2008 Kia Spectra air bags problems
61 owner complaints filed with NHTSA name the air bags on the 2008 Kia Spectra — 51% of all complaints for this model year.
What owners report
“The passenger air bag has failed. The dash light stays on due to issue and the air bag itself stays off per the light on the airbag on/off alert. I contacted the dealership who quoted me over $100 just to take a look at it, but was told this seems to be an issue with Spectras that they see pretty…”
filed Oct 4, 2021
“The passenger airbag sensor started failing when I purchased the car in 2017 and has since completely failed, which has caused the airbag light to turn on. The kia dealership wants to charge $140 to run an airbag diagnostic and from what I have researched, I will have to replace the entire seat…”
filed May 14, 2021
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Related service bulletins
Owner letter: wty001 - 2007-2009 my spectra vehicles front passenger ocs sensor mat kia new vehicle limited warranty extension - dear kia spectra owner: kia motors america s highest commitment is to your safety. To that…
WTY001OWNER · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Feb 29, 2016
Air Bags problems in other Spectra years
| Year | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 Spectra | 76 | 67% |
| 2007 Spectra | 56 | 37% |
| 2006 Spectra | 46 | 46% |
| 2005 Spectra | 43 | 42% |
| 2004 Spectra | 26 | 37% |
| 2003 Spectra | 11 | 12% |
| 2002 Spectra | 22 | 24% |
| 2001 Spectra | 9 | 23% |
| 2000 Spectra | 9 | 39% |
Other reported problem areas on the 2008 Kia Spectra
Counts are unique NHTSA complaints naming this component group. Complaints are unverified owner reports; mileage is computed only from complaints that included a usable odometer reading.