon, MI, USA

Vehicle was driven 70 miles before passenger airbag system failed, 1400 miles before I determined the stalling problem was not operator error, and about 90 days before driving at highway speeds and finding a shake in the steering. The vehicle has been taken to the selling dealer 20 times with the airbag problem and steering shake un-repaired. SC0055 on the airbag issue, reprogramming the sensor(s) and replacing the seat bottom has not eliminated the problem or failures. 7 new tires have been installed and balanced, to include road-force balancing 3 times without correcting the shake in the steering. Vehicle has been test driven hundreds of miles at the dealers request.

- Salisbury, MD, USA

: 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.

- Wesley Chapel, FL, USA

: 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 -

- Wesley Chapel, FL, USA

: the contact stated the air bag sensor in the passenger seat works intermittently. When the seat is occupied the air bag indicator light illuminates indicating the air bag will not deploy in the event of a crash. The vehicle has been taken to the dealer on numerous occasions for inspection. The dealer determined the failure was due to the way the passenger was sitting in the seat and offered no repairs. Updated 06/30/06.

- Orland, CA, USA

Passenger airbag off light continues to come on at various times while driving with an adult passenger in the seat. I have had it in the shop four times in the 5 months that I have owned it. They have checked connections etc. And said they could not get it to duplicate the problem. I met with the Kia rep last week and he said he had never heard of this problem in a Spectra. They are replacing the seat bottom now to see if this helps. They implied that the problem was probably because the passenger was large and their weight was resting on the outer edge of the seat and not placing enough weight on the gel pad in the center of the seat.

- Yorktown, VA, USA

We are having problems with passenger side air bag light coming on at any given time. Even after the air bag recalls were performed on it. Regardless of weight. It will come on and stay on. We have complained and said there can be nothing done unless you bring it in while passenger is sitting in sit an air bag light is on.

- Kent, WA, USA

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.

- Baton Rogue, LA, USA

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. Updated 11/29/2005 - the failure occurs each time the male passenger sat in the seat.

- Yarnell, AZ, USA

I have a 2005 Kia Spectra, the front passenger seat has a feature that measures the weight of the passenger and turns on or off the front passenger air bag. Twice now with a full sized adult sitting correctly in the seat the air bag would turn off for no reason. Both times it happened while we were traveling down the highway or in city traffic...the air bag remained off for around 5-10 min when it just would turn back on. There was no cause that we could see for it to just turn off and on. During that time, if we would have crashed the air bag would not have deployed. Nothing has been done to correct the problem. No recalls have been issued.

- Sinking Spring, PA, USA

I bought a new 2005 Kia Spectra 5 (less than a month ago) with airbag sensors in the front passenger seat. On several occasions the passenger airbag disabled light has come on and stayed on with an adult sitting in the front seat. I have taken it back to the dealer twice for repairs. The first time, they said there was nothing wrong (and that the person may not have been sitting properly in the front seat). The second time, after stating that I was not leaving until something was done, the seat was removed and sent out for repairs. When I got the car back three days later, nothing had been fixed. While my car was in the shop, I was given a Kia Spectra as a rental car. The rental car exhibited the exact same issues.

- Wilson, NC, USA

Car has sensor in passenger seat to disable passenger air bag. Air bag disable light comes on even when adult sitting in seat. Seat cushion and sensor was replaced by dealor but the problem still exists. Contacted Kia directly and was told they are aware of the problem but have no fix. This is a very serious problem and could result in serious injury or death in the event of a frontal accident and tbhe passenger air bag does not deploy. From my research I find this is a common problem and not unique to my vehicle. I think a recall should be considered.

- Granada Hills, CA, USA