2007 Kia Sportage

TL* THE CONTACT CALLED ON BEHALF OF A CLIENT WHO OWNED A 2007 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE THE CLIENT WAS TRAVELING 40 MPH ON A TWO LANE ROAD, AN ONCOMING VEHICLE MAKING A LEFT TURN WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE THAT WAS REAR ENDED WAS PUSHED HEAD ON INTO THE CLIENT'S VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CLIENT'S VEHICLE ALSO ROLLED OVER SEVERAL TIMES. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AS INTENDED. THE CLIENT WAS EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CLIENT WAS WEARING THE LAP AND SHOULDER SEAT BELTS AT THE TIME, BUT THEY FAILED TO WORK AS INTENDED. THE CLIENT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE LEFT ARM AND WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER'S SPOUSE SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT FACILITY AND POSSESSION WAS LATER TRANSFERRED TO THE LAW FIRM'S STORAGE LOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER SENT AN INVESTIGATOR TO DIAGNOSE THE SEAT BELT FAILURE. THE CLIENT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SEAT BELT WAS ENGAGED AT THE TIME OF IMPACT AND WORKED AS INTENDED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT WAS BLINKING ON AND OFF. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A MATERIAL DEFECT IN THE SEAT BELT TENSIONER CONNECTED TO THE WIRING HARNESS. THEY SAID THAT IF I WERE TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT THAT MY AIRBAGS MAY NOT DEPLOY. I HAVE THE BEST EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT YOU CAN BUY AND THEY WILL NOT COVER THE REPLACEMENT OF THE WIRING HARNESS BECAUSE IT HAS TO DO WITH THE SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEM. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS AND UNSAFE!!! HOW IS THIS NOT A RECALL WHEN IT IS A MATERIAL DEFECT AND IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE? I HAVE RESEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE ISSUE OF THEIR AIR BAG LIGHT BEING ON AND LITTLE DO THEY KNOW THAT IT'S LINKED TO THIS WHOLE PROBLEM. THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED ISSUE AND FROM WHAT I FOUND THERE ARE MANY CASES OF THE AIRBAGS NOT DEPLOYING IN THE CASE OF AN ACCIDENT WHICH IS PROBABLY DUE TO THE SAME MATERIAL DEFECT. UPDATE 9/15/15*CW THE CONSUMER NO LONGER OWNS THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 10/15/15*JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELTS CONTINUOUSLY RETRACTED WHILE LATCHED AND FAILED TO REMAIN IN PLACE. THE SEAT BELTS FAILED TO HOLD THE OCCUPANT IN PLACE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,000.