2011 Kia Optima Named Top Safety Pick by IIHS

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Hyundai and Kia Recall 2011 Santa Fe and 2011 Sorento for Defective Brakes

Hyundai and Kia have issued separate recalls for the 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe and 2011 Kia Sorento respectively over the same issue concerning the rear brake calipers that may not have been properly machined.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the defective calipers could lead to brake fluid leak, followed by illumination of the malfunction indicator light indicating the brake fluid level is low and should be checked, then a soft or spongy brake pedal feel. If the problem is not taken care of, it will lead to reduced braking power.

The recall affects some 7,697 Kia Sorentos manufactured from September 14, 2010, through October 4, 2010, and 1,783 Hyundai Santa crossovers Fe built from September 28, 2010, through November 25, 2010.

Naturally, dealers from both automakers inspect the rear calipers and replace it if necessary free of charge. The two companies have not yet provided an owner notification schedule.

Kia Recalls 56,000 Souls, Sorentos in US and S. Korea

Kia Motors said on Friday it had started a recall of some 56,000 Soul and Sorento vehicles sold in the United States and South Korea due to defective wiring harnesses that could cause fires. Some harnesses supplied by Johnson Controls for lighting in 2010 model-year Soul cars and 2011 model-year Sorento SUVs were improperly soldered, leading to possible electrical shorts, Kia said in a letter to U.S. safety regulators on August 30.

There were no reports of accidents or injuries due to the issue, which was identified in June, said Kia, an affiliate of South Korea's Hyundai Motor Co. Kia determined that a recall was needed on August 23.

The U.S. recall covers 23,972 Soul cars produced from September 7, 2009, through June 8, 2010, and 11,213 Sorento vehicles built from October 23, 2009, through July 30, 2010, according to the notice filed with the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

In August, NHTSA launched a probe into possible steering defects in the 2010 model-year Soul after a driver said a steering shaft detached from the steering wheel in a two-month-old vehicle and fell onto the driver's side floor, causing a complete steering loss and limited braking.

[Source: Reuters/Kia]

NHTSA Opens Investigation on Kia Soul After Steering Loss Incident

The Kia Soul is being investigated by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration after a driver filed a complaint alleging complete loss of steering and limited braking on a 2-month old model. NHTSA said Monday on its website that the potential issue can affect over 51,000 vehicles.

The complaint said the steering shaft detached from the steering wheel, leading to a complete loss of steering, and the shaft fell into a position that interfered with the driver's ability to brake. The owner who filed the complaint had driven the vehicle for two months and had 4,300 miles (6,900 kilometres) on it.

The government agency seldom opens an investigation based on one complaint but said it was "very concerned about this failure in that it occurred without warning on a new vehicle at low mileage and resulted in a complete loss of steering as well as a compromised brake system."

Kia officials did not immediately comment on the investigation.

[Source: Yahoo/AFP/Reuters]

2010 Hyundai Genesis Receives IIHS 'Top Safety Pick'

The 2010 Hyundai Genesis Sedan has recently been tested and awarded the ‘Top Safety Pick’ by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). This award is earned by all vehicles who manage to achieve the institute’s top rating of “Good” for front, side, rollover and rear crash protection. A vehicle cannot achieve the ‘Top Safety Pick’ if it hasn’t got Electronic Stability Control (ESC) as standard.

The South Korean car company earned the ‘Top Safety Pick’ with the 2009 Hyundai Genesis Sedan as well, but this year the standards were raised even higher and a roof strength test was added to the procedures.

The new guidelines require the roof to withstand more than two times the strength of current federal requirements in order to properly maintain the vehicle’s integrity in a rollover accident. And Hyundai made the adjustments to the Genesis roof structure to improve protection.

"Genesis was designed to be one of the safest vehicles on the road and includes features such as ESC and Hyundai's first electronic active front head restraint system, which helps prevent whiplash," said Derek Joyce, manager of product planning, Hyundai Motor America.

