Bought my 2006.5 optima used with 12,000 miles (still under warranty) took it to local dealership because when a passenger was in the seat the passenger airbag light off stayed on, basically its not registering that there is someone in the seat, took it in 2 times, they never could find anything wrong with it. Then airbag light on my dash came on, took it in to be told that it was a history code for the passenger seat, no problems everything is working fine. Had vehicle in several times 2 years later take it in again, was told resistance is too high in passenger side airbag, need to have seat replaced at a cost of $1000. I argued that i shouldn't have to pay because i had it in several times while it was under warranty and they found nothing wrong. The district service parts manager authorized what they called a "goodwill" repair for me at no charge. I drive a lot of miles each day. 15,000 later airbag light comes on again, was told history code no problems. 1 month and 1,500 miles later it comes on again, was told that the seat has poor pin tension and they applied stabilant to connector, everything is fine at this time. Here we are again 2 months later, airbag light is on again, take it in and now the harness in the floor has a high resistance, needs to be replaced at a cost of $2300. Passenger seat occupancy light stiill works only when it wants to, never have been able to find a problem, but everytime they tell me its nothing, the next time its something big. I now have 86,000 miles on my car, have had it in 9 times for an airbag issue and its always been from the passenger seat. My thinking is that there is something major wrong with the airbag system in this car, or the dealership is not doing a good job diagnosing the problem? I don't know but i have never owned a car, or known anybody to have a car where they have to replace an airbag component once a year or so. I expressed my concerns with the dealership and they contacted their district service manager about it and told me no, he was not going to do anything about it because the car is out of warranty. I contacted kia directly, they contacted district service manager, he then said he would only charge me 50% they would take care of the other 50%. I am frustrated because i want to know why this is happening and why every time there is a different problem, but i cant get an answer from anyone. kia apparently doesn't care because the car is out of warranty, so its not their problem anymore. I don't know what to do or where to go from here. Hopefully I will not be in an accident and my wife, or whoever is in the passenger seat, will be hurt because the airbags are not working because there is a problem with them! Oh ya and airbag light has now gone off again after being on for a couple of months this last time, so i guess that means there is nothing wrong, right! But if it comes on again, I'm sure there will be something else that needs to be replaced!!! I'm so frustrated with this car.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
Bought my 2006.5 optima used with 12,000 miles (still under warranty) took it to local dealership because when a passenger was in the seat the passenger airbag light off stayed on, basically its not registering that there is someone in the seat, took it in 2 times, they never could find anything wrong with it. Then airbag light on my dash came on, took it in to be told that it was a history code for the passenger seat, no problems everything is working fine. Had vehicle in several times 2 years later take it in again, was told resistance is too high in passenger side airbag, need to have seat replaced at a cost of $1000. I argued that i shouldn't have to pay because i had it in several times while it was under warranty and they found nothing wrong. The district service parts manager authorized what they called a "goodwill" repair for me at no charge. I drive a lot of miles each day. 15,000 later airbag light comes on again, was told history code no problems. 1 month and 1,500 miles later it comes on again, was told that the seat has poor pin tension and they applied stabilant to connector, everything is fine at this time. Here we are again 2 months later, airbag light is on again, take it in and now the harness in the floor has a high resistance, needs to be replaced at a cost of $2300. Passenger seat occupancy light stiill works only when it wants to, never have been able to find a problem, but everytime they tell me its nothing, the next time its something big. I now have 86,000 miles on my car, have had it in 9 times for an airbag issue and its always been from the passenger seat. My thinking is that there is something major wrong with the airbag system in this car, or the dealership is not doing a good job diagnosing the problem? I don't know but i have never owned a car, or known anybody to have a car where they have to replace an airbag component once a year or so. I expressed my concerns with the dealership and they contacted their district service manager about it and told me no, he was not going to do anything about it because the car is out of warranty. I contacted kia directly, they contacted district service manager, he then said he would only charge me 50% they would take care of the other 50%. I am frustrated because i want to know why this is happening and why every time there is a different problem, but i cant get an answer from anyone. kia apparently doesn't care because the car is out of warranty, so its not their problem anymore. I don't know what to do or where to go from here. Hopefully I will not be in an accident and my wife, or whoever is in the passenger seat, will be hurt because the airbags are not working because there is a problem with them! Oh ya and airbag light has now gone off again after being on for a couple of months this last time, so i guess that means there is nothing wrong, right! But if it comes on again, I'm sure there will be something else that needs to be replaced!!! I'm so frustrated with this car.
- joshuatennessee, Clarksville, TN, US