NHTSA Complaint #10560512 — 2014 KIA CADENZA

THE "SMART KEY" FOR THIS VEHICLE IS A NEW DESIGN, RELEASED FOR THE 2013 KDM KIA K7, AND HAS A RELEASE BUTTON WHERE THE PLASTIC KEY/REMOTE PART MAY BE REMOVED TO EXPOSE A METAL CENTER-CUT KEY THAT CAN BE USED ON THE DRIVER'S DOOR, TRUNK, OR GLOVE COMPARTMENT. THE RELEASE WILL DETACH THE KEY WELL BEFORE THE BUTTON IS FLUSH WITH THE PLASTIC BODY, ALLOWING MANY DIFFERENT NORMAL MOTIONS TO RELEASE THE KEY. ON MANY OCCASIONS, JUST REGULAR MOVEMENT HAS RELEASED THE KEY AND IT HAS FALLEN OFF IN MY POCKET. ON ONE OCCASION, THE SMART KEY CAME OFF AS I REMOVED MY KEYS FROM MY POCKET AT MY HOUSE AND THE KEY BOUNCED UP UNDER THE CAR. HAD I NOT HAD THE OTHER KEY INSIDE THE HOUSE, I WOULD HAVE BEEN STRANDED BECAUSE IT BOUNCED OUT OF REACH. NOW IT HAS COME OFF AND FALLEN OUT OF MY POCKET AND IS LOST. ALL OF THESE INCIDENCES OCCURRED WITHIN A MONTH OF PURCHASE. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE THE KEY IS PLASTIC AND LIGHT ENOUGH THAT IT COULD FALL OFF WITHOUT BEING HEARD. IN SUCH A SITUATION, IT COULD BECOME IMPOSSIBLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE IN AN EMERGENCY, SUCH AS IF IT WERE NEAR A FIRE OR BLOCKING ACCESS FOR A FIRE TRUCK OR AMBULANCE. IT'S ALSO POSSIBLE IT COULD COME OFF UNNOTICED IN A PUBLIC PARKING LOT AND THEN ANYONE COULD FIND THE KEY, USE THE "ANSWER-BACK" OR PANIC FUNCTIONS TO LOCATE THE CAR THE KEY WENT TO, AND THEN STEAL THE CAR. A RUNNING CRIMINAL OR JUVENILE ON A JOY-RIDE COULD THEN CRASH AND CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH. THE KEY SHOULD BE REDESIGNED AND THE CURRENT ONE RECALLED. *TR