Front passenger air bag light does not work properly. It senses passenger less than 50% of the time. Even getting out and restarting the car will not fix this. Took car to dealer and couldn't find anything wrong. I asked about recall/bulletin and they said there wasn't one but I had received something in the mail about a year ago. This is for 2005 Kia Sorento sport.

- Santa Ana, CA, USA

The contact owns a 2005 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the vehicle has been in and out of the shop since the time of purchase. The entire passenger seat was removed and worked on six times for the air bag sensor. The mechanic could not duplicate the failure. GM stated that they cannot help unless they witness the failure for themselves. The purchase date was unknown. The current mileage is 19,500 and failure mileage was 5,500.

- Granger, IN, USA

- the contact stated that the 2005 Kia Sorento LX, had problems with the passenger air bag sensor light malfunctioning. On occasion when in the passenger was seated in the front seatthe airbag sensor light did not turn off. The contact took the vehicle to the dealership on 3 occasions. The dealership changed the seat sensor three times, and took the seat out to have it shipped to California to reprogram the seat sensor. The contact stated that the dealership informed her that sometimes she may have to get out of the vehicle and get back into the vehicle in order for the sensor light to work properly. She had an arbitration case dated for 03/01/07, with case # Kia 0732574, for the complaint filed with the better business bureau regarding the passenger air bag. The contact has pictures and repair orders available, will submit them to NHTSA. The failure mileage was 4500, and the current mileage was 13000.

- Bublin, OH, USA

: the contact stated the air bag indicator displayed air bag - off for the passenger's seat, although a passenger was sitting in the seat. Several people at various weights have sat in the seat as an attempt for the indicator light to go off, without success.

- Runnemede, NJ, USA

The passenger airbag light is on. When I am in the passenger seat the airbag indicator says "passenger airbag off". I weigh about 120 lbs. When my fiance is in the passenger seat the airbag is on. He weighs about 150 lbs. We took the car to the dealership for an oil change and told them about this problem. They said that I am probably sitting wrong. I cannot accept this.

- S. Huntington, NY, USA

I purchased a new 2005 Kia Sorento in July. While sitting in the passenger seat I would notice that the passenger airbag sensor was not detecting me thus leaving the airbag off. I made an appointment with the dealer to find the problem. I was told it is a manufacturing problem and the seat must be removed, sent back to the manufacturer and be reprogrammed. It does not sense larger size people as the people of Korea are smaller and the sensors are designed for them. I was not notified of this defect until I brought the car to them. They did not feel it was a safety issue.

- Pensacola, FL, USA

The passenger seat has a sensor which turns off the air bag for passengers under a certain weight. The air bag remained off although and adult over the weight target weight was sitting in the seat. The dealer claimed that the sensor was over sensitive, the manufacturer says they do not have a problem.

- Lindsay, CA, USA

I just bought a brand new 2005 Kia Sorento last week (March 18, 2005.) I love the car, but it has an automatic shut off on the passenger air bag that continues to malfunction. It is supposed to stay off unless a passenger weiging more than 40 pounds is sitting in the seat. My husband (200 lbs. +) and my father in law (180 lbs. +) have sat in the seat while I am driving and the air bag will not turn on. I mentioned it to my local dealership and they told me that they have had several complaints of the same thing. They have supposidly checked the sensor system and it is "functioning properly." I have never been in a wreck, but if I am ever in one where my passenger is seriously injured because the air bag malfunctions, I will never forgive myself. Please look into this. Thank you.

- Mckinney, TX, USA

The air bag light appeared on the dashboard and remained on while driving. Driver took vehicle to the dealer, and mechanic determined that the sensor needed to be replaced. The consumer was told by the dealer that he can not lean back in the seat or lean against the window. The consumer stated that the passenger air bag light comes on when someone over 50 pounds is in the seat. The consumer concerned about safety.

- Fort Payne, AL, USA