RoadVitals

2007 Kia Spectra Airbags Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the airbag system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Airbags reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
56
Latest Jan 22, 2024
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
37%
of 152 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
15
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
16

What this page shows

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2007 Kia Spectra submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 56 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming airbag

The 25 most recent of 56, in the owner's own words

Airbags
Filed Jan 22, 2024

Passenger Air bag sensor light has come on and stayed on. Took to AutoZone and have them put it on the code reader and said it was something faulty in the sensor mat under the seat.

NHTSA ID
11566976
Incident
Sep 1, 2022
Airbags
Filed Sep 22, 2022

I first noticed my air bag light (the one by the clock) coming on and off when my granddaughters weight went from under weight to appropriate weight to ride in the front seat. It would come on and off as she would adjust herself or move around in the seat. Sometimes it would stay on or sometimes it would stay off. When that light stopped coming on and off the one in the dash console where the speedometer is, that light has been coming on and staying on warning there's a problem with the airbag according to the manual. I entered my VIN number because I know Kia has had problems with some of there airbags but my VIN number was not listed. I did go by an auto parts house to make sure that was indeed the airbag warning light and I was told that the airbag may or maynot go off in a cash or it could go off at anytime. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS if I was told correctly and felt that this needed to be looked into further. Thank You

NHTSA ID
11485851
Incident
Sep 1, 2021
AirbagsBody & structure
Filed Dec 19, 2018
Crash reported2 injuries reported

THE 2007 KIA SPECTRA WAS IN MOTION ON THE HIGHWAY AND WAS IN AN ACCIDENT WITH MAJOR IMPACT. THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE KIA HIT ANOTHER CAR AND HAD MAJOR DAMAGES.

NHTSA ID
11162490
Incident
Dec 14, 2018
Mileage
140,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jun 6, 2018

PASSENGER SIDE OCS SENSOR FAILING.

NHTSA ID
11100118
Incident
May 31, 2018
Mileage
79,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Aug 15, 2017

BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT AT APARTMENT COMPLEX AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WENT OFF AND SHATTERED THE FRONT WINDSHIELD

NHTSA ID
11015616
Incident
Aug 15, 2017
Mileage
130,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Nov 21, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT PRESSURE SENSOR FOR THE AIR BAG REMAINED ILLUMINATED, EVEN WHEN THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS UNOCCUPIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

NHTSA ID
10927161
Incident
Nov 7, 2016
Mileage
125,000 mi
AirbagsElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Jun 7, 2016

I BOUGHT THE CAR AT 50K MILES AND STARTED HAVING ISSUES. SEAL FOR WINDSHIELD POPPING OUT,AIRBAG LIGHT ON PASSENGER SIDE STAYS ON CONSTANTLY TRANSMISSION JERKING,AND DOORS AUTO LOCKING IN PARK POSITION. BALL JOINTS NO GOOD AND HAD TO PAY PUT OF POCKET. REFUSED TO COVER WARRANTY BECAUSE I DIDN'T BUY THE CAR NEW. HAVE TO CALL LOCKSMITH TO GET KEYS OUT,CAUSE I REFUSE TO BRAKE WINDOWS,THAT ALSO ARE MISALIGNED ON DRIVERS SD CAUSING IT TO NOT CLOSE FULLY. SHAME THEY CAN'T WARRANTY THEIR CAR YET ONLY CONVENIENT COVER ONLY BUYER...SMH REFUSED

NHTSA ID
10873036
Incident
Apr 4, 2012
Airbags
Filed Jun 1, 2016

PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AND REMAINS ON--APPARENTLY THIS INDICATES THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG IS DEFECTIVE. WHY IS THIS NOT RECALLED WHEN SO MANY COMPLAIN OF THE SAME PROBLEM IN THIS YEAR AND MODEL CAR?

NHTSA ID
10871835
Incident
Feb 2, 2015
Mileage
90,000 mi
Airbags
Filed May 25, 2016

OWNER OF THE 2007 KIA SPECTRA BROUGHT THE CAR TO ME TO HAVE TO LOOKED AT DUE TO THE AIRBAG LIGHT BEING ON. UPON SCANNING THE COMPUTER IN THE CAR THE SRS SYSTEM CODED B1448 WHICH IS THE PASSENGER SIDE OCS MAT SENSOR FAILING. THIS PART SHOULD BE UNDER A RECALL DUE TO SAFETY ISSUES FOR THE PASSENGER RIDING IN THE CAR

NHTSA ID
10870903
Incident
May 25, 2016
Mileage
124,606 mi
Airbags
Filed Mar 3, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA SPECTRA. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE OCCUPANT SENSOR MAT FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID
10839765
Incident
Apr 17, 2015
Mileage
100,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jan 12, 2016

THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AT AROUND 84,000 MILES AND THE "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" NO LONGER ILLUMINATES. DIAGNOSTIC TESTING SHOWS A CODE B1448 INDICATING THAT THE OCS, PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR HAS MALFUNCTIONED. THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE ITEM TO REPLACE, AND IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE NOTICED THAT THIS SAME ISSUE HAS BEEN REPORTED REPEATEDLY. BECAUSE IT HAS TO DO WITH PASSENGER SAFETY, I FEEL THIS ITEM SHOULD BE RECALLED AND COVERED BY KIA.

NHTSA ID
10819812
Incident
Dec 9, 2015
Mileage
84,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Dec 30, 2015

OUR VEHICLE FAILED INSPECTION DUE TO THE AIR BAG LIGHT BEING ON. WHEN DIAGNOSED, CODE B1448 WAS FOUND, INDICATING THAT THE OCCUPANCY SENSOR, PART OF THE SEAT SENSOR MAT (ON THE BOTTOM OF THE SEAT), WAS FAULTY. WE ARE CONCERNED BOTH ABOUT THE SAFETY OF DRIVING OUR CAR, AND THE HIGH COST OF REPAIR. IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM, AND WE BELIEVE THAT KIA SHOULD RECALL THE PART. *JS

NHTSA ID
10817129
Incident
Feb 11, 2015
Mileage
99,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Dec 4, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR HAD ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE OCS MAT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 152,283.

NHTSA ID
10808445
Incident
Feb 21, 2013
Mileage
152,283 mi
Airbags
Filed Nov 21, 2015

AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON INDICATING A FAULT IN THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. THE PASSENGER SEAT OCS MAT SENSOR MAY BE DEFECTIVE. AIRBAG SYSTEM WILL NOT WORK IN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID
10795237
Incident
Oct 3, 2015
Mileage
147,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Nov 8, 2015

I OWN A 2007 KIA SPECTRA. THE THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH CODE 1448 AND WAS TOLD THE OCS MAT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED COSTED OVER $1400. THIS CAN CAUSE THE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY IF THERES A CHILD SITTING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 187,000

NHTSA ID
10789130
Incident
Aug 1, 2014
Mileage
152,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Oct 21, 2015

BECAUSE OF A DEFECT IN THE SEATS THE AIRBAGS DO NOT OPERATE. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE SEATS WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1400 PER SEAT.

NHTSA ID
10785138
Incident
Aug 23, 2015
Airbags
Filed Oct 7, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA SPECTRA. WHILE TURNING ON THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE DETAILS OF THE DIAGNOSIS COULD NOT BE PROVIDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 162,000.

NHTSA ID
10780517
Incident
Aug 31, 2015
Mileage
162,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Oct 5, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 187,000.

NHTSA ID
10779814
Incident
Aug 1, 2014
Mileage
187,000 mi
AirbagsInterior & seats
Filed Aug 1, 2015

THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE DASH ALONG WITH THE "PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG OFF" LIGHTS CAME ON AND STAYED ON DURING A 1 HOUR TRIP AS WE WERE MOVING TO OUR NEW APARTMENT. LUCKILY WE DID NOT HAVE VERY FAR TO MOVE WHEN THIS SUDDEN SAFETY HAZARD AROSE AS WE COULD NOT MOVE A PASSENGER TO THE BACK SEAT. THE SENSOR DID NOT RECOGNIZE MY WIFE AT A LITTLE OVER 110 LBS. NOR MYSELF AT OVER 175 LBS. AFTER TAKING IT TO THE LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP, WE WERE INFORMED THAT THE OCS MAT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED WITH A COST OF AROUND $1100 FOR PARTS AND $230 FOR THE LABOR. IT TOOK ABOUT A WEEK TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
10745528
Incident
Jul 27, 2015
Mileage
111,000 mi
AirbagsBody & structureSteering
Filed May 22, 2015
Crash reported

I NO LONGER HAVE THE CAR, SO I CANNOT PROVIDE THE VIN NUMBER AT THIS TIME. (I CAN GET IT, WITH SOME WORK INVOLVED). I HAVE PICTURES OF THE CAR AFTER THE CRASH. I LIVE IN RURAL IOWA. DEER START THEIR RUT IN OCTOBER. I SWERVED TO MISS A DEER, ON A TWO LANE ROAD. WENT DOWN A 40 FOOT DITCH, NOSE FIRST. BECAUSE THE BOTTOM OF THE DITCH WAS A GULLY, THE FRONT OF THE ROOF, THE HOOD, THE FRONT LIGHTS, ETC. WERE ALL DESTROYED. NOT ONE OF THEIR AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THEY ARE NOT A PART OF THE NEWS ROUND OF AIRBAGS, BUT I WANT THIS ON RECORD. AGAIN, I CAN SUPPLY PICTURES, AND IT WILL BE OBVIOUS THAT AT LEAST ONE OF THE 8 AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. PLEASE, LOOK INTO THE 2007 KIA SPECTRA'S AIR BAGS. LOOK TO SEE IF OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I WOULD APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH. I AM NOT LOOKING FOR MONEY, I BOUGHT THE CAR FOR MY DAUGHTER (WHEN SHE WAS SIX, WITH THE TEN YEAR WARRANTY, I INTENDED TO PASS IT ON TO HER, WHEN SHE GOT HER LICENSE..... BOY AM I GLAD I WAS INVOLVED IN THE CRASH, AND NOT HER, SEEING IS HOW THAT IS THE EXACT REASON WHY I DECIDED TO BUY THE KIA.

NHTSA ID
10721068
Incident
Oct 17, 2014
Mileage
76,500 mi
AirbagsInterior & seats
Filed May 12, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA SPECTRA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT CUSHION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10715846
Incident
Feb 1, 2015
Mileage
118,000 mi
AirbagsInterior & seats
Filed Apr 16, 2015

MY INDICATOR ON MY DASH BOARD FOR AN AIRBAG PROBLEM CAME ON, UPON TAKING IT TO A MAINTENANCE SHOP THEY FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS DUE TO A SENSOR GOING BAD IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. AFTER THEY CALLED MULTIPLE PLACES, INCLUDING THE LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP REGARDING THIS PROBLEM, THEY INFORMED ME THAT THIS IS A RECURRENT ISSUE IN MY KIA MODEL, SO MUCH TO THE POINT THAT A SEAT MAY ONLY BE ATTAINED FROM THE MANUFACTURER WITH A PROLONG WAITING TIME BECAUSE OF THE HIGH DEMAND FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THEM DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE, MANY DIFFERENT SOURCES HAVE CONFIRMED THIS TO BE TRUE, WHY IS THIS NOT A RECALL? THE PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG SENSOR MODULE CLEARLY HAS A FAULT, RENDERING IT TO HAVE A SHORT LIFE SPAN, THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. IF IT HAD GONE BAD WHILE I WAS DRIVING WITH SOMEONE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, AND HAPPENED TO ENCOUNTER AN ACCIDENT, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED. NOT TO MENTION THAT THE SEAT MODULE ITSELF IS BY NO MEANS AN INEXPENSIVE PART, CONSUMERS SHOULD NOT BE EXPECTED TO PAY FOR A PROBLEM THAT WAS GUARANTEED TO GO BAD AFTER A SHORT TIME, IF THAT WAS THE CASE IT SHOULD BE STATED UPON THE PURCHASE OF THE CAR FROM THE DEALERSHIP. *TR

NHTSA ID
10706009
Incident
Apr 1, 2015
Mileage
113,000 mi
AirbagsEngineFuel system
Filed Mar 6, 2015

AS I WAS DRIVING MY 2007 KIA SPECTRA OUT OF NOWHERE ALL MY EMERGENCY LIGHTS CAME ON AND MY CAR LOCKED UP AND TURNED OFF WHILE I WAS EXITING THE FREEWAY. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND I COULD NOT TURN IT TO GET MY CAR OFF THE ROAD. I THEN HAD TO PUT MY CAR IN PARK TURN THE IGNITION OFF THEN RESTART IT. THIS HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN 3 DIFFERENT TIMES. ALSO AS I AM DRIVING, MY CAR STARTS TO SLOW DOWN LIKE IT STARVES FOR GAS AND I HAVE TO STEP ON THE GAS AND PUSH THE PEDAL DOWN ALL THE WAY BEFORE IT WILL EVENTUALLY PICK UP AND GO. *TR

NHTSA ID
10692572
Incident
Mar 13, 2014
Airbags
Filed Dec 11, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST RESULTS WERE UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATE (JULY 9, 2015): IT DOESN'T MATTER WHETHER THERE IS A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT OR NOT, THE LIGHT STAYS ILLUMINATED. WHETHER THE PASSENGER IS 80LBS OR 200LBS IT DOESN'T GO OFF. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN NOTED BY SEVERAL REPAIR SHOPS BUT HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE ABOUT 2 MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR SO THAT IS WHERE I GOT THE OCTOBER 1, 2010 DATE. SC THE CONSUMER STATED IT DID NOT MATTER WHETHER A PASSENGER WAS IN THE SEAT OR NOT. THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS CONSTANTLY ON. UPDATED 07/30/15

NHTSA ID
10663625
Incident
Oct 1, 2010
Mileage
70,000 mi
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Nov 25, 2014

STARTED CAR DRIVER SIDE AIR ILLUMINATED AND STAYED AN STILL ON AND DOESN'T GO OFF. AND BACK DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT IS LOCK AND WONT COME OUT SO NO ONE CAN RIDE ON THAT SIDE OF CAR BECAUSE SEAT BELT DOES NOT WORK. *TR

NHTSA ID
10660909
Incident
Feb 5, 2014
Mileage
135,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .