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Wagons Kia Spectra/Spectra5 Kia Spectra/Spectra5 Safety Issues
30 messages, Last post on Jan 17, 2007 at 7:29 AM
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If the IIHS test results are any indication, the 2004 spectra is one "scary" car. I don't see how anybody would want to put their life at risk in this particular car after learning of these results. But alpha, what do you mean by this statement "Its 2005,and most brand new designs perform well in this test." The IIHS results state that they go through the model 2005, if I'm not mistaken. I'd rather come up with a little extra money than get "dead" in this car. The pic where the dummy's head hit the steering wheel through the airbag was pretty frightening. I've been in a crash where the driver got his jaw broken by hitting the steering wheel and I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy! Some of you are saying that side and/or curtain airbags being deployed would help this, but I don't see how. How would these keep the dummy's head from accelerating forward and striking the steering wheel??
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Replying to: mpalmer (Dec 27, 2004 11:09 pm) "If the IIHS test results are any indication, the 2004 spectra is one "scary" car. I don't see how anybody would want to put their life at risk in this particular car after learning of these results." Sorry "m", but I don't consider riding in my new Spectra "scary" by any stretch of the imagination. Riding in a '63 Ford Galaxie or '65 GMC pickup with metal dashboards and no seat belts at 65+ mph IS (in retrospect) scary. Riding in a rusted out '71 Pinto or '72 Maverick at 65+ mph with no seatbelts on IS (in retrospect) scary. Riding in an '83 Escort with NO airbags wearing seltbelts but with little or no crash testing of the vehicle is POSSIBLY scary. SOMEDAY, people may look back at the fact that humans rode in automobiles AT ALL and deem it "scary". But for right now, the fact that the Spectra isn't up to par with the best of the current crop of crash performers doesn't make it "scary" in my book. It's definitely a disappointment (as I've stated in earlier posts), and it would be nice if KIA addressed the issue is some fashion. But let's not (to use an old-fashioned term) "throw the baby out with the bathwater" and deem the Spectra as "scary". Drive a new Spectra for a few days to see how it performs under real world conditions before you deem it "scary". In my 40+ years of car riding and 20+ years of car driving, it is probably one of the best overall performing and safe vehicles I've experienced. It certainly has been the most defect free and value-for-the-money new vehicle I've ever purchased! But as Dennis Miller used to say, "That just my opinion. I could be wrong."  -SM |
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Replying to: spectraman (Dec 28, 2004 12:03 am) I understand that you own a Spectra and for one reason or another that's all you could afford and/or you thought the car was a good deal. But...let's not sugar coat this very serious issue here. Spectraman says: But for right now, the fact that the Spectra isn't up to par with the best of the current crop of crash performers doesn't make it "scary" in my book." Not "up to par", huh? that's an understatement if I ever saw one. I'm sure that you had access to that IIHS video and saw the way that dummy's head hit that steering wheel and flopped around and struck the B-pillar, etc. I sure wouldn't want that to be MY head in a frontal crash. Yes, riding in an old car without airbags and seatbelts is certainly scary AND so is riding in the '04 spectra apparently. Spectraman says: "Drive a new Spectra for a few days to see how it performs under real world conditions before you deem it 'scary'". What for? I read the article from IIHS about the correlation between "real world conditions" and the crash tests results and so did you. Spectraman says: "It's definitely a disappointment, and it would be nice if KIa addressed the issue in some fashion." Ya think? you're right: it would be nice if they addressed this issue before people get killed in frontal crashes in their car. If they don't, it's plain irresponsible on their part and I hope they don't sell many of these cars. Look, I don't mean to attack you. That's not my intention. And it's obvious that you do believe in the validity of the IIHS crash tests, (as do many other informed consumers), or you wouldn't have acknowledged that the Spectra test results were a "dissapointment". I wanted to buy one of these cars, because it would be nice on my pocketbook. However, like I stated in an earlier post, I would rather spend the extra money on a BETTER car than wind up DEAD.
