NHTSA Complaint #11416596 — 2018 KIA SPORTAGE

INITIALLY, I ATTEMPTED TO CRANK THE VEHICLE BY PRESSING THE STARTER BUTTON. I HEARD A CLICK AND NOTICED QUICK FLASHING LIGHTS FROM THE DASH, THEN NOTHING HAPPENED EXCEPT CLICKS, NOISES AND MINIMAL LIGHT AS IF THE BATTERY WAS DOWN. THERE WAS NOTHING ON INSIDE THE CAR TO CAUSE BATTERY FAILURE. THE BRAKE WAS HARD TO PRESS DOWN TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THEREFORE, I OPTED TO JUMP-START THE CAR AND IT IMMEDIATELY POWERED UP. ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD FLASHED ON A FEW TIMES THEN THE LETTERS AFLS APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE RADIO/GPS DISPLAY CONTINUED TO FLICKER AND FLASH ON AND OFF NONSTOP AS I CONTINUED TO DRIVE. I ALLOWED THE CAR TO RUN FOR 5 MINUTES AT HOME THEN PROCEEDED TO DRIVE. AFTER DRIVING FOR 25 MINUTES ON THE HIGHWAY, I TURNED TO PARK, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED THEN UNLOCKED IN THE PROCESS. I STOPPED TO CHECK TO MAKE SURE THAT I WAS IN THE PROPER GEAR, STILL IN DISBELIEF THAT THIS STEERING WHEEL LOCKING WAS OCCURRING. I PROCEEDED TO BACK UP THE VEHICLE WHEN THE WHEEL LOCKED AGAIN. I CHECKED TO SEE IF THE CAR WAS STILL RUNNING AFTER THAT HARDER LOCK/JERK IN THE PARKING LOT. I STOPPED THE CAR, PLACED IT IN PARK WITHOUT TURNING OFF THE ENGINE TO GATHER MYSELF BECAUSE THIS WAS A VERY FRIGHTENING AND ALARMING EXPERIENCE TO SAY THE LEAST. I DIDN'T TURN OFF THE ENGINE BECAUSE I WAS UNCERTAIN IF IT WOULD RESTART CONSIDERING WHAT OCCURRED EARLIER WITH JUMP-STARTING THE CAR. I DROVE BACK HOME MAKING A CONCERTED EFFORT TO DRIVE SLOWLY ON THE STREET. I THEN ENTERED THE OPEN RAMP ONTO THE HIGHWAY. I TOOK EXTREME PRECAUTIONS AND HOPING THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT LOCK AGAIN WHICH MAY HAVE FURTHER CAUSED MY FAMILY AND I TO BE PLACED INTO HARM'S WAY, NOT TO MENTION THE OTHER DRIVERS TO BE IN DANGER ON THE ROAD. I HOPE THAT IMMEDIATE ATTENTION WILL BE GIVEN TO THIS MATTER TO AVOID FURTHER TERROR AND TREPIDATION, ANY INJURIES AND/OR LOSS OF LIFE.