NHTSA Complaint #10091146 — 2003 KIA SEDONA

WE HAVE A 2003 KIA SEDONA EX THAT IS ONE YEAR OLD. IT HAD 20,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND HAD NO PROBLEMS AT ALL. ON 09/03/04, AFTER DROPPING OUR DAUGHTERS OFF AT SCHOOL 5 MINUTES AWAY, WE PULLED IN THE DRIVEWAY, TURNED THE CAR OFF AND SMOKE POURED OUT OF VENTS. AFTER THAT, CAR STARTED ON ITS OWN WITH NO KEYS IN IT, PANIC STARTED SOUNDING CONSTANTLY AND THEN THE CAR STARTED ON FIRE BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL AND WAS IN FULL FLAMES WITHIN ONE MINUTE. THE CHIEF OF THE GOSHEN FIRE DEPT. STATED IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE THAT STARTED IN THE DASHBOARD. WE ARE WAITING FOR COPY OF REPORT. WE CONTACTED THE KIA MANUFACTURER IN CA IMMEDIATELY AND SENT PICTURES (CAN BE FURNISHED). IT TOOK KIA ALMOST 2 WEEKS TO EVEN CONTACT US AFTER REPEATED CALLS TO THEM. THEY CALLED ON 09/14/04 AND SAID WE'D HAVE AN ANSWER BY 2 P.M. 09/15 AND THEY NEVER CALLED. TODAY, AFTER WE CALLED AND THREATENED TO SUE THEM (MSG. LEFT ON VOICEMAIL), THEY CALLED US RIGHT BACK TO TELL US THEY ARE DENYING OUR CLAIM AND THIS IS NOT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY. THIS WAS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECTIVE CAR WITH A FAULTY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THIS IS NOT AN INSURANCE ISSUE BY ANY MEANS AND WE FEEL KIA SHOULD REPLACE THIS CAR. THEY DIDN'T EVEN ASK US ANY QUESTIONS OR WAIT FOR THE FIRE REPORT BEFORE DENYING OUR CLAIM. THE GRIEF THIS HAS CAUSED OUR FAMILY HAS BEEN HORRIBLE. *JB