Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2001 Kia Optima owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
My air bag light has been on and I've check everything and my seat belt don't lock when its on and the light to the seat belt goes off contented, I've tried to go to the dealer to have them fix my airbags and senses I don't have recall on it they won't fix it ,The air bag is very important and so is the seat belt
A lady pulled out in front of me to make a left turn, I tried to stop, but I couldn't, I hit her @ 20 MPH, my front bumper, dead center into her left front tire. My air bags didn't deploy and hers did. I have a 2001 Kia Optima lx. My fear is, if the car is fixable,will the bags work or will they come out on me sometime going down the road. I've talked to the dealer and have gotten different stories on where the sensors are located. Now the say the air bag sensors are right in front of the transmission and I didn't get hit hard enough to make them deploy. Was told that if I had been going 80 MPH they would have deployed!
Dt*: the contact stated the vehicle was involved in a crash at 15 MPH and the front air bags did not deploy. However, the contact suffered no injuries due to the fact the seat belt was worn. The contact struck another vehicle while making a turn. The point of impact was the front end of the contact's vehicle. The police arrived at the scene and provided a written report. The insurance company inspected the vehicle and deemed it totaled. Updated 05/04/06
While turning left at 3 MPH the vehicle was involved in a side impact collision. None of the four air bag deployed. The air bag light was not illuminated to provide any warning that there was a problem with the air bag. The driver was wearing the seat belt. There is a police report. Please provide any additional information.
My airbag light on and I've check the fuses in it,Not it,,, My AC,. The drivers door lock , Oxagen senser Crank Shaft,
When I first brought the car and drove it, the lights became dim in the inside and the headlights. The radio turned off and on, took it to dealer 4-5 times for problem and they could find nothing wrong. The car doesn't pick up spend when going over hills not even little ones. The gas needle does not read full even when the tank is practically overflowing with gas. Reading a full tank of gas happens every once in a while. Check engine light comes on . Have taken to shop and was told that my spend sensor is going out and that is why the car is going from 1st to 3rd gear and skips 2nd altogether I've only had the car for one year the warrinty is gone and I was never offered the extended warrinty and really didn't think of it since the car was only 4 yr old. …
I was involved in a crash on nov 02. I was broadsided by a truck (f150 type veh.) in an intersection. As a result, my roof bowed and the entire drivers side from wheel well to wheel well was caved in like a half moon. The frame was pinned up against the drivers seat. The seat belt did not lock but released me and none of the air bags deployed. I suffered back and neck injury and was transported by amubulance to a nearby hospital. The vehicle was in storage. I contacted the manufacturer numerous times as did my attorney. All we received was the run-around for approx. Six months. No return calls, excuses, unable to get a release to have a Kia auditor look at the car, etc. My insurance company and my attorney sent them the release twice and still no response. Consequently, I deployed overseas (military) and upon my return found that the car had been disposed of (destroyed). …
Dt: about four years ago upon purchase of vehicle owner began having problems with the air bag light coming on. The dealership hooked up an instrument to the vehicle and the light would go off. Then it would come back on, and is on at this time. The dealer reports that the air bag light sensor needs to be replaced. The dealership will fix if it owner pays. Owner does not feel she should pay since this problem has been occurring ever since the purchase of vehicle. The vehicle has been in accident in a few years ago, but the air bags did not deploy. Owner does not remember the details of accident.
While driving the driver side airbag (in front driver seat) deployed. There was no accident or did I hit anything. There was no evident cause on why the airbag deployed. I took it to a dealership they just look at it did no diagnostic or anything and told me it was out of warranty so they can not do anything about it. I called the manufacturer they basically told me the same thing but did send in a airbag deployment case report.
My son hit a truck from behind at 35mph. He was driving my 2001 Kia Optima. The seatbelts did not lock when hit the brakes and the air bags did not deploy. My son (driver) hit the steering wheel and windshield. The passenger in our car hit the windshield. The police report indicates this information and I have pictures of the inside and outside of the car. The car was totaled.
Related recalls
Air bags › Side/window
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The side air bag wire harness for the driver position could be mis-routed, which could result in it being pinched or cut by the seat cushion tilt mechanism.
Remedy: Dealers will check for proper routing of the side air bag wire harness and secure it in place with a plastic tie-wrap. If the wire harness is damaged, it will be replaced.
Airbag complaints in other Optima years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2001 Kia Optima?
NHTSA has 27 complaints about the air bags of the 2001 Kia Optima, 19% of the model year's 143 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (7 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2001 Kia Optima airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 01V-156 (side/window, May 1, 2001). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2001 Kia Optima airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 81,000 miles, and 11% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 12 crashes, 0 fires and 6 injuries to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.