1997 Kia Sportage Airbags Problems

Your airbags deployed unexpectedly while the vehicle was parked and stationary with the engine running. This happened without any collision or impact. The airbag system may have a faulty sensor or electrical issue that's causing it to activate when it shouldn't.

Your airbags deployed suddenly while your vehicle was parked and you were sitting in the driver or passenger seat, even though there was no crash. Fortunately, no one was injured. The dealer told you they couldn't diagnose why this happened because the vehicle is too old, so the problem wasn't fixed.

Your driver's side airbag deployed suddenly while the vehicle was parked and stopped, with no crash or impact occurring. No one was injured, but this unexpected deployment indicates a serious malfunction in the airbag system. The airbag system will need to be professionally diagnosed and repaired by a qualified technician, likely involving replacement of the airbag module or associated sensors.

While driving in reverse, both the driver's side airbags unexpectedly deployed — one from the steering wheel and one from beneath it. The airbags struck you in the face and hip area, causing minor injuries. This happened without any crash, and the vehicle was never repaired.

Your driver's side airbag warning light came on after the warranty expired and hasn't turned off since. Your passenger side airbag light stays on constantly, even when an adult is sitting in that seat. These warning lights indicate the airbag system isn't functioning properly and needs diagnostic testing. A mechanic will need to scan the airbag control module and inspect the wiring and sensors to identify and repair the underlying issue.

Your airbags deployed suddenly while driving at 15 mph for no apparent reason — you didn't hit anything and the vehicle hasn't been in an accident. This is a serious safety concern since airbags should only deploy during actual crashes. The dealer has been difficult to reach, so the issue remains unfixed. You'll need the airbag system diagnostics performed and likely the airbag control module or sensor replaced.

Your driver's side airbag deployed without warning while you were backing slowly out of a driveway, even though there was no crash or impact. No warning lights or signals appeared before it happened. The airbag system may have a faulty sensor or wiring issue that needs professional diagnostic testing and repair at a dealer.

Your driver's side airbags deployed unexpectedly while you were slowing down to stop at a traffic light, even though there was no crash. This is a serious safety concern since airbags should only deploy during a collision.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

WHEN DRIVING NORTHBOUND ON HIGHWAY 682, UP A STEEP HILL AND CURVE A CAR RAN HEAD ON INTO MY 1997 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CAR HAD DAMAGE IN THE FRONT CENTER, FRONT LEFT, AND LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER OF THE CAR THAT HIT ME STATED THAT HER CAR WAS SLIDING AND SHE COULD NOT CONTROL IT. 911 WAS CALLED AND THE POLICE AND AMBULANCE CAME TO THE SEEN OF THE ACCIDENT. BOTH OF US WENT TO THE HOSPITAL AND SHE WAS GIVEN THE TICKET AND FOUND AT FAULT FOR THE ACCIDENT AT THE POINT OF IMPACT, THE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE ARE 2 AIRBAGS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE, ONE IN THE STEERING WHEEL, AND ONE IN THE DASHBOARD TO PROTECT THE KNEE AND LEG AREAS. NEITHER ONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. I WAS RESTRAINED IN A SEAT BELT, BUT I DID BUMP MY HEAD AND BUMPED MY KNEES AND THE LEFT SIDE OF MY BODY. I STILL HAVE THE KNOT ON MY HEAD AND MY KNEES AND LEFT SIDE CONTINUE TO HURT. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AND UPON CROSSING AN INTERSECTION CONSUMER WAS REAR ENDED, AND PUSHED HEAD ON BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER DRIVER'S SIDE NOR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. ALSO, VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WHILE VEHICLE WAS AT A STOP IT WAS HIT IN THE FRONT BY THE SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE.UPON IMPACT, THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF THE FRONT AIR BAGS. VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 40MPH AND HAD A FRONTAL IMPACT, AND DRIVER'S AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY.. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES. *AK

WHEN VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION TRAVELING AT 45 MPH. UPON IMPACT, THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG. THE VEHICLE IS BEING REPAIRED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG DURING VEHICLE COLLISION.

AIRBAG INDICATOR FAILED.

NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG DURING FRONTAL COLLISION.

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 45 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY , AND THE RESTRAINTS FAILED TO LOCK UP UPON IMPACT. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

COMING TO A STOP SIGN, APPLIED BRAKES AND THE CLUTCH, VEHICLE ACCELERATED BY ITSELF, LOST CONTROL, ENDED UP HITTING 3 TREES AND THEN A HOUSE HEAD-ON. DRIVER'S AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, SUSTAINED CHEST INJURIES. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 25-30 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN HEAD-ON COLLISION AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. OWNER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSORS WERE NOT HIT, AND THAT IS WHY THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

AIR BAG: DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35MPH CAR PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF THE FIRST VEHICLE AND THE FRONT OF HER CAR HIT THE OTHER VEHICLE IN THE SIDE. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK