IIHS Crash Test Rating Disappointing "Acceptable" for Genesis Manufactured Before Dec

[gcarper]

IIHS Crash Test Rating Disappointing "Acceptable" for Genesis Manufactured Before Dec

http://www.experiencegenesis.com/messageboards/messageview.aspx?catid=10&threadid=40&enterthread=y

I was shocked today to learn that the IIHS (Insurance Instiitute of Highway Safety) ratings had finally been issued and for a 2009 Genesis like mine manufactured before December 2008, the rating is only "Acceptable", because there are significant safety issues for the driver. Specifically, the IIHS tests showed that the crash "dummy's head hit the steering wheel through the airbag" and the "dummy's right lower leg, knee, and foot indicated that injuries would be likely". Genesis manufactured after November 2008 were modified with a modified airbag and added padding in the area of the push button ignition switch. This is most dissappointing as I leased my Genesis in January 2009 at least two months after Hyundai would have known of this issue. When I leased the Genesis there was not an IIHS rating available on the Genesis, probably because this rating would significantly hurt the sales and prestige of Genesis and Hyundai asked the IIHS for time to correct this problem. On February 24 there was a major IIHS press release that the Genesis (manufactured after November 2008) had received their top rating of Good. No mention of safety issues of earlier manufactured Genesis was made. I am greatly dissappointed that Hyundai has not voluntarily recalled Genesis manufactured before November 2008 and corrected this problem. I would never have leased any vehicle with the IIHS safety rating given to Genesis manufactured before December 2008 and feel thta most Genesis owners are discriminating and feel likewise. Hyundai advertised this vehicle based on safety (it received top US governmet crash test ratings) at the time I leased it, all the time knowing it had safety issues. Does anyone know if Hyundai is going to correct this safety issue for those of us with Genesis manufactured before November 2008?


This is gonna kill residual values and depreciation for us early adopters.

 

[USMA84]

Re: IIHS Crash Test Rating Disappointing "Acceptable" for Genesis Manufactured Before

I thought I read on this board that there was a recall notice for the airbag issue. Those that responded to the recall got the modiifed airbag at no charge.

With regard to insurance rates, though, how does an insurance company know if you've received the modified?

 

[need4speed]

Re: IIHS Crash Test Rating Disappointing "Acceptable" for Genesis Manufactured Before

My advice in the future if you are going to buy model year 1 of a car. Wait at least 6 to 9 months and let everyone else go through preliminary recalls and issues. Truth is. Almost every company has the problems with year 1 cars and most try to cover up safety and transmission flaws as much as possible cuz it costs the company a lot of money. There are several websites that will inform you of substandard safety issues. There you can petition for recalls that haven't been dealt with. I can't remember the particular sites but just type in the problem and the car in the search box and those sites will be on pages 1 and 2. At least the car is a lease and not a finance. You would lose a lot more in its value if so.

 

[ConceptVBS]

Re: IIHS Crash Test Rating Disappointing "Acceptable" for Genesis Manufactured Before

Just for the record, all models AFTER Nov 2008 received the IIHS's Top Safety Pick award.

 

[Gimli]

Re: IIHS Crash Test Rating Disappointing "Acceptable" for Genesis Manufactured Before

Hyundai advertised this vehicle based on safety (it received top US governmet crash test ratings) at the time I leased it, all the time knowing it had safety issues.

All Genesis still have the top crash test ratings and what you identify as "safety issues" do not make the car unsafe but merely not quite safe enough to get the top IIHS mark.

This is gonna kill residual values and depreciation for us early adopters.

Your residual value is set when you sign the lease paper and I'm quite certain that they use the same residual value now that they did 6 months ago. I have also never heard of having different blue book or black book values within a model year so your depreciation argument is also incorrect.

One could say that if IIHS rating was so important to you you probably should have waited until it was released before leasing the car.

 

[ctrcbob]

Re: IIHS Crash Test Rating Disappointing "Acceptable" for Genesis Manufactured Before

Me thinks gcarper worries too much!

 

[jwaters943]

Re: IIHS Crash Test Rating Disappointing "Acceptable" for Genesis Manufactured Before

Do some research. This has been discussed ad nauseum. Call your dealer about the airbag issue. They will reprogram them at no charge and voila, problem fixed!

 

[thomaspf]

Re: IIHS Crash Test Rating Disappointing "Acceptable" for Genesis Manufactured Before

Do some research. This has been discussed ad nauseum. Call your dealer about the airbag issue. They will reprogram them at no charge and voila, problem fixed!

Where do you have that data from? What has been discussed here on the forum is the fact that the reprogramming is only taking care of the side airbag deployment issue.

According to a hyundai spokesperson the issue with your head hittting the steering wheel requires replacement of the front airbag unit.

http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2009/02/hyundai-genesis-iihs.html

Has anyone here got a replacement of their front airbag or the knee cushions?

Cheers

Thomas

 

[Mark_888]

Re: IIHS Crash Test Rating Disappointing "Acceptable" for Genesis Manufactured Before

Where do you have that data from? What has been discussed here on the forum is the fact that the reprogramming is only taking care of the side airbag deployment issue.

According to a hyundai spokesperson the issue with your head hittting the steering wheel requires replacement of the front airbag unit.

http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2009/02/hyundai-genesis-iihs.html

Has anyone here got a replacement of their front airbag or the knee cushions?

Cheers

Thomas

I wonder if the Winged logo airbags sold by Korean Auto Imports (or whomever) would have the new driver airbag design? It looks like Hyundai is not replacing them, so if owners want to replace them on their own, they might as well get the winged badge ones.