NHTSA complaint: 2006 KIA SPECTRA — AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
MY 2006 KIA SPECTRA HATCHBACK WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY WITH THE E-BRAKE ON, BOTH FRONT DOORS WERE OPEN AND THE CAR WAS RUNNING, I SAT IN THE CAR AND CLOSED THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR AND THE SEAT AND SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS WENT OFF, HITTING ME. I CONTACTED KIA IMMEDIATELY TO FILE A COMPLAINT, HAD THE CAR TOWED TO KIA WHERE THEY EXAMINED IT. I TOLD KIA I WANTED THE CAR REPLACED, WE JUST BOUGHT IT IN FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR. THE CAR IS TORN UP INSIDE FROM THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYING AND I'M AFRAID THE SYSTEM WILL MALFUNCTION AGAIN. ON 11/12/07 THEY CALLED AND SAID THAT THE COMPUTER REGISTERED THAT THE CAR HAD BEEN IN A COLLISION AND THEREFORE THEY WILL NOT MAKE ANY REPAIRS TO THE CAR. THE CAR WAS NOT IN AN ACCIDENT AND DOES NOT HAVE A DENT ON IT PLUS I HAVE A WITNESS THAT WAS STANDING OUTSIDE THE OPENED PASSENGER DOOR WHEN IT HAPPENED. I'M AFRAID TO PUT MY CHILDREN IN THIS CAR FOR FEAR THAT THE OTHER AIR BAGS WILL DEPLOY UNEXPECTEDLY AND INJURE OR KILL THEM. THIS HAS AFFECTED MY HEARING AND MY NECK HAS BEEN HURTING, KIA HASN'T EVEN CALLED TO SEE IF I WAS OK. I'M CALLING A LAWYER TOMORROW MORNING BUT SOMEONE NEEDS TO INVESTIGATE AND RUN SOME TESTS WHILE CLOSING THE DOORS. I AM EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED IN KIA. THEY SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO CONDUCT BUSINESS IF THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR HAZARDOUS DEFECTS! *TR
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation