NHTSA Complaint #10384874 — 2011 KIA OPTIMA

SINCE THE DAY THE CAR WAS DRIVEN OFF THE LOT, ON THE EXPRESSWAY, IT PULLED TO THE LEFT. BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER, AND AN ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED. DEALER DECLARED THAT IT WAS FIXED. ON THE DRIVE HOME, THE PULL TO THE LEFT PERSISTED AS IT HAD DONE PREVIOUSLY. RETURNED THE CAR TO THE SAME SERVICE DEALER. ANOTHER ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED. I SPECIFICALLY REQUESTED THAT THE DEALER PERFORM A THOROUGH TEST DRIVE TO ENSURE THAT THE ISSUE WAS REPAIRED. THE GENERAL MANAGER PROMISED THIS WOULD HAPPEN, AND ALSO PROMISED THAT THE SERVICE MANAGER WOULD RIDE ALONG WITH ME UPON PICKING UP THE CAR TO ENSURE THAT THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED. WHEN I WENT TO PICK UP THE CAR, THE SERVICE MANAGER HAD LEFT FOR THE DAY, AND WHEN I DROVE HOME, IT WAS STILL PULLING LEFT. RETURNED THE CAR TO SERVICE. UPON CALLING THE SERVICE DEPT. TO SEE IF THEY HAD FOUND A PROBLEM, THE SERVICE MANAGER DECLARED THAT THEY HAD FOUND A BAD TIRE, AND HAD SWAPPED IT TO THE BACK OF THE CAR. I HAD TO ARGUE WITH THE MANAGER THAT I DID NOT WANT A BAD TIRE LEFT ON MY CAR. HE FINALLY CONCEDED, AND SAID HE WOULD TAKE A NEW WHEEL AND TIRE OF A NEW CAR AND SWAP IT WITH THE BAD ONE. DROVE THE CAR HOME. SEEMED A LITTLE BETTER, BUT STILL WAS PULLING LEFT, AND JUST FELT UNSETTLED, WITH VERY POOR ON CENTER FEEL. CONTACTED KIA CONSUMER RELATIONS. THEY SENT OUT 2 ENGINEERS WHO VALIDATED THE HANDLING PROBLEMS. REPLACED LEFT STRUT, TIGHTENED REAR SUSPENSION, TALKED ABOUT SOFTWARE UPGRADES TO THE ELECTRONIC ASSIST POWER STEERING, BUT NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT THEY DID TO IT. DROVE THE CAR HOME. CAR PERFORMED BETTER THAN IT EVER HAD, BUT NOW THE STEERING WHEEL IS COCKED LEFT, AND THE MORE I DRIVE IT, THE MORE IT PULLS LEFT AGAIN, AND IS REVERTING TO THE VERY POOR ON CENTER FEEL. CONSUMER RELATIONS IS STARTING TO GET IRRITATED WITH MY CONTINUING PHONE CALLS. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN TO THE SHOP 4 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AND IT IS STILL NOT FIXED. I FEEL I DESERVE COMPENSATION UNDER THE LEMON LAW. *TR