NHTSA Complaint #10070650 — 2002 KIA OPTIMA

PURCHASED CAR BRAND NEW ON APRIL 30, 2003 - INCIDENT #1: JULY 15, 2003, I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 30-35 MILES PER HOUR EXITING THE MASS PIKE EXIT AT ROUTE 30. ALL TRAFFIC WAS SLOWING TO EXIT - I APPLIED THE BRAKES - WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN - REALIZED THAT THE BREAKS WERE NOT WORKING - PANICKED - IMPACTED THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT WORK. INCIDENT #2: AUGUST 8, 2003, WHEN VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED THE OWNER OF BUCCI'S AUTO BODY TOOK THE CAR IN THE PARKING LOT FOR A TEST DRIVE. AT ABOUT 15 MILES PER HOUR - WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE FRONT FREEZED UP AND THE BACK PUSHED FORWARD TO CREATE A LUNGE FORWARD EFFECT. I CONTACTED KIA MOTOR AMERICA IN IRVINE, CA AND HAVE A COMPLAINT FILE NUMBER. AFTER ABOUT 1 MONTH OF DOING NOTHING I DEMANDED, ON AUGUST 8TH, THAT THEY TOW THE CAR FROM THE BODY SHOP TO BOCH KIA (WHERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED)AND CHECK OUT THE MASTER CYLINDER/PROPORTIONATE VALUE SYSTEM. THEY DID SO AND ON AUGUST 12TH I WAS TOLD THAT AN ENGINEER LOOKED AT THE CAR AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG. KIA REFUSES TO STAND ACCOUNTABLE AND ALLEDGES THAT THE VEHICLE HAS NO PROBLEM. I AM FORCED TO DRIVE A CAR THAT HAS BAD BRAKES UNTIL 2 MORE INCIDENTS HAPPEN IN ORDER TO PROCEED UNDER THE MASSACHUSETTS LEMON LAW. EVERY MODEL OF KIA IN 2002 HAS HAD HYDRAULIC AS WELL AS ABS BREAK FAILURE. SEEMS TO ME THAT KIA NEEDS TO REDESIGN THE BRAKING SYSTEM - OR - PERHAPS TRY THIS NEW TAG LINE IN ADVERTISING: KIA - BUY OUR CAR - JUST DON'T EVER HAVE TO STOP FAST!