2007 KIA SPECTRA Seats Problems

THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE DASH ALONG WITH THE "PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG OFF" LIGHTS CAME ON AND STAYED ON DURING A 1 HOUR TRIP AS WE WERE MOVING TO OUR NEW APARTMENT. LUCKILY WE DID NOT HAVE VERY FAR TO MOVE WHEN THIS SUDDEN SAFETY HAZARD AROSE AS WE COULD NOT MOVE A PASSENGER TO THE BACK SEAT. THE SENSOR DID NOT RECOGNIZE MY WIFE AT A LITTLE OVER 110 LBS. NOR MYSELF AT OVER 175 LBS. AFTER TAKING IT TO THE LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP, WE WERE INFORMED THAT THE OCS MAT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED WITH A COST OF AROUND $1100 FOR PARTS AND $230 FOR THE LABOR. IT TOOK ABOUT A WEEK TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA SPECTRA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT CUSHION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

MY INDICATOR ON MY DASH BOARD FOR AN AIRBAG PROBLEM CAME ON, UPON TAKING IT TO A MAINTENANCE SHOP THEY FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS DUE TO A SENSOR GOING BAD IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. AFTER THEY CALLED MULTIPLE PLACES, INCLUDING THE LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP REGARDING THIS PROBLEM, THEY INFORMED ME THAT THIS IS A RECURRENT ISSUE IN MY KIA MODEL, SO MUCH TO THE POINT THAT A SEAT MAY ONLY BE ATTAINED FROM THE MANUFACTURER WITH A PROLONG WAITING TIME BECAUSE OF THE HIGH DEMAND FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THEM DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE, MANY DIFFERENT SOURCES HAVE CONFIRMED THIS TO BE TRUE, WHY IS THIS NOT A RECALL? THE PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG SENSOR MODULE CLEARLY HAS A FAULT, RENDERING IT TO HAVE A SHORT LIFE SPAN, THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. IF IT HAD GONE BAD WHILE I WAS DRIVING WITH SOMEONE IN THE PASSENGER...

EXPERIENCING SAME PROBLEM AS BELOW, BELIEVE THAT SENSORS ARE IDENTICAL PARTS, REQUEST ASSISTANCE TO INCLUDE ALL KIA MODELS PRODUCED DURING THIS TIME PERIOD THAT ARE EXPERIENCING SAME PROBLEM. PROBLEM VERIFIED BY COLONIAL KIA, COLONIAL HEIGHTS, VA AS SEAT SENSOR ON 6 JUL 12. NHTSA HAS ISSUED THE FOLLOWING SAFETY RECALL: MAKE: KIA MODEL: RIO MODEL YEAR: 2007 MANUFACTURER: KIA MOTORS CORPORATION MFR'S REPORT DATE: MAY 29, 2012 NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V244000 NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: N/A COMPONENT: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE. *TR