IllustrationDRIVER'S SEATBELT OFTEN FAILS TO LOCK IN AND POPS OPEN MID-DRIVE. IT IS OFTEN NOT APPARENT THAT THE BELT HASN'T LOCKED UNTIL IT POPS OPEN. THIS WOULD BE ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS IN AN ACCIDENT.
2009 Kia Spectra
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2009 Kia Spectra do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 96.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Spectra years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
130–25K
1325–50K
2450–75K
2575–100K
15100–150K
3150K+
93 reports with mileage · 21 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Air Bags. Review the 76 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seats. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
16 crash reports1 fire reports8 injury reports
Seat Belts complaints
9 reportsTAKATA RECALL I OWN A 2009 KIA SPECTRA I'VE HAD IT SINCE 2014. I MOVED & ABOUT A YEAR AGO MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON THE CAR WAS STATIONARY I WENT TO GET CAME BACK IN MY CAR & NOTICED IT WAS ON. I DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING OF IT BECAUSE WHERE I LIVED YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO DO VEHICLE INSPECTIONS. NOT TOO LONG AFTER MY SEATBELT KEPT LOC…
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TAKATA RECALL I OWN A 2009 KIA SPECTRA I'VE HAD IT SINCE 2014. I MOVED & ABOUT A YEAR AGO MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON THE CAR WAS STATIONARY I WENT TO GET CAME BACK IN MY CAR & NOTICED IT WAS ON. I DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING OF IT BECAUSE WHERE I LIVED YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO DO VEHICLE INSPECTIONS. NOT TOO LONG AFTER MY SEATBELT KEPT LOCKING & IN THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS IT COMPLETELY LOCKED ON ME. I'M IN THE PROCESS OF MOVING & I TOOK MY CAR TO GET A VEHICLE INSPECTION BECAUSE THE STATE I WILL BE LIVING IN YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO PASS INSPECTION. I WAS TOLD I WOULDN'T PASS THE INSPECTION DUE TO THE AIRBAG LIGHT BEING ON & MY SEATBELT BEING LOCKED. I CALLED SEVERAL DEALERSHIPS & THEY ARE TRYING TO MAKE ME PAY ALL THESE DIFFERENT PRICES TO FIX IT THE LEAST I'VE BEEN TOLD IS ABOUT $700 JUST TO INSTALL A NEW SEATBELT. I'M A SINGLE MOM & I CAN'T AFFORD THIS..THIS IS UNSAFE !! I WAS LOOKING UP HOW TO FIX MY SEATBELT & CAME ACROSS A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE & I WANT TO KNOW IF THERE IS A RECALL BECAUSE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE FOR MY CHILD AS WELL AS MYSELF.
THE DRIVERS SIDE SEATBELT ON MY KIA SPECTRA 2009 LOCKS UP ONCE IN A WHILE SO I CANNOT PUT MY SEATBELT ON. IT WILL LOCK NO MATTER IF I'M PULLING SLOWLY OR FAST. I AM NOT STEPPING ON THE BREAK WHEN IT LOCKS. THE CAR CAN BE MOVING OR STATIONARY WHEN IT LOCKS. THIS HAPPENS 5 TIMES OUT OF 10 WHEN I AM IN THE CAR. IT IS A BIG SAFETY H…
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THE DRIVERS SIDE SEATBELT ON MY KIA SPECTRA 2009 LOCKS UP ONCE IN A WHILE SO I CANNOT PUT MY SEATBELT ON. IT WILL LOCK NO MATTER IF I'M PULLING SLOWLY OR FAST. I AM NOT STEPPING ON THE BREAK WHEN IT LOCKS. THE CAR CAN BE MOVING OR STATIONARY WHEN IT LOCKS. THIS HAPPENS 5 TIMES OUT OF 10 WHEN I AM IN THE CAR. IT IS A BIG SAFETY HAZARD!
