Investigations
| NHTSA ID | Manufacturer | Date open | Date close | Subject | Recall campaign | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AIR BAGS | ||||||
| PE02022 | HYUNDAI-KIA AMERICA TECHNICAL CENTER INC | 02/12/2002 | 07/02/2002 | AIR BAG NON-DEPLOYMENT FRONTAL CRASH | ||
| Alleged that in severe frontal crash, the frontal air bag did not deploy | ||||||
| EA02009 | HYUNDAI-KIA AMERICA TECHNICAL CENTER INC | 07/02/2002 | 07/02/2003 | AIR BAG NON DEPLOY | ||
| This investigation identified a total of 82 reports alleging non-deployment of the dual front air bags.of the 82 reports, only one incident, the fatal crash that was the basis for opening the investigation, has been identified as a moderate to severe crash in which the automotive restraint controller issued a command to deploy but the air bags did not deploy.a safety-related defect has not been identified at this time and further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted.accordingly, this investigation is closed.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by nhtsa that a safety-related defect does not exist.the agency will take further action if warranted by the circumstances. see attached summary report | ||||||
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| AIR BAGS | |||
| 04/24/2006 | 15 | 10/08/2000 | |
| Purchased car, 2001 kia rio, in october of 2000. within a few days airbag light came on. this occurred several times over a one year period and had to be taken back to dealer for repair at least four times. recall was received for fuel system. this was replaced without problem. next problem occurred with wheels, which was also a recall. i had to order the wheels which took at least a month to come in leaving me to drive to and from work, 65 miles each way, on violently vibrating wheels. wheels were finally replaced. problem occurred in winter 2005 with door latch. driver side door would lock and stay locked. vehicle was taken to original dealer for repair only to have old part repaired while being charged for new part and labor. within a few days, door latch failed again. took vehicle to another dealer who ordered new part. in the meantime i waited for part to arrive, and drove around in a car whose door didn't lock, leaving my car prey to thieves, who stole things constantly from me. finally this was fixed but, the passenger side door lock did the same thing. i look the car back to the dealer who told me that they could not fix it since my warranty was up and to fix it would cost me $700 or more. i've also noticed a problem with the car stalling in traffic. this is a new problem. example: i stop to get gas, start the car and turn out into traffic and the car shuts down. during the winter of 2005 while waiting for door locks to come in, my driver side wheel bearing went out. this was repaired but subsequently the next day after repair while driving into work, wheel bearing literally crumbled. had car towed to dealer who informed me that an old part was mistakenly put back on the car. this was repaired and replaced with a new part. these are all safety and quality control issues. *jb | |||
| 04/01/2005 | 20000 | 3 | 08/01/2001 |
| Dt: the consumer stated that the 2001 kia rio had the air bag light on the dashboard. the consumer took the vehicle to the dealer, but it was not checked for the air bag light. the consumer said that the dealer did a visual check. the tires were prematurely worn out. the consumer specifically said it was because of the wheel recall 50v159000 that the tires were replaced. front and rear brakes have had to be replaced also at 20,000 miles. *ak updaed *jb | |||
| 07/01/2004 | 7 | ||
| Problems with vehicle's engine. *mr when the consumer attempted to accelerate from slowing down, the vehicle jerked into gear. the dealer could not find anything wrong with the vehicle after several visits. many people have experienced this same problem per dealer. the front end made noises, and the vehicle had been taken to the dealer on five occasions for the air bag. *sc *jb | |||
| 2 | |||
| While driving airbag light illuminated. took vehicle to dealer, who stated that air bags were inoperable, and would not deploy. air bag module needed to be replaced. also, rear seat belt on driver's side did not operate properly, half of the belt was torn . *ak | |||
| Consumer's vehicle was involved in a hit and run. consumer lost control of vehicle, hit a guardrail, and slammed into a hill. none of the airbags deployed. driver sustained neck and chest injuries. driver was wearing seatbelt.*ak | |||
| 08/28/2003 | 1 | 07/09/2001 | |
| Neither airbag deployed in my accident. *ak | |||
| 04/30/2003 | 24000 | ||
| The vehicle was involved in a head on collision yet none the vehicles airbags deployed. *nlm | |||
| 06/02/2001 | 200 | 1 | |
| The air bag light illuminated, and never went off, the dealer stated nothing was wrong.*jb | |||
| 10/29/2002 | |||
| While driving consumer was invovled in an accident, most of the damage was front side passenger side. in result the vehicle was totaled. airbags did not deploy. please provide additional information. ts | |||
| 10/16/2002 | 54000 | 1 | |
| While driving, the consumer experienced an accident where the air bags deployed. the dealer has been contacted. mr scc | |||
| 1 | 08/17/2002 | ||
| Engine check light comes on repeatedly with cause unknown. the only corrective action dealership did was to change a code in the vehicle's computer system. faulure caused vehicle not to exceed 5 mph. *ak the brakes were making a loud noise, the air bag light was on, the left window was acting erractically, the regulator had to be replaced, the rear view mirro was inoperative, all 4 door seals were leaking water, there was a shimmy in the steering wheel, the shift indicator strip was out of poistion, the trim around the windshield was loose for the second time, there was a noise coming from the exhaust due to the shiled on the midpipe being loose.*jb | |||
| 5 | 11/24/2000 | ||
| While driving at highway speeds, engine stalls out. dealer said it was caused by corroded wiring under the hood. *ak the consumer states that two weeks after purchasing the vehicle, the vehicle died and would not start when traveling on the highway. a week later the vehicle wouldn't go in reverse, consumer was told that vehicle needed a new transmission. the vehicles airbag and engine light would stay on. replaced/repaired the following; replaced input speed sensor, repaired the open circuit/driverside airbag, replaced left front hub bearings,inner/outer seals, front brakes replaced, and the rotors machined. *scc | |||
| 11/01/2000 | |||
| The air bag light keeps coming on. it has been in the shop 5 times to correct this problem. they don't know what is causing this, but they say it is safe to drive. i,m not so sure about that.*ak | |||
| 6 | |||
| Air bag light kept flashing on/off before remaining on. would also came on, and then went off on its own. been to dealership at least 6 times, and mechanic indicated repair was done. however, problem reappeared. *ak | |||
| 2 | |||
| Consumer states air bag light comes on and stays on has been fixed once and now it is back on again. *jb | |||
| Srs light/overdrive light and engine check light will flash intermittently while vehicle is in motion. dealer has replaced clock spring, however, srs problem has reoccurred. *ak | |||
| 08/29/2000 | 1 | ||
| Air bag warining light came on and would not go off. vehicle was taken to deaership, where the air bag module was taken out. dealership did not receive part(s) to correct problem until 9/22/00, which caused owner to drive around for 3 weeks without an air bag. this was an unsafe condition. *ak the new one failed after 3 days in car. but further tests said sensor was okay. *yh | |||
| AIR BAGS - FRONTAL | |||
| 10/24/2008 | 1 | ||
| I was involved in a 45mph head on collision. the other car was a chevy cobalt. she had run a stop sign and hit us in the front. i was the passenger in the kia both me and the driver of the kia were forced into the windshield and he hit his off the steering wheel as well. neither of the airbags in my car went off. but both the airbags in the cobalt did. my car was also called a total with damage done to the front bumper and framing. two mechanics that looked at the car could not believe that the airbags did not deploy. *tr | |||
| 05/12/2004 | 1 | ||
| While driving 40 mph consumer's vehicle collided with the vehicle in front. upon impact, both frontal air bags did not deploy. driver sustained major injuries. vehicle was towed to the dealer for inspection. *ak | |||
| 05/12/2004 | 1 | ||
| While driving at 40 mph consumer was involved in a front end collision. upon impact, air bags did not deploy. also, no air bag warning light appeared prior to the crash. *ak the consumer was traveling northbound in the curb lane when the other vehicle turned left into the path of the consumer's vehicle. *sc | |||
| 04/12/2003 | 2 | 02/18/2002 | |
| Vehicle skids repeatedly, during normal operation. handles poorly. air bags did not deploy after head on collision. *nlm | |||
| 11/18/2002 | 6608 | 1 | |
| The vehicle was involved in an accident where the dual airbags didn't deploy. the dealer had been notified. scc | |||
| 11/01/2002 | |||
| While driving the airbag light illuminated and stayed on. took to dealer and the dealer replaced the combination switch. airbag light has illuminated again. consumer states' the fix for the airbag is not working. please describe further. ts | |||
| Air bag warning would come on sporadically. owner then took vehicle to dealership. dealership replaced a sensor. vehicle was involved in a frontal collision in which neither dual air bag deployed. police that came on site stated stated that air bags should have deployed due to location and extent of damage. please describe details. *ak | |||
| 08/15/2002 | |||
| While driving at 30/35mph and involved in a frontal collision none of the air bags deployed on impact.*ak | |||
| 01/15/2002 | 1 | 02/16/2001 | |
| Airbag light has been on since january 2002. dealer found no problem. then on may 15 2002 consumer hit a mailbox at 45 mph, and neither airbag deployed. $ 4500.00 damage to vehicle. *ak the consumer replace front tires several times possible suspension problem. *yh | |||
| 02/05/2002 | 1 | ||
| Rental vehicle: budget car rental, tampa, florida, vehicle was involved in a frontal collision of 35 mph, and neither air bag deployed. *ak consumer states that the front passenger seat belt did not work adequately, there were 2 injuries in the accident. *jb *yh | |||
| 10/31/2000 | 4 | 07/29/2000 | |
| This will be the 4th time vehicle will be in service because of air bag warning light, the module for driver's side air bag replaced has been replaced twice, check history found air bag on driver's side had been replaced, diagnosis found internal short in air bag wirning harness, wiring harness repaired. cj | |||
| 09/13/2000 | 1 | 08/17/2000 | |
| Clock spring failed causing air bag light to illuminate. nlm | |||
| AIR BAGS - FRONTAL - SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE | |||
| 07/07/2007 | 60000 | 41 | 10/12/2000 |
| My car had a recall because of stalling issues before also again when i had this problem the fuel injector was unplugged now it stalls all the time engine check light comes on had a airflow sensor light changed and it is still stalling even more check engine light comes on but goes off before i can get it checked and so i am getting nowhere and i am scared too death off having a accident because of this issue i think this is a real safety issue it is a 2001 kia rio can you help me i have contacted kia already. *tr | |||
| 12/02/2003 | 25000 | 2 | |
| Air bag light comes on and will stay on for a long period of time and go off. dealer made the repairs and it is still defective.*ak | |||
| 10/09/2003 | 54000 | 1 | 07/15/2003 |
| While driving air bag warning lightappeared on the dashboard intermittently. *ak | |||
| AIR BAGS - SIDE/WINDOW | |||
| 06/06/2001 | 0 | ||
| Consume r was traveling at a normal speed and vehicle was hit from the side. upon impact,driver's side airbag didn't deploy. *ak | |||