Problems · by component

2008 Kia Spectra air bags problems

72 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2008 Kia Spectra cite air bags, 53% of all 137 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
72
53% of all complaints
Crashes
19
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
21
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the air bags

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The passenger air bag has failed. The dash light stays on due to issue and the air bag itself stays off per the light on the airbag on/off alert. I contacted the dealership who quoted me over $100 just to take a look at it, but was told this seems to be an issue with Spectras that they see pretty commonly.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 4, 2021Air bagsODI 11435341
“THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR STARTED FAILING WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR IN 2017 AND HAS SINCE COMPLETELY FAILED, WHICH HAS CAUSED THE AIRBAG LIGHT TO TURN ON. THE KIA DEALERSHIP WANTS TO CHARGE $140 TO RUN AN AIRBAG DIAGNOSTIC AND FROM WHAT I HAVE RESEARCHED, I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE SEAT, WHICH MAY COST MORE THAN THE VALUE OF THE CAR. MY CONCERN AT THIS POINT IS WHETHER OR NOT ANY OF THE AIRBAGS WILL BE DEPLOYED IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 14, 2021Air bagsODI 11416583
“YES SO MY AIR BAG LIGHT WHEN I GOT THE CAR WAS OFF AN IT JUST POPPED UP COUPLE WEEKS AGO! I HAVE TRIED EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO TRY TO FIX IT AN STILL IS ON. I EVEN BROUGHT A NEW DRIVER SEAT AN IT STILL DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM. MY BE HOPE HAS BEEN PARKED SINCE THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 8, 2021Air bagsODI 11395287
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE A PASSENGER IN THE VEHICLE TRAVELLING AT 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS HIT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BY ANOTHER VEHICLE AS A RESULT THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE AIR BAGS AS WELL AS THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE PASSENGER AND THE DRIVER OF HER VEHICLE SUSTAINED BACK, HEAD AND ARM INJURES WHILE THE DRIVER SUSTAINED NECK AND BACK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE OCCUPANTS OF THE OTHER VEHICLE SUSTAINED NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CAR WAS DRIVABLE AS THE AIR BAGS FAILED DEPLOY HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE 185,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.*DT*JB*DT*DT*JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 13, 2020Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11309068
“AIR BAG LIGHT (RED WARNING LIGHT) STARTED TO STAY ON CONSTANTLY. THIS MEANS THAT AIR BAG WILL PROBABLY NOT DEPLOY IN CASE OF CRASH (TO BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE WHEN SEARCHING ON GOOGLE ABOUT THIS ISSUE). BEFORE THIS LIGHT TURNED ON (RED LIGHT ON AIR-BAG), I EXPERIENCED AN ISSUE WITH "PASSENGER AIR-BAG OFF" LIGHT STAYING ON - DESPITE SOMEONE IS PRESENT ON PASSENGER SEAT (MEANING THAT AIR-BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY AS COMPUTER IS NOT SENSING ANYBODY SEATING THERE). I WOULD NEED TO STOP-BY ON ROAD SIDE, THEN TURN VEHICLE OFF COMPLETELY, ASKED A PERSON ON PASSENGER SEAT TO GO OUT - WAIT FOR A WHILE - AND THEN RESTART THE VEHICLE AND REQUEST A PERSON TO GET BACK ON SEAT. LATER ON, THIS WAY NO LONGER WORKING. COMPUTER RESET NO LONGER WORKING. FRIENDS WARNED ME THAT - IT IS SIGN OF AIR-BAG SYSTEM FAILURE AND KIA SHOULD GET IT FIXED (IT COMES UNDER SAFETY). THIS ISSUE IS CONSTANT IRRESPECTIVE IF VEHICLE IS STATIONARY OR IN MOTION.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 30, 2019Air bagsODI 11228462
“MY AIRBAG LIGHT IS STAYING ON WHEN OCCUPIED. I'M AT ALMOST 60,000 MLS. THOUGHT I SAW SOMETHING ABOUT A RECALL SOMETIME AGO SO L WAS SURPRISED THAT I COULDN'T FIND ANY CONSIDERING THE COMPLAINTS L'VE BEEN SEEING. I DON'T HAVE TO MANY PASSENGERS AS MY CHILDREN WERE ALWAYS IN BACK AND JUST STARTED RIDING IN FRONT. SO I'M NOT SURE HOW LONG IT COULD HAVE BEEN GOING ON. JUST WANTED TO LET SOMEONE KNOW ANOTHER 08' S LIGHT IS LIT. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 10, 2018Air bagsODI 11078484

Showing 6 of 72 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 12, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.