NHTSA Complaint #10274724 — 2003 KIA SEDONA

ONE BOLT HOLDING THE REAR SEAT BACK OF MY 2003 KIA SEDONA TO THE SEAT BASE HAS SHEARED OFF AND BROKEN ON BOTH OF MY REAR SEATS. THIS ISSUE OCCURRED AT OCCURRED AT SOMETIME PAST 124,000 MILES OF VEHICLE USE. THE PROBLEM WAS NOTICED WHEN THE FOLDED SEAT BACKS WERE PUT INTO THE UPRIGHT POSITION AND THE SEAT BACK WOULD NOT LOCK INTO PLACE, BUT INSTEAD MOVED BOTH UP AND DOWN AND FORWARD AND BACKWARD ON ONE SIDE WHILE THE OTHER SIDE WAS LOCKED IN PLACE IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION. THE PROBLEM WAS THEN VERIFIED BY REMOVING THE PLASTIC COVER ON THE SIDE OF THE SEAT HINGE ASSEMBLY AND VISUALLY LOOKING AT THE SHEARED OFF BOLTS. BOTH REAR SEATS HAVE EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED ON THE SIDE CLOSEST TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. FOR THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR SEAT THE SHEARING TOOK PLACE ON THE SIDE CLOSEST TO THE EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE (THE LEFT SIDE AS YOU FACE THE REAR OF THIS SEAT).AND ON THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR SEAT THE SHEARING TOOK PLACE ON THE SIDE CLOSEST TO THE EXTERIOR SIDE OF THE SEAT. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY CONCERN SINCE OUR CHILDREN COULD HAVE EXPERIENCED SIGNIFICANT INJURY IF THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT PRIOR TO DISCOVERY OF THE PROBLEM. THE FACT THAT NOT ONE BUT TWO BOLTS WERE SHEARED OFF ON TWO SEPARATE SEATS IS ALSO VERY TROUBLING. THE BOLTS ARE HOLDING ON BOTH REAR SEAT BACKS ARE SCHEDULED TO BE REPLACED ON JUNE 23, 2009 IF THE DEALERSHIP HAS THE PARTS. IT IS UNCLEAR WHETHER THE DEALERSHIP WILL COVER THESE REPAIRS UNDER THE PRODUCT WARRANTY DUE TO MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE EVEN THOUGH IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR