2017 Kia Cadenza

I am submitting a complaint regarding my 2017 Kia Cadenza related to an ongoing airbag system failure and Kia’s refusal to cover the repair under their existing airbag warranty extension. My VIN is included in Kia’s WTY027 warranty extension, which extends coverage for repairs related to the Airbag Warning Light illumination from 5 years/60,000 miles to 15 years/unlimited miles. Despite this, Kia Affairs has denied coverage because the diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) pulled by the dealership do not “exactly match” the codes listed in the extension, even though the warning light is on and the issue affects the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS). Kia Affairs acknowledged the problem and escalated the case to their District Parts & Service Manager (DPSM) for possible goodwill coverage. However, goodwill is discretionary and not guaranteed, leaving me potentially responsible for expensive labor costs on a federally required safety system. My Concerns: The airbag light remains illuminated, which means the airbags may not deploy in a crash — a critical safety hazard. Kia’s decision to exclude legitimate SRS failures because the DTCs do not exactly match their list undermines the purpose of the warranty extension. Owners whose VINs are included in the extension are still being denied coverage based on technicalities, despite facing the same safety risk. Requested Action: I request that NHTSA investigate whether Kia’s narrow, code-based coverage criteria is improperly excluding safety-related airbag failures that should be repaired under the warranty extension. This appears to leave consumers unprotected from a defect in a federally regulated safety system. I can provide: The dealership’s diagnostic codes and repair order. Correspondence from Kia Affairs regarding the denial. Warranty extension documentation showing my VIN is included. Thank you for your time and attention to this matter

TL* THE CONTACT LEASED A 2017 KIA CADENZA. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH WITH THE ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE CERVICAL STENOSIS AND A HERNIATED DISK IN THE LOWER BACK THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP WHERE IT WAS DEEMED OPERABLE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10,000.