[Source: Hyundai]

Kia Forte Earns 2010 "Top Safety Pick" by IIHS

Kia Motors has announced that its compact Forte sedan has received a "Top Safety Pick" status for 2010 by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. This is the third model from the Hyundai/Kia line-up to receive this prestigious title for 2010, with the other two being the Kia Soul and the all-new Hyundai Sonata.

It is important to note that this rating only applies to Forte's built after October 2009, as the automaker made revisions to the car's B-pillar and roof to qualify it for the award.

For a vehicle to qualify for the rating, it must score the top rating of Good in frontal-offset, side-impact, and rear-impact crash tests. New for 2010, a car must also score a good rating in its roof-strength test that measures occupant protection in the case of a rollover. The car must also be equipped with electronic stability control (ESC), standard equipment in the Forte.

With the new standards implemented for 2010, there are only 31 vehicles in the market that qualify for the Top Safety Pick, a low number compared to that of 2009. Other cars in the compact segment that earned the top rating are the Volkwagen Golf, Toyota Corolla, Subaru Impreza, Scion xB, and Nissan Cube. Honda Civic's equipped with optional stablity control also earned the award.

[Source: Kicking Tires]

Hyundai Issues Recall and Sales Halt of 2011 Sonata

Hyundai Motor America has informed regulators that the front door-lock modules on 2011 Sonatas can stick, and will notify customers of a recall. Consequently, the brand has followed suit with a temporary sales halt on its most popular offering. The recall affects 1,300 sold units of the 2011 Sonata in the United States, as well as 46,000 units manufactured and sold in South Korea. The new Sonata has been available in South Korea since September 2009, and was launched in the U.S. this month.

Hyundai said it has received complaints from customers but there haven’t been any reported accidents or injuries related to this problem. Hyundai hopes to rectify this issue quickly and not have a repeat of Toyota’s misfortune.

With the 2011 model going on sale two weeks ago in the U.S. 5,000 cars have been made in total and of that 1,300 have been sold. It is not known how many of the 1,300 will have faulty locks.

The problem occurs when the front seat passenger tries to open the door from the inside while holding down the lock button. When this happens the interior door handle doesn’t return to its normal position and the door will not shut completely. Pressing the lock button again will reset the handle allowing the door to work correctly.

With replacement parts reaching dealerships tomorrow the stop-sale will be lifted as soon as the repairs are made. The repairs consist of the replacement of the front door-lock mechanism.

[Source: Hyundai]

IIHS Names New Hyundai Sonata As Top Safety Pick

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has selected the 2011 Hyundai Sonata model as the Top Safety Pick this year. This award has been given to the vehicle after it successfully completed a list of crash testing performed by the IIHS.

For winning the Top Safety Pick award, a car must earn the highest rating of “good” in front, side, rear and rollover crash tests. In addition to the car’s ability to handle itself well in all these test categories, it should have the electronic stability control (ECS) readily available as an option. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has reported that ESC reduces single-vehicle crashes by 35 percent and single-vehicle fatalities by 30 percent in passenger cars.

Hyundai is committed to both active and passive safety technology leadership. In addition to ECS, the Sonata has advanced airbag technology and a robust ultra-high-strength steel body structure. It provides six airbags- dual front, front seat-mounted side-impact, and front and rear side curtain airbags along with active front-seat head restraints. The Anti-lock Breaking System (ABS) incorporates the Brake Assist and Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) technology.

A new roof strength test was added to the list of qualifications this year, making the selection procedure much tougher than the earlier ones. The roof strength must be double than that of the current Federal requirements, in order to guarantee safety in a rollover accident, says the new rule. Because of this new rule, many of the earlier vehicles that were awarded the Top Safety Pick in past years were discarded in 2010. While other Hyundai models like the Genesis have been named Top Safety Picks earlier, this is the first time a Sonata has received this honor.