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Replying to: mpalmer (Dec 28, 2004 10:37 pm) And for your claim that you are not attacking spectraman, well thats exactly what it seems like to me. Everyone is entitled to their opinion (this coming from someone who has gone 'head-on' with Spectraman on the Kia issue). I agree with you that the issue should not be sugar-coated, but I personally dont think the spectra is scary or that Kia has been irresponsible, both of which you have stated. Kia meets or exceeds all government imposed standards, as do all makes. It is up to the informed consumer to decide for or against vehicles that may or may not do well in tougher IIHS tests. Do you feel that all the automakers who do not offer side airbags and curtain airbags, and thus receive awful scores in the IIHS side test, are irresponsible? FWIW, the Kia Spectra inflicted potentially serious head/neck trauma in the offset test, not certainly fatal injury. In comparison, cars that get rated Poor for chest or head/neck injury in the IIHS side test inflict likely fatal injuries to the occupant. You are most certainly entitled to your opinion regarding irresponsibility and scariness, as are we all. But there is definitely something to be said for logic and reason. This is the same reason that hound Spectraman for continually crying bias when a Kia gets a poor review. ~alpha
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Replying to: alpha01 (Dec 29, 2004 7:48 am) Alpha says: Do you feel that all the automakers who do not offer side airbags and curtain airbags, and thus receive awful scores in the IIHS side test, are irresponsible?" Yes, I do. I understand your point, but personally, I don't see how any informed consumer who believes the validity of the IIHS crash tests would want to drive this car instead of a safer one like the Honda Civic( or something else). Alpha says: FWIW, the KIA Spectra inflicted potentially serious head/neck trauma in the offset test, not certainly fatal injury. In comparison, cars that get rated Poor for chest or head/neck injury in the IIHS side test inflict likely fatal injuries to the occupant." I don't buy this argument, though there is certainly logic to it. Even if fatality is more likely for a chest injury then it is for head/neck (which I haven't verified yet), so what? Why take the chance when there are safer economy cars out there?That's why these tests are done. And remember, the results on injury measures for this car were HIGH RISK to the head/neck. |
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Replying to: spectraman (Dec 28, 2004 12:03 am) DON'T BE AFRAID! DO A LITTLE RESEARCH TO FIND BETTER CRASH RATING RESULTS! IIHS IS SUPPORTED BY INSURANCE COMPANIES PLEASE REFER TO THE LINK BELOW http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/NCAP/Cars/3351.html FOR The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), A TRUE AND UNBIASED TESTING AND REPORT THE KIA NEW SPECTRA RECIEVED 4 STARS. PLEASE CHECK THE LINK BELOW FOR FULL RESULTS FROM AN UNBIASED TAXPAYER FUNDED INSTITUTION *REMEMBER -ONE TEST DOES NOT USED TO CREATE A 'PREMINUM COST' ON YOUR INSURANCE POLICY The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), under the U.S. Department of Transportation, was established by the Highway Safety Act of 1970, as the successor to the National Highway Safety Bureau, to carry out safety programs under the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966 and the Highway Safety Act of 1966. The Vehicle Safety Act has subsequently been recodified under Title 49 of the U. S. Code in Chapter 301, Motor Vehicle Safety. NHTSA also carries out consumer programs established by the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act of 1972, which has been recodified in various Chapters under Title 49. NHTSA is responsible for reducing deaths, injuries and economic losses resulting from motor vehicle crashes. This is accomplished by setting and enforcing safety performance standards for motor vehicles and motor vehicle equipment, and through grants to state and local governments to enable them to conduct effective local highway safety programs. NHTSA investigates safety defects in motor vehicles, sets and enforces fuel economy standards, helps states and local communities reduce the threat of drunk drivers, promotes the use of safety belts, child safety seats and air bags, investigates odometer fraud, establishes and enforces vehicle anti-theft regulations and provides consumer information on motor vehicle safety topics. http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/NCAP/Cars/3351.html
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Replying to: carman1030 (Jan 07, 2005 7:51 am) |
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From Kia's web site - About Kia: Safety first, from concept to crash test. Kia Motors is determined that every one of its vehicles should be as safe as possible, and this goal is ensured by a rigorous system of collision tests and simulations. Hmmm... maybe not as rigorous as they thought. Or maybe the same engineers crash-tested the Spectra as tested the '01 Elantra.  http://www.kia.com/info.php |
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I contacted Kia yesterday via their website to inquire whether my car could be upgraded with the new airbag. Kia called me today. The rep had no knowledge regarding changes to the airbag. I read him the info from the IIHS crash test results page; after putting me on hold, he said he was aware of no plans to recall the 2004 cars for an upgrade, and that Kia stood by the "real world safety" of their cars. I then asked if the '05 airbag could be installed on the '04 cars. He first recommended that I call a Kia service department to find out, but said he could make that call for me after I suggested he probably had contacts he could use. He later came back to say that the 2005 airbags could not be installed in the 2004 cars. I don't believe that, but Kia obviously doesn't want to absorb the costs of a recall to deal with this issue. Mark
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Replying to: edmo (May 05, 2005 11:51 am) Thanks for posting the info about retro-fitting the new airbag. I submitted an informative complaint with the NHTSA about a month ago requesting that KIA offer retrofits for 2004.5 - 2005 Spectras. My rationale that this should be possible came from this text in the retest results on the IIHS website: "The evaluation of the Spectra below is based on the test of a 2005 model built before January 2005 but retrofitted prior to the test with the redesigned airbag. However, because no structural changes were made, the structure rating is based on tests of both the 2005 and 2004 models." ( See full results of the retest here: http://www.iihs.org/vehicle_ratings/ce/html/0502.htm ) I highly doubt that the 2004.5 and pre-January 2005 Spectra wheel column and electronics design changed so drastically that the new airbag can't be retrofitted. Some how they pulled it off for the IIHS test!!!! I'm hoping that posts like these will create some pressure on both the government and KIA to make retrofits available. So c'mon fellow 2004.5/2005 Spectra owners! Send those cards and letters in! Here's the link to the NHTSA site where you can submit a complaint: https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/ -SM |
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