NHTSA Complaint #10205435 — 2005 KIA SEDONA

I OWN A 2005 KIA SEDONA LX THAT WAS PURCHASED APRIL 05'. I'D NOTICED OFF AND ON FOR THE PAST 3-4 MONTHS A MUSTY ODOR PERMEATING FROM THE VENTS WHEN USING THE AC. I INQUIRED WITH THE DEALERSHIP AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THIS VEHICLE HAD A FILTER FOR THE COOLING UNIT AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE OLDER KIA'S DO NOT HAVE FILTER SYSTEMS. IT WAS FURTHER EXPLAINED TO ME THAT I WAS PROBABLY SMELLING MOLD FROM CONDENSATION THAT BUILDS UP ON THE EVAPORATOR, WHILE USING THE AC, DRAINS INTO THE RESERVOIR AND OVER TIME MOLD FORMS. TO PREVENT THE CREATION OF MOLD THE VENT WOULD NEED TO BE CHANGED TO NORMAL AIR FLOW, MANUALLY, PRIOR TO SHUTTING THE VEHICLE OFF. TO REMOVE THE MOLD THE EVAPORATOR NEEDS TO BE CLEANED AND TREATED WITH AN ANTI-FUNGAL SPRAY. AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE AFORE MENTIONED SERVICE IS TO DIRECTLY SPRAY THE ANTI-FUNGAL AGENT INTO THE VENTS WHILE THE HEATER IS ON HOPEFULLY, KILLING THE MOLD AND ELIMINATING THE SMELL. I'VE CONTACTED KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS AGAIN INFORMED THAT THIS IS CLASSIFIED AS A "MAINTENANCE" ISSUE, WHICH ISN'T COVERED UNDER WARRANTY (COST ANTICIPATED $1,000). GOOD NEWS THOUGH, ALL KIA'S FROM 2006 THROUGH PRESENT DAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH A CABIN FILTER; AND AN AUTO-SWITCH FOR AIR FLOW, PREVENTING MOLD. I BELIEVE THIS IS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT AND HAD A FILTER SYSTEM OF SOME KIND BEEN USED THERE WOULDN'T BE AN ISSUE WITH MOLD. IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE MANUFACTURER TO INFORM THE CONSUMER OF THIS HAZARDOUS TO YOUR HEALTH ISSUE. SO WHILE I'M BEING TOLD THAT THIS ISN'T A MANUFACTURE PROBLEM, BUT RATHER A "MAINTENANCE" ISSUE, THE VENTS CONTINUE TO BLOW THE AIR DIRECTLY TOWARD MY FACE, THUS CAUSING HEALTH RISK EXPOSURE. I KNOW THAT PROPERTY AND CASUALTY INSURANCE COMPANIES HAVE GONE TO GREAT LENGTHS TO EXPLAIN SIGNS AND WARNINGS OF MOLD EXPOSURE AND REQUEST PREVENTATIVE MEASURES BE TAKEN SINCE THERE ARE MOLD EXCLUSIONS, SURELY MANUFACTURES SHOULD BE HELD TO THE SAME STANDARD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME OF LOOKING INTO THIS MATTER. *JB