THE BACK SEAL BELTS STOP WORKING. THEY WILL NOT COME OUT NO MATTER WHAT I TRY. THEY HAVE BEEN DOING THIS SINCE I GOT THE CAT IN 2012. BUT NOW THEY WON'T COME OUT AT ALL. ALSO THE BLOWER FOR THE A/C OR HEAT STOPPED WORKING. I HAD TO SLAM MY HOOD FOR IT TO COME ON BUT NOW IT COMPLETELY STOPPED COMING ON.
I OWN A KIA SPECTRA 2009 AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MONTH THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE DASH CAME ON AND STAYS ON. THE AIRBAG LIGHT THAT IS IN THE CENTER CONSOLE FOR THE PASSENGER SEAT (WHICH INDICATES IF ON/OFF) IS NOT WORKING AT ALL. CALLED KIA AND SPOKE WITH A REPRESENTATIVE AND WAS TOLD BECAUSE OF THE MILEAGE THE WARRANTY NOT COVER T…
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I OWN A KIA SPECTRA 2009 AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MONTH THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE DASH CAME ON AND STAYS ON. THE AIRBAG LIGHT THAT IS IN THE CENTER CONSOLE FOR THE PASSENGER SEAT (WHICH INDICATES IF ON/OFF) IS NOT WORKING AT ALL. CALLED KIA AND SPOKE WITH A REPRESENTATIVE AND WAS TOLD BECAUSE OF THE MILEAGE THE WARRANTY NOT COVER THIS. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THE COST OF THE SEAT REPLACEMENT IS GOING TO $1637.31. BY THE LOOKS OF THIS IT IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH CERTAIN MODELS FOR KIA. I CAN NOT JUSTIFY THIS AMOUNT FOR THE PASSENGER SEAT REPLACEMENT. WAS ALSO TOLD BY THE REPRESENTATIVE THAT IT WOULD BE FORWARDED TO A MANAGER TO SEE IF ANY ASSISTANCE COULD BE OFFERED FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE SEAT. IN THE STATE THAT I LIVE IN THIS VEHICLE WILL NOT PASS STATE INSPECTION. *TR
MY VEHICLE HAS HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS OVER A 4 TO 5 MONTH PERIOD TO START AROUND THE START MY PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HANDLE BROKE, NEXT MY SEAT BELT SENSOR SHORTED OUT, AFTER THAT MY AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AFTER TAKING IT IN TO THE DEALER I WAS INFORMED I HAD NOT ONLY FAULTY WIRING IN MY VEHICLE BUT THAT MY PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WAS…
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MY VEHICLE HAS HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS OVER A 4 TO 5 MONTH PERIOD TO START AROUND THE START MY PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HANDLE BROKE, NEXT MY SEAT BELT SENSOR SHORTED OUT, AFTER THAT MY AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AFTER TAKING IT IN TO THE DEALER I WAS INFORMED I HAD NOT ONLY FAULTY WIRING IN MY VEHICLE BUT THAT MY PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WAS DEFECTIVE WHEN IT WAS INSTALLED AND TOOK FOUR YEARS TO BE CAUGHT UNFORTUNATELY THIS ALL DIDN'T OCCUR IN MY FIRST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP AND I COULDN'T CLAIM THE LEMON LAW. BECAUSE NOW THE COMPANY EXPECTS ME TO REPLACE ALL OF THE FAULTY EQUIPMENT THEY INSTALLED INTO A VEHICLE THEY TOLD ME WAS "SAFE AND RELIABLE" AND NOW I'M RIDING IN VEHICLE THAT I HAD SOMEONE WHO WORKS FOR KIA TELL WAS "SLAPPED TOGETHER AND I WAS LUCKY MY CAR HADN'T FALLEN APART YET". AFTER LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP THE CD PLAYER IN MY VEHICLE DECIDED THAT IT TO WAS GOING TO SHORT OUT AND NOW THIS IS ANOTHER REPAIR I'M SURE ILL BE EXPECTED TO PAY FOR. *TT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA SPECTRA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE CONTACT NOTICED THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT WOULD LOCK WHEN IT WAS BUCKLED; HOWEVER, THE SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHO STATED THE SEAT BELT BUCK…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA SPECTRA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE CONTACT NOTICED THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT WOULD LOCK WHEN IT WAS BUCKLED; HOWEVER, THE SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHO STATED THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA SPECTRA EX/LX/SX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE PASSENGER FRONT SIDE OF HER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAILED TO SECURE HER IN THE SEAT. AS A CONSEQUENCE SHE SUSTAINED SEVERE INJURIES TO THE UPPER AND LOWER PART OF HER BOD…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA SPECTRA EX/LX/SX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE PASSENGER FRONT SIDE OF HER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAILED TO SECURE HER IN THE SEAT. AS A CONSEQUENCE SHE SUSTAINED SEVERE INJURIES TO THE UPPER AND LOWER PART OF HER BODY. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. SHE HAS A COPY OF INDIANA POLICE REPORT 09022263. SHE FILED COMPLAINT NUMBER K1645446 WITH THE MANUFACTURER. PICTURES OF THE FAILURE ARE AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 9,000. UPDATED 11/04/09. *LJ UPDATED 11/05/09
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA SPECTRA. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT REAR-ENDED THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED AT LEAST FIVE TIMES SINCE THE TIME IT WAS PURCHASED. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT T…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA SPECTRA. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT REAR-ENDED THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED AT LEAST FIVE TIMES SINCE THE TIME IT WAS PURCHASED. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE VEHICLE IS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN AND WANTS A REFUND OR ANOTHER VEHICLE FROM KIA. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 29,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000. UPDATED 06/03/09 *BF THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY, THE REAR LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE REAR LIGHTS WERE REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES, BECAUSE THEY WERE SHORTENING OUT,. THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SHIFTING REALLY HARD AND ROUGH. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. UPDATED 06/04/09.*JB
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1PE15031 · Occupant Classification System
Opened Sep 1, 2015 · Closed Feb 11, 2016
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags; Air Bags:frontal; Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE ; Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification
The subject vehicle population is MY 2007-2009 Kia Spectra vehicles.Consumers report that the SRS (air bag) warning light is illuminated in their vehicle.The focus of the investigation was the failure of the front seat passenger Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor mat.This sensor mat is embedded in the front passenger seat cushion and is intended to detect child seats and small statured occupants who could be harmed by deployment of the passenger frontal air bag.The OCS may develop a failure due to an open circuit in the sensor mat caused by the mat cracking during use.An open circuit in the OCS sensor mat is detected as a fault in the system by the air bag diagnostic. A trouble code will then be stored in the air bag control unit and the air bag warning light will be illuminated.If this fault is detected, the OCS will not suppress the front passenger air bag and in a crash of sufficient severity the front passenger air bag will deploy regardless of the nature or size of the child seat or occupant in the front passenger seat.The report counts shown above include only those reports that specifically address the issue covered by this investigation, failure of the OCS sensor mat.Reports alleging only that the ?air bag light is on with no cause stated, or where no cause was otherwise identified, were excluded as the air bag light could be illuminated for system faults other than an OCS malfunction.Kia's assessment was that the cracking was caused by owner abuse.The subject vehicles have been in service for an average of approximately eight (8) years.An analysis of Kia's warranty data for the subject vehicles, including a comparison with other agency and manufacturer data pertaining to similar OCS failure investigations, indicates that the subject vehicles experience a comparatively low complaint rate for this issue given the number of years the vehicles have been in service.Kia has implemented an extended warranty program for the OCS sensor mat providing for free replacement for 15 years regardless of vehicle mileage and will send owners of the subject vehicles letters notifying them of the potential hazards posed by OCS failure as well as the terms of the extended warranty.Consumers whose air bag warning light is illuminated will have the opportunity to have their vehicle diagnosed and, if a fault is indicated, have the OCS sensor mat repaired at no charge.In view of the comparatively low complaint rate and Kia's implementation of an extended warranty with owner notification, ODI has tentatively concluded that the actions taken by Kia mitigate any unreasonable risk to safety posed by OCS sensor mat failures in the subject vehicles.Accordingly, the investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist, and the agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by new circumstances.Details on Kia's extended warranty program, including a copy of both Kia's letter to the consumer and Kia's letter to their dealers, for the subject vehicle population will be available in the public file for this investigation. The ODI reports cited above can be viewed at http://www?odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/ SearchNHTSAID under the following identification (ODI) numbers: 10789130, 10787308, 10785138, 10777856, 10765359, 10745773, 10746133, 10745528, 10721336, 10715846, 10712140, 10712046, 10706009, 10705387, 10681321, 10677080, 10673071, 10654873, 10654522, 10652472, 10651525,10643205, 10639671, 10638251, 10627289, 10621507, 10620724, 10615883, 10609000, 10607838, 10606252,10577842, 10568029, 10564527, 10561224,
Additional source detail variants (4)
Air Bags:frontal
The subject vehicle population is MY 2007-2009 Kia Spectra vehicles.Consumers report that the SRS (air bag) warning light is illuminated in their vehicle.The focus of the investigation was the failure of the front seat passenger Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor mat.This sensor mat is embedded in the front passenger seat cushion and is intended to detect child seats and small statured occupants who could be harmed by deployment of the passenger frontal air bag.The OCS may develop a failure due to an open circuit in the sensor mat caused by the mat cracking during use.An open circuit in the OCS sensor mat is detected as a fault in the system by the air bag diagnostic. A trouble code will then be stored in the air bag control unit and the air bag warning light will be illuminated.If this fault is detected, the OCS will not suppress the front passenger air bag and in a crash of sufficient severity the front passenger air bag will deploy regardless of the nature or size of the child seat or occupant in the front passenger seat.The report counts shown above include only those reports that specifically address the issue covered by this investigation, failure of the OCS sensor mat.Reports alleging only that the ?air bag light is on with no cause stated, or where no cause was otherwise identified, were excluded as the air bag light could be illuminated for system faults other than an OCS malfunction.Kia's assessment was that the cracking was caused by owner abuse.The subject vehicles have been in service for an average of approximately eight (8) years.An analysis of Kia's warranty data for the subject vehicles, including a comparison with other agency and manufacturer data pertaining to similar OCS failure investigations, indicates that the subject vehicles experience a comparatively low complaint rate for this issue given the number of years the vehicles have been in service.Kia has implemented an extended warranty program for the OCS sensor mat providing for free replacement for 15 years regardless of vehicle mileage and will send owners of the subject vehicles letters notifying them of the potential hazards posed by OCS failure as well as the terms of the extended warranty.Consumers whose air bag warning light is illuminated will have the opportunity to have their vehicle diagnosed and, if a fault is indicated, have the OCS sensor mat repaired at no charge.In view of the comparatively low complaint rate and Kia's implementation of an extended warranty with owner notification, ODI has tentatively concluded that the actions taken by Kia mitigate any unreasonable risk to safety posed by OCS sensor mat failures in the subject vehicles.Accordingly, the investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist, and the agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by new circumstances.Details on Kia's extended warranty program, including a copy of both Kia's letter to the consumer and Kia's letter to their dealers, for the subject vehicle population will be available in the public file for this investigation. The ODI reports cited above can be viewed at http://www?odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/ SearchNHTSAID under the following identification (ODI) numbers: 10789130, 10787308, 10785138, 10777856, 10765359, 10745773, 10746133, 10745528, 10721336, 10715846, 10712140, 10712046, 10706009, 10705387, 10681321, 10677080, 10673071, 10654873, 10654522, 10652472, 10651525,10643205, 10639671, 10638251, 10627289, 10621507, 10620724, 10615883, 10609000, 10607838, 10606252,10577842, 10568029, 10564527, 10561224,
Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE
The subject vehicle population is MY 2007-2009 Kia Spectra vehicles.Consumers report that the SRS (air bag) warning light is illuminated in their vehicle.The focus of the investigation was the failure of the front seat passenger Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor mat.This sensor mat is embedded in the front passenger seat cushion and is intended to detect child seats and small statured occupants who could be harmed by deployment of the passenger frontal air bag.The OCS may develop a failure due to an open circuit in the sensor mat caused by the mat cracking during use.An open circuit in the OCS sensor mat is detected as a fault in the system by the air bag diagnostic. A trouble code will then be stored in the air bag control unit and the air bag warning light will be illuminated.If this fault is detected, the OCS will not suppress the front passenger air bag and in a crash of sufficient severity the front passenger air bag will deploy regardless of the nature or size of the child seat or occupant in the front passenger seat.The report counts shown above include only those reports that specifically address the issue covered by this investigation, failure of the OCS sensor mat.Reports alleging only that the ?air bag light is on with no cause stated, or where no cause was otherwise identified, were excluded as the air bag light could be illuminated for system faults other than an OCS malfunction.Kia's assessment was that the cracking was caused by owner abuse.The subject vehicles have been in service for an average of approximately eight (8) years.An analysis of Kia's warranty data for the subject vehicles, including a comparison with other agency and manufacturer data pertaining to similar OCS failure investigations, indicates that the subject vehicles experience a comparatively low complaint rate for this issue given the number of years the vehicles have been in service.Kia has implemented an extended warranty program for the OCS sensor mat providing for free replacement for 15 years regardless of vehicle mileage and will send owners of the subject vehicles letters notifying them of the potential hazards posed by OCS failure as well as the terms of the extended warranty.Consumers whose air bag warning light is illuminated will have the opportunity to have their vehicle diagnosed and, if a fault is indicated, have the OCS sensor mat repaired at no charge.In view of the comparatively low complaint rate and Kia's implementation of an extended warranty with owner notification, ODI has tentatively concluded that the actions taken by Kia mitigate any unreasonable risk to safety posed by OCS sensor mat failures in the subject vehicles.Accordingly, the investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist, and the agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by new circumstances.Details on Kia's extended warranty program, including a copy of both Kia's letter to the consumer and Kia's letter to their dealers, for the subject vehicle population will be available in the public file for this investigation. The ODI reports cited above can be viewed at http://www?odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/ SearchNHTSAID under the following identification (ODI) numbers: 10789130, 10787308, 10785138, 10777856, 10765359, 10745773, 10746133, 10745528, 10721336, 10715846, 10712140, 10712046, 10706009, 10705387, 10681321, 10677080, 10673071, 10654873, 10654522, 10652472, 10651525,10643205, 10639671, 10638251, 10627289, 10621507, 10620724, 10615883, 10609000, 10607838, 10606252,10577842, 10568029, 10564527, 10561224,
Air Bags
The subject vehicle population is MY 2007-2009 Kia Spectra vehicles.Consumers report that the SRS (air bag) warning light is illuminated in their vehicle.The focus of the investigation was the failure of the front seat passenger Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor mat.This sensor mat is embedded in the front passenger seat cushion and is intended to detect child seats and small statured occupants who could be harmed by deployment of the passenger frontal air bag.The OCS may develop a failure due to an open circuit in the sensor mat caused by the mat cracking during use.An open circuit in the OCS sensor mat is detected as a fault in the system by the air bag diagnostic. A trouble code will then be stored in the air bag control unit and the air bag warning light will be illuminated.If this fault is detected, the OCS will not suppress the front passenger air bag and in a crash of sufficient severity the front passenger air bag will deploy regardless of the nature or size of the child seat or occupant in the front passenger seat.The report counts shown above include only those reports that specifically address the issue covered by this investigation, failure of the OCS sensor mat.Reports alleging only that the ?air bag light is on with no cause stated, or where no cause was otherwise identified, were excluded as the air bag light could be illuminated for system faults other than an OCS malfunction.Kia's assessment was that the cracking was caused by owner abuse.The subject vehicles have been in service for an average of approximately eight (8) years.An analysis of Kia's warranty data for the subject vehicles, including a comparison with other agency and manufacturer data pertaining to similar OCS failure investigations, indicates that the subject vehicles experience a comparatively low complaint rate for this issue given the number of years the vehicles have been in service.Kia has implemented an extended warranty program for the OCS sensor mat providing for free replacement for 15 years regardless of vehicle mileage and will send owners of the subject vehicles letters notifying them of the potential hazards posed by OCS failure as well as the terms of the extended warranty.Consumers whose air bag warning light is illuminated will have the opportunity to have their vehicle diagnosed and, if