NHTSA Complaint #10198364 — 2007 KIA SORENTO

PURCHASED A NEW 2007 KIA SORRENTO ON 3/30/07. LEFT THE DEALERSHIP WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBACK DISCONNECT LIGHT ON WITH AN ADULT SITTING IN THE SEAT. HAVE TAKEN THE CAR INTO TWO DIFFERENT DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENTS AND THEY HAVE REFUSED TO ADDRESS THIS SAFETY ISSUE. REPORTED PROBLEM TO KIA USA CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN OTHER THAN REFER US TO ANOTHER DEALER FOR SERVICE. A SERVICE MANAGER I SPOKE WITH SAID THIS WAS A "KNOWN PROBLEM" WITH THE 06 AND 07 SORRENTO BUT THAT THE COMPANY COULD NOT "REPRODUCE A HARD ERROR". THE SERVICE MANAGER WENT ON TO TELL ME THAT THERE ARE SENSORS IN THE SEAT CUSHION AND SEAT BACK AND THAT A PASSENGER HAS TO SIT IN THE SEAT IN A PARTICULAR WAY IN ORDER FOR CONTACT TO BE MADE PROPERLY. THE MANAGER WENT ON TO SAY THAT HE HAD SEEN A LOT OF 06 AND 07 SORRENTO'S WITH THIS PROBLEM AND WAS WAITING ON KIA TO TAKE ACTION. OTHER THAN PURSUE THE LEMON LAW PROCESS, WHAT OTHER RECOURSE DOES A CONSUMER HAVE WITH A CLEAR ENGINEERING DEFECT OF A KEY SAFETY FEATURE? *TR