NHTSA Complaint #11321197 — 2006 KIA SEDONA

RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM KIA DATED 4/8/20 STATING HYDRAULIC ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT, WHICH CONTROLS ESC, TSC AND ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM, REMAINS ENERGIZED WHEN VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF AND AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT INCREASES THE RISK OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE EVEN WHEN CAR IS TURNED OFF. THE PARTS ARE NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE TO FIX THIS. IN THE MEANTIME, I AM TO PARK MY VEHICLE OUTDOORS AWAY FROM OTHER VEHICLES AND STRUCTURES. I CALLED MY LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP TO INQUIRE IF THEY KNEW WHEN THE REPAIR WOULD BE AVAILABLE AND THEY DID NOT EVEN KNOW OF ITS EXISTENCE. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID KIA BLOWS THINGS OUT OF PROPORTION AND SCARES PEOPLE AND THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHEN AND IF THE REPAIR PARTS WILL BE IN. THIS IS AN UNACCEPTABLE RESPONSE. KIA NEEDS TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE DEALERSHIPS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND THEY NEED TO FIX IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO AVOID INJURY TO CONSUMERS. I AM LEFT WITH A VAN THAT HAS THE RISK OF CATCHING ON FIRE. I DO NOT KNOW IF IT IS ONLY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF OR I AM AT RISK WHEN I AM DRIVING THE VAN. DUE TO BEING LAID OFF FROM THE CURRENT COVID 19 CRISIS, I AM NOT IN A POSITION TO BUY OR RENT A NEW CAR. ALSO, THERE IS NO PLACE TO PARK MY CAR IN MY HOME WHERE IT IS NOT NEAR ANOTHER VEHICLE OR STRUCTURE. I ALSO TRIED CALLING KIA'S CONSUMER ASSISTANCE CENTER, BUT THE NUMBER LISTED ON THE LETTER CONNECTS ME WITH ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND THERE IS NO CONNECTION FOR RECALL INFORMATION. *TR