2003 Kia Optima Airbags Problems

Your airbag warning light is on even though your car has never been in an accident and has less than 48,000 miles. This means your airbags may not deploy in a crash, leaving you and your passengers without that safety protection. A mechanic will need to scan your car's airbag system to find out why the warning light is on and fix the underlying problem.

Your airbag warning light flashed and then stayed on continuously. This indicates a problem with your airbag system that needs to be diagnosed by a technician. The vehicle was never repaired or evaluated to determine the specific issue. You should have the airbag system scanned and inspected to identify what's causing the warning light.

Your airbag warning light came on in your 2003 Kia Optima, but the problem was never diagnosed or fixed. This indicator typically means there's an issue with the airbag system that needs attention. Having a mechanic scan the diagnostic codes and inspect the airbag system components will be necessary to identify and resolve the underlying problem.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR FAILED TO UNLOCK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN ORDER TO GET INSIDE THE VEHICLE, HE HAD TO CLIMB OVER TO THE DRIVER SIDE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE "AIR BAG" WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC AND THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LOCK LOCKS UNATTENDED, TRAPS DRIVER INSIDE CAR. CAN NOT OPEN WITH KEY OR SWITCH. SAFETY ISSUE. ALSO; AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT ACTIVATED FOR THE SECOND TIME, HAS TO BE A DEFECT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATORS REMAINED ILLUMINATED IN HER VEHICLE. THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC, BUT NO CODES APPEARED. THE DEALER RESET THE COMPUTER AND THE INDICATORS REMAINED DIM FOR A FEW DAYS; HOWEVER, THEY WOULD EVENTUALLY ILLUMINATE AGAIN. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

2003 KIA OPTIMA HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT STAYING ON. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICE FOR THIS ISSUE BUT IT KEEPS RECURRING. *NJ

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH THE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A WOODEN FENCE AND ROLLED OVER THREE TIMES. THE DRIVER WAS INJURED BECAUSE THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS ARRIVED AT THE SCENE AND FILED A FULL REPORT. THE CRASH OCCURRED IN DRY CONDITIONS. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT THE AIR BAG FAILURE, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE SIDE IMPACT WAS NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO DEPLOY THE AIR BAGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 84,000.*AK THE CONSUMER HAS PROVIDED MULTIPLE PICTURES OF THE ACCIDENT. UPDATE 05/10/07*TR

2003 OPTIMA AIR BAG DEPLOYED WHEN SWERVING TO AVOID A MANHOLE. *TS WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED ON A DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE IT REGISTERED THAT THERE HAD BEEN A COLLISION. THE MANUFACTURER SENT A DISTRICT PARTS AND SERVICE MANAGER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE MANAGER CONCLUDED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG PROPERLY DEPLOYED IN THE INCIDENT EXPERIENCED BY THE CONSUMER. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED, WHILE TRAVELING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION AT 25 MPH., THE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK ON THE DRIVER'S FRONT DOOR BY A POLICE VEHICLE RUNNING A RED LIGHT, WITHOUT THE EMERGENCY LIGHTS ON. BOTH FRONTAL AND SIDE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. INJURIES WERE INCURRED IN THE COLLISION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND PICTURES WERE TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT WAS REPLACED BY A SERVICE DEALER, APPROXIMATELY ONE-YEAR PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.

DT: THE CALLER STATED THAT AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON ALL THE TIME. DEALER CLAIMED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG WAS DEFECTIVE, AND DID NOT HAVE THE PART TO FIX IT. MANUFACTURER SAID DID NOT HAVE THE PART ANYWHERE. *AK

I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE THE FRONT AND SIDE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. MY CAR WAS A 2003 KIA OPTIMA. THE SITE OF IMPACT WAS ON THE LEFT FRONT END BUT SUBSTAINED MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE ENTIRE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. I HAVE SEVERAL PHOTO'S OF THE CAR, WHICH WAS TOTALED BY MY INSURANCE ADJUSTER. MY CONCERN IS IF THERE IS A DEFECT WITH THIS CAR REGARDING THE AIRBAGS. A CLOSE MALE FRIEND, WHO WAS A MECHANICAL ENGINEER FOR CHYSLER, COULD NOT EXPLAIN/UNDERSTAND WHY THE AIRBAGS FAILED. PLEASE HELP ME GET TO THE BOTTOM IS THIS MATTER.

AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON. DEALER ORDERED THE PART. HOWEVER, THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO OBTAIN THE PART, THIS MAKES DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG INOPERABLE. *AK

THE CONSUMER REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS WEARING HIS SEAT BELT, HOWEVER THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DEALER CLAIMED THAT THE COLLISION WAS UNDER THE TRUCK'S BUMPER. THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE CONSUMER SUFFERED SHOULDER AND HEAD INJURIES IN THE COLLISION. *JB

THE AIR BAG SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE.*AK *JB