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 2006 Kia Optima owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Airbag- we started the car up and the airbag light came on and has not went off (other than when the car is shut down). After research discovered that an airbag failure was part of a recall for this model, but only for Optima's manufactured from sept 2005 forward. This one was manufactured a few weeks prior, yet has the same problem. After a google search, the issue can be found on Optima's with a manufacture date as far back as April of 2005. The recall needs to be expanded to all 2006 models. Driver door locks- when the door is locked, it will not unlock without a lot of playing with the fob or using key and 'getting lucky' to grab the handle at the correct time while doing so, otherwise it locks back immediately upon pulling the handle. This is a safety issue on 2 levels. …
I purchased my 2006.5 Kia Optima on November 6, 2014. Before my test drive the air bag light illuminated but then turned off, I said something to the dealership (not a Kia dealer) and they diagnosed it and told me it was the airbag module and that they would order a new one and replace it free of charge. After waiting 3 months for the new module to come in, I did some research and found that the 2006-2008 Kia Optima's have an air bag recall, so I contacted a Kia dealership and was told that my car was not part of the recall and that if I wanted them to look at my car at all it would be $99 plus the hourly fee (I don't even wanna know what yhr hourly fee is). But since my car falls in that year range and is having the airbag issue, should it be Kia's responsibility to investigate and if needed, correct the problem?
I received my recall letter for the clock spring replacement, mind you the illuminate light wasn't on, made the appointment to get the part replaced from my local Kia dealership they said it will take two hours so I leave the car there they call me on my cell phone ramping about other issue with the car which are not dot problems so I say no thanks I can handle them myself , go pick up the car and they tell me the air bag light is on and there's a problem and its gonna cost 110 dollars to diagnose the problem,,, wouldn't this be covered by the recall??? Why should I pay for manufacturer defect my pregnant wife drives this car so needs to be safe, help with this issue sincerely thanks
Tl contact owns a 2006 Kia Optima. On August 3, 2008, the contact was involved in a three vehicle crash. Her vehicle crashed into the preceding vehicle and the air bag failed to deploy. On two occasions, the contact took the vehicle to the dealer because the air bag light kept illuminating. During the first repair, the dealer replaced a wire shortage. During the second repair, the wiring harness was replaced. The vehicle is currently at the tow yard. The manufacturer will be notified. The contact was injured. The speed was unknown. The current and failure mileages were 46,000.
On 1/11/16, I took my Optima to the Kia dealership (lokey in clearwater florida) because the air bag light suddenly came on and I wanted an update on all applicable Optima models and years. I paid $135.29 for them to just look at the problem. They informed me that my Optima has no recalls and that my driver`s side seat back needed to be replaced in order to repair the airbag problem. Parts for this alone were quoted to me to be over $1248.71 their repair order (#26083616/1) noted that the airbag problem was "a loose connection."
My airbag light came on a few months ago when I was driving to work the light came on and have not gone off yet. I took it to get a diagnose and was told it was a sensor in the seat and I should have it replaced. Well I had someone put in a different seat and the airbag light did not go off. Now it's time for my inspections and I can't even get it done because the airbag light is still on.
I had a recall on airbags took it twice to dealer and the light is still on will not go off. Also when I stop and get gas and after I finish pump on the inside it smell so loud just like I waste it on me I have took it to let them check it out cannot find out where it come from
One day the door on the driver side of the car wouldn't open from the inside or outside. I called Kia and they informed me that there is nothing they could do because the car was out of warranty. I took the car to the dealership and they couldn't figure out what was wrong with it. After researching the problem on the internet, this seems to be a common occurrence with this particular car. I called and notified Kia consumer relations and again was given the speech of it's not covered under warranty and basically they didn't want to hear about it. I also in conjunction with the telephone call, filed a written complaint with Kia and have yet to hear anything from them about this. I have also included in this complaint the air bag light that the dealer cannot find out what's wrong with it. …
We purchased a 2006.5 Kia Optima a few months back. This car is equipped with a feature, the de-activation of the front seat passenger airbag when the seat is vacant. My wife weighs about 104 lbs and does not always activate the switch as indicated by the fact the warning light does not go off, and therefore is unprotected if there was a frontal crash. The dealer checked and indicated that the switch is functioning as designed. This problem occurs about 50% of the time. Sometimes she can get the indicator to go off by moving around and/or bouncing on the seat. The other fun fact is that we can be riding along and the indicator will come on or if it is on it will sometime turn off. There does not appear to be any rhyme or reason for the activation or de-activation of the sensor switch. I was told by the dealer that the sensor switch can not be by-passed because of federal regulations.
Tl*- the contact stated he purchase a 2006 Kia Optima on 11/30/06, with 377 miles on the vehicle at purchase. The contact states that after purchasing the vehicle he notice that passenger side airbag sensor light would not turn off. The contact states that while no one is in passenger seat the light stays on and the airbag is off. The contact stated that while someone is in passenger seat the airbag light continues to stay on. He said that the airbag is malfunctioning. The contact states that he has informed dealership of the problem and they ordered the part. The contact stated that the dealership contacted him and told him to bring vehicle in today even though the part will not be in until after christmas. The contact stated that dealership has ordered the padding for the cushion on the passenger seat. The contact stated this is a safety issue and NHTSA should know about this problem.
Related recalls
Air bags › Frontal
Kia motors America, inc. (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2006-2008 Kia optima vehicles manufactured from September 29, 2005, through January 29, 2008, and model year 2007 and 2008 Kia rondo vehicles manufactured from September 13, 2006, through March 21, 2008.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the vehicle's air bag clock spring contact assembly, free of charge. The safety recall began on July 11, 2012.
Airbag complaints in other Optima years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2006 Kia Optima?
NHTSA has 46 complaints about the air bags of the 2006 Kia Optima, 30% of the model year's 155 complaints. The component named most often is frontal › sensor/control module (10 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2006 Kia Optima airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 12V-014 (frontal, Jan 17, 2012). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2006 Kia Optima airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 50,000 miles, and 40% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 2 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.