Airbag complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
I was driving my 2001 Kia Sephia approximately 45 MPH in decatur county, georgia on August 1, 2006 when a Pontiac bonneville pulled into my lane of travel. My Sephia collided with the bonneville at a 20 degree angle. Neither of the front airbags deployed and my son (front seat passenger) was thrown into the front windshield where his head was lodged in the glass. He sustained a severe and permanent closed head injury and now requires 24/7 care. In addition to suffering a closed head injury, my son's knee impacted the instrument panel to the left of the glove box which caused severe hip and leg injuries. Kia denied responsibility and litigation is ongoing. Experts in the litigation estimate the ebs of the crash to be between 12 & 18 MPH.
While going 65 on the freeway I lost control of the vehicle and the vehicle slammed into the center divider. The vehicle hit the divider from the front ending up on its side. Vehicle is totaled and air bags failed to deploy. Obviously this isn't the first time the air bags on this vehicle have failed to deploy sometimes causing severe injuries. A complaint will be filed with the dealership and the manufacturer.
Tl* the contact owned a 2000 Kia Sephia. While driving approximately 40 MPH, another vehicle crashed into the contact's vehicle causing significant damage to the front end. The air bags failed to deploy. The driver suffered injuries to the right shoulder, head, and jaw bone. The front passenger sustained injuries to the right shoulder, head, and neck injuries. The rear seat passenger suffered a neck injury. All the occupants were transported to the hospital. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 86,000.
My husband was driving on the highway, when a deer crossed and was hit by our vehicle. The car hit the deer broadside with the front end, then the car was knocked down into the ditch and hit an embankment with the front end. Both impacts were across the whole front of the car. The airbag did not deploy with either impact. The insurance company will be totaling the vehicle due to the amont of damage to the front end of the car. This is the first time we have had a crash in this vehicle so this is the first time we have noticed this defect.
This car has been a constant repair and financial problem for the last 4 years starting two weeks after I purchased the car. It is an unsafe vehicle and can not be kept maintained for safety or reliability it was purchased with 21000 miles on the vehicle and a majority of repairs has had to be fixed. 4 starters, ignition switch, ignition switch wiring harness (ignition still doesn't work), air bag sensor, air bag wiring (air bags still does not work), alternator, front passenger side drive axel broke while I was driving the car, right passenger ball joint fell off the car while I was driving the car, master cylinder and rear brake cylinder went out at the same time while I was driving the car, heater/air conditioning motor. The car has been towed 3 times, and has left me and my children stranded too many times to count. The car is still in need of major repair. …
Dt*: the contact stated while driving the vehicle 45mph another vehicle rear ended the contact's vehicle. This resulted in a collision, the air bags did not deploy. Also the driver's seat fell backward during the collision. Injuries were sustained; the vehicle was able to be driven home. The vehicle has not been inspected. The manufacturer has not been contacted , no repairs made.
While driving 60 MPH the vehicle was involved in a frontal collision. The dual air bag did not deploy upon impact. The consumer sustained bruising from the seat belt. Please provide additional information.
I was in a very serious accident on August 7th, at 10:30 am while driving in the middle lane of the mass pike rt. 90 framingham, mass. I thought my Kia sehpia was in accelent condition, but while I was driving in the middle lane, the steering wheel and column started shaking and I could not steer the vehicle. I tried to keep the vehicle in the lane but could not control the steering. The car screeched and was pulling to the right. To my immediate right was a large ryder rental truck, I braced myself and hit the left front end of the truck. The rest is a blur, I spun around and the rear of my car hit the guard rail and I fortunately stopped in the breakdown lane. It happened so fast, but what is most upsetting, I don't know what happened. I'm not sure if it was a steering column problem or a tire problem. All I know is, I was driving safetly and then my car when out off control. …
Frequently asked questions
Which Kia Sephia years have airbag problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 1999 (37), 2000 (32), 1998 (31), 1997 (30) and 2001 (18) model years. Airbag complaints make up 9% of all complaints for the 1999.
Is there a recall for Kia Sephia airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for any Kia Sephia model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do Kia Sephia airbag problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 71,000 miles; 36% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the frontal (117 mentions), followed by the frontal › sensor/control module (7).
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.