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Kia recalling 96k Souls with sunroofs [UPDATE]

UPDATE: A previous version of this post indicated that the recall affected 2010-2014 models, when the recall ends with 2013 models. The text below has been revised accordingly. Kia has issued a recall for the 2010-2013 model-year Soul compact cars. But while the notice issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration covers a long period of production – from January 8, 2009, to October 2, 2013 – the problem only affects those units equipped with a sunroof. In those specific models – of which Kia estimates there are 95,314 examples in the United States – the headliner plate surrounding the sunroof may detach when the side curtain airbag is deployed, which could serve to compound the risk of injury in the event of a crash. Owners of affected vehicles can expect to hear from the manufacturer to bring their Souls in to their local dealer to have industrial adhesive strips installed to secure the headliner in place, starting from early February. RECALL Subject : Headliner Plate Detachment Report Receipt Date: DEC 29, 2014 NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V822000 Component(s): STRUCTURE Potential Number of Units Affected: 95,314 Manufacturer: Kia Motors America SUMMARY: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2010-2013 Kia Soul vehicles manufactured January 8, 2009, to October 2, 2013, equipped with a sun roof. A headliner plate may detach during deployment of the curtain air bag. CONSEQUENCE: A detached headliner plate may increase the risk of injury to the occupant during a vehicle crash. REMEDY: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will install industrial adhesive strips to secure the headliner plates, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin February 2, 2015. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-949-468-4800. Kia's number for this recall is SC112. NOTES: Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Here are some of the worst things we saw at CES

The word innovation implies something new and exciting. That's just as true for automobiles as it is for smartphones and computers. After all, who doesn't want to live in a world where the brightest minds are constantly pushing the boundaries of what's possible, seeking to make our lives better through science? To boldly go where no man has gone before? While it's true that innovation is mostly a good thing, history has proven that mankind's brightest ideas can sometimes turn into dim bulbs practically overnight. Ever heard of the Foot-o-scope? That device allowed people to get the best possible fit for a new pair of shoes, which is great. But the machines emitted horrendous amounts of radiation in the process of offering x-ray views of the feet of its victims, which is not great. While we're not going to suggest that anything we've seen at the 2016 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas is as bad as a shoe-fitting fluoroscope, walking the seemingly endless halls at CES has taught us that an interesting lesson is just as true today as it was 100 years ago: Not all innovations are really all that... well, innovative. In fact, some of them are downright terrible. Check out the video above for a rundown of four terrible innovations from the 2016 CES Show. Feel free to share your thoughts about what we've chosen, or submit your own nominees for terrible tech, in the Comments. Weird Car News CES Kia Technology Videos Original Video CES 2016

Is your new-car warranty good at the race track?

We've all heard the horror stories. Your buddy knows a girl that was dating a guy whose best friend's brother once broke his brand-new, recently purchased performance car while making runs at a drag strip or laps at a track day, and the manufacturer wouldn't cover the repair under warranty. True story? Urban legend? Complete crap? Yes, no, maybe. One thing's for sure: Automotive warranties have always come with caveats. In 1908, an ad in the Trenton Evening Times clearly stated: "All Ford Cars Guaranteed for One Year." Although it changed over time, by 1925 the Ford New Car Guarantee only covered 90 days on material and 30 days on labor, and it clearly stated that that there was "No guarantee whatever on Fan Belts, Glass, Bulbs, Wiring, Transmission, Bands, Hose Connections, Commutator Shells, Rollers, Spark Plugs or Gaskets." Whether or not Ol' Henry would pay to fix your Model T if you broke it shaving a tenth off your lap time at the local board track seems to be lost to history. We're guessing no. But what about today? Do new-car warranties in 2017 cover cars when they are driven on race tracks? We researched the warranties of 14 auto brands to find out, and the answer is yes, no, maybe, depending on the brand, in some cases the model, and whether or not your car is modified from stock. Acura has been out of the high-performance car game for a number of years, but jumps back into the party in 2017 with its hybrid-powered $173,000 NSX supercar. And Acura's warranty, as well as Honda's, clearly states that it does not cover "the use of the vehicle in competition or racing events." View 33 Photos So we asked Sage Marie, Senior Manager of Public Relations for Honda and Acura. "If the car is stock, the warranty covers it on a track just as it does on the street. No question," he told us. "However, if the car is modified, say with slick tires or other components that would put higher stresses on the vehicle's parts and systems, then we would have to investigate the circumstances further." Marie went on to say the same would be true for any Acura model or Honda vehicle, including the new 2017 Honda Civic Si. This became a common theme. Chevrolet actually started this practice with the fifth-generation Camaro on the high-performance ZL1 and Z/28 models.