Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2025/08/another-owners-manual-rant-this-time-at-kia/
Kia software I’ve been driving the Kia Niro for nearly a year and was sitting on a Kia software update because the car had refused to accept it. I thought that I would head to a dealer at some point and get them to handle it. however, a few months ago, the company managed to …
Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2025/08/kia-software-update-surprises/
Anti-theft software Buried in the middle an item on car thefts from Consumer Reports was the news that Hyundai and Kia are offering a free anti-theft software upgrade for their key-start vehicles, which, on the whole, remain the most popular with car thieves. The Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) says that many older — read …
Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2025/08/hyundai-and-kia-offer-free-anti-theft-software-upgrade/
Niro VESS sound As I’ve noted previously, the 2022 back-up Kia Niro VESS sound is painfully loud. Then, I ran into a video that does a direct comparison between the North American noise maker and the European version. The difference, below, is remarkable. The US version is first, and be aware that it is truly …
Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2025/08/eu-vs-us-niro-vess-sound/
Reign in the clever We’ve done four videos over the last few weeks helping drivers get into and jump start their electric vehicles (EVs) with dead 12-volt start batteries. Starting a fifth video leaves us frankly angry and really wanting manufacturers to reign in the clever. We’ve had to describe getting under the hood of …
Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2025/07/for-the-sake-of-the-driving-public-ev-makers-must-reign-in-the-clever/
Back-up cameras Its not so long ago that airbag recalls dominated the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announcements on X. These days, the “focus” is clearly on back-up cameras. Over the last 30 days, another seven recalls were announced involving some 25 models, all to address rear view cameras whose displays may not display. …
Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2025/07/back-up-cameras-continue-to-be-a-big-hit-with-nhtsa/
VESS is restored I’ve fussed with and complained about the Kia Niro Virtual Engine Sound System (VESS) for months and had disconnected it following the video linked here. But this left potential liability issues and so VESS is restored while adding a disconnect switch following the instructions from another video linked below. The issue is …
Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2025/07/vess-is-restored-to-the-niro-with-a-twist/
Another owner’s manual rant, this time at Kia
Owner’s manual rant We spend a great deal of time in automotive manuals and find fault all too often. So this is another owner’s manual rant, this time at Kia regarding my 2022 Niro EV. The car has been throwing a service interval reminder which was non-sense given the miles I’m not putting on the …
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