Renault Samsung fined for airbag warning on passenger seat

The Renault Samsung QM6 SUV / Korea Times file

Carmakers in Korea are required to put an airbag warning label on the sun visor above the driver's seat, not the passenger seat. / Courtesy of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport

By Park Jae-hyuk

Renault Samsung Motors has been fined for putting airbag warning labels on sun visors above passenger seats of its 51,759 QM6 SUV, according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Friday.

The ministry said Renault violated a law mandating airbag warning labels on sun visors above driver's seats.

Even if a car is equipped with airbags for passengers, Korean law provides that the label should be on the driver's seat side, because the driver should be aware of possible damage from the airbag.

Most warning messages read, “Death or serious injury can occur. Sit as far back as possible from the airbag.”

A Renault Samsung Motors spokesman said the company's employees in charge of the QM6 manufacturing had confused the regulations on cars for domestic consumption with those on vehicles for export.

According to the spokesman, European nations and China demand carmakers put airbag warning labels over passenger seats, while the labels should be on both driver's seats and passenger seats in the United States.

The land ministry said it plans to levy a penalty worth 1 percent of the total sales of the QM6.

Those who sell cars not satisfying the safety standards will be issued up to 1 billion won ($928,000) fine, according to Korean law.

“We are waiting for the government’s decision,” the Renault Samsung spokesman said, adding his company has yet to be informed of the specific amount of the penalty.

The company started recalling the problematic SUVs on Friday.

Among five carmakers and two importers of two-wheelers, which announced voluntary recalls of their 290,000 vehicles this week, Renault Samsung is the only company that faces a fine.

The 30 models subject to recalls include the Kia Motors Carnival minivan, the Mercedes-Benz GLC 220d 4MATIC coupe, the Volvo XC90 SUV and the Porsche 918 Spyder sports car.

Owners of the vehicles can get free repairs at the designated service centers of each company.