NHTSA Complaint #10995502 — 2013 KIA OPTIMA

THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLAMP HAS DIED. TO MAKE THIS REPAIR YOU NEED TO REMOVE THE RADIATOR EXPANSION TANK, A SMALL SCREW HOLDING THE REAR OF THE LIGHT COVER IN PLACE AND THEN THE ENTIRE LAMP ASSEMBLY BY RELEASING TWO SCREWS ON TOP AND CLIPS BETWEEN HE BODY AND THE LAMP ASSEMBLY FROM UNDERNEATH THE CAR. YOU NEED CAR RAMPS TO DO THIS APPARENTLY. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT CAN NOT BE DONE IN AN EMERGENCY. I CALLED MY DEALER AND THE LABOR IS ABOUT 45 MINUTES - TO CHANGE A LIGHT BULB! THIS IS FINANCIALLY IRRESPONSIBLE OF KIA TO DESIGN THE CAR SO POORLY. IT IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE IF YOU WERE DRIVING OVERNIGHT AND COULD NOT REPLACE THE BULB. HAVING TO MAKE A SERVICE APPOINTMENT TO CHANGE A LIGHTBULB IS A COMPLETELY UNNECESSARY AND RIDICULOUS SITUATION. IF THE WEATHER WERE INCLEMENT AND YOU CANNOT CHANGE THE BULB YOU ARE IN A REAL PREDICAMENT. THE NTSB SHOULD HAVE A POLICY THAT HEADLAMP REPLACEMENT ACCESS SHOULD BE IN A LOCATION THAT A 7TH GRADER COULD REASONABLE BE EXPECTED TO CHANGE THE BULB WITHOUT HAVING TO REMOVE SIGNIFICANT CAR COMPONENTS. SOMEONE COULD INCUR A BURN MOVING THE EXPANSION TANK IF THE CAR WERE NOT COOLED DOWN ENOUGH. THE ENTIRE PROCESS IS BEYOND COMPREHENSION.