a back up alert on my 99 Villager that I got from K-Mart in KC. The thing cost me $40.00 and my son installed it for me . Works Great !!!! Doesn't talk but sure does Beeeeepppp.
That sounds expensive for a backup alarm unless its one thats mounts under the bumper that flashes to. If it is the type that replaces one of your backup bulbs with a alarm/bulb, they run 20 to 25 bucks, at pep boys, auto zone or any discount auto store, including walmart or target. Maybe the cost of living is more in kansas than i realize.
the blind spot eliminators designed just for vans.I bought one for my wifes van some years ago and i still see them in stores.It helped her a lot with backing. You decide which corner of the back glass to stick it to. My wife had one on both sides. Anyway, you wet the area of installation, which is about 9 X 12. Use a spray bottle to mist it, hold it their for 1 to 3 mins. And don't disturb it for 24 hrs or it won't stay. It works great, it concentrates the full area behind the van including close to the ground, (where a child could hide or those pesky lowcut reinforcement barriers around gas pumps)into that little square They work great and don't obstruct your view in the rear and they came in 2 sizes, the 2 i have are about 9 x 12, i have seen the smaller ones. If anyone needs some information on it, i will do my best.
alarm is the kind that warns you when you are too close to somthing. about 6' away it starts to beep then the closer you get the more rapidly it beeps until you are about 1' away then it is a steady beep. Some run as much as a couple hundred dollars.
i always like to know my options, considering we have lots of little ones coming over all the time, actually that was one of the option that we were looking at on the olds silhouette, the rear parkikng aid, i wasn't aware that a close cousin was available aftermarket.
X-band radar, configured as a homodyne transceiver Two transmitted frequencies: 10.50 GHz and 10.55 GHz ************10.8 Watts output power**************!!!!!!! FCC, CTAC, and e-mark certified "
10.8 watts Microwave transceiver operating in open air to emit to the poor little kids behind your car in close distance for daily driving, The output power is too high, Do you want your fleshes being cooked by the Microwave also?
The Blind spot eliminator works great for my Previa, but I couldn't find it in Pep boys or Grand Autos anymore.
on backing up. While not always practical, and requiring a fair amount of driver re-training, it would be well worth considering a change to the approach to parking. The idea is to reduce the number of times you have to back up in the first place. I suggest either selecting spots where you can safely turn in and drive through to the next parking spot, or back into the spot in the first place. In both instances, you can exit the parking spot driving forward.
Why is backing into the spot arguably better than backing out of the spot? I submit that it mostly has to do with being able to observe and clear the area in advance of executing the maneuver, something that is difficult to do when leaving, given the amount of time that lapses from entering the vehicle, starting, shifting, looking and moving backward.
And lest it be misinterpreted, this is not a recommendation specific to the Sedona. Just .02, for what it's worth....
To have 2 fobs or not to have 2 fobs, that is the question? And a very popular one at that. I can understand why you wouldn't have the time to read all 1,219 posts, but that single question has been a puzzle from the beginning of time, atleast from the Sedona beginning anyway. The general consensus is that for this first 2002 model Sedona you can only expect 1 fob.
What Hoya suggests is actually a fairly strictly enforced policy at our Company called first move forward. It is very simple. You park the vehicle so that your "first move" will be to put the vehicle in drive. Many employees had trouble at first with backing into spaces. But, it is a learned skill. Once is is learned, the statistics show that accidents are reduced substantially. My wife started using this approach when she realized the visibility was a bit limited (our first van). Now, she even backs into the garage. Call this two more cents.
How come Jay Leno said that Kia Sedona had the worst crash test scores of any mini-van in history? I heard this on the radio this morning when they played a clip from his monologue last night. I though they had superior crash test scores.
I spoke at length with my dealer's customer service rep and with the service guy. The official Kia position is that not only do you get just one remote fob, you can't even buy a second one, because, as Henry noted above, the "system is only built for one". To me that sorta sounds like hogwash, but that's the line I got.
I am unaware of any anti-theft system, other than the key. I'd be interested in your salesman's detailed explanation, but I think he's sales yakking without adequate knowledge instilled in brain.
Who knows about Leno? The higher speed crash tests were good for safety. It was the 5 mph crash test that triggered the airbag. Look up about 40-60 messages for more extensive discussion.
My last two vans got backed into poles, do I don't need one that would cost that much to repair. Backed a Caravan and Windstar into pole and it didn't even do enough damage to warrant repair, although it would have been $1,000 for the W/S and only a bumper replacement for the Caravan.
Thanks big guy for that link. The Sedona bumper results are very disappointing, and that 5 mph airbag deployment is atrocious. They better get on top of this and make things right for their current and future customers. Kia certainly didn't need these bad results. I hope they do the right thing before someone gets really hurt. Atleast we know to be VERY careful instead of living in the false hopes that every aspect of the Sedona is top notch. Can any of you guys say anything to make me feel better?
I feel much better with the NHTSA tests. If you look at the goal of the tests, one measures human factors, the other tells the insurance companies how much it's going to cost to repair insureds' vehicles. I'm much more concerned about safety.
That said, the low speed air bag deployment is a problem until Kia proves to customers that it isn't.
There isn't much to say to make anyone feel better about the bumpers, other than that most vehicles with similar weight didn't do very well in the IIHS tests either. That's certainly not an excuse for Kia. I see this as more of a PR problem for Kia, and an increased depreciation factor for the Sedona. The bumper test results and subsequent bad PR will likely result in somewhat lower demand for both new and used, and ultimately a lowering of prices on new Sedonas, both of which will make used ones worth that much less. It ultimately will likely also lead to higher insurance premiums for the Sedona, since setting insurance premium standards is one of the primary purposes of the tests in the first place. Being "stuck" is such a harsh phrase for such a nice van, but it has to apply in that sense. I probably would have at least looked more closely at other options if those results had been available when I bought mine. In terms of initial value, versatility, warranty, etc. the Sedona is still hard to beat, though - just have to be a little more careful when backing up, in parking lots etc.
IIHS offset crash test results for the Sedona should be released tomorrow - and featured on Dateline, NBC 8 pm. I'm optimistic, but unfortunately the Sedona's weight is more likely to hurt it than help it in that test, which is just the opposite of what would occur in a real world crash with another vehicle.
Considering the Sedona, but worried about the air bag deployment. Posts on this site aren't really making me feel any better.
Does anyone know what two-tone combinations are available? I haven't been able to find that info.
I have seen some posts from people in KC. Any recommendations on dealerships in the KC area? I am close to Jack Miller, anyone had experiences with them.
Kia was able to fix the transmission in one day, which impressed me very much. (When I had problems with my last car, a Chrysler Cirrus, the dealership kept it for a least 3 days.) They put in a whole new tranny and it is working great. The only problem now is they messed up my after market keyless entry! It will unlock, but not lock. Oh well, Best Buy will fix it for free. All in all, I was very pleased with how Kia handled the situation.
Yeah, "stuck" was too harsh a word. I'm bummed about the air-bag and bumper thing, but hey, no car is perfect. I made the decision that the combination of price, fit and finish, warranty, driving experience, and features were superior in the Sedona. I bought it. I ain't taking it back. Nothing about what I liked has changed. I'm still happy with it, and the family loves it.
And as for laura's leak, THAT'S how things should be taken care of.
Here's my take on all this: The flush of initial ownership pride and excitement is fading a bit for all the people who've been posting on this site for a couple months. A few snippets of bad news have arisen. But you know what? No car's perfect, and no one vehicle meets everyone's needs. We still got a good car for a good price. We can use this site to learn more about the details of the controls and features, handling and driving it, mileage data, service experiences, and to monitor for potential common problems. They're going to happen; this is a mechanical device! Let's use this forum to share info and rally some consumer feedback when issues DO arise. I for one intend to call the Kia customer service number cited above, and register my concern about the air bag issue. Not outrage, not lawsuit threats, but concern. Enough voices can move even corporate elephants.
1) If the airbag was so sensitive to deployment, I would think that it would have deployed in both front end collision tests. I do think it was an anomaly, as Kia has suggested. I wouldn't be worried. (Yes, I do think Kia should still look into it, to calm the worries of the owners).
2) As mentioned above, the bumper crash costs (minus the airbag costs) are not all that out of line for a vehicle of that weight.
3) Why are we glad we have "that weight?" FIVE STAR CRASH RATING in all 4 NHTSA tests. And I'll bet that the weight actually serves it better in the offset crash test (to be reported tomorrow apparently), rather than hurting it, as someone mentioned above, due to the truck-like frame that has contributed to some of that weight and to the good results on the NHTSA tests. (We'll see if my prediction comes true!)
4) Someone above mentioned backing into a pole with a WindStar and a Caravan, and not having too much damage. But was it at 5 mph? 5 mph is actually fairly quick. The government guidelines stipulate only 2.5 mph. I think the Kia actually fits in with its mini-van counterparts.
