NHTSA Complaint #10228237 — 2002 KIA RIO

MY CAR PULLS HARD TO THE RIGHT WHEN I PRESS THE GAS PEDAL AND I HAVE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT TO COMPENSATE FOR THAT. AS SOON AS I PULL MY FOOT FROM THE GAS PEDAL, THE CAR IMMEDIATELY GOES TO THE LEFT AND I HAVE TO BRING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE NORMAL POSITION. THIS HAPPENS 100% OF THE TIME. I FEEL THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION SINCE I HAVE TO PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE TIMING IN ORDER TO KEEP THE CAR STRAIGHT AT HIGHER SPEEDS. I AM THE FIRST OWNER OF THE CAR AND THE CAR WAS PROPERLY MAINTAINED BY MY LOCAL MECHANIC (I HAVE RECORDS OF EVEN OIL CHANGES) AND EVEN AFTER ALIGNMENT AND TIRE CHANGE FOR THE PROBLEM BY A KIA DEALER, THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE. I'VE BEEN TO 2 DIFFERENT KIA DEALERS AND I WAS TOLD THIS IS A "NORMAL" SITUATION IN THESE KINDS OF CARS AND IT HAPPENS TO "ALL OF THEM AT HIGH MILEAGE". I ALSO TRIED TO REACH THE REGIONAL OFFICE AND AFTER NUMEROUS PHONE CALLS I DIDN'T GET A RESPONSE FROM THERE YET. THE CAR IS AT 98,000 MILES AND I'VE HAD THE PROBLEM FOR ABOUT MORE THAN 3 MONTHS. I BELIEVE KIA EITHER SHOULD HONOR THEIR 100K MILE WARRANTY OR IF IT IS HAPPENING TO "ALL OF THEM" AND IT IS "NORMAL" THEY SHOULD MOVE THEIR OFFICIAL WARRANTY LOWER (FOR EXAMPLE 80K MILES ETC.) OR THEY SHOULD WARN THE CONSUMER ABOUT THIS "NORMAL" SITUATION WITH BIG LETTERS IN THEIR ADVERTISEMENTS AND MANUALS. *TR