NHTSA Complaint #11128829 — 2011 KIA SORENTO

SINCE I BOUGHT THE 2011 KIA SORENTO THE TRANSMISSION OR ENGINE TENDS TO STALL IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING LIKE NOT CHANGING GEARS, GETS LOCKED, JERKS BACK AND FORTH TILL IT UNLOCKS OR CHANGES GEARS WHILE AT THE SAME TIME SLOWING OR STOPPING CAR IN IT'S TRACKS. TWICE I HAVE HIT MY HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL, HAVE HAD SEAT BELTS LOCK TIGHT AGAINST ME AND MY PASSENGERS WHEN IT LOCKS WHILE TRYING TO CHANGE GEARS. IT HAPPENS AT LEAST 3-6 TIME A YEAR SINCE I HAVE HAD THE CAR. I HAVE REPORTED IT TO MY SERVICE DEALERSHIP KEARNY PEARSON KIA, 7303 CLAIREMONT MESA BLVD, SAN DIEGO, CA 92111 AND THEY HAVE NOT FOUND ANYTHING WRONG. THESE PAST TWO YEARS THE GEARS LOCKING IS GETTING WORSE AND THE CAR SLOWS DOWN INSTANTLY FROM DRIVING ON THE FRWY 65 MPH DOWN TO 35 MPH INSTANTLY ALMOST HAVING CARS HIT ME FROM BEHIND. SAME FOR DRIVING ON THE STREET GOING 35-40 MPH DROPPING TO 5-10MPH AND STOP/JERK/GO/STOP/JERK AND ALMOST HAVING CARS BEHIND ME CRASH INTO ME. I HAVE BEEN BLESSED TO HAVE HAD FAST REACTING DRIVERS BEHIND ME OR NO DRIVERS. THIS LAST INCIDENT LAST MONTH WAS SO POWERFUL THAT I SMACKED THE STEERING WHEEL AND THOUGHT I HAD GOTTEN HIT BUT DIDN'T. MY CHEST GOT TIGHT AS IF I WAS HAVING A HEART ATTACK FROM THE FORCE AND MY KIDS CRIED FROM THE WHIPLASH. THIS WAS YET THE STRONGEST. ALSO, SINCE 2011 I HAVE HAD 7 - 10 INCIDENTS OF SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE AIR VENTS, SMILING LIKE FIRE. I TURN OFF THE VENT AND IT CONTINUES FOR 10MIN THEN GOES AWAY. I AM NO MECHANIC BUT IF I HAD TO GUESS I WOULD SAY SOMETHING WITH THE AIR-CONDITIONING BEING HIGH FOR LONG PERIODS AND THEN WHEN IT GETS TURNED DOWN OR OFF SEEMS TO ACTIVATE THESE THINGS ESPECIALLY THE GEARS LOCKING. JUST MY OBSERVATION. I HOPE YOU CAN GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS BECAUSE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE I FEAR FOR MY LIFE AND THOSE WITH ME OR AROUND ME WITH THIS CAR. YOU JUST DON'T KNOW WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN NEXT.