NHTSA Complaint #10104934 — 2002 KIA SEDONA

PROBLEMS: UNWANTED ACCELERATION; CLUNKING/SEIZING BRAKES/LIT AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT. MILEAGE: UNDER 58,000 MILES. KIA SEDONA 2002 VIN # [XXX]. ON AFTERNOON OF 12/31/04, I & PASSENGER DRIVE FROM NYC TO HARTFORD, CT. MINIVAN REPEATEDLY ACCELERATED TO 70-75 MPH ALONG HIGHWAY ROADS. I BRAKED TO REDUCE SPEED REPEATEDLY. UNSUCCESSFUL REPEATEDLY DESPITE KNOWLEDGE THAT STATE TROOPERS LOOKING FOR SPEEDERS ON NEW YEAR'S EVE. RETURNING FROM HARTFORD, CT TO NYC ON AFTERNOON, ON HIGHWAY ROADS, A LIGHT GRINDING SOUND FROM RIGHT SIDE OF CAR [SEEMED BOTH FRONT & REAR WHEELS] CAME ON WHENEVER I STEERED TO THE LEFT. NO SOUND IF DRIVING STRAIGHT OR TO RIGHT. CHECKED UNDER MINIVAN FOR LOOSE ANYTHING. SAW NOTHING. FELT TIRES AND STEEL WHEELS FOR HEAT, IF BRAKES ARE WEARING OR STICKING. FELT UNIFORM TEMPERATURES ON ALL TIRES AND WHEELS. CONDUCT MY BUSINESS IN HARTFORD, CT. DROVE HOME TO BRONX COUNTY, NY WITH PASSENGER. PICKED UP FAMILY OF 4 KIDS, 2 PARENTS TO DRIVE TO MOTHER-IN-LAW IN QUEENS COUNTY. DROP OFF PASSENGER AND PROCEED TO ROUTE 87 SOUTH. LEAVING ROUTE 87 SOUTH [MAJOR DEEGAN HIGHWAY] ONTO EXIT RAMP FOR ROUTE 95 NORTH [CROSS BRONX EXPRESSWAY EASTBOUND] IN STOP & GO TRAFFIC AROUND 7:30 PM THERE WAS A CLUNKING SOUND GOING FROM RIGHT FRONT WHEEL TO CENTER TO LEFT FRONT OF CAR. I STOPPED & CHECKED UNDER CAR WITH ELECTRIC LANTERN FOR BROKEN STRUT OR TIE-ROD. SAW NOTHING. DROVE ON ROUTE 95, OVER WHITESTONE BRIDGE TO QUEENS. PARKED VAN. ON 1/1/2005 [SATURDAY] AROUND 1:00 AM I DRIVE FAMILY BACK TO HOME IN BRONX COUNTY. TWO STREETS FROM HOME A CLUNK SOUND AGAIN, GRABBING WHEELS. DROP OFF FAMILY AT 1:30 A.M. DRIVE VEHICLE TO NEIGHBORHOOD GAS STATION FOR CHECK-UP THAT SATURDAY MORNING. UNABLE TO CONTACT SERVICE DEPT OF LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP DUE TO NEW YEAR'S WEEKEND. ALSO, NOTE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON CONTINUOUSLY. WILL CONTACT WARRANTY PHONE NUMBERS & PERSONNEL & KIA DEALERSHIP AM OF MONDAY, 1/3/2005 PRIOR TO WORK COMMENCING. FRONT & REAR SUSPENSION COMPLAINTS. UPDATED 07/24/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREE