2004 KIA SPECTRA Air Bags Problems

TAMARA RECALL; THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT ABOUT TEN CARS IN FRONT OF ME. I SEEN EVERYONE START HITTING THERE BRAKES SO I STARTED APPLYING MINE. THEN I REALIZED EVERYONE HAD COME TO A STOP SO I APPLIED ON MY BRAKES EVEN HARDER AND THEY LOCKED UP AND I SLID ABOUT 15 FT. AND HIT A TRUCK IN THE REAR END STILL GOING ABOUT 35 MPH. IT SHOVED THE FRONT END OF MY CAR BACK QUITE A BIT BUT YET MY AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED.

Mileage: 1,983,297

FRONT END COLLISION GOING AROUND 30MPH AND NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. CAR IS TOTALED. *TR

Mileage: 130,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED MONTHS LATER THE SEAT BELT SPRINGS FROM THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE EXPLODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000 AND THE CURRENT FAILURE MILEAGE 143,000.

Mileage: 140,000

THE WARNING LIGHT ON THE SPECTRA 2005 4-DOOR HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FROM DAY 1. THE LIGHT KEEPS GOING ON AND OFF. WHEN I BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALER ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS, THE LIGHT WENT OFF SO THEY WERE NEVER ABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. NOW THE LIGHT IS PERMANENTLY 'ON' AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS WORKING OR NOT. IT IS DEFINITELY A CONCERN AND IT IS A DEFINITELY A PROBLEM. IN ADDITION, THE TIMING BELT KEEPS LOOSENING ON A CONTINUAL BASIS. I HAVE REPEATEDLY BOUGHT IT TO MY MECHANIC TO GET IT TIGHTENED. THIS SHOULD NOT BE THE CASE. THE TIMING BELT, ONCE FIXED, SHOULD REMAIN IN TACT AT LEAST FOR A LENGTH OF TIME (NOT A MONTH!). THAT THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED, THE LIGHT REMAINS ON. WHATEVER, I HAVE BEEN VERY UNHAPPY WITH THE CAR. AM DISAPPOINTED. I REALIZE THE COST WAS A SIGNIFICANT FACTOR UPON PURCHASE, BUT MY HYUNDAI AT THE SAME COST BREAK (ACTUALLY LOWER) PROVED TO BE A SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER CAR. I GAVE THE HYUNDAI TO A FRIEND OF MINE AND IT IS KEEPS ON TICKING. IT IS STILL IN SERVICE AND RUNS BETTER THAN THE KIA AT OVER TRIPLE THE MILEAGE. IN ADDITION, THE ENTIRE SUSPENSION REPLACED AT 65,000 WHICH IS UNUSUAL AS I DO NOT DRIVE THE CAR HARD AND I AVOID BUMPS. *TR

Mileage: 60

FRONTAL IMPACT AT ABOUT 40 MPH. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. SUFFERED STRAINED NECK. *TR

Mileage: 90,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT TRACK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS LOCATED WHERE THE AIR BAGS WERE. SHE ASSUMED THAT BECAUSE THE WIRES FOR THE AIR BAGS WERE RUN CLOSE TO THE SEAT TRACK, THE AIR BAGS WERE DISCONNECTED WHEN THE SEAT WAS MOVED BACK AND FORTH BECAUSE THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE SEAT MECHANISM WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 140,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000.

Mileage: 110,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR RECALL 05V431000 (AIR BAGS) AND THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. HOWEVER, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN AND STAYED ON. THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR WAS NON-FUNCTIONAL. WHEN SOMEONE SAT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE INDICATING THAT THE AIR BAG WAS ACTIVATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE COULD RESULT IN THE AIR BAG NOT DEPLOYING IN AN ACCIDENT OR IT DEPLOYING AT ANY TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 57,800. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 58,000.

