2006 Kia SPECTRA5 Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 13about this part
- Share
- 72%of 18 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 93,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 13 complaints about the air bags of the 2006 Kia SPECTRA5, 72% of the 18 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 93,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“The air bag indicator for passenger side as decided to come on and off. The main problem is on the dash board the air bag light comes on and acts as if the air bag indicator is not working, and it then will go off and come back on. This is a major safety concern and I have noticed it happening to a lot of other Kia SPECTRA5. It should be raised as a safety concern for the fact that now I am scared to place my family in this car. …”
NHTSA complaint #10544176, filed 2013-09, 107,000 miles“I bought this used vehicle 4 months ago. I will make a copy/paste of previous complaints. Without any real reason when the car is started with a passenger or driver, either one may display that the air bags are not engaged while driving at any speed. It is not predictable. This means that the airbags may not deploy. At this time we have a trust issue with this vehicle in case of an accident. I think the manufacturer should make a recall for this situation.”
NHTSA complaint #10500930, filed 2013-03, 37,200 miles“Air bag light on dash came on and stayed on. Passenger air bag message on dash does not come on anymore after starting vehicle. Took vehicle to dealer and they gave code as b1448 internal fault in passenger seat mat. Est. Repair $1450. Called Kia consumer number and asked if this was the same problem as Kia rio recall. I was informed that the NHTSA did not make them recall any other models and only if they were made by NHTSA would there be a recall and they would contact me if there ever was a recall. …”
NHTSA complaint #10502671, filed 2013-03, 93,500 miles“Air bag indicator light on dash board will not go off most times, even when a 125 pound passenger is in seat. Occasionally driver side seat belt alarm will not chime. Had mechanic check wiring, he replaced alternator,battery still the same. Kenwood stereo will not tune in from time to time, even when in my same parking space also as we are driving with shifter locked into drive, the engine seems to change gears on flat road surface as if it is in 3rd gear then goes into drive. There is nothing else I can do. Already had mechanic look at these problems. …”
NHTSA complaint #10593860, filed 2014-05, 99,788 miles“Airbag light came on, had a diagnostic ran on it came up as code b1448 oc passenger sensor mat defect, looks like its srscm 70. Was told that there is a TSB recall on this problem, but when I called Kia, they said that it was not for this model. However after looking up this problem on the internet, a lot of people with this car have had this problem. Not only is it bad enough that lots of people are complaining about this, but Kia says that they can't replace the sensor by itself, I would need to buy a new seat which would be $1600 dollars!!!! That's ridiculous. …”
NHTSA complaint #10565371, filed 2014-02, 93,000 milesAir bags: other model years
Other parts of the 2006 Kia SPECTRA5
2 complaintsBrakes
1 complaintsElectrical system
1 complaintsFuel system
1 complaintsSeat belts
1 complaintsSteering
1 complaintsBody and structure
1 complaintsVehicle speed control
1 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2006 Kia SPECTRA5
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Nov 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology