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1997 Kia Sportage 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.
39
Latest Jan 18, 2019
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.
22%
of 181 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.
21
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
20

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 1997 Kia Sportage submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 39 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 39, in the owner's own words

Airbags
Filed Jan 18, 2019

WHILE SITTING IN THE VEHICLE, STATIONARY IN A PARKING LOT TALKING WITH MY WIFE, THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED.

NHTSA ID
11170851
Incident
Sep 3, 2018
Mileage
176,700 mi
Airbags
Filed Oct 16, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 KIA SPORTAGE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS WERE OCCUPIED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO KIA OF WILMINGTON (1603 PENNSYLVANIA AVE, WILMINGTON, DE 19806, (302) 656-3100) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TOO OLD TO DIAGNOSED WHY THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 176,620. *BP*JB

NHTSA ID
11140727
Incident
Sep 3, 2018
Mileage
176,620 mi
Airbags
Filed Aug 10, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING OR IMPACT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD OPEN A CASE FOR THE CONTACT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 160,000.

NHTSA ID
11119011
Incident
Aug 10, 2018
Mileage
160,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jul 23, 2013
1 injury reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAGS ERRONEOUSLY DEPLOYED FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AND FROM UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL AREA. THE LOWER AIR BAG STRUCK THE CONTACT IN THE HIP AREA AND THE STEERING WHEEL AIR BAG STRUCK THE CONTACT IN THE FACE, CAUSING MINOR INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 125,226.

NHTSA ID
10526426
Incident
Jul 21, 2013
Mileage
125,226 mi
Airbags
Filed Oct 25, 2005

DT: THE CONTACT STATED AT 15 MPH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. HE DID NOT RUN OVER ANYTHING. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT SINCE HE PURCHASED IT. HE HAS TRIED CONTACTING THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP, BUT EVERY TIME HE CALLED HE WAS PLACED ON HOLD. THEREFORE, HE HAS NOT HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. *AK

NHTSA ID
10140700
Incident
Oct 19, 2005
Airbags
Filed Jul 12, 2005
1 injury reported

DT: DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING IN REVERSE BACKING FROM A DRIVEWAY AT LOW SPEED. THERE WAS NO CRASH OR IMPACT. THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. NO LIGHTS ILLUMINATED OR WARNING SIGNALS. THE CAR HAD BEEN PARKED IN A SHADED AREA FOR ABOUT AN HOUR WHEN THIS OCCURRED. CONSUMER'S HUSBAND DROVE VEHICLE HOME AFTER THE INCIDENT. HAVE NOT TAKEN THIS TO A DEALER FOR THIS ISSUE, VEHICLE WAS PARKED AFTERWARDS AND HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN SINCE. NO EXPLANATION OR CLUE AS TO WHY THIS HAPPENED. *NM

NHTSA ID
10128464
Incident
Jul 8, 2005
Mileage
80,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jun 1, 2005

DT: CONSUMER STATES: THE DRIVER'S AIR BAGS DISCHARGED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, WAS SLOWING DOWN FOR A STOP LIGHT.*AK

NHTSA ID
10123839
Incident
May 29, 2005
Mileage
104,000 mi
AirbagsDriver assistanceSeat belts
Filed Nov 17, 2004

THE SRS AIR BAG LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO COME ON ITS OWN. THE CLOCK SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAD BEEN ON FOR A YEAR. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT SEAT BELTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *SC

NHTSA ID
10098991
Incident
Oct 28, 2004
Mileage
60,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Nov 16, 2004
1 injury reported

THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS SITTING IN A PARKING LOT. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THEY NEEDED TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER NO ASSISTANCE WITH THE TOWING WOULD BE PROVIDED. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PARK POSITION WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. *SC

NHTSA ID
10097582
Incident
Oct 23, 2004
Mileage
97,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Aug 12, 2004
Crash reported2 injuries reported

WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. CONSUMER WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT, BUT THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER AND THE OTHER VEHICLE'S DRIVER VISITED THE HOSPITAL FOR MINOR INJURIES.*AK *NM

NHTSA ID
10081460
Incident
Jun 22, 2004
Airbags
Filed Jul 16, 2004
1 injury reported

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING WHEN THE DRIVER'S AIRBAGS DEPLOYED VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. MANUFACTURER WAS SUPPOSED TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER THEY NEVER CAME TO INSPECT. MANUFACTURER OFFERED TO REPLACE THE DEDUCTIBLE.*AK

NHTSA ID
10082131
Incident
Jun 3, 2004
Mileage
58,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Apr 12, 2004
Crash reported

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA ID
10067055
Mileage
116,824 mi
Airbags
Filed Aug 1, 2003

WHILE BACKING OUT OF GARAGE AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING AIR BAG KNEE BOLSTER WENT OFF WITHOUT PHYSICAL CONTACT BLWE OUT DASH AND PARTS OF THE STEERING COLUMN UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL. DEALER NOTIFIED STATED IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND WOULD NOT REPAIR IT. *AK *CB

NHTSA ID
10027253
Incident
Jul 4, 2003
Mileage
53,653 mi
Airbags
Filed Mar 24, 2003

1997 SPORTAGE KIA WITH 67000 MILES, DEALER MAINTAINED NOW HAS A "FAULTY AIRBAG" SIGNAL THAT INDICATES POSSIBILITY THAT AIRBAG MAY NOT DEFLATE IN AN ACCIDENT. NO ACCIDENTS OF ANY KIND. *JB

NHTSA ID
10010936
Incident
Mar 9, 2003
Mileage
67,100 mi
AirbagsBrakesDriver assistance+1 more
Filed Jun 10, 2002
Crash reported1 injury reported

WHILE DRIVING 10-20 MPH APPLIED ON BRAKES AND WITHOUT WARNING BRAKES DID NOT FUNCTION. CONSUMER THEN TRIED TO SHIFT VEHICLE MANUALLY; HOWEVER, TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED, RESULTING IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION. DRIVER SUSTAINED MAJOR LEG INJURIES. *AK CONSUMER ADDS THAT THE ACCELERATOR WAS STUCK. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *TT

NHTSA ID
8011385
Incident
Oct 28, 2001
AirbagsBrakesDriver assistance+1 more
Filed Jun 10, 2002
Crash reported1 injury reported

WHILE DRIVING AT 10-15 MPH APPLIED BRAKES AND WITHOUT WARNING, BRAKES DID NOT FUNCTION, DRIVER HAD TO RUN A RED LIGHT, RESULTING IN A HEAD ON COLLISION, DRIVER SUSTAINED MAJOR LEG INJURIES.*AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE AIRBAG FAILED. CONSUMER ALSO STATES THAT THE ACCELERATOR AND TRANSMISSION STUCK. *SLC

NHTSA ID
8011384
Incident
Oct 28, 2001
AirbagsDriver assistanceTransmission
Filed Jun 10, 2002
Crash reported1 injury reported

WHILE DRIVING 10-15 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING, WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION IN WHICH THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, DRIVER SUSTAINED MAJOR INJURIES. *AK THE TRANSMISSION JAMMED AND THE ACCELERATOR STUCK. *JG

NHTSA ID
8011383
Incident
Oct 28, 2001
AirbagsBrakesDriver assistance+1 more
Filed May 28, 2002
Crash reported2 injuries reported

WHILE DRIVING AT 10-15 MPH, FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WAS HIT AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK CONSUMER ADDS THE BRAKES FAILED. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE ACCELERATOR. *TT

NHTSA ID
8010541
Incident
Oct 28, 2001
Airbags
Filed Oct 2, 2001

AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WOULD COME ON INTERMITTENTLY. DEALERSHIP COULD NOT REPRODUCE PROBLEM. RECENTLY, THE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD STAY ON AND WOULD NOT GO OFF. DEALERSHIP HAS AGAIN EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT WARRANTY EXPIRED, AND WAS NOT COVERED UNDER ANY RECALL. NO REASON WAS GIVEN AS TO COMPONENT CAUSING AIR BAG LIGHT TO COME ON. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS. *AK

NHTSA ID
897185
Incident
Feb 1, 2001
Airbags
Filed Mar 23, 2001
Crash reported

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN HEAD ON COLLISION WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. DRIVER'S AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATINON/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

NHTSA ID
883917
Incident
Mar 13, 2001
Airbags
Filed Mar 14, 2001
Crash reported

CONSUMER HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE WITH 55 MPH IMPACT ,AND DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING DRIVER TO HIT STEERING WHEEL AND PASSENGER TO HIT DASHBOARD. SEATBELTS WERE NOT WORN AT TIME.*AK

NHTSA ID
883022
Incident
Jul 4, 2000
Airbags
Filed Feb 2, 2001
Crash reported1 injury reported

WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 20-25 MPH CONSUMER WAS HIT FROM DRIVERS SIDE WHICH CAUSED VEHICLE TO CONTIUNOUSLY FLIPOVER, RESULTING IN SOME INJURIES TO HEAD AND BODY. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DID NOT CONTACT DEALER OR MANUFACTURER. *AK

NHTSA ID
879670
Incident
Oct 21, 1999
Airbags
Filed Nov 2, 2000
Crash reported

I WAS CONCERNED THAT MY AIRBAG HAD NOT DEPLOYED DURING MY ACCIDENT ON AUGUST 7TH. SINCE I SUFFERED A FRONT END COLLISION, I WONDERED WHY IT HAD NOT. I CONTACTED KIA AND AFTER BEING PUT OFF FOR ABOUT 5 DAYS, THEY FINALLY INSTRUCTED ME TO CONTACT MY INSURANCE COMPANY TO HAVE THEM REPORT THE PROBLEM TO KIA. STATE FARM INDICATED THAT SINCE THE AIR BAG WAS NOT DEPLOYED, IT WAS NOT A PART THAT HAD TO BE REPAIRED. STATE FARM INDICATED THAT THEIR ADJUSTERS HAD NO WAY OF KNOWING WHY A PART BUILT BY KIA WAS NOT WORKING AT THAT IT WAS KIA'S RESPONSIBILITY. FINALLY GETTING THE CAR BACK FROM IT'S SECOND TRIP TO BE REPAIRED FROM THE ACCIDENT (ANOTHER STORY ALL TOGETHER), I TOOK IT IN TO CENTRAL KIA IN PLANO, TX AND WAS TOLD THAT IT HAD A DEFECTIVE MODULE WHICH THEY WOULD REPAIR FOR $892 PLUS LABOR. WHEN I INQUIRED AS TO WHY I WOULD BE CHARGED FOR THE REPAIR OF THIS "DEFECTIVE" PART, I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR HAS 54,000 MILES ON IT AND THAT THE REPAIR OF THE AIRBAG IS COVERED ONLY BY WARRANTY UP TO 36,000 MILES. UNFORTUNATELY, THE ONLY WAY I FOUND OUT THAT THE PART DID NOT WORK WAS BECAUSE I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT. I WAS WONDERING IF I HAVE ANY GROUND TO STAND ON IN THINKING THAT IT IS KIA'S RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX THE PROBLEM. ALL I CAN THINK IS WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF I HADN'T SEEN THE COLLISION COMING. THE AIRBAG THAT I PAID FOR WHEN THE CAR WAS PURCHASED, WAS PURCHASED IN GOOD FAITH THAT IT WOULD ACTUALLY WORK ... IT DIDN'T. *AK

NHTSA ID
735622
Incident
Aug 7, 2000
Airbags
Filed Sep 7, 2000
Crash reported

WHEN VEHICLE CRASHED INTO DRIVER'S SIDE OF A SMALL NISSAN TRUCK, THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE OR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS. SPORTAGE WAS TOTALLED IN THE CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
869872
Incident
Aug 26, 2000
Airbags
Filed Apr 26, 2000
Crash reported1 injury reported

WHILE TRAVELING AT 65 MPH DRIVER REAR ENDED A FORD BRONCO, AND AIR BAG ON DRIVER'S SIDE CAME OUT OF THE STEERING WHEEL, BUT DID NOT INFLATE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION., *AK

NHTSA ID
860968
Incident
Apr 25, 2000

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 .