a fault is indicated, have the OCS sensor mat repaired at no charge.In view of the comparatively low complaint rate and Kia's implementation of an extended warranty with owner notification, ODI has tentatively concluded that the actions taken by Kia mitigate any unreasonable risk to safety posed by OCS sensor mat failures in the subject vehicles.Accordingly, the investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist, and the agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by new circumstances.Details on Kia's extended warranty program, including a copy of both Kia's letter to the consumer and Kia's letter to their dealers, for the subject vehicle population will be available in the public file for this investigation. The ODI reports cited above can be viewed at http://www?odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/ SearchNHTSAID under the following identification (ODI) numbers: 10789130, 10787308, 10785138, 10777856, 10765359, 10745773, 10746133, 10745528, 10721336, 10715846, 10712140, 10712046, 10706009, 10705387, 10681321, 10677080, 10673071, 10654873, 10654522, 10652472, 10651525,10643205, 10639671, 10638251, 10627289, 10621507, 10620724, 10615883, 10609000, 10607838, 10606252,10577842, 10568029, 10564527, 10561224,
Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification
The subject vehicle population is MY 2007-2009 Kia Spectra vehicles.Consumers report that the SRS (air bag) warning light is illuminated in their vehicle.The focus of the investigation was the failure of the front seat passenger Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor mat.This sensor mat is embedded in the front passenger seat cushion and is intended to detect child seats and small statured occupants who could be harmed by deployment of the passenger frontal air bag.The OCS may develop a failure due to an open circuit in the sensor mat caused by the mat cracking during use.An open circuit in the OCS sensor mat is detected as a fault in the system by the air bag diagnostic. A trouble code will then be stored in the air bag control unit and the air bag warning light will be illuminated.If this fault is detected, the OCS will not suppress the front passenger air bag and in a crash of sufficient severity the front passenger air bag will deploy regardless of the nature or size of the child seat or occupant in the front passenger seat.The report counts shown above include only those reports that specifically address the issue covered by this investigation, failure of the OCS sensor mat.Reports alleging only that the ?air bag light is on with no cause stated, or where no cause was otherwise identified, were excluded as the air bag light could be illuminated for system faults other than an OCS malfunction.Kia's assessment was that the cracking was caused by owner abuse.The subject vehicles have been in service for an average of approximately eight (8) years.An analysis of Kia's warranty data for the subject vehicles, including a comparison with other agency and manufacturer data pertaining to similar OCS failure investigations, indicates that the subject vehicles experience a comparatively low complaint rate for this issue given the number of years the vehicles have been in service.Kia has implemented an extended warranty program for the OCS sensor mat providing for free replacement for 15 years regardless of vehicle mileage and will send owners of the subject vehicles letters notifying them of the potential hazards posed by OCS failure as well as the terms of the extended warranty.Consumers whose air bag warning light is illuminated will have the opportunity to have their vehicle diagnosed and, if a fault is indicated, have the OCS sensor mat repaired at no charge.In view of the comparatively low complaint rate and Kia's implementation of an extended warranty with owner notification, ODI has tentatively concluded that the actions taken by Kia mitigate any unreasonable risk to safety posed by OCS sensor mat failures in the subject vehicles.Accordingly, the investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist, and the agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by new circumstances.Details on Kia's extended warranty program, including a copy of both Kia's letter to the consumer and Kia's letter to their dealers, for the subject vehicle population will be available in the public file for this investigation. The ODI reports cited above can be viewed at http://www?odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/ SearchNHTSAID under the following identification (ODI) numbers: 10789130, 10787308, 10785138, 10777856, 10765359, 10745773, 10746133, 10745528, 10721336, 10715846, 10712140, 10712046, 10706009, 10705387, 10681321, 10677080, 10673071, 10654873, 10654522, 10652472, 10651525,10643205, 10639671, 10638251, 10627289, 10621507, 10620724, 10615883, 10609000, 10607838, 10606252,10577842, 10568029, 10564527, 10561224,