NHTSA Complaint #10182316 — 2001 KIA RIO

I HAVE A KIA RIO. STOCK #06520901,CASE 0067, MODEL K32B NA3,YEAR 2001, VINKNADC1234165XXXXX RA, MOTOR ASD21403 COLOR BI. THE COMPACT BASE THAT HOLDS THE RADIATOR SPLIT AT THE CENTER. THE TWO SIDES OF THIS BASE BROKE IN TWO. MY HUSBAND TALKED TO VARIOUS PERSONS WHO ALSO HAVE A KIA. TO HIS SURPRISE, THEY ALL TOLD HIM, "THESE CARS MUST HAVE COME WITH A DEFECT BECAUSE THE SAME BASE IS ALSO BROKEN ON MY CAR". SO FAR, 4 PERSONS OWING A KIA HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM . I FELT I SHOULD REPORT THIS BECAUSE AS I WAS RUNNING ON THE HIGHWAY THE CAR STARTED TO MAKE A CACKLING SOUND. I STOPPED THE CAR AND CALLED MY HUSBAND. HE ARRIVED AND CHECKED THE CAR AND SHOWED ME THE BROKEN BASE. IT SPLIT AT THE CENTER AND BROKE OFF OF BOTH SIDES OF THE BASE. I WAS REALLY HAIR RAISED BECAUSE IF ANY THE PARTS INVOLVED WOULD HAD COME DOWN, DEFINITELY, IT WOULD HAVE CAUSE A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT. PLEASE LET ME KNOW BECAUSE MY HUSBAND SENT THE PART TO BE SOLDERED BUT I FEEL UNSECURED. *NM