NHTSA Complaint #10701471 — 2008 KIA OPTIMA

THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR SUDDENLY DROPPED DOWN FROM ITS STOWED POSITION, DIRECTLY IN THE DRIVER'S LINE OF SIGHT WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 55MPH. THIS BLOCKED THE DRIVER'S VIEW OF THE ROAD AND OTHER TRAFFIC. THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO PUSH THE VISOR BACK UP TO THE ROOF, BUT IT WOULD NOT STAY AND AGAIN FELL, BLOCKING VISION. THE DRIVER ALSO TRIED TO PUSH THE VISOR UP TOWARD THE WINDSHIELD, BUT AGAIN, IT WOULD NOT STAY AND DROPPED BACK INTO THE LINE OF SIGHT. DURING THIS TIME, THE DRIVER WAS DANGEROUSLY DISTRACTED TRYING TO GET THE VISOR OUT OF THE LINE OF SIGHT, AND ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT. FINALLY, THE DRIVER HAD TO EXIT THE FREEWAY WHILE HOLDING THE VISOR WITH ONE HAND, AND THE OTHER HAND ON THE WHEEL, JUST TO BE ABLE TO SEE. THE CAR IS NOW UNSAFE TO DRIVE UNTIL THE VISOR IS REMOVED OR REPAIRED. A QUICK INTERNET SEARCH REVEALS THAT THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH 2006-2008 KIAS AND HAS BEEN ENCOUNTERED BY NUMEROUS DRIVERS. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND SHOULD BE FIXED BY KIA BEFORE SOMEONE IS HURT OR KILLED AS A RESULT OF A DEFECTIVE VISOR BLOCKING THE VIEW OF THE ROAD AND CREATING A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR