NHTSA Complaint #10850528 — 2006 KIA SEDONA

SHORTLY AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED (EARLY 2012), THE AIR BAG LIGHT WENT ON OUR KIA SEDONA. I TOOK THE VAN TO OUR LOCAL KIA DEALER TO CHECK AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS THE WEIGHT CLASSIFICATION SEAT SENSOR ASSEMBLY (PART 88610 - $1399.75 AT THAT TIME) THAT HAD TO BE REPLACED. AFTER LABOR COST AND TAXES IT WOULD BE $2022!! KIA WAS HAVING SOME RECALLS AROUND THAT TIME, BUT NONE TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. THE MAIN REASON WE BOUGHT THIS VAN FOR OUR FAMILY WAS BECAUSE OF HIGH SAFETY RATINGS INVOLVING ALL THE AIRBAGS. NOW WE ARE DRIVING WITHOUT AIRBAGS AND PRAYING FOR EXTRA ANGELS AROUND THE VAN WHEN WE HAVE TO GO ON THE HIGHWAY. WE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE LONG ROAD TRIPS, BUT THAT SEEMS TOO DANGEROUS WITHOUT AIRBAGS. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND YOU WILL FIND OUT IT IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL. KIA NEEDS TO STEP IT UP AND FIX THIS ISSUE; LIVES ARE AT STAKE. THANK YOU!