NHTSA Complaint #10513456 — 2013 KIA OPTIMA

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE TO COMMUTE EVERY 3 WEEKS FROM PHOENIX TO LAS ANGELES AND TRAVEL I-10. I CURRENTLY HAVE 12,000 MILES AND THE LAST 3 TIMES I MADE THE TRIP I HAVE REPEATEDLY ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHEN TRAVELING 70+MPH FROM BLITHE, AZ TO BANNING, CA. THE CAR DRIFTS, AND IS WORSE WITH WIND GUSTS, IT IS CLOSE TO IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP FROM BLOWING OFF THE ROAD. ONLY WITH IMMEDIATE REDUCTION IN SPEED BELOW 70-MPH IS THERE IMMEDIATE CONTROL OF THE CAR. I CONTACTED KIA MOTOR COMPANY AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF THIS HAPPENING BEFORE AND TAKE IT TO MY LOCAL DEALER. I CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER AND WAS TOLD THEY HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF THIS PROBLEM. I CALLED A DEALER IN THE INDIO, CA AREA AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF A PROBLEM AND TO BRING IT IN ON MY NEXT TRIP TO CA. I WAS TOLD THAT WITH THE ELECTRONIC STEERING AND ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL I MIGHT NEED ADJUSTMENT OR MAYBE THERE IS A SOFTWARE UPGRADE FOR THE COMPUTER INSIDE THE CAR. THEY WOULD CONFIRM THAT "ALL COMPARATIVE VALUES" ARE SET PROPERLY WITH THE "BLACK BOX." *TR