NHTSA Complaint #10644855 — 2007 KIA SPORTAGE

WHEN DRIVING THROUGH A PUDDLE OF STANDING WATER IN OCTOBER 2012, A 'SPLASH' OF WATER ENTERED THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUSED THE ENGINE IN MY 2007 KIA SPORTAGE TO STALL, RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF POWER ASSIST TO BOTH STEERING AND BRAKES. THIS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES IN 2012 AND 2013. BUT, IN 2014, IT HAS HAPPENED MUCH MORE OFTEN. ENOUGH TO FORCE ME TO TAKE MY SPORTAGE INTO A KIA DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF THEY COULD DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THEY TRIED TO RECREATE THE PROBLEM USING A HOSE, SINCE THEY DID NOT WISH TO HAVE THEIR EMPLOYEES TRY TO DRIVE IT IN ACTUAL RAIN. THEY WERE NOT SUCCESSFUL IN MAKING THE CAR STALL. THEREFORE, I WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE. RECENTLY, I HAVE LEARNED THAT THE IGNITION COIL IS WHAT IS GETTING WET AND STALLING THE CAR. IF KIA IS WILLING TO REPLACE THE IGNITION COIL, IT DOES NOT SOLVE MY PROBLEM. THE IGNITION COIL WILL STILL BE IN A VULNERABLE PLACE UNDER MY CAR. I WOULD EXPECT THE SAME TO HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE EVEN WITH A NEW IGNITION COIL. I CANNOT HAVE MY CAR STALL OUT ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY IN THE RAIN WHILE GOING 70 MILES AN HOUR. IT IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. I REFUSE TO ENDANGER MYSELF AND MY FAMILY, AS WELL AS OTHERS ON THE ROAD, WITH A PROBLEM THAT KIA IS AWARE OF. UNFORTUNATELY, I DO NOT HAVE ANOTHER VEHICLE AT MY DISPOSAL. LOOKING AT INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET, THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT KIA HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING BUT RECALL AND REPLACE THE IGNITION COIL. MY MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO FIND SEVERAL WEB SITES MENTIONING THIS DEFECT. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THEY CHECKED THEIR DATABASES AND DID NOT FIND ANY SUCH PROBLEMS/RECALLS ABOUT STALLING OR IGNITION COILS. LOSS OF BRAKING AND STEERING IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. DO I NEED TO WAIT FOR INJURY OR DEATH TO GET A RESOLUTION? *TR