What is more important, 5 star (NHTSA) crash test scores or the bumper tests? I am concerned about the air bag deploying. But, the 5 star test goes to life and limb. The bumper test goes to money and insurance rates. I place a lot more emphasis on the former. I owned an Isuzu Trooper, which got one of the worst ratings ever for the bumper test. But, when someone barreled into me at a stop light at over 30 mph, no one got hurt. The repairs were very expensive, but it was only money.
I am anxious to see what the offset crash test shows. I think this test is as important as the other crash tests.
Putting aside the air bag issue, would any of you really make a different purchase based on the bumper tests?
As per my post 1229 above, I think we agree. I must note one exception, and this is the air bag issue. You implied (inadvertently?) in your message that the air bag does not go to life and limb. An air bag deployment at such low speeds has too much potential (at the 300mph bag speed) to be a life and limb event as far as I know.
I hate to sound like I'm overreacting and I still think the van is great, but I think we deserve some proof that this will not happen in low speed accidents, including anomolous ones.
I agree w/ hoyahenry on this. The results of the tests shouldn't be alarming really. Hopefully the airbag deployments (driver's and passengers, not multiple cars, just to clarify) were anomylies, but the sheer cost to repair these is what should be noted. Also, if you'd ever been hit in the face by an airbag, you'd want to avoid it again if possible.
Hopefully, the Sedona's resale value will be above the historical Kia par, because after 5 years, the vehicle will have depreciated considerably, as most vehicles will. A double airbag deployment may spell a totalled vehicle in a low speed crash, where it may be avoided if the manufacturer either fixes an issue, or proves that it was a statistical oddity. Either way, you don't want to have your van totalled for a 5mph nudge at the market after it's a few years old, imho. A number of vehicles have blown bags in low speed wrecks. I recall the Mid-90s Camaros having this problem, as did the S80 Volvo in it's IIHS low speed test. I'm sure Kia, like these other mfgrs, will step up and figure out both what happened and how to keep it from happening to their happy owners.
Greg's statement is correct. The government requirements for bumpers is only 2.5 MPH but 5 MPH tests are performed. Since the standard was dropped to 2.5 almost all vehicles have had poor bumper performance. If you compare all the minivans you can see that some vans perform better in the 5 MPH tests;
"CAUTION: The kinetic energy a vehicle must absorb in a crash test increases with vehicle weight, so barrier tests are more demanding of heavier vehicles. But people in heavier vehicles in real-world, 2-vehicle crashes typically fare better than people in lighter vehicles (in many single-vehicle crashes, weight offers no safety advantage). This is why test results shouldn't be compared among vehicles with large weight differences."
Hmmmmmmmmmmm...... this seems to tell me that, yes, my Kia Sedona may cost me a lot in 5 mphs bumper crashes, but in a head-on collision, I'm probably going to come out much better than a lighter van. Hmmmmmmmmmmm......
I wonder which of these statements Kia is implying by saying that the results of the test were an anomaly:
1) The test is not a good real-world simulation and therefore the fact that the airbags deployed has no bearing on whether the airbags will deploy in a real-world, low-speed fender-bender.
2) If the test were to be run a few more times, the airbags would NOT deploy.
To me, the second statement is more consistent with the term "anomaly" than the first statement. However, I think Kia is trying to make point #1, not #2.
Personally, I would feel better if they issued some sort of statement to the effect of #2. I would feel even better if they backed it up with some sort of evidence, data, and/or logical reasoning.
This whole airbag fiasco worries me, but not a whole lot. I'm guessing that in most low-speed collisions, the Sedona's airbags will NOT go off. Still, the test results make me think that the likelihood of this happening is greater in a Sedona than in many other vehicles.
I think that both you and every other manufacturer would like to see monthly sales figures. I've never come across them on the web either and I suspect they are a closely guarded secret (until year end that is). It is possible to get production figures, at least for North American produced vehicles, from here but that's not quite the same thing.
Hoya, I certainly did not intend to imply that the air bag deployment did not go to life and limb. In an earlier posting, I stated how concerned I am and my hopes that Kia will do some research into this and, if necessary, recall the vans and fix the problem (if one exists). I do take some comfort in knowing that we have a fairly good size sample of Sedona owners right here who if, god forbid, they experienced an anomalous deployment, would not hesitate to let the rest of us know. I would not hesitate to join a class action suit if there is shown to be a problem that Kia has ignored.
(Apologies in advance for beating this into the ground.)
I'm guessing that in most low-speed collisions...
Exactly. Until I see some subsequent test data where somebody runs 24 Sedonas into the side of a cement Walmart building (or equivalent) at 5mph and no anomalous air bag deployments occur, my concern is that Kia is just guessing too.
There is still no press release on the Kia web site either. No doubt we'll probably have to wait for the letter.
Ak, I think it's also fair to say that the matter is blown out of proportion as others have suggested. As you said, the 5 star is more important. On the other hand, I feel it is a serious issue and the Kia response so far has been unsatisfactory. I guess we'll just have to see.
Overall that's not too bad. It won't help offset the PR problem from the bumper tests like a "good" rating would have, but it certainly could have been worse considering the Sedona's weight. Note that all three current models that received good ratings (Sienna, Odyssey, Windstar) appear to have been tested with side airbags. Looks like the Sedona would have likely received a good rating if it had them.
This should be at least somewhat encouraging for Sedona owners - it shows the vehicle's structural integrity has been engineered fairly well - light years ahead of the death trap GM vans, and not far behind the industry leaders. Hopefully side airbags (and better bumpers) will be added to future models.
You'd have to ask a dealer about ordering. I think that, generally speaking, it's hard to specifically order imported cars, particularly Asian makes. You usually have to make do with what they have on the lot or can find at other dealers. ABS has been one of the tougher options to find, but I got 'em, and plenty of other posters on this board have, too. You can specify what you're looking for on any of the internet car buying sites, too, and they'll do the searching for you.
I also noticed that they took the bumper tests into consideration for the overall score. They mention it enough times. I would think that the 5mph bumber test should not carry any weight in the 40mph offset crash test. They should be left on their own merits. Maybe I am misunderstanding it altogether?
Though the poor bumper test results are disappointing, overall, that alone would not have caused me to reject the Sedona. I would have purchased it anyway, because in my opinion its pros outweigh its cons. However, this front airbag situation really does scare me. As a parent hauling kids around, I often have a 14 yr old daughter riding in the front.(too old and mature to ride in the back with little sisters!) I drive cautiously and defensively and wasn't worried with the low odds of having a serious head on that would deploy the airbag. BUT relatively minor front end fender-benders happen all the time, especially in parking lots where kids tend to be leaning over adjusting the radio, tying shoes, picking things up off the floor as you're pulling out to leave. It disturbs me that a very minor accident could produce very serious results. I will be calling customer service too. I definitely want more tests/with results and truthful explanations/with a recall if deemed necessary to correct this. I love this van, but passenger safety is vital, and up til now I couldn't have been more pleased. I truly hope that the one deployed airbag was a single and isolated incident. I also hope that KIA doesn't intend to use us as their trial guinea pigs. Thank you for allowing me to vent.
I have a feeling though that Kia is probably taking the 24 vans that one poster above mentioned and are ramming them into "Wal-Mart" walls as we speak.
I believe they made an error in judgment in the way they handled the PR about the air bag deployment. But from what I have been told by a national automotive journalist here in Canada, KIA now has "state-of-the-art" R&D facilities, so I'll bet my bottom dollar that they are putting the vans through their paces. They apparently did not release the van for a full year to be sure it made the NHTSA crash ratings. So, I'm betting they are hard at work making sure that this air bag thing is indeed an anamoly.
My hope, as is yours, is that they let us know in a convincing fashion with crash data to back it up, that it WAS an anomaly.
... Greg
P.S. If you're venting about the air bags, would that make it an "air vent"? :-/
Comments
with backing. You decide which corner of the back glass to stick it to. My wife had one on both sides. Anyway, you wet the area of installation, which is about 9 X 12. Use a spray bottle to mist it, hold it their for 1 to 3 mins. And don't disturb it for 24 hrs or it won't stay. It works great, it concentrates the full area behind the van including close to the ground, (where a child could hide or those pesky lowcut reinforcement barriers around gas pumps)into that little square
They work great and don't obstruct your view in the rear and they came in 2 sizes, the 2 i have are about 9 x 12, i have seen the smaller ones. If anyone needs some information on it, i will do my best.
http://www.astecx.com/ross.html
http://www.backingsafety.com/
In order to get a really accurate backup aid, you're going to need to spend between $100 and $200 plus installation, which to me is worth it.