[Source: IIHS via Hyundai Motor America]

Hyundai says no incentives in response to Toyota recalls

Hyundai Motor announced today that it would not introduce any temporary measures such as incentive programs to lure customers from Toyota, which shut down sales of some of its best-selling vehicles on Wednesday

"We will maintain our quality and price strategies and stick to the strategy of unveiling cars with competitive prices," Park Dong-wook, a senior vice president of Hyundai's treasury division, told a meeting with analysts after quarterly results.

"It is undesirable to link our strategy to the Toyota problems," he added.

[Source: Reuters]

Kia Soul Awarded 2010 "Top Safety Pick" by IIHS

The 2010 Kia Soul has been given a 2010 “Top Safety Pick” award for the second consecutive time this year in the Small Car category by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). On the heels of being given a “2010 Automotive Excellence Award” by Popular Mechanics, named to TIME.com’s “Most Exciting Cars of 2010” list and being named one of “10 Great and Safe Rides for Teens” by AutoWeek magazine, the spunky and youthful Kia five-door was one of only five small cars to earn the organization’s top honor for earning “Good” ratings – the highest achievable – in frontal, side, rear and rollover impact crash safety tests.

“Since its launch in March, Soul has lived up to its tagline of being Kia Motors’ affordable halo vehicle by winning numerous awards and consistently being a media and consumer favorite,” said Michael Sprague, vice president, marketing of Kia Motors America (KMA). “Soul being honored with a ‘Top Safety Pick’ for a second time solidifies it as a top contender in its segment as a vehicle that offers consumers the entire package.”

All trim levels for the Soul come standard with many safety features including front seat active headrests, dual front advanced airbags, front seat-mounted and full-length side curtain airbags, an Antilock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Traction Control System (TCS), Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist System (BAS) and a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).

[Source: Description]

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Score!: New Kia Sorento Achieves 5-Star Euro NCAP

Kia is celebrating the news that their all-new SUV, the next generation Sorento has been awarded the maximum 5-star safety rating from the crash safety experts, Euro NCAP.

While the car was designed and engineered to achieve the top mark, the confirmation will be a welcome boost to the manufacturer as the Sorento will be amongst the safest SUvs on the roads when it appears at dealerships in early 2010.

Styled by Head of Design at Kia Peter Schreyer, the man responsible for the iconic original Audi TT, the car employs a monocoque chassis to protect the occupants of the car. With scores of 87 per cent for Adult Occupant Protection, 84 per cent for Child Protection and 71 per cent for Safety Assist equipment, the new Sorento becomes the third model in the Kia line to enjoy a 5-star Euro NCAP rating.

[Source: Kia via Contract Hire and Leasing]

Continue reading for the full article.


Michael Cole, Managing Director at Kia Motors UK, said; “The latest Euro NCAP result is another landmark achievement for Kia. This is our third 5-star Euro NCAP rating for a new model. It is a superb follow-up to the ratings achieved by the Kia cee’d in 2007 and the Kia Soul earlier this year. New Sorento was designed and engineered to meet or surpass the expectations of European, North American and global consumers in every respect – including safety.”

“Engineers at Kia’s world-class Namyang R&D facility in Korea developed the new Sorento SUV to provide the highest levels of occupant protection in real-world accident scenarios. Our engineers predicted that Sorento would achieve a 5-star rating in both Euro NCAP and the very different NHTSA tests in the USA. Now, this Euro NCAP result confirms the major advances made by Kia with its latest SUV,” added Cole.

Featuring across the range, the Sorento comes with Electronic Stability Control (ESC) as standard, along side TCS (traction control system) and BAS (Brake Assistance system).

“The combination of this all-new model’s many talents, with seating for five or up to seven occupants, plus the 5-star safety rating will make the Sorento even more attractive to consumers, offering real peace-of-mind,” concluded Cole.

Hyundai i20 receives 5-stars in Euro NCAP crash tests

The Hyundai i20 has been awarded the maximum five-star rating by Euro NCAP, after the first round of tests using the organization's new rating system. Setting a new standard in the supermini segment, the Hyundai i20 five-door model scored exceptionally well in all four categories assessed - adult occupancy, child protection, pedestrian protection and safety assist.

