NHTSA Complaint #10424453 — 2006 KIA OPTIMA

ON MY 2006.5 KIA OPTIMA, ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS MY SUN VISOR MECHANISMS HAVE BROKEN INTERNALLY, AND WOULD NO LONGER REMAIN IN THE UP POSITION, WHICH HAS BEEN A SAFETY CONCERN FOR ME THE PASSENGER SUN VISOR HAS BROKEN AT LEAST ONCE, AND THE DRIVER SIDE HAS BROKEN AT LEAST TWICE. THE FIRST 2 TIMES, THE SUN VISOR WAS REPLACED ENTIRELY UNDER WARRANTY. HOWEVER, ON THE 3RD TIME, I WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND HAD TO PURCHASE AND INSTALL A NEW ONE MYSELF. (PURCHASED ONLINE FOR $80 SHIPPED FROM A DEALER.) THIS DEALER OFFERS THE NEW SUN VISOR REPLACEMENT FOR A FAIR PRICE, DUE TO REPEATED REQUESTS, BUT MANY OTHER PARTS VENDORS, INCLUDING DEALERS AND SALVAGE YARDS, CHARGE OVER $100 FOR THE VISOR, EVEN IF USED AND TAKEN OFF A WRECKED CAR, AS THEY KNOW IT IS A FREQUENTLY NEEDED REPAIR. FORTUNATELY, IT WAS NOT DIFFICULT TO REMOVE AND REPLACE, AND I WAS ABLE TO DO THE WORK MYSELF. *TR