NHTSA Complaint #753439 — 2001 KIA SEPHIA

ON BOARD DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM (CHECK ENG. LIGHT) MONITORS EMISSIONS, BUT CAN BE TRIPPED OFF BY A LOOSE FUEL FILLER CAP AS PER THE OWNER'S MANUAL EXPLANATION SEC. 4-32. IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM WHEN SUCH A LIGHT CAN COME ON WITH SUCH REGULARITY THAT IT IS LISTED IN THE VEHICLE OWNER'S MANUAL AND YET THE OWNER IS SUPPOSED TO HEED THE LIGHT EACH AND EVERY TIME REGARDLESS OF HIS OR HER DRIVING PREDICAMENT? SUCH AN OBVIOUSLY FAULTY SENSOR SYSTEM SHOULDN'T BE ALLOWED IN CARS. I WAS TOLD BY MY SERVICE DEALER THAT I WOULD BE CHARGED FOR ALL FUTURE "REPAIRS" SINCE I WAS NEGLIGENT IN SECURING THE FUEL CAP ACCORDING TO THEM. I HARDLY THINK THAT I WAS NEGLIGENT IN SECURING THE FUEL CAP THREE TIMES IN A FIVE MONTH PERIOD, IT REALLY ISN'T THAT DIFFICULT. I BELIEVE THE OBD IS FAULTY SINCE THE OWNER'S MANUAL EVEN POINTS OUT ITS OVERSENSITIVITY TO "LOOSE" FUEL CAPS. IT WOULDN'T SURPRISE ME IF IT ISN'T THE FUEL CAP AT ALL, BUT RATHER THE VAPOR RECOVERY VALVES FAILING AGAIN AND SETTING