# Air bags

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/air-bags/35895>\
**Category:** The Show\
**Tags:** sephia, kia\
**Created:** [August 31, 2009, 5:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/air-bags/35895 "2009-08-31T17:17:20Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![judymasse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/71e660/32.png) [@judymasse](https://community.cartalk.com/u/judymasse)\
**Post date:** [August 31, 2009, 5:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/air-bags/35895/1 "2009-08-31T17:17:20Z")

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Hi there, Mr. Mechanic,  
  
 I am looking at buying a used Kia Sephia, 1997  
  
 Do you have any advice about this car? The only thing I see that is wrong with it is a horizontal crack in the passenger dash, just above the airbag compartment. Do you think this means there is an airbag problem or that it may not pass inspection here in Missouri? Thank you very much, Judy

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**Author:** ![lion9car](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/59ef9b/32.png) [@lion9car](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lion9car)\
**Post date:** [September 1, 2009, 1:29am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/air-bags/35895/2 "2009-09-01T01:29:12Z")

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Take it to a mechanic for a pre-purchase inspection.

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**Author:** ![pleasedodgevan2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ad7895/32.png) [@pleasedodgevan2](https://community.cartalk.com/u/pleasedodgevan2)\
**Post date:** [September 1, 2009, 4:42am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/air-bags/35895/3 "2009-09-01T04:42:28Z")

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If it’s a 1997 Kia, get it really cheap or not at all. Maybe $150. They weren’t reliable or good cars. The car has been lucky so far.

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**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\
**Post date:** [September 1, 2009, 11:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/air-bags/35895/4 "2009-09-01T23:28:37Z")

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Lion’s right. Take it to your mechanic for a good look-see. There are countless possible problems that can be found on a lift or with equipment and knowledge but are not obvious to the layman (laylady?) looking under the hood. Some of them can be costly to fix and others can be dangerous.

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**Author:** ![judymasse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/71e660/32.png) [@judymasse](https://community.cartalk.com/u/judymasse)\
**Post date:** [September 11, 2009, 3:25am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/air-bags/35895/5 "2009-09-11T03:25:13Z")

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Thank you, great advice. We are alive and well, zipping around at 40mpg God Bless you for speaking up. I’ll write back if I am wrong, or if I’m dead, haha.

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**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\
**Post date:** [September 11, 2009, 10:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/air-bags/35895/6 "2009-09-11T22:46:45Z")

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Thank you for the follow up. We so rarely hear.

Happy motoring.