NHTSA Complaint #10476496 — 2011 KIA SORENTO

THE INCLINE CONTROL LIGHT & THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON FOR NO REASON. I WAS PARKING MY VEHICLE ON A FLAT SURFACE AND WHEN THESE LIGHTS WERE ON I WAS UNABLE TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK OR REVERSE. I HAD TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. I THEN HAD TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, THE CONTROL AND TRACTION LIGHTS WERE NOT ON AND I WAS ABLE TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK. I WENT DIRECTLY TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT I MADE THE PURCHASE FROM AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT IN THE BRAKE LINE WHERE THERE IS A SHORT IN THE LINE THAT CAUSES THE COMPUTER TO THINK THE BREAK IS NOT PRESSED DOWN ENOUGH, THEREFORE CONFUSING THE COMPUTER INTO THINKING IT SHOULD APPLY THE INCLINE AND TRACTION CONTROL AND PREVENTS THE VEHICLE FROM BEING PUT IN REVERSE OR PARK. I WAS TOLD THAT BY TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF WHILE IN NEUTRAL LIKE I DID WILL SOMETIMES RESET THE COMPUTER. I WAS TOLD THERE IS ALSO A LITTLE BOX THAT HAS A VERY SMALL SLIT IN IT AND IF I COULD FIND SOMETHING TO FIT INTO IT THAT WOULD GO DOWN ABOUT 6 INCHES, THAT WOULD ALSO RESET IT. HOWEVER, THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF WHAT ONE WOULD USE TO DO THAT WITH. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO NEED TO FIX THIS VERY COMMON PROBLEM. I ASKED IF THIS WOULD EVENTUALLY MESS UP THE DRIVE SHAFT, COMPUTER SYSTEM, OR TRANSMISSION AND WAS ASSURED IT WOULD NOT. *TR