NHTSA Complaint #10321315 — 2008 KIA OPTIMA

I CALLED KIA ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WHEN LOCKED MY KEYS IN THE TRUCK OF MY 2008 KIA OPTIMA ACCIDENTLY. WHEN HE USED HIS INSTRUMENT TO OPEN THE DRIVER'S DOOR, THE ANTI-THEFT ALARM SOUNDED. HE WAITED UNTIL IT STOPPED AND ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE TRUNK WITH THE RELEASE BUT IT WOULD NOT OPERATE DUE TO THE CAR SHUUTING DOWN. WHEN I GOT IN THE VEHICLE AND CLOSED THE DOOR IT LOCKED AGAIN AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO GET OUT. I WAS LITERALLY TRAPPED INSIDE MY CAR. THERE IS NO WAY TO ACCESS THE TRUNK FROM THE INSIDE. YOU CAN ONLY FOLD THE BACK SEAT DOWN BY USING A RELEASE FOUND ONLY INSIDE OF THE TRUNK. IF I HAD BEEN ALONE OR THE DRIVER HAD LEFT, I WOULD HAVE BEEN TRAPPED INSIDE OF MY VEHICLE WITH NO MEANS OF EXIT. THE ANTI-THEFT DEVICCE MAY PROTECT THE CAR FROM BEING STOLEN BUT IT SURE DOES NOTHING TO PROTECT THE CONSUMER. WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF I HAD A BABY INSIDE WITH ME OR IT WAS 100 DEGREES OUTSIDE AND I COULD NOT UNLOCK THE DOORS TO GET OUT? I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR AND WAS PROMPTLY TOLD THAT IT WAS REALLY MY FAULT FOR LOCKING MY KEYS IN THE TRUNK IN THE FIRST PLACE. THE ALSO EXPLAINED THAT THE 'NO ACCESS TO THE TRUNK FROM THE INSIDE' IS TO PROTECT AGAINST THIEVES BREAKING INTO MY CAR AND ENTERING THE TRUNK THROUGH THE BACKSEAT AND STEAL SOMETHING SUCH AS MY SUITCASE. WELL, I THINK IT WOULD BE EASIER TO REPLACE A SUITCASE THAN MY LIFE OR THE LIFE OF A CHILD. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I DEFINITELY DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR!