NHTSA Complaint #11115013 — 2006 KIA SEDONA

OUR 2006 KIA SEDONA BEGAN EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENT NO CRANK CONDITION THAT LEFT US STRANDED MULTIPLE TIMES WITH KIDS IN THE CAR AND TOWING EXPENSES TO A MECHANIC ONLY FOR THE CAR TO START RIGHT UP AFTER GETTING THERE. THIS LEAVES THE MECHANICS SCRATCHING THERE HEAD AND SENDING IT BACK TO US. WE KNOW NOW THAT THE CONDITION IS CAUSED BY HIGHER THAN NORMAL RESISTANCE ACROSS THE BURGLAR ALARM RELAY LOCATED IN THE IN PANEL MODULE. THIS IS A NON-SERVICEABLE PART BY KIA AND IF FOUND DEFECTIVE REQUIRES THE ENTIRE MODULE TO BE REPLACED AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE PART IN AND OF ITSELF IS CHEAP BUT BECAUSE IT IS A NON SERVICEABLE PART THE ENTIRE PANEL HAS TO BE REPLACED AT ABOUT $500. PLUS THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT THE DEFECTIVE PART WILL MALFUNCTION AGAIN. THE ISSUE WAS FIXED ON LATER MODELS MADE AFTER 2007. DESPITE KIA ACKNOWLEDGING THAT IT IS A PROBLEM, DUE TO NOT ENOUGH FIELD COMPLAINTS THEY REFUSE TO RECALL THE DEFECTIVE PART AND FIX THE MISTAKE ON 2006/2007 KIA SEDONA'S. THIS CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME AND LEAVE YOU STRANDED. TURNING OFF YOUR CAR AT THE GAS PUMP, TURNING OFF YOUR CAR ON THE SIDE OF THE STREET, TURNING OFF YOUR CAR AT THE SUPERMARKET, OR ANYWHERE COULD MEAN YOUR LEFT STRANDED! KIA HAS SENT OUT A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN TO THEIR DEALERSHIPS EXPLAINING THE CUSTOMER CONCERN. THIS WAS INTENDED TO HELP TECHNICIANS DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER THIS DOES NOT RESOLVE THE ISSUE THAT THEY HAVE CAUSED FOR THE 2006 2007 SEDONA'S THAT WERE MADE WITH THIS NON-SERVICEABLE RELAY. THE BULLETIN CLEARLY STATES THAT IF THE PART IS FOUND DEFECTIVE THAT THE WHOLE PANEL HAS TO BE REPLACED HOWEVER KIA DENIES ANY RESPONSIBILITY IN FIXING THE MISTAKE DESPITE FIXING IT AND LATER MODELS. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT IT IS BECAUSE THERE'S NOT ENOUGH FIELD COMPLAINTS FOR THEM TO WORRY ABOUT IT.