NHTSA Complaint #11113188 — 2009 KIA SPORTAGE

THIS IS COMPLAINT 1 OF 2. COMPLAINT 2 IS UNDER A SEPARATE CATEGORY "ESC". THE PASSENGER AIR BAG "OFF" INDICATOR LIGHT ON THE DASH CAME ON, WITH AN ADULT PASSENGER SITTING IN THE SEAT (VEHICLE IN MOTION OR STATIONARY). AT FIRST IT WAS RANDOM, AND THEN IT STARTED STAYING ON ALL THE TIME. THEN THE "AIR BAG" WARNING LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CAME ON. THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT WILL ALSO LOCK, AND NOT RELEASE AS IT IS SUPPOSED TO. AT THIS POINT I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN MADE THE FOLLOWING COMMENTS AFTER RUNNING DIAGNOSTICS: "AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON FOR A COUPLE OF REASONS. THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR SENSOR IS BAD AND THE PASSENGER SIDE OCCUPANT SENSOR IN THE SEAT IS BAD." THE DEALER GAVE A VERBAL QUOTE OF $2,200 TO REPLACE THE SEAT SENSOR, AND AN ADDITIONAL $575 TO REPLACE THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT SENSOR. THEY GAVE A WRITTEN ESTIMATE OF $2,212 FOR THE SEAT SENSOR, BUT DID NOT PROVIDE A WRITTEN ESTIMATE FOR THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR SENSOR. I REALIZE THE VEHICLE IS 9 YEARS OLD, BUT IT ONLY HAS 42,647 MILES ON IT. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND I CANNOT AFFORD NOR JUSTIFY INVESTING NEARLY $2,800 ON A 9 YEAR OLD VEHICLE. KIA DID A RECALL FOR THE 2006-2008 RIO MODELS ON 5/31/12 "12V244000" FOR THE SEAT SENSOR AND HAS ALSO EXTENDED THE WARRANTY OUT TO 15 YEARS FOR OTHER MODELS. VERY FEW PEOPLE CAN AFFORD TO SPEND THIS TYPE OF MONEY FOR A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY KIA. NOW I HAVE A VEHICLE WITH A FAULTY AIR BAG SAFETY SYSTEM, AND HAVE NO IDEA IF THE AIR BAGS WILL DEPLOY IF AND WHEN NEEDED. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION IS ATTACHED.