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Complaint for Kia Sedona 2003

Complaint about SEAT BELTS : FRONT : BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

Consumer Complaint:
I HAVE HAD MY 2003 KIA SEDONA A LITTLE OVER 2 YEARS. I BOUGHT IT NEW FROM A DEALER. SINCE 2002, I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT SEAT BELT SENSORS, TO THE POINT BOTH HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED. WHEN THIS SENSOR DOES NOT OPERATE PROPERLY, THE "AIRBAG NEEDS SERVICING" LIGHT COMES ON. WITH THAT LIGHT ON, THE VAN WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION (VA STATE INSPECTION). THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED, THE DEALERSHIP WAS OUT OR STOCK OF THE REPLACEMENT SEATBELT ASSEMBLY, BUT THEY GAVE ME ONE FROM ANOTHER CAR WHILE WE WAITED FOR MY PARTS TO COME IN. THEY NEVER CAME IN. NOW, THE 2ND ONE HAS GONE BAD, AND I AM STILL WAITING FOR A PART. EVIDENTLY, WHERE THE DEARLERSHIP ORDERS PARTS FROM KIA IS OUT OF STOCK OF THESE ITEMS DUE TO HIGH VOLUME OF REPLACEMENT. I AM (1) CONCERNED THAT SO MANY OF THESE ARE GOING BAD THAT THE COMPANY HAS RUN OUT OF STOCK, AND (2) WORRIED THAT FAILURE OF THIS SENSOR COULD RESULT IN MY AIRBAG NOT WORKING PROPERLY. I HAVE NOW BEEN WAITING OVER 4 MONTHS FOR THE REPLACEMENT PARTS, AND THEY ARE STILL NOT AVAILABLE FROM THE DEALER. THIS ITEM IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY, AND IT DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE A RECALL ITEM. BUT SHOULDN'T A SAFETY ITEM LIKE THAT CAUSE A RECALL SINCE IT INVOLVES PERSONAL SAFETY AND THE PASSIVE RESTRAINT OPERATION? AND IF THAT MANY ARE FAILING, DOESN'T THAT CAUSE CONCERN FROM THE NHTSB?

Date of Incident:
20050817