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If this is the case, you can have it replaced or send for a new one. The airbag system control unit may have gone bad. If the Optima’s airbag system is not getting a response from one of the airbags itself in the diagnostic cycle, it’ll turn the airbag light on until the problem has been fixed, and the system has been reset. This is a very common reason why the airbag light comes on. Look under the seats to see if you can find any part of the wiring harness that has come dislodged or damaged. Some older model vehicles have a manual button to turn the passenger airbag on or off. The seat sensors tell the airbag system that the seat is occupied. See if you can tug at it and get it moving again. If you have a seat belt that is stuck in the lock position, it might be the reason why your airbag light is on. Modern vehicles have sensors running to them to let the computer system know if they are buckled, and if they are locked up. Safety belts are still the most important safety feature in the event your Optima crashes. Here are some common reasons that your Optima’s airbag light could come on.
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If you’ve been in an accident, the airbag light is going to stay on until the system has been restored. If all parts of this system are not working properly, it can cause the airbag light to come on. It works in tandem with the system to protect you in the event of an accident. Your airbag light is part of your Optima’s larger supplemental restraint system. It’s when it stays on that indicates a problem. If it comes on for a few seconds as the vehicle starts, that is completely normal and part of the diagnostic cycle. Your Optima’s airbag light is there to tell you that there’s a problem with the airbag system. All of these should be treated as the airbag light. When the airbag system fails this check, you’ll see the airbag light.ĭepending on the model year and what country you happen to be in, you may get something along the lines of SRS, a picture of a person with the airbag deployed, or the word airbag. If any of these checks fail, you will see a diagnostic warning light on the dash for the corresponding system. Every time you start your Kia Optima, the computer system runs a self diagnostic check on all major systems.
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