MyCarTSB

2010 Kia Optima Airbags Problems

13 owner-reported airbags complaints from NHTSA data

13
Complaints
4
Crashes
Feb 2014Oct 2012
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Owner Complaints (13)

criticalAIR BAGS
Filed: Sep 2019

Your airbag warning light turned on, indicating the passenger seat airbags need to be replaced. The entire airbag system has now been disabled as a safety precaution. You should have a technician diagnose and replace the faulty airbags to restore the system's protection.

NHTSA #: 11255422
criticalAIR BAGS,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CrashFiled: Jul 2018

While driving at 35 mph, your car suddenly accelerated on its own and you lost control, striking another vehicle. The airbags failed to deploy during the crash. You had to turn off the engine to stop the car. The issue may involve both the throttle control system and the airbag safety system needing inspection and repair.

NHTSA #: 11112204
highAIR BAGS
Filed: Jun 2020

Your airbag warning lights came on in your 2010 Kia Optima. A Kia dealer told you the seat occupant detection system needs to be replaced to fix the problem, which they quoted at $5,000. This system helps your airbags know when to deploy safely. Replacing the seat occupant detection system should resolve the warning lights.

NHTSA #: 11331104
highAIR BAGS
Filed: Mar 2018

Your passenger seat airbag warning light is staying on, and the diagnostic code indicates a problem with the occupant classification system (OCS) mat that detects whether someone is sitting in the seat. This warning appeared while your car was parked. The issue is likely with the sensor mat under the passenger seat, which may need to be replaced or repaired to restore proper airbag function.

NHTSA #: 11079104
mediumAIR BAGS
Filed: Mar 2016

TAKATA RECALL. LIGHT ON CLOCK AREA SHOWED AN OFF FROM THE DAY I PURCHASED THE CAR. THE SUDDENLY ON OR ABOUT 3/6/2016 AN INDICATOR LIGHT SHOWED AN AIR BAG WARNING. I TOOK IT INTO CHAMPION AUTOMOTIVE CARE PLUS. THEY INSPECTED THE INDICATOR LIGHT AND CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURE AND STATED TO REPLACE THE PART IT WOULD COST OVER $1000.00. THE NEXT DAY THE LIGHT WENT OUT. THEN A FEW DAYS LATER A MESSAGE CAME UP THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAGS WERE OFF. MY ENGINE WAS TURNED ON, WHEN I PUT IT IN GEAR THE OFF LIGHT WENT ON. DUE TO THE LOUSY LIGHTING THE ONLY THING YOU COULD SEE WAS THE OFF LIGHT. THE ONLY TIME I WAS MADE AWARE THERE WAS A PROBLEM IS WHEN THE INDICATOR LIGHT WENT ON.

NHTSA #: 10845558
mediumAIR BAGS
Filed: Jul 2015

NOTICED AN AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ON ON THE DASH. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG SENSOR HAD FAILED AND THE COST TO REPAIR WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $1800. REPAIR WAS NOT PERFORMED.

NHTSA #: 10731880
mediumAIR BAGS
Filed: Mar 2015

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

NHTSA #: 10692532
mediumAIR BAGS
CrashFiled: Feb 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 63,100.

NHTSA #: 10562773
mediumAIR BAGS
Filed: Aug 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SEAT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000. UPDATED 09/25/13*LJ

NHTSA #: 10533845
mediumAIR BAGS
CrashFiled: Feb 2013

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A 1 CAR ACCIDENT WHERE IT WENT OFF THE ROAD, INTO THE DITCH AND ROLLED SEVERAL TIMES. THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BUT NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE BACK OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT WAS BROKEN DURING THE ACCIDENT AND WAS ALL THE WAY RECLINED RENDERING THE SEAT BELT INEFFECTIVE. THE INJURIES COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE THAN THEY ACTUALLY WERE GIVEN THE FACT THAT NO BAGS DEPLOYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS OF LITTLE HELP WHEN CONTACTED AND DIDN'T SEEM TO CARE THAT THEIR PRODUCT COULD BE DEFECTIVE. *TR

NHTSA #: 10497669
mediumAIR BAGS
CrashFiled: Oct 2012

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WHICH CAUSED IT TO TRAVEL OVER A CONCRETE LANE DIVIDER. THE TRUNK SPACE AREA WAS CRUSHED UP AGAINST THE REAR SEATS IN THE VEHICLE. THE SUBSTANTIAL IMPACT DID NOT CAUSE THE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUFFERED FROM SEVERE WHIPLASH AND BACK PAIN. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A SAVAGE FACILITY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE AIR BAG DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,008. UPDATED 12/11/12*LJ UPDATED 12/14/2012 *JS

NHTSA #: 10482328
mediumAIR BAGS
Filed: Oct 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE WARNING CHIME SOUNDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE CUSHION ASSEMBLY IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE CUSHION ASSEMBLY AND THE COMPUTER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000.

NHTSA #: 10478079
mediumAIR BAGS
Filed: Jul 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY AND AS HE CLOSED THE DOOR, ALL OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE THE AIR BAGS UNDER WARRANTY. THE PARTS WERE ON BACKORDER AND THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHEN THEY WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 09/15/11 *BF UPDATED 10/24/11

NHTSA #: 10415342

Other 2010 Kia Optima Issues