-Greg
MONTH OF FEBRUARY YEAR-TO-DATE
Model 2002 2001 2002 2001
Optima 2,290 1,256 4,813 2,913
Rio 4,676 3,784 8,396 7,072
Spectra 4,705 1,367 8,986 3,099
Sedona 2,535 n/a 4,753 n/a
Sportage 3,303 2,580 7,135 5,065
Others n/a 3,678* n/a 7,029*
Total 17,509 12,665 34,083 25,178
X-band radar, configured as a homodyne transceiver
Two transmitted frequencies: 10.50 GHz and 10.55 GHz
************10.8 Watts output power**************!!!!!!!
FCC, CTAC, and e-mark certified "
10.8 watts Microwave transceiver operating in open air to emit to the poor little kids behind your car in close distance for daily driving, The output power is too high, Do you want your fleshes being cooked by the Microwave also?
The Blind spot eliminator works great for my Previa, but I couldn't find it in Pep boys or Grand Autos anymore.
Why is backing into the spot arguably better than backing out of the spot? I submit that it mostly has to do with being able to observe and clear the area in advance of executing the maneuver, something that is difficult to do when leaving, given the amount of time that lapses from entering the vehicle, starting, shifting, looking and moving backward.
And lest it be misinterpreted, this is not a recommendation specific to the Sedona. Just .02, for what it's worth....
We only got one key fob with our Sedona. Should we have gotten two?
Thank you
I am unaware of any anti-theft system, other than the key. I'd be interested in your salesman's detailed explanation, but I think he's sales yakking without adequate knowledge instilled in brain.
Who knows about Leno? The higher speed crash tests were good for safety. It was the 5 mph crash test that triggered the airbag. Look up about 40-60 messages for more extensive discussion.
http://www.highwaysafety.org/news_releases/2002/pr031302.htm
That said, the low speed air bag deployment is a problem until Kia proves to customers that it isn't.
IIHS offset crash test results for the Sedona should be released tomorrow - and featured on Dateline, NBC 8 pm. I'm optimistic, but unfortunately the Sedona's weight is more likely to hurt it than help it in that test, which is just the opposite of what would occur in a real world crash with another vehicle.
I'm on my 2nd oil change and noticed some seepage from the drain plug. It's tight and not cross-threaded. Maybe it needs another drain plug gasket?
Does anyone know what two-tone combinations are available? I haven't been able to find that info.
I have seen some posts from people in KC. Any recommendations on dealerships in the KC area? I am close to Jack Miller, anyone had experiences with them.
No oil leak here.
Two tone IS available, husker. Try:
http://www.kia.com/sedona/sedona-options.shtml
And click on "two-tone body cladding".
And as for laura's leak, THAT'S how things should be taken care of.
Here's my take on all this: The flush of initial ownership pride and excitement is fading a bit for all the people who've been posting on this site for a couple months. A few snippets of bad news have arisen. But you know what? No car's perfect, and no one vehicle meets everyone's needs. We still got a good car for a good price. We can use this site to learn more about the details of the controls and features, handling and driving it, mileage data, service experiences, and to monitor for potential common problems. They're going to happen; this is a mechanical device! Let's use this forum to share info and rally some consumer feedback when issues DO arise. I for one intend to call the Kia customer service number cited above, and register my concern about the air bag issue. Not outrage, not lawsuit threats, but concern. Enough voices can move even corporate elephants.
Oh, and I want a second remote, too.
2) As mentioned above, the bumper crash costs (minus the airbag costs) are not all that out of line for a vehicle of that weight.
3) Why are we glad we have "that weight?" FIVE STAR CRASH RATING in all 4 NHTSA tests. And I'll bet that the weight actually serves it better in the offset crash test (to be reported tomorrow apparently), rather than hurting it, as someone mentioned above, due to the truck-like frame that has contributed to some of that weight and to the good results on the NHTSA tests. (We'll see if my prediction comes true!)
4) Someone above mentioned backing into a pole with a WindStar and a Caravan, and not having too much damage. But was it at 5 mph? 5 mph is actually fairly quick. The government guidelines stipulate only 2.5 mph. I think the Kia actually fits in with its mini-van counterparts.
Just some of my humble thoughts! - Greg
I am anxious to see what the offset crash test shows. I think this test is as important as the other crash tests.
Putting aside the air bag issue, would any of you really make a different purchase based on the bumper tests?
I hate to sound like I'm overreacting and I still think the van is great, but I think we deserve some proof that this will not happen in low speed accidents, including anomolous ones.
Hopefully, the Sedona's resale value will be above the historical Kia par, because after 5 years, the vehicle will have depreciated considerably, as most vehicles will. A double airbag deployment may spell a totalled vehicle in a low speed crash, where it may be avoided if the manufacturer either fixes an issue, or proves that it was a statistical oddity. Either way, you don't want to have your van totalled for a 5mph nudge at the market after it's a few years old, imho. A number of vehicles have blown bags in low speed wrecks. I recall the Mid-90s Camaros having this problem, as did the S80 Volvo in it's IIHS low speed test. I'm sure Kia, like these other mfgrs, will step up and figure out both what happened and how to keep it from happening to their happy owners.
/j
http://www.highwaysafety.org/vehicle_ratings/low_speed_vans.htm
"CAUTION: The kinetic energy a vehicle must absorb in a crash test increases with vehicle weight, so barrier tests are more demanding of heavier vehicles. But people in heavier vehicles in real-world, 2-vehicle crashes typically fare better than people in lighter vehicles (in many single-vehicle crashes, weight offers no safety advantage). This is why test results shouldn't be compared among vehicles with large weight differences."
Hmmmmmmmmmmm...... this seems to tell me that, yes, my Kia Sedona may cost me a lot in 5 mphs bumper crashes, but in a head-on collision, I'm probably going to come out much better than a lighter van. Hmmmmmmmmmmm......
I can't wait to see the offset crash test result.
- Greg
1) The test is not a good real-world simulation and therefore the fact that the airbags deployed has no bearing on whether the airbags will deploy in a real-world, low-speed fender-bender.
2) If the test were to be run a few more times, the airbags would NOT deploy.
To me, the second statement is more consistent with the term "anomaly" than the first statement. However, I think Kia is trying to make point #1, not #2.
Personally, I would feel better if they issued some sort of statement to the effect of #2. I would feel even better if they backed it up with some sort of evidence, data, and/or logical reasoning.
This whole airbag fiasco worries me, but not a whole lot. I'm guessing that in most low-speed collisions, the Sedona's airbags will NOT go off. Still, the test results make me think that the likelihood of this happening is greater in a Sedona than in many other vehicles.
I'm guessing that in most low-speed collisions...
Exactly. Until I see some subsequent test data where somebody runs 24 Sedonas into the side of a cement Walmart building (or equivalent) at 5mph and no anomalous air bag deployments occur, my concern is that Kia is just guessing too.
There is still no press release on the Kia web site either. No doubt we'll probably have to wait for the letter.
Ak, I think it's also fair to say that the matter is blown out of proportion as others have suggested. As you said, the 5 star is more important. On the other hand, I feel it is a serious issue and the Kia response so far has been unsatisfactory. I guess we'll just have to see.
http://www.iihs.org/vehicle_ratings/ce/html/0201.htm
This should be at least somewhat encouraging for Sedona owners - it shows the vehicle's structural integrity has been engineered fairly well - light years ahead of the death trap GM vans, and not far behind the industry leaders. Hopefully side airbags (and better bumpers) will be added to future models.
When I bought my Jeep two years ago, I just told the dealer what I wanted and they ordered it for me.
I am interested in a Sedona EX with ABS. Does Kia do this as well? Any knowledge on the lead time?
I will be calling customer service too. I definitely want more tests/with results and truthful explanations/with a recall if deemed necessary to correct this.
I love this van, but passenger safety is vital, and up til now I couldn't have been more pleased. I truly hope that the one deployed airbag was a single and isolated incident. I also hope that KIA doesn't intend to use us as their trial guinea pigs.
Thank you for allowing me to vent.
I have a feeling though that Kia is probably taking the 24 vans that one poster above mentioned and are ramming them into "Wal-Mart" walls as we speak.
I believe they made an error in judgment in the way they handled the PR about the air bag deployment. But from what I have been told by a national automotive journalist here in Canada, KIA now has "state-of-the-art" R&D facilities, so I'll bet my bottom dollar that they are putting the vans through their paces. They apparently did not release the van for a full year to be sure it made the NHTSA crash ratings. So, I'm betting they are hard at work making sure that this air bag thing is indeed an anamoly.
My hope, as is yours, is that they let us know in a convincing fashion with crash data to back it up, that it WAS an anomaly.
... Greg
P.S. If you're venting about the air bags, would that make it an "air vent"? :-/
This, to me, is misleading.
I am quite pleased with the overall crash worthiness of the Sedona. It is near the top of its class, the air bag "anomaly" notwithstanding.
I await Kia's response in the future to that one.
... Greg