NHTSA Complaint #10126905 — 2002 KIA RIO

NO ACCIDENT YET ON THIS DEFECT. WE HAVE NOTICED OVER THE PAST 2 YEARS OF DRIVING THIS VEHICLE A SERIOUS DEFECT IN THE WAY THE DASH IS CONSTRUCTED THAT SERIOUSLY OBSTUCTS BOTH VIEWING OF THE ROAD THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD BY THE DRIVER AND VIEWING THE DASH INSTRUMENTATION (SPEEDOMETER, ETC) VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. ON A SUNY DAY, THE BLACK PLASTIC MATERIAL USED IN THE DASH CONSTRUCTION AROUND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL IS SO REFLECTIVE, THAT OFTEN WITH THE SUN COMING IN THROUGH THE REAR OR A SIDE WINDOW, IT BECOMES IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE THE INSTRUMENTATION IN THE DASH DUE TO REFLECTIVE GLARE OFF THE BLACK PLASTIC IN FRONT OF THE CLEAR PLASTIC THAT COVERS THE SPEEDOMETER, ETC. IT IS SO BAD THAT OCCASIONALLY WE HAVE TO PUT A PIECE OF PAPER OR ANOTHER NON-REFLECTIVE OBJECT BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL AND IN FRONT OF THE SPEEDOMETER IN ORDER TO READ THE INSTRUMENTATION. EVEN MORE DISTURBING IS THE SAME PHENOMENON WHEN THE SUN IS STREAMING INTO THE CAR, PARTICULARLY FROM THE FRONT OR A SIDE WINDOW, THAT THE REFLECTION OFF OF THE BLACK PLASTIC ONTO THE INSIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD IS SO BAD THAT WE OFTEN CANNOT SEE OUT OF THE WINDSHIELD WITHOUT PUTTING A PIECE OF PAPER OR SOME OTHER SUBSTANCE DOWN TO CUT THE GLARE DOWN. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION, AND IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMETHING SERIOUS HAPPENS AS A RESULT OF BEING UNABLE TO SEE CLEARLY.