Mileage: 57,800

BLACK ICE ON ROADS I ENDED UP TURNED UPSIDE DOWN IN A SIX FOOT DITCH. CAR HAS BEEN TOTALED. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. UPSET THAT A CRASH LIKE THAT THE AIR BAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY. WHAT IS THE PROTOCOL FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS? *TR

Mileage: 55,000

FRONT END COLLISION, AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. 2004 KIA SPECTRA. IT WAS HIT BY A TRUCK AT APPROX. 55 MPH IN THE LEFT FRONT CORNER PUSHING EVERYTHING INTO THE MOTOR AREA AND THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR

Mileage: 70,000

KIA AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING FRONT CRASH IMPACT OF ABOUT 40 MPH. *TR

Mileage: 50,719

WARNING LIGHT FOR AIRBAG ON THE SPEEDOMETER PANEL STAYS ON. DEALER AND KIA TECH FIRST REPLACED PASSENGER SEAT COVER AND DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BUCKLE BECAUSE THEY WERE SHORTED OUT. THIS DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THEY THEN SAID THE PROBLEM WAS BECAUSE OF SOME FLUID SPILLED ON COMPUTER UNDER CUP HOLDERS IN THE CENTER COUNCIL. (WHY WOULD ANYONE PUT A LIQUID SENSITIVE PRODUCT UNDER A CUP HOLDER?) THEY STATED THAT PIN 3 ON THE COMPUTER CONNECTOR WAS SHORTED OUT. I THEN POINTED OUT THAT PIN 3 WAS A GROUND PIN. KIA HAS HAD MASSIVE FAILURES WITH THEIR EARLY AIRBAG SYSTEMS AND HAVE REFUSED TO FIX AN ITEM THAT WAS THE BASES FOR CHOOSING THEIR PRODUCT. KIA HAS SINCE INTRODUCED A NEW AIRBAG PRODUCT THAT SEEMS TO WORK FLAWLESSLY. THIS NEW PRODUCT SHOULD BE OFFERED AT NO EXPENSE TO THOSE OF US THAT WERE PROVIDED A INFERIOR AND UNSAFE PRODUCT. *TR

Mileage: 35,000

2004 AND A HALF KIA SPECTRA HAD THE RECALL OF THE AIR BAG LIGHT DONE, #05V431000. THE LIGHT STILL COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY STILL. THE DEALER SAID THAT THE AIRBAG WILL STILL WORK IF SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE SEAT. HAPPENS TOO MUCH. IS IT REALLY SAFE. *JB

Mileage: 17,485

2004 KIA SPECTRA ON 3/20/06 WAS IMPACTED ON PASSENGER SIDE WITHIN THE AREA OF FRONT AND REAR DOORS. THE IMPACT FORCED THE REAR OF MY CAR TO SLID AWAY FROM IMPACT AND COME IN CONTACT WITH A PICKUP TRUCK DAMAGING MY DRIVERS SIDE REAR QUARTER AND NOT ONE AIR BAG IN MY CAR DEPLOYED AND THERE ARE 8 AIR BAGS IN THIS MODEL CAR. *JB

