NHTSA Complaint #10250845 — 2007 KIA SEDONA

THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPER LINKAGE EASILY COMES LOOSE, CAUSING LOSS OF FUNCTIONALITY FOR THE FRONT WIPERS. THE CAUSE IS THE NUT CONNECTING THE LINKAGE TO THE MOTOR COMING LOOSE AND POPPING OFF, DISENGAGING THE LINKAGE FROM THE MOTOR. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO THE SAME VEHICLE TWICE: THE FIRST TIME (EARLY 2008), WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO REPAIRED THE LINKAGE BUT REFUSED TO COVER IT UNDER THE VEHICLE'S BUMPER-TO-BUMPER WARRANTY, SAYING IT WAS CAUSED BY RUNNING THE WIPERS WHEN THEY WERE STUCK IN ICE. THE SECOND TIME (DECEMBER 4, 2008), WE FIXED THE PROBLEM OURSELVES AFTER THE DEALER INFORMED US THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SEE THE VEHICLE UNTIL THE FOLLOWING MONDAY. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE. WE WERE FORTUNATE THAT BOTH INCIDENTS OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, BUT THE PROBLEM COULD EASILY OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, CAUSING LOSS OF VISIBILITY. AFTER THE FIRST OCCURRENCE, THE DRIVER WAS CAREFUL TO CLEAR ICE FROM THE WIPERS BEFORE RUNNING THEM. NEVERTHELESS, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. KIA RECALLED OTHER VEHICLES FOR A SIMILAR PROBLEM BACK IN 1999. *TR