NHTSA Complaint #10320351 — 2006 KIA SEDONA

AFTER HEAVY RAIN OR PROLONGED RAIN PERIODS, THE CARGO AREA IN THE BACK OF THE VAN SATURATES (FLOODS) WITH WATER. THIS WAS FIRST NOTICED WHEN THE VAN WAS PARKED FOR THE FIRST TIME OUTSIDE THE GARAGE DURING THE STORM OF THE END OF 2008 IN THE SNOHOMISH, WASHINGTON AREA. SINCE THEN, THIS PROBLEM PRESISTED UNTIL NOW. THE KIA DEALER, WHERE THE VAN WAS BOUGHT FROM AS NEW VEHICLE, ATTEMPTED TO FIX THE LEAK 4 TIMES. THE FIRST TIME THEY CLAIMED THAT THEY SEALED BODY LEAKS AT THIRD BRAKE LIGHT AND LEFT REAR WHEEL WELL, BUT THE LEAK SHOWD UP AGAIN AT THE CARGO AREA DURING THE FOLLOWING RAIN EVENT. THE SECOND REPAIR ATTEMPT, THE DEALER CLAIMED THAT THEY INSTALLED SOP REAR HATCH WEATHERSTRIP DUE TO DEFORMATION. AGAIN THE LEAK PRESISTED AND THE CARGO AREA WAS FLOODED LATER. THE THIRD ATTEMPT, THE KIA DEALER FOUND THAT THE REAR HATCH SEAL WAS NOT INSTALLED CORRECTLY, AND THEY CLAIMED THAT THEY CLEANED, RESEALED, AND RECHECKED AND NO LEAK. AGAIN THE LEAK RETURNED AGIN FLOODING THE CARGO AREA. THE DEALER CLAIMED THAT THEY FOUND A LEAK IN THE ROOF SEAM, AND CLAIMED THAT THEY CLEANED THE SEAM AND SEALED THE SEAM AND SEALED THE REAR SEAT BOLT HOLES AS THE FOURTH REPAIR. STIL THE LEAK RETURNED. A FIFTH REPAIR BY THE DEALER WAS REPLACING THE REAR HATCH SEAL. STILL THE PROBLEM OF THE LEAK EXISTS SATURATING THE CARGO. IN ADDITION, MOLD STARTED GROWING VISIBLE AROUND THE CUP HOLDERS ON THE SECON AND THIRD ROW OF THE DRIVER SIDE, AND THE DRIVER SEAT BELT IN THE AREA WHERE THE BELT SLIDES INTO IT'S COMPARTMENT. I FOUND IN THE LAST TWO MONTH A RUST STAIN IN THE DOME LIGHT COMPATMENT ABOVE THE FRONT SEATS. THE BATTERY DIES WITHIN SHORT PERIOGE OF TIME AS SHORT AS ABOUT 2 HOURS WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THE HIGH MOISTURE IN THE VAN CAUSED ELECTRICAL PROBLEM THAT EXHAUSTED THE BATTERY. COLDER WEATHER OUTSIDE THE VAN TENDS TO FOG THE WINDOWS TO THE POINT OF IMPAIRING VISIBILITY DUE TO THE HIGH MOISTURE AND CONDENSATION ON THE WINDOWS