NHTSA Complaint #10811723 — 2011 KIA SORENTO

AFTER EXPERIENCING ISSUES WITH THE SHIFTER ASSEMBLY NOT PROPERLY LOCKING AND UNLOCKING MY DOORS AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO TAKE THE CAR OUT OF PARK. I HAD TO LITERALLY TURN OFF THE IGNITION MULTIPLE TIMES AND AFTER ABOUT 5-10 ATTEMPTS THE CAR WOULD LOCK THE DOOR AND GO INTO PARK. HOWEVER, I HAVE NOW BEEN EXPERIENCING ISSUES WITH THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR NOT UNLOCKING FROM THE OUTSIDE AND THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE IS ALSO LITERALLY CUTTING MY HAND AND NOT PROPERLY OPENING THE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED THE SC124 SHIFT ASSEMBLY DUE TO THE FEDERAL RECALL FOR THIS PART. THEY ALSO INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON SA203 INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE. BUT THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME $384.92 TO REPAIR THE DOOR LOCK.. (81310-2P000) $209.70 PART COST / AND $126.88 LABOR.. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY ABSURD.. THE PROBLEM IS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE BROKEN, MALFUNCTIONING SHIFTER ASSEMBLY AND ANY ASSOCIATED REPAIRS SHOULD BE COVERED AS WELL BY THE DEALERSHIP. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY ABSURD THAT AS A CONSUMER I SHOULD BE HELD FINANCIALLY LIABLE FOR REPAIR COSTS CAUSED BY A MECHANICAL FAILURE THAT OBVIOUSLY BROKE SEVERAL OTHER PARTS. NOT BEING ABLE TO PROPERLY ENTER AND EXIT MY VEHICLE IS A SAFELY ISSUE. I COULD VERY EASILY GET LOCKED INTO THIS CAR IF THIS ISSUE IS NOT PROPERLY REPAIRED AS THE DOOR LOCKING MECHANISM IS DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO THE ELECTRONIC SHIFTING ASSEMBLY. HOW AND WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO BE INCONVENIENCED OR PLACED IN DANGER BECAUSE A MANUFACTURER CHOOSES TO PICK AND CHOSE WHICH PARTS IT CHOOSES TO REPAIR AS A RESULT OF THEIR POORLY MANUFACTURED DEFECTIVE PARTS.