2012 Kia Optima Airbags Problems

Your vehicle was involved in a serious collision where an SUV hit the front driver side, causing you to lose control and hit a tree head-on. During this crash, your airbags did not deploy and your seat belt's emergency locking retractor failed to lock, allowing you to be thrown forward and hit your head on the steering wheel. You suffered chest pain, neck pain, and a possible concussion requiring hospitalization. A fix would likely involve inspection and replacement of the airbag system components and seat belt retractor mechanism by a qualified technician.

Your steering wheel buttons stopped working while driving, and no warning lights appeared on your dashboard. The dealer diagnosed the problem as a faulty clock spring assembly and replaced it, but the buttons remained inoperative even after the repair. There may be an unknown recall for your vehicle that wasn't fully applied. Fixing this will likely require replacing or rewiring the clock spring assembly or related steering wheel electrical components.

The contact owned a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V363000 (Air Bags) however, it failed to prevent the recall safety risk. The contact stated that while his mother was driving at approximately 45 MPH with the grandmother seated in the front passenger seat, another vehicle cut in front abruptly and switched back into their original lane, causing the contact's mother to crash into the rear of another vehicle ahead. The air bags did not deploy. No warning light had illuminated. The contact's grandmother was taken to a local hospital for injuries including a swollen face, both arms harmed, broken teeth, 3 broken ribs, and back pain. The contact's mother was later taken in a personal vehicle to a local hospital for injuries sustained for bruising on their chest, back and neck pain, and an injured toe on her left. A police report was filed. The insurance provider deemed the vehicle totaled and took it to a tow lot. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 225,000.

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the passenger’s side air bag warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was examined by an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the air bag sensor was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 127,000.

I took my car in for the air bag recall in 2018. When I picked up my car the air bag light was on. I called the Kia service line and they told me the light should go off on its on. So I drove home. I drove to work and back home and the light was still on. So I called the Kia service again and they told me to bring in the vehicle which I did. They checked and told me that they had no way of turning off the light. So I just drove home thinking everything was ok. Fast forward 2022, I had a seperate problem that forced me to take my car back to the kia service shop. They checked things in my car and I was shocked to learn that my air bag would not work in case I was in an accident. I told them this light has been on since after they did the air bag recall work but I did not feel supported here. the price tag to fix it is $1470.65. I feel that I am being treated wrong here because their initial work caused this light to turn on and they told me it was not related but now this vehicle check says it is a big concern if it is not fixed. I drive my three children to school in this vehicle. I am afraid for them and myself. I don't know what to do. This was part of the air bag recall and they caused this light to turn on and they need to fix it for me.

2012 OPTIMA 45,000 MILES BOUGHT IN 2013. REGULAR ON TIME SERVICE AT LITHIA KIA OF ANCHORAGE WHERE PURCHASED. AIR BAG LIGHT TRIGGERED AFTER OIL CHANGE. DESPITE WARRANTY AND EXTENDED BUMPER - BUMPER COVERAGE, HAD TO PAY $150 TO HAVE THE AIR BAG CODES READ AND RESET. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO PERFORMED A RESET FOR THE PASSENGER WEIGHT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. THE SRS SYSTEM IS DEACTIVATED WHEN THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON. IN MY CASE, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE HAD DEACTIVATED DUE TO UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES. HISTORICAL CODES THAT WERE PULLED BY THE DEALER'S KIA SRS READER SHOWED LOW POWER CODES AND THE WEIGHT MANAGEMENT MALFUNCTION. I SHOULD NOTE MY INTERSTATE BATTERY IS 1 YEAR OLD AND BOTH BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR ARE FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY. MY VEHICLE FALLS UNDER THE CURRENT RECALL, HOWEVER KIA AND MY DEALER SKIRT FIXING THE PROBLEM BY THE FACT THAT I AM HAVING A CODING AND PROGRAMMING ISSUE AND NOT A BROKEN MODULE OR CLOCK SPRING. THE SERIOUSNESS OF A NON FUNCTIONING AIRBAG (SRS) SYSTEM IS A BIG DEAL AND A BIT SCARY. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SKIRT RECALLS UNDER TECHNICALITY AND SHOULD BE HELD FULLY LIABLE IF THE SYSTEM FAILS LEADING TO INJURY. ESPECIALLY AS METICULOUS AS MY WIFE AND I ARE ABOUT MAINTAINING OUR VEHICLES. RECALL NUMBER : SC165 THANK YOU.

MY AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON WHEN THE CAR IS ON. ALSO THE HORN DOES NOT WORK, WHICH I WAS TOLD IT IS CONNECTED TO THE AIRBAG PROBLEM. I HAD A MECHANIC CHECK THE CODE AND THE CODE SAID IT WAS THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THERE IS A RECALL ON AIRBAGS FOR THE KIA OPTIMA BUT NOT FOR MY 2012 EX. THE SYMPTOMS ARE THE SAME AS DESCRIBED FOR THE RECALLED KIA OPTIMA AIRBAGS. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY MY CAR IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL, ESPECIALLY SINCE IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE TRIED TO SEE IF IT WAS A SIMPLE CABLE CONNECTION ISSUE UNDER THE SEAT BUT THAT HAS NOT RESOLVED THE PROBLEM. I REALLY DO NOT WANT TO PAY $$$$ TO GET THE AIRBAG FIXED WHEN THERE IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH KIA OPTIMA AIRBAGS. BUT I ALSO DO NOT WANT TO LOSE MY LIFE BECAUSE THE AIRBAG DOES NOT WORK AND KIA WON'T FIX IT UNDER A RECALL.

I BOUGHT MY CAR 3 MONTHS AGO. NEVER HAD ANY ISSUES, MAKE SURE I DO MY OIL AND ALL,NO LIGHTS HAVE COME ON ON MY DASH BOARD EXCEPT THE AIRBAG LIGHT AS OF RECENTLY. I WAS DRIVING IT TO PICK UP MY SON AND MY CAR STARTED TO SLOW DOWN AND I NOTICED MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON SO I PULLED OVER TO THE GAS STATION AND CHECKED MY OIL. NO ISSUE I JUST GOT AN OIL CHANGE THE WEEK BEFORE. MY ENGINE IS KNOCKING NOW. WITH NO WARNING OR ANYTHING.

MY CAR SLOWED DOWN IN WOULDN'T REACH OVER 2000 RPM AND THE ENGINE LIGHT KEPT BLINKING AND WHEN I PUT IT ON A COMPUTER ENGINE CODE P1326 POPPED ON. IT'S CALLED THE IGNITION CONTROL MODULE COMBUSTION QUALITY INPUT SIGNAL AFTER KIA DEALERSHIP OF SKIBO ROAD SUPPOSEDLY ALREADY FIXED THE PROBLEM BACK IN JUNE 2019 NOW IT'S SEPTEMBER 30, 2020 N IT CAME ON AGAIN N YES LAST YEAR HAD TO REPLACE MY ENGINE. I WAS DRIVING ON A STREET IN THE MORNING ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2020 WHEN IT HAPPENED AND IT WAS RAINING.

LAST YEAR I WAS TOLD BY KIA IF MY STEERING WHEEL CLICKED TO BRING IT IN ASAP, AT THE TIME IT WASN'T DOING THAT. A MONTH AGO IT DID, I BROUGHT IT TO MY DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD IT WASN'T COVERED. THE CLOCK SPRING ASSY FAILED. PLUS IT HAD TO DO WITH THE AIRBAG NOT DEPLOYING. SOME ARE COVERED OTHERS ARE NOT, EXPLAIN TO ME PLEASE THAT IF THEY ALL ARE DOING THE SAME THING WHY AREN'T THEY ALL COVERED? PLEASE HELP! THANK YOU.

THERE ARE A FEW RECALLS ON MY CAR. AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED TO GO TO GREENWAY KIA IN LONGWOOD, FL. HOWEVER, UPON ARRIVAL THEY TRIED TO CHARGE US FOR THE DIAGNOSTICS AND STATED THAT THE RECALL IS NOT VALID WITHOUT US PAYING FOR THE DIAGNOSTICS. THEN THEY PROCEEDED TO ADVISE US THAT THE PARTS THAT WE NEEDED UNDER THE RECALL WERE NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL AND THAT WE WOULD NEED TO PAY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO THEN MENTION THAT IT WOULD BE EASIER FOR THEM AND CHEAPER FOR US TO JUST BUY A NEW CAR. WE DECIDED TO LEAVE AND TRY TO DO MORE RESEARCH. I DID CALL OUR MECHANIC HE CONFIRMED THERE WERE RECALLS FOR OUR VEHICLE. I THEN CALLED ANOTHER KIA DEALER AND THEY ADVISED THERE WERE RECALLS ON OUR CAR AND THAT THERE WOULD BE NO CHARGE FOR THE DIAGNOSTICS AND/ OR REPAIRING THE CAR UNDER RECALL.

10-15 MPH T BONED A CAR THAT RAN A RED LIGHT. AIR BAG DIDN'T GO OFF

WAS DRIVING AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 18V363000 (AIR BAGS) AND 18V907000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ENGINE). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR AS THE RECALL NOTICE WAS RECEIVED OVER A YEAR AGO. GERVAIS KIA (6 INDUSTRIAL AVE, LOWELL, MA 01851, (978) 454-1202) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED SEVERAL TIMES AND WAS UNABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED AN ABNORMAL CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE CONTACT HAD TO VEER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SAME DEALER WHO CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE DEALER UPDATED THE ENGINE MODULE SOFTWARE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 13157669. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

I BROUGHT MY CAR TO THE DEALER ON 10/05/2018 FOR CHANGE OIL, FRONT BRAKES AND RECALL CAMPAIGN. BUT IT LOOKS IT WASN'T DONE BECAUSE THE AIRBAGS PANEL LIGHT IS ON AND THE BRAKES NEVER FEEL THIGHS LIKE WHEN YOU HAVE A JOB DONE. I LET THE DEALER KNOW ABOUT IT BUT THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME JUST TO CHECK AND FIX. WHEN BEFORE IT WASN'T LIKE THAT

MY CAR HAS TWO RECALLS AND THE CAR STOP UNSTABLE.

AIR BAG LIGHT ON. CLOCK SPRING DEFECTIVE. DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED AT LOCAL KIA DEALER ($389.39)

I FOUND THIS RECALL BECAUSE OF COLLEAGUE AT WORK, KIA NEVER SEND ME NOTHING ON THIS RECALL. PLEASE ADVISE.

BROKEN CLOCK SPRING IN THE STEERING WHICH WILL NOT ALLOW THE AIRBAG TO GO OFF. AIRBAG LIGHT CONSTANTLY STAYS ON WHICH RESULTS IF I GOT IN A CAR ACCIDENT THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY.

TRAVELING ON A DIVIDED HIGHWAY, APPROACHED SLOWING/STOPPED TRAFFIC. ATTEMPTED TO STOP, BUT ROADWAY WAS SLIPPERY, ABS DID NOT ACTIVATE HAD TO RESORT TO PUMPING BRAKES AND STEERING TO AVOID ACCIDENT. WAS REAR ENDED AND PUSHED INTO ANOTHER CAR. NON OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO COMPARTMENT INTRUSION INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, BUT THE REAR OF THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY COLLAPSED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V363000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO KIA OF CHERRY HILL (1803 MARLTON PIKE W, CHERRY HILL, NJ 08002, (856) 471-1054) AND THE AIR BAG INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED; HOWEVER, THE DEALER FOUND OTHER FAILURES THAT WOULD HAVE COST THE CONTACT $8,500 TO REPAIR. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE $8,500 WORTH OF REPAIRS WERE NOT ALL NEEDED AND THE AIR BAG FAILURE SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS GIVEN A CASE NUMBER, BUT WAS NOT CALLED BACK. THE CONTACT BROUGHT THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE AIR BAGS REPAIRED. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE AIR BAGS, BUT THE INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT SHE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST TO DETERMINE WHY THE INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,853.

KIA OF SAVANNAH ON DECEMBER 3, 2018 I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR RECALL 18V363 TO HAVE AN AIRBAG WIRE HARNESS INSTALLED PER THE RECALL. UPON ATTEMPTING TO PICK MY VEHICLE UP I WAS TOLD THE AIRBAG CONTROL MODULE HAD SHORTED, MY AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ON, AND IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT AN EXPENSE OF $825.00. I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE ASSOCIATE, ELISA FRANCE, THE AIRBAGS MAY OR MAY NOT DEPLOY UNLESS THE REPAIR WAS DONE. I ASKED HOW THE MODULE WENT BAD WHEN THEY WERE FIXING IT WITH THE NEW WIRE HARNESS AND WAS TOLD A "TECH" WOULD NEED TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION. I ASKED FOR SERVICE MANAGER WHO WAS UNAVAILABLE. I CALLED KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THE MODULE WASN'T UNDER RECALL OR WARRANTY.AND I NEEDED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. MY COMPLAINT IS: PRIOR TO THE RECALL MY AIRBAGS LIGHT WAS NOT ON. WE RECENTLY HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED FOR ANOTHER RECALL AND WAS NOT TOLD THE MODULE WAS BAD. BUT NOW, AFTER THE WIRE HARNESS RECALL WAS PERFORMED, THE AIRBAG CONTROL MODULE IS SUDDENLY BAD. FEELING THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE, DUE TO THE AIRBAGS POSSIBLY NOT DEPLOYING, I LEFT THE VEHICLE AT THE DEALERSHIP AWAITING TO HEAR BACK FROM A SERVICE MANAGER OR SERVICE TECH. TODAY MARKS DAY 4 THEY'VE HAD MY VEHICLE AND I'VE RECEIVED NO CALL.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF A SECOND VEHICLE. THE FRONT END WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED, BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES TO THE HEAD AND RIGHT HAND, WHICH DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL TREATMENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE INDICATOR KEPT ILLUMINATING AND AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE IF THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. MONTHS LATER, THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V363000 (AIR BAGS). THE DEALER (DESTINATION KIA, 760 CENTRAL AVE, ALBANY, NY 12206, (518) 478-8036) STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ILLUMINATED.

AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND TOOK CAR TO DEALER. CLOCK SPRING IS FAULTY AND NEEDS REPLACED. COST TO REPLACE IS $350 ACCORDING TO KIA DEALERSHIP. I'VE READ THAT KIA HAS HAD A RECALL FOR THIS ON PRIOR MODELS AND WANT TO FILE A COMPLAINT. CAR ONLY HAS 74K MILES AND SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY SINCE IT DIRECTLY IMPACTS THE SAFETY FEATURES ON THIS CAR

I AM AN OFFICER (OFF. [XXX]) WITH THE MADERA (CALIFORNIA) POLICE DEPARTMENT. I INVESTIGATED A TRAFFIC COLLISION WHERE THE DRIVER OF A 2012 KIA OPTIMA COLLIDED WITH A PARKED VEHICLE GOING APPROX. 35 MPH. THE IMPACT SENT THE PARKED VEHICLE FORWARD APPROX. 3-4 FEET INTO ANOTHER PARKED VEHICLE CAUSING DAMAGE TO ALL 3 VEHICLE. THE KIA SUSTAINED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT FRONT BUMPER / FENDER AREA AND SHEARED THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE OFF. THE IMPACT WAS ENOUGH FOR THE KIA TO ROLL OVER AND CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE LEFT FRONT TIRE AND RIM FROM GRINDING INTO THE ROADWAY. THE PARKED VEHICLE IT COLLIDED WITH SUSTAINED MODERATE DAMAGE TO THE LEFT REAR AND DRIVER'S SIDE AREA. WHEN IT WAS SHOVED FORWARD IT SUSTAINED MINOR FRONT END DAMAGE AND CAUSED MINOR DAMAGE TO THE BACK BUMPER OF THE SECOND PARKED VEHICLE. THERE WAS CENTRIFUGAL RIM MARKS FROM THE KIA AFTER IMPACTING WITH THE FIRST PARKED VEHICLE. THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE WAS BROKEN FROM THE AXLE. THE KIA WAS HEADING N/B AND CAME TO REST IN AN ALMOST TOTAL E/B POSITION FROM THE COLLISION. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WITH SUCH AN IMPACT AND DAMAGE SUSTAINED. THE DRIVER WAS WEARING HIS SEATBELT AND DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. THIS OCCURRED ON A CITY STREET. THE REPORT # IS MADERA PD INCIDENT [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

MAKING A CALL WITH MY BLUETOOTH EQUIPPED IN THE VEHICLE, LOOKED DOWN TO VERIFY CONNECTION, BY THE TIME I LOOKED UP I WAS A FOOT AWAY FROM A PARKED VEHICLE, I SWERVED AS TO THE LEFT AS MUCH AS I COULD BUT IT WAS TOO LATE, I SLAMMED INTO THE VEHICLE CAUSING DAMAGE, MY HOOD AND ENGINE WERE PRACTICALLY CRUSHED IN AND ALONG THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY VEHICLE, MY CAR CAME TO A HAULT BEFORE JUMPING OVER THE MEDIAN. NONE OF AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. I WAS GOING SPEED OF 50-60 MILES PER HOUR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A TRAFFIC STOP, THE VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE SEAT BELT DID NOT RETRACT TO LOCK HER IN, WHICH CAUSED HER TO STRIKE HER HEAD ON THE PILLAR NEXT TO THE WINDSHIELD. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BRUISES AND CONTUSIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 6,900.