NHTSA Complaint #10422395 — 2007 KIA SPORTAGE

MY COMPLAINT IS WITH KIA MOTORS AMERICA. THEY WERE REQUIRED TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THE 'STOP LAMP SWITCH' IN 2009 FOR CERTAIN KIA MODELS INCLUDING MY 2007 KIA SPORTAGE. I HAD MY VEHICLE SERVICED IN JUNE OF 2009 FOR THIS ISSUE. SINCE THEN THE "WARRANTY" EXPIRED ON THE PART AND IT IS NOW BROKEN AGAIN (I HAVE NO FUNCTIONAL BRAKE LIGHTS). THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THEY MUST CHARGE ME THE FULL $160.00 TO FIX IT. HOWEVER, THERE IS A BACK ORDER ON THE PART, SO I CANNOT DRIVE MY CAR LEGALLY FOR AT LEAST A WEEK UNTIL THE PART COMES IN. THIS IS CONCERNING, WHY IS THE STOP LAMP SWITCH CONTINUING TO FAIL? OBVIOUSLY SINCE THE PART IS ON BACK ORDER THERE SEEMS TO BE A BIGGER PROBLEM - THE RECALL SEEMS TO HAVE FAILED! I CONTACTED KIA MOTORS DIRECTLY TO SEE IF THEY WOULD HELP. THE RESPONDED ABSOLUTELY NOT, IT WAS MY PROBLEM BECAUSE IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. I WOULD HAVE TO INCUR THE EXPENSE. HOW DO I KNOW ONCE IT'S FIXED IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN. THERE SEEMS TO BE MULTIPLE SAFETY CONCERNS: 1) DRIVING WITH NO BRAKE LIGHTS AND BEING UNAWARE; 2) THE ESC MALFUNCTION CAUSES THE CRUISE CONTROL TO FAIL/NOT SHUT OF WHEN YOU PRESS THE BRAKE. I AM CONCERNED THAT PEOPLES SAFETY IS AT RISK. *TR