9.0

really awful
Typical Repair Cost:
$2,000
Average Mileage:
350 miles
Total Complaints:
2 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. not sure (1 reports)
  2. replace seat (1 reports)
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problem #2

Jan 012006

Spectra EX

  • Automatic transmission
  • 200 miles

The light was on and off from the purchase date and I didn't realize what a problem it was. When I took it to the mechanic they told me that without replacing the seat the airbag would not deploy with a passenger sitting in the passenger seat. The light would come on and off that the passenger airbag was working. Again I just didn't completely realize and should have taken it right back. No mechanics ever mentioned the problem until I took it in to have that specific issue looked at and paid. I was lucky that a used seat was able to be found from a salvage yard and replaced. The light seems fixed but I will have to monitor.

- Heather T., Portland, OR, US

problem #1

Aug 012005

Spectra LX 2.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 500 miles

My passenger side airbag off indicator light has been coming on since my car was a new vehicle purchase. I assumed it had something to do with Kia's occupant classification system and that my passengers may have weighed too little to activate the system,as it often happened with smaller adults in the 110-140 pound weight range. Only after reading the complaints on this site do I realize that this is a serious widespread problem with these vehicles and potentially life threatening due to a failure to deploy the airbags or an inadvertent deployment of the airbags. I'm pissed and in no financial situation to fix an $1800 problem that has been present from the very beginning. I know that the hope of a recall is probably slim ...this stinks Kia!

- Archie W., Birmingham, AL, US