Bad Folding Side Mirror Button Location

[Long Beach Jim]

Not really and not sure that was snarky. Just disagreeing with your assessment that the situation could have been deadly and suggesting that distracting yourself from driving by making a phone call is more likely to be deadly. That was all.

You appear to have misunderstood that this was a "panic" situation in the pouring rain on a crowded los Angeles freeway where lane changes are scary even on a sunny day. I would not consider a phone call using the Stinger's 'hands free' telephone system to be what you call "distracting". Gee, I thought I was doing a friendly post but I get blasted for minutia.

 

[Long Beach Jim]

Only when people post overreacting posts about not having side mirrors being a deadly situation.

How about not letting someone drive the car that isn’t familiar with it in a difficult driving situation. Or the fact that they started driving down the road with no mirrors and got on the interstate instead of pulling over and figuring out the situation. Or the fact that they literally could turn their head to provide the same function as the side mirrors.

A lot of things seemed to go wrong on this trip, where KIA put the button is at the bottom of that list (may not even be on the list).

It's a brand new car in our family. A member was driving on a crowded Los Angeles freeway with no chance to pull over. It was night and and there was a monsoon rainstorm. They called me in panic. How ignorant and insensitive of you to pass such negative judgement.

 

[Soca Boy]

I had the same thought today. Thank you. This is a major lawsuit liability for Kia.

Please explain?

 

[Mike_TX]

??? I've never had a problem hitting the mirror fold button when closing the door.

 

[MerlintheMad]

??? I've never had a problem hitting the mirror fold button when closing the door.

Individuals grab doors individually. People have different length fingers. People fidget differently. When you fidget with your digits things are bound to happen without your notice.

 

[Wilzer]

Understand the need for the mirror fold in out switch, but shouldn't it be somewhere like where the gas and hatch buttons are ? Need it for maybe car wash and I have been in some countries, where the roads are so narrow, that the mirrors will hit cars and walls. Every time I look at the switch, I try to think of something to cover it that will be aesthetically acceptable. Maybe simple metal rod, directly over mirror switch, between handle and door?? How to install without drilling?

 

[Doel]

Meh, I think it's fine as is. I've only hit it once and its location is right where the other side mirror controls are, it has a nice picture on the switch which makes it pretty obvious what it does, it's all logically placed.

The only issue I had with the side mirrors was trying to figure out why they wouldn't tilt down when reversing, I had to go into the user's manual for that one.

 

[Kamauxx]

??? I've never had a problem hitting the mirror fold button when closing the door.

I think those of us who came from Optimas have an advantage because we're used to the placement.

I also think it has a lot to do with how people close the door. I don't use the pull above that button to close the door so my hand is never in that area.

And then there's probably just some people out there with extremely long fingers.

 

[brancky3]

I use this handle to close the door, not the silver handle.

 

[Kamauxx]

I use this handle to close the door, not the silver handle.

View attachment 18397

Same here.

 

[Waynerm002]

You know, I don't recall which I use but I figure it might be the forward handle. I would start pressing buttons in that location to see if I did something before thinking there was a failure. I know folks are different but I tend to check my mirrors before I drive off, even though they should be set to my position. Have you ever seen a person walk up to a car that is not their own to use their mirror to check their make-up? I have. I don't understand how people think and why they would do that to a vehicle that is not their own but I have programmed my mine to check the mirrors before I drive off.

 

[Johnman]

I use this handle to close the door, not the silver handle.

View attachment 18397

That's a long reach. Most people naturally go for the closest handle.

 

[brancky3]

That's a long reach. Most people naturally go for the closest handle.

I do have long arms, but I also don't open my door all the way ever.

 

[GRStinger]

I agree the side-mirror fold switch could have better placement, and be made more intuitive to use. But I see it as a "quirk" more than an annoyance and after a awhile you get accustomed to using it. (like that blasted auto start/stop "feature"!)

 

[Crisis]

Not sure what I was trying to do, but I’ve accidentally moved the switch from the “auto” to the “out” position a couple of times. I don’t notice it until I approach my locked car and the mirrors don’t flash and unfold for me. I’ve came to really like that “greeting” every time I walk up the the car.

 

[eflyguy]

It's a brand new car in our family. A member was driving on a crowded Los Angeles freeway with no chance to pull over. It was night and and there was a monsoon rainstorm. They called me in panic. How ignorant and insensitive of you to pass such negative judgement.

Don't let comments like this get to you. There is a lot of helpful information and there are many friendly members on this forum.

You're the first to report an issue with this here, but regardless, I can certainly understand your concern. Without being critical in any way, familiarity with the basic controls is the responsibility of the driver and/or owner. Half of the content in the owners manual is legal disclaimers to that effect - to prevent any kind of legal issue you hinted at. If someone not familiar with the car is driving and has to call for help, that person should be able to talk them through the situation.

 

[BBB]

I use this handle to close the door, not the silver handle.

View attachment 18397

That makes a great place to store your phone

 

[ShannonC]

That makes a great place to store your phone

I prefer the charging pad

 

[phxgt]

I prefer the charging pad

We don't have charging pads, we have headphones.

 

[eflyguy]

That might explain why I never got any headphones..