NHTSA Complaint #10278783 — 2004 KIA SEDONA EX

TO WHOM THIS MAY CONCERN: WE ARE A FAMILY OF 6 AND ON JULY 21ST OUR 2004 KIA SEDONA EX CAUGHT ON FIRE. WE HAD JUST DRIVEN IT 2 HOURS BEFORE WITH NO INDICATIONS OF A FIRE. WE HEARD A BLARING HORN AND LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW TO SEE THE NEIGHBOR RUNNING ACROSS THE STREET. WE STEPPED OUT OF THE HOUSE TO FIND OUR VAN IN FLAMES COMING FROM THE DRIVER SIDE. THE WINDOWS WERE ALL UP AND WE WATCHED THE FIRE DIE DOWN AND SMOKE FILL THE AIR. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND TOOK PICTURES AND MADE A REPORT. AFTER ALL THAT WAS SAID AND DONE WE BEGAN TO RESEARCH THE INTERNET AND FOUND A RECALL THAT WAS SENT OUT ON OUR VAN BACK IN NOV/DEC 2005. (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 05V463000) THE FIRE APPEARS TO HAVE STARTED IN THE FUSE BOX AREA. APPROX. A YEAR BEFORE THE INCIDENT WE HAD STARED HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT WORKING ON AND OFF. DUE TO NOT BEING UNDER WARRANTY ANY LONGER WE DECIDED NOT TO GET IT FIXED BECAUSE WE NEVER REALLY USED THE SEAT CONTROLS ON THAT SIDE MUCH. WE WERE UNAWARE OF ANY RECALL ON OUR VEHICLE; IF WE HAD BEEN WE WOULD HAVE DEALT WITH THIS MATTER MUCH DIFFERENTLY. IN ADDITION, WE HAD BEEN HAVING ISSUES FOR APPROX 9 MONTHS WITH THE BATTERY GOING DEAD. WE HAD REPLACED 3 BATTERIES IN 9 MONTHS AND OUR CD PLAYER STOPPED WORKING 3 MONTHS BEFORE THE INCIDENT. WE HAD BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE DEALERSHIP AFTER THE FIRE AND THEY INFORMED US THEY SUPPOSEDLY FIXED THE RECALL ON JANUARY 11, 2006; A FEW DAYS BEFORE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. WE WERE NEVER INFORMED OF THIS RECALL WHEN WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE OR SHOWN THE RECALL ON THE CAR FAX. THIS FIRE HAS NOW RESULTED IN OUR FAMILY VEHICLE BEING TOTALED OUT AND OUR FAMILY NOW BEING LEFT WITH NOTHING. WE APPRECIATE YOUR ASSISTANCE WITH THIS MATTER AND THANK YOU.*TR