Today, Euro NCAP is advising all customers of the 2010 Venga to contact their local Kia dealer without delay to ensure the fitment of a safety modification.
During recent tests, the organisation identified a weakness in the restraint system of the Venga that requires immediate attention. Last week, Kia swiftly launched a service campaign to respond to Euro NCAP’s concerns.
Euro NCAP discovered a cut in the webbing of the seat-belt on the driver’s side following the frontal impact crash test.
Euro NCAP inspectors concluded that the seatbelt was damaged by interaction with the seat runners when it was under load from the dummy.
Kia has produced a polypropylene sleeve to be added to the seat belt as an effective countermeasure to the problem. The car manufacturer has delayed deliveries of all new cars until the modification is fitted and is requesting those already with the vehicle, to return the car to dealers to have the protective sleeve fitted to the seat belt.
In total 2100 cars will be affected by this modification, of which 1100 have been delivered to customers and 1000 are dealer demonstrator vehicles.
Euro NCAP advises all customers that the star rating awarded to the car can only apply following the fitment of this safety modification.
Adult occupant
When the car used for the frontal impact was inspected after the test, a cut was found in the driver’s seatbelt, extending about a quarter of the way across the width. The partial cut, near the point where the belt attaches to the bottom of the B pillar, was thought by inspectors to have been caused by the belt being getting caught in the seat runner during test set up in the lab. KIA have reacted to the inspectors’ finding by designing protective sleeves which fit over the lower part of the belt. This modification has been immediately instigated on production cars. Owners who have already taken delivery of their cars are being urged by Kia to return their vehicles to dealers to have the sleeves fitted. In the frontal test, dummy readings suggested that the driver’s chest contacted the steering wheel. Structures in the dashboard represented a risk of injury to the knees and femurs of both the driver and passenger. The passenger dummy recorded a high differential movement between the upper and lower parts of the inboard leg, an indication of knee injury risk. The passenger compartment remained stable in the frontal test. In the side barrier impact, the Venga scored maximum points. In the more severe side pole test, dummy readings indicated marginal protection of the chest and good protection of other parts of the body. Protection of the neck against whiplash injuries in a rear-end impact was good.
Child occupant
In the frontal impact, the head of the 3 year dummy, sat in a forward facing seat, did not move forward excessively. However, on rebound, the dummy’s head struck the C-pillar trim. In the side barrier impact, both dummies were properly contained by their respective restraints. The passenger airbag may be disabled to allow a rearward facing child restraint to be used in that seating position. Clear information is provided to the driver regarding the status of the airbag and the system was rewarded by Euro NCAP. A permanent label warns clearly of the risks of using a rearward facing restraint in the front passenger seat without first disabling the airbag.
Pedestrian
The bumper scored maximum points for its protection of pedestrians’ legs. The front edge of the bonnet provided marginal protection. In most areas likely to be struck by the head of a child, the bonnet offered good protection but was predominantly poor in the areas where an adult’s head might strike.
Safety assist
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) is an option on one variant of the Venga in four European countries; otherwise, it is standard equipment. As it is to be fitted as standard in the great majority of sales, it has been included in Euro NCAP’s assessment of the car. A driver-set speed limitation device is available as an option but its did not qualify for assessment as it is not standard on any variant. A seatbelt reminder system is standard equipment for the driver and front passenger seats.
Check some photo gallery with Kia Venga
Source: EuroNCap.com | NetCarShow
