Some times a few folks here argue like daft people.

1. Have you visited the Kia website and checked if this particular model has airbags?
There's safety regulations and stuff. . . why would an international car manufacturer produce vehicles without airbags? there's things like lawsuits to put 'em in check u know. You don't need to visit their website seeking such info

2. Were you are the scene of accident and saw no airbags at the point of impact?
mhen. . . from the pictures posted u'd see that the steering wheel is still intact. . . nothing came out of it. . . and the passenger's side. . . no hole on the dashboard to show anythng was deployed

3. Do you drive a kia or know any one who drives one and has complained  about airbags?

4. That pic looks as though it was taken at a mechanic's workshop, did you ascertain if the airbags have being retrieved?

5. Do you have  undeniable evidence to back your spurious claims?
Pictures??

6. Do you know if this particular car is brand new or second hand?

[s]If your answer is no to atleast two of these questions, then shut up and go research for facts before coming here to spew your verbal diarrhoea![/s]

The rear end of a flat-bed trailer. If it was hit by the Kia itself, it would create damage below the bonnet / grille area. Smiley

Is there a requirement for cars to have airbags in Nigeria?

indie22:

The kia rio models (made for the nigeria market and distributed by dana motors) do not come with airbags, they are instead ordered with seat belt pretensioners, this is obviously to minimize cost, i get a lot of schtik from customers, wondering, "in this age and time, a brand new car with no airbags"?

but what can i say?, since there is no regulatory body in nigeria for such things, major distributors are free to do as they please,

Its really unfair to the consumers, but you will be surprised to find out that a lot of consumers dont really mind the absence od airbags in the rio, its still our highest selling model funny enough.

Most people that buy "kia", do so because of only one factor: price! they are less expensive than a lot of other brands, kia consumers are not looking or buying luxury, all they want is a car that can get them from point a to b and will not give them the kind of problems a fairly used vehicle will, they are looking for fuel efficiency and cheap to maintain, that wat kia offers,

i drive a Rio funny enough, for me its an easy drive, dnt spend much on gas, gets me wherever i want to go, thats all i need in a car for now.

Eluala:

Truth is that an average Nigerian consumer is does not take time to investigate before buying. I have come across a lot of people who just wants to buy anything 'tear rubber' irrespective of the safety features available and trust me the Korean brands (Kia, Hyundai, Daewoo and some Chevrolet models) provide them just that.

For a lot people, it's a sign of moving up the ladder. There is so much 'herd mentality'. So many people actually think they are driving something 'big' because it is a brand new Kia and you'll obviously see it in their attitude. Agreed the government is doing absolutely nothing. The Automotive Council of Nigeria (ACN), which is supposed to be the organ of government regulating activities in the sector is just another avenue for settlement. The chairman is one mallam and trust me the only time you hear about him is during the annual Abuja international motor fair, which will soon happen and the rest of his job is to collect government subvention and share among his board members.

An average buyer should be responsible enough to ask the right questions and investigate well before making such decisions. We as a people can also create a pressure group to force these dealers to offer good value to our teeming consumer population.

George_D:

eluala,
true talk! imagine if it was in naija that toyota had thier pedal issue, i'm sure the appologist board members and their mallam chairman would long have been 'settled' and we would never have heard anything about it at all! 

indie22:

The kia rio models (made for the nigeria market and distributed by dana motors) do not come with airbags, they are instead ordered with seat belt pretensioners, this is obviously to minimize cost, i get a lot of schtik from customers, wondering, "in this age and time, a brand new car with no airbags"?

but what can i say?, since there is no regulatory body in nigeria for such things, major distributors are free to do as they please,

Its really unfair to the consumers, but you will be surprised to find out that a lot of consumers dont really mind the absence od airbags in the rio, its still our highest selling model funny enough.

Most people that buy "kia", do so because of only one factor: price! they are less expensive than a lot of other brands, kia consumers are not looking or buying luxury, all they want is a car that can get them from point a to b and will not give them the kind of problems a fairly used vehicle will, they are looking for fuel efficiency and cheap to maintain, that wat kia offers,

i drive a Rio funny enough, for me its an easy drive, dont spend much on gas, gets me wherever i want to go, thats all i need in a car for now.

agathamari:

you people do know that the airbag will not deploy if the fuse is blown or removed? you do know that if a non compatable cd system is installed it will disable the airbag as well? if the steering wheel itself has been replaced and not rewired correctly the airbag will not deploy (not all cars have a passenger airbag - even brand new ones)? the airbag sensor does not always trigger on off center collisions.

it is the customers responsibility to ensure their car has a working airbag, not the dealership

Onwan:

@George_D
Very well said. Imagine if I was a member of that committee; All I need from them is a 2013 Full Option Highlander, and we will be issueing a press statement.

But seriously, I think that Toyota thing is an over-hyped conspiracy against Japan / Toyota; more like a desperate move by a dying economy or industry to sell their failed brands by a sabotage against the world's No. 1. Thats just my own understanding of the whole thing and its very unfortunate, BUT from what I gather, its having no impact at all outside the Ford country.

Siena:

If a non-compatible head unit is fitted, it will not disable the airbag, unless it involves removing the driver's wheel (multi-function wheel). Are you speaking from a "hear say" point, or as an engineer? I work on all makes of cars for a living, and have never heard of a head unit disabling an airbag!

We're not talking about blown fuses here, we're talking based on a car that has airbags fitted, and both are working. I have already stated that not all cars have a passenger airbag. The Kia here has extensive damage to the driver's side chassis rail. If it had airbags, at least the driver's side one would have deployed.

Yes, it's the operator's responsibility to ensure their cars have functional airbags. It is also the [b]stealer[/b]ship's responsibility to ensure the cars they sell have all safety features functional, if fitted. How many dealers actually scan the SRS systems for fault codes, when these cars come in for routine servicing? From experience, not all SRS faults will illuminate the warning light! In such cases, how will the owner / user know?

Onwan:

@George_D
I understand your point. That would be Toyota USA. I see those vehicles everyday in Lagos and I know two people that own the 2010 GX and they dont even know what that means.

If you watched the video the Toyota had to release to counter that claim you will find out there is absolutely wrong with that vehicle. Im only happy to know that people outside the US are looking at the issue with enough caution and are on their own standing by their own views.

I for one understand that its just a conspiracy against Toyota. By the way, Toyota USA is not 100% owned by Toyota Japan - which is a very big mistake on the part of the Japanese manufacturer. Well, its good to know that most owners dont even know or see any practicality in the tricks that Failed Ford and its cousins are playing to impose their brands.

Its my opinion and what I understand.