Mileage: 31,000

PROBLEMS BEGAN OCTOBER 15, 2005 DETAILS OF PROBLEMS: 03/25/05 - A/C VENTS BROKEN - DEALER REPLACED "NOZZLE ASSY - CTR AI" 10/15/05 - CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON - DEALER STATES 'HEATER CIRCUIT MALFUNCTION' REPLACED "02 SENSOR ASSY" AND RESET CODES 10/28/05 - CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND BATTERY WENT DEAD (I HAD IT JUMPED BY AAA)- DEALER CANNOT FIND PROBLEM 10/28/05 - EMBLEM CRACKED ON STEERING WHEEL - DEALER STATES 'FLAW IN MATERIAL' REPLACED DRIVER SIDE SRS BAG 11/29/05 - CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON - DEALER STATES P0442 GAS CAP NOT SEALING & P0455 CANISTER NOT SEALING - DEALER REPLACES GAS CAP AND CANISTER, ALSO ORDERS NEW ECM 11/29/05 - DEALER RECALLED: SC053 REPROGRAM OCS SEAT CONTROL AND SC055 SPECTRA AIR BAG -DEALER REPLACES ITEMS FOR RECALL 01/03/06 - CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON - DEALER STATES 'LOGIC ERROR IN ECM - DEALER REPLACED ECM 01/11/06 -CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON - DEALER STATES 'POOR GROUND AT ECM' WAS INSTRUCTED BY TECH LINE TO REPLACE SPARK PLUGS; DEALER REPAIRED GROUND AND REPLACED SPARK PLUGS 01/23/06 - ENGINE LIGHT IS ON - DEALER STATES PROBLEM AT ECM - KEPT CAR FOR REPAIRS 02/13/06 - DEALER STATES THAT SPECTRA CANNOT BE REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. THEY ALSO STATE THAT ANOTHER CAR WITH A SIMILAR PROBLEM HAS BEEN SENT BACK TO KOREA SO THAT THEY CAN FIND THE PROBLEM. DEALER'S ESTIMATED TIME TO REPAIR MY CAR 2 MONTHS FROM NOW (HAS BEEN AT DEALER SINCE 01/23/06 - 20 DAYS) AS STATED BY KEITH EMMERMAN, KIA PALMDALE SERVICE MANAGER. MR. EMMERMAN ALSO STATED THAT I AM REQUIRED, AS THE SPECTRA OWNER, TO COME PICK UP MY CAR UN-REPAIRED AND DRIVE IT ANYWAY. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE KIA DEALERSHIP IN PALMDALE, THAT THE PROBLEM THE KIA IS HAVING IS IN THE COMPUTER. THEY DO NOT KNOW HOW TO FIX IT AND WANT ME TO DRIVE IT ANY WAY. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP SEVERAL TIMES FOR DIFFERENT PROBLEMS AND NOW 3 TIMES FOR THE ECM. NOW THEY WANT ME TO PICK UP THE CAR AND DRIVE IT EVEN THOUGH THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN FIXED AND THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. *NM

Mileage: 8,804

DT: THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AT 40 MPH AND SHE RAN A STOP SIGN. SHE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE HEAD ON. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. SEAT BELTS WERE IN USE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. *AK

Mileage: 15,000

I HAD NO INDICATION THAT MY SEAT BELT OR AIRBAG WERE FAULTY. WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH I STRUCK A CAR THAT TURNED LEFT DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME. MY SEAT BELT FAILED TO LOCK AND I WAS LIFTED OUT OF THE SEAT AND HIT MY HEAD, SHOULDER, AND HIP ON THE LEFT SIDE OF MY CAR. THE AIRBAG DID NOT INFLATE. THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT THE AIRBAG DIDN'T INFLATE CONSIDERING THE FORCE OF THE IMPACT. *JB

Mileage: 18,000

DT: 2004 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONSUMER STATES THE PASSENGER SEAT HAS A FEATURE THAT HAS A LIGHT THAT COMES ON IF THE PERSON IN THE SEAT IS LESS THAN 90 POUNDS, STATING THE AIRBAG IS OFF. THIS LIGHT COMES ON WHEN THERE IS AN ADULT IN THE SEAT. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, THE SEAT WAS SENT TO HOUSTON, AND IT WAS RECALIBRATED. THE SEAT WAS DOING THE SAME THING, AND NOTHING COULD BE DONE UNTIL THE DEALERSHIP TALKED TO A KIA REPRESENTATIVE. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE.*AK *JB

DT: THE CONSUMER'S ATTORNEY STATED THAT DURING A FRONTAL CRASH THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WAS A FRONT END COLLISION INTO THREE CEMENT CULVERTS. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT FILED. THE CONSUMER'S SON WAS DRIVING AND HE PASSED AWAY. A LAWSUIT WAS FILED AGAINST THE MANUFACTURER, BUT THEY DID NOT HAVE ANY INFORMATION AS TO WHY THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK

Mileage: 100

MY COMPLAINT IS NOT A TRADITIONAL "FAILURE" AS YOU ARE ACCUSTOMED TO RECEIVING ON YOUR WEBSITE. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT KIA HAS REDESIGNED THE AIRBAG MODULE IN THEIR NEWLY DESIGNED SPECTRA MODEL, AND DO NOT APPEAR TO HAVE ANY PLANS FOR RETRO-FITTING THE NEW DESIGN TO SAME MODEL SPECTRAS MANUFACTURED BEFORE JAN 2005. THE NEW DESIGN WAS AN IMPROVEMENT TO ALLOW THE SPECTRA TO RAISE ITS "POOR" OFFSET IIHS FRONTAL CRASH RATING TO SOMETHING BETTER. THE NEW TESTS OF THE REDESIGNED MODULE UPGRADED OFFSET FRONTAL CRASH RESULTS TO "ACCEPTABLE". SMALLER VENTING HOLES IN THE AIRBAG ARE DESCRIBED AS THE PRIMARY CHANGE. IT IS STATED THAT THE TEST CAR WAS INDEED A 2004.5 MODEL RETROFITTED WITH THE NEW AIRBAG MODULE. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT IF KIA COULD RETROFIT AN 2004.5 MODEL AT TO OBTAIN A NEW TEST FROM IIHS, THEY SHOULD BE WILLING TO OFFER THAT MODULE UPGRADE FREE-OF-CHARGE TO PURCHASERS OF THE 2004.5 AND 2005 MODELS BUILT BEFORE JAN 2005. SEE THE LINKS BELOW FOR MORE OF THE SPECIFIC IIHS DETAILS. === IIHS TEST WITH OLD AIRBAG DESIGN RESULTING IN A "POOR" RATING HTTP://WWW.HWYSAFETY.ORG/VEHICLE%5FRATINGS/CE/HTML/0417.HTM === IIHS TEST WITH NEW AIRBAG DESIGN RESULTING IN A "ACCEPTABLE" RATING: HTTP://WWW.HWYSAFETY.ORG/VEHICLE%5FRATINGS/CE/HTML/0502.HTM . *AK ===

FRONT AIR BAG LIGHT DOESN'T CONSISTENTLY TURN ON WHEN AN INDIVIDUAL IS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. *BF THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE AIR BAG SYSTEM ACTIVATES AT APPROXIMATELY 125 POUNDS. THE CONSUMER AND PASSENGER ARE BOTH UNDERWEIGHT TO ACTIVATE THE SYSTEM. *TC *JB

2004 KIA SPECTRA EX EXPERIENCED AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT PROBLEMS. PERSON IN PASSENGER SEAT SYSTEM NOT RECOGNIZING THEM. *BF THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THE MECHANIC COULD DO TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE AIR BAG LIGHT DID NOT CONSISTENTLY TURN ON WHEN INDIVIDUALS WERE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. *SC

ON AN IMPACT WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE FRONT END OF THIS NEW CAR AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MILES AND HOUR, THE AIR BAG ON THE DRIVERS SIDE FAILED TO DEPLOY.*AK

Mileage: 1,312

WE WERE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT OUR SEAT BELTS AND AIRBAGS FAILED TO WORK. WE WERE BOTH THROWN INTO THE WINDSHEILD . SUFFERED INJURIES TO BACK, HEAD AND NECK. TRANSPORTED TO HOSPITAL BY EMS. OUR VECICLE 2004 KIA SEPTRA 4 DOOR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *JB

Mileage: 17,000

THE DEALER NEVER DISCLOSED THE EXISTENCE OF THE AIR BAG SENSOR SYSTEM. *NM THE AIR BAD POSED A POSSIBLE SAFETY RISK TO CONSUMERS THAT WERE PETITE AND WEIGHED 125 POUNDS OR LESS. *JB

PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SENSORS IN 2004 SPECTRA. *MR THE AIR BAG SENSORS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT DID NOT ALWAYS DETECT WHEN ADULTS WERE SITTING THERE. *SC *JB

WHILE THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED AIR BAG SENSOR APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT AIR BAG SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE SENSOR. THEREFORE, MECHANIC REPLACED THE PASSENGER'S SEAT. THE PROBLEM RECURRED. ENGINEER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. ALSO, STATED THAT IF VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION THE AIR BAGS WOULD DEPLOY. *AK