NHTSA Complaint #737190 — 1997 KIA SEPHIA

I HAVE REPORTED THIS INTERMITTENT PROBLEM EVER SINCE I FIRST PURCHASED THIS CAR; HOWEVER, THE DEALER INSISTS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR SINCE THEY CAN'T DETECT THE PROBLEM WHILE IT IS IN THEIR POSSESSION. I HAVE REPORTED THE PROBLEM AT LEAST A DOZEN TIMES OVER THE PAST 3 YEARS, YET IT HAS SHOWN UP ON MY MAINTENANCE SLIP ONLY ONCE OR TWICE THAT I HAVE REPORTED IT. QUITE OFTEN, WHEN I START THE ENGINE (REGARDLESS OF WEATHER CONDITIONS OR WHETHER THE ENGINE IS COLD OR WARM) AND I TURN THE KEY, THE STARTER SOUNDS AS IF THE ENGINE IS ALREADY RUNNING AND I HEAR THAT GOD AWFUL GRINDING SOUND IN THE SELENOID. IT SOUNDS JUST LIKE THE ENGINE IS ALREADY RUNNING AND I TURN THE KEY AGAIN. I AM EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED WITH THE DEALER AND AM TIRED OF REPORTING THE PROBLEM, ESPECIALLY SINCE THEY DON'T SEEM TO WANT TO REPLACE IT. OF COURSE NOW, AFTER 3 YEARS, THE WARRANTY HAS RUN OUT AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR ANY REPLACEMENT. AT ONE TIME, ONE SALESMAN TOLD ME TO CONTINUE REPORTING THE PROBLEM BECAUSE KIA HAS RECEIVED COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND IF IT'S EVER RECALLED, IT WILL BE DOCUMENTED. HOWEVER, AS I STATED PREVIOUSLY, THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT BEEN RECORDING MY COMPLAINTS ON THE MAINTENANCE PAPERS SO IT STILL ISN'T DOCUMENTED. I JUST KEEP WONDERING WHERE I WILL BE AND HOW MUCH LONGER IT WILL BE BEFORE IT LETS ME SETTING SOMEWHERE. I REALIZE THE 800 # WILL COVER TOWING, ETC. BUT THAT'S NOT MUCH COMFORT WHEN YOU'RE A WOMAN ALONE AND STRANDED SOMEWHERE AND HAVE TRIED NUMEROUS TIMES TO CORREC THE PROBLEM BEFORE IT DOES LET ME STRANDED --- HOPEFULLY NOT IN A RURAL OR DESERTED AREA WHERE THERE ARE NO PHONES OR AT NIGHT WHEN I AM ALONE. WHAT MORE CAN I DO?! NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONE DIN SUMMARY. *AK