The i20 scored 88 per cent in the adult occupant protection tests, including the new whiplash assessment. Also, it scored an impressive six out of a maximum seven points in the 'safety assist' category, receiving top marks for its seatbelt reminder and Electronic Stability Programme (ESP). The supermini also scored 41 out of 49 points in the child protection tests, which puts the car ahead of even larger cars such the Vauxhall Insignia and Mercedes-Benz C-Class.

Allan Rushforth, Vice President of Hyundai Motor Europe, stated "This is a proud moment for Hyundai. The i20's five-star rating is recognition of our commitment to providing customers with superior quality and top-class safety. Across our range we offer exceptional levels of life-saving equipment as standard, and we continue to research and develop new ways to protect drivers and occupants of Hyundai cars."

[Source: CarPages.co.uk]

RECALL: 140000 units of Kia Rondo, Sorento, Sedona, Sportage and Amanti affected

Kia is recalling about 140,000 vehicles from model years 2006 and 2007, due to a defect that may case brake lights to malfunction. The affected models are the Kia Amanti, Rondo, Sedona, Sorento, and Sportage.

In a defect notice filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Kia explains, "The stop lamp switch in the vehicle may have been damaged in the assembly process. As a result, the stop lamp switch may malfunction, causing one or more of the following conditions to exist: the brake lights may not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed, or may remain illuminated when the brake pedal is released." Both conditions could increase the risk of an accident.

Kia dealers will replace the stop lamp switch in all such vehicles, free of charge. Kia dealers will begin contacting owners this month, but those who wish to make their own repair arrangements may contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542.

[Source: NHTSA]

IIHS awards Hyundai Genesis as Top Safety Pick

The 2009 Hyundai Genesis, recently crowned the 2009 North American Car of the Year, has also been designated a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Hyundai's current flagship sedan has earned a "Good" overall evaluation in frontal offset, side impact, and rear crash tests. A Top Safety Pick is awarded to cars that earn "Good" ratings in all three tests.

The designation applies to Genesis models produced after November 2008, when Hyundai made a few safety tweaks to bump the Genesis from an "Acceptable" frontal offset test rating to a "Good". Since the changes made are hardware-related, pre-December Genesis models cannot be issued a service bulletin for them to be reformed.

All Genesis models are equipped with an immense list of standard safety equipment including Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Traction Control System (TCS), eight airbags and electronic active head restraints.

[Source: Kicking Tires]

USA: Hyundai Recalls 65,000 Elantras

Hyundai Motor America has issued a recall affecting 65,000 units of the Elantra for a fuel pump defect. It affects MY2008 models produced between November 5, 2007 and June 28, 2008.

The defective fuel pump may lose pressure and hinder the engine's performance. All affected models are equipped with the 2.0L Beta 4-cylinder engine that produces 138 horsepower. Injuries have not been reported due to this defect.

Produced in Hyundai's Ulsan plant in South Korea, the Elantra is the second best-selling Hyundai in the United States - behind the Sonata.

[Source: Reuters]

Hyundai Genesis Aces NHTSA Tests, Five-Star Ratings All-Round

Score one for Hyundai. The 2009 Hyundai Genesis has been awarded five-star crash test ratings by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for both frontal and side impact tests.

"Genesis was engineered with a lightweight but strong body shell, featuring ultra-high tensile steel, laser welding, and advanced adhesive bonding," said John Krafcik, vice president of Strategic Planning and Product Development, Hyundai Motor America. "Add eight airbags and electronic active head restraints and you can see the focus we placed on designing Genesis for occupant safety. These five-star results are just one indication of the dedication Hyundai engineers place on safety."

The Genesis is standard with a plethora of safety features such as Electronic Stability Control (ESC), eight airbags, and electronic active front head restraints. Couple that with the starting price of $32,250 for the base V6 and the deal doesn't get any better. Kudos to Hyundai for another sign of progress.

[Source: MarketWatch]

Continue reading to view the official press release.

PRESS RELEASE: 2009 Hyundai Genesis Delivers NHTSA Five-Star Safety Ratings

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., Aug 27, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded five-star crash test ratings, the highest government rankings under the agency's New Car Assessment Program, to the all-new 2009 Hyundai Genesis for both frontal and side-impact crash tests.
"Genesis was engineered with a lightweight but strong body shell, featuring ultra-high tensile steel, laser welding, and advanced adhesive bonding," said John Krafcik, vice president of Strategic Planning and Product Development, Hyundai Motor America. "Add eight airbags and electronic active head restraints and you can see the focus we placed on designing Genesis for occupant safety. These five-star results are just one indication of the dedication Hyundai engineers place on safety."

Maintaining Hyundai's emphasis on delivering leading safety technology, Genesis boasts world-class active and passive safety features that both prevent accidents and maximize the well-being of its occupants in the event of a collision. The Genesis continues the Hyundai tradition of standardizing key life-saving safety technology, with features such as Electronic Stability Control (ESC), eight airbags and electronic active head restraints.

ESC compares the driver's intended course with the vehicle's actual response. It then brakes individual front or rear wheels and/or reduces engine power as needed in certain driving circumstances to help correct understeer or oversteer.
Genesis' eight airbags include advanced dual front airbags, front and rear seat-mounted side-impact airbags, and roof-mounted side curtain airbags for both front and rear outboard seat occupants.

Hyundai is the first popular brand to offer electronic active front head restraints, a standard feature on the 2009 Genesis, which are an improvement over mechanically-based active head restraint systems. Until now, electronic active head restraints could only be found on select Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Lexus models. Active front head restraints have been proven by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety to help prevent whiplash.

Genesis is brought to a halt by large four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes with Brake Assist and Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD). The V6 models feature 12.6-inch front rotors with single-piston floating calipers, while the V8 models feature 13-inch front rotors with four-piston calipers. All models are equipped with 12.4-inch rear rotors.

HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA

Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Fountain Valley, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co. of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through 800 dealerships nationwide.

NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION

NHTSA is dedicated to achieving the highest standards of excellence in motor vehicle and highway safety. The agency strives to exceed the expectations of its customers through its core values of Integrity, Service and Leadership. NHTSA provides leadership to the motor vehicle and highway safety community through the development of innovative approaches to reducing motor vehicle crashes and injuries.

Hyundai recalls 88,943 units of 2007-08 Santa Fe's for incorrect warning label

Commencing this August, Hyundai will recall 88,943 units of the Santa Fe SUV to fix an incorrect warning label. The label lists the wrong gross axle weight ratings on vehicles equipped with 18-inch wheels and tires.

"Overloading your vehicle may adversely affect handling and braking and may cause tire damage, resulting in tire failure and a crash without warning," says NHTSA in its recall summary of the problem. Hyundai stated that it has reduced the front and rear gross axle weight ratings by 66 pounds each for the Santa Fe models equipped with 18-inch tires.

Hyundai will mail the corrected warning labels to the affected owners with instructions. Owners will also have the option of having the label installed for free at dealerships. Hyundai has announced that there have been no accidents relevant to this issue.

[Source: Inside Line: Edmunds]

Hyundai i10 scores 4 stars at EuroNCAP

Hyundai i10 has scored 4-star crash rating in the Euro NCAP safety ratings. Hyundai’s new subcompact failed to achieve the highest 5-star rating, but this is still on par with it’s main European rival, Renault Twingo.

For the frontal impact test, the passenger compartment remained stable in the impact. Protection of the driver’s chest was rated as weak owing to the extent to which it was compressed during the test. Structures in the dashboard presented a risk of injury to the knees and femurs of the front seat passengers.

For child protection, the i10 scored maximum points for its protection of the 3 year dummy. The passenger airbag can be deactivated by means of a switch, allowing a rearward-facing child restraint to be used in that seating position. However, information provdided to the driver regarding the status of the airbag is not sufficiently clear. No clear warning is given of the dangers of using a rearward facing child seat in that seat without first disabling the airbag.

The Hyundai i10 is already on sale in Europe.

[Source: EuroNCAP]

2008 Kia Sedona awarded "Top Safety Pick" by IIHS

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) announced their "Top Safety Picks" for 2008 recently. Only 34 cars received the prestigious title and once again, the Kia Sedona was one of the bunch. The Sedona, which already earned the same award for 2007 and a 5-star rating by NHTSA, excelled the frontal, side, and rear impact tests. The Sedona is also equipped with a standard electronic stability control, a requirement for the award.

The Sedona offers an impressive array of safety features such as six standard airbags, electronic stability control, ABS with electronic brake force distribution, traction control system with brake assist,and a tire pressure monitoring system. The Sedona, along with its mechanical twin Hyundai Entourage, are the only minivans on the market that have received the award. The above image is of the new-for-2008 Kia Sedona SWB (short-wheelbase).

[Source: Kia Motor of America/IIHS]

Continue reading to view the official press release.


PRESS RELEASE: 2008 KIA SEDONA AWARDED "TOP SAFETY PICK" BY INSURANCE INSTITUTE FOR HIGHWAY SAFETY

Kia Minivan Wins Top Honors for Third Year in a Row

IRVINE, Calif., November 15, 2007 – Already having earned a five-star crash safety rating from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the 2008 Sedona was selected by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) as one of only 34 vehicles to earn the "Top Safety Pick" award for its impressive performance with top ratings in frontal, side and rear impact crash tests and for having electronic stability control.

"We are extremely proud that Sedona was the first minivan ever to earn the IIHS 'Top Safety Pick,'" said Len Hunt, president and CEO of Kia Motors America. "To continue to earn this honor - now its third year in a row – is yet another example of our dedication to providing quality vehicles equipped with the highest level of standard safety features available."

The Sedona builds upon a commitment to safety that was established with the first generation minivan, which earned the company’s first five-star crash rating when it debuted in 2002. Since then Kia has earned an impressive list of safety accolades, including NHTSA five-star crash ratings all around for Optima and Sedona and five-star side impact crash ratings for Sorento, as well as the highest possible safety ratings from IIHS for Sedona and top ratings for front and rear impact crash tests for Optima and front and side impact crash tests for Amanti.

The 2008 Sedona continues to offer a high level of standard safety equipment, including six standard airbags, front active headrests, electronic stability control (ESC), ABS with electronic brake force distribution (EBD), a traction control system (TCS) with brake assist, and a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS).

Government star ratings are part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA’s) New Car Assessment Program (www.safercar.gov). Models tested with standard air bags (SABs)

Kia Motors America – the sales, marketing and distribution arm of Kia Motors Corporation in Seoul, South Korea – offers a complete line of vehicles through more than 630 dealers throughout the United States. For more information, including photography, visit www.kiamedia.com.

Recall: Nissan issues recall on 140,852 Altimas for potential engine fire

Nissan has issued a massive recall on over 140,000 2007 Nissan Altimas for an air-filter defect that could cause fire in the engine bay. The models affected are the 2.5L 4-cylinder models. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)has initiated an investigation back in May when two reports were filed of fire caused while driving the affected models. Since then, 26 incidents of 4-cylinder 2007 Nissan Altimas on fire were filed. The vehicles affected were either manufactured in the Smyrna, Tennessee plant from September 25th to May 11th or the Canton, Mississippi plant from October 30th through May 11th.

Nissan dealers will replace the air-filters with improved flame-resistant ones free of charge. The recall has already initiated and will continue until October 1st, 2007. The Nissan Altima is currently the automaker's best-selling model in America and placed 9th in the national best-selling list for 2007. For more information, you can contact Nissan USA at 1-800-647-7261.

[Source: CARSCOOP]