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 2005 Kia Optima owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Dt: 2005 Kia Optima. The consumer's vehicle was rear ended and was pushed into the vehicle in front of hers. The vehicle that hit her was totaled. Upon impact, the airbags did not deploy. The front and back of the vehicle was smashed. The hood, trunk and three of the four doors will not shut. The consumer stated lower back was straight where it should be curved. She was not sure the extent of her injuries. She was unable to get into the doctor's office. Her seven year old step daughter was also in the vehicle and she had a bruise and was sore on her ribs.
The light for my air bag has been staying on and my horn quit working for over a year now. I finally took it to the shop for them to look at it, they told me it was a clock switch (I believe I said that right) which is something in the steering connected to the airbag and horn. I am concerned that the airbag might activate while I am driving which would not be good. Maybe even not work if I get in a wreck.
I was traveling at about 35-40 MPH when I noticed the person in front of me stop. I hit the brakes and could not stop in time and collided with the rear of this persons car. It smashed in my front bumper, fender, bent the hood about two feet in the air, and my airbags did not deploy. I drive a Kia Optima 2005. I think this crash definitely warranted a airbag deployment.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the codes were cleared; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.
Eight (8) times since I bought the car the air bag warning light has come on; each time I've taken it to the dealership to have repaired as my families safety is of great concern to me. On two of those occasions the dealership replaced a seat back parts that worked temporarily. The other occasions I was mostly given a bunch of nonsense about computer codes and that they cleared the code (I assume I have air bag protection). All of this occurred while the car was still under it's 60,000 mile warranty. A couple of weeks ago, I called the manufacture to let them know that the recurring problem I've had with the seat belt light had occurred again and that my mileage was 58,880 and that I was bringing into dealership asap. …
On 8/27/05, about 1:30 p.m. Roberta seals was involved in a semi-head-on collision with an 85 Chevy blazer traveling approximatley 35-40mph. Roberta was at an almost complete stop, attempting to make a left-hand turn. The other driver has admitted to not paying attention to his speed or the road, having reached down for his cell phone. The impact was great enough to throw roberta's 2005 Kia Optima approximatley 150 ft. Into the front yard, on the left side of the street. The impact occured on the right-side front bumper, resulting in the front being shoved, accordian style, towards the drivers window. This impact was hard enough to throw roberta into the windshield causing a minor bump to appear in the middle of her head, because the airbag in the vehicle did not deploy. Roberta was wearing her seatbelt at the time of the accident. …
I was involved in an accident on 3/11/08. A woman caused me to rear end her going about 40-45mph. My car was basically totaled. I had my 2 month old twins in the car and my 3yr old son. Luckily we were all buckled in. I didn't sustain any serious injuries. I have few pains but due to work I have not seen a doctor as of yet. My children are to young to communicate if and when they are having pain related to the accident, but physically they look fine. The airbags in the vehicle did not deploy at all. I feel that if we were not buckled in and would have relied soley on the airbag system we could have incurred serious bodily injuries. My concern is the airbags not deploying.
Approximately 30 days ago my air bag light came back on. I've left messages with the Kia consumer affairs office at least 7 times since this problem recurred, with no reply from Kia. Last year I filed a complaint with this office and Kia fixed the air bag problem. This has been a recurring problem ever since I bought the car. The problem has returned and I believe the air bags in this car are defective and should be recalled. Again, I have no confidence that the air bags will deploy and my family is in danger in the event of an accident. Please investigate.
Purchased 2005 Kia Optima in 7/06. Air bag light came on in sept 06. Dealer notified and fixed. Air bag light came on again a short time later and sent to dealer again, 1-4-07, fixed. Air bag light came on again sent to dealer on 8-7-07, fixed. Air bag light came on again sent to dealer 3-25-08 and fixed. Air bag light came on again in 6/08 and light remains on at this time. Air bag is not working at this time. We had an accident with the vehicle on 7/07. It was a front end collision and air bags did not deploy.
Tl contact owns a 2005 Kia Optima. The air bag indicator illuminates intermittently. It has been an ongoing issue for months. The vehicle has been taken to the dealer approximately eight times; however, the diagnostic fails to produce an error code each time. The failure always recurs after a few weeks. The contact believes that the part is defective and the manufacturer should develop a proper remedy. The failure mileage was 50,000 and current mileage was 55,000. Updated 02/10/09. Updated 02/10/09.
Airbag complaints in other Optima years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2005 Kia Optima?
NHTSA has 22 complaints about the air bags of the 2005 Kia Optima, 15% of the model year's 144 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2005 Kia Optima airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 2005 Kia Optima. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2005 Kia Optima airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 60,000 miles, and 14% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 6 crashes, 0 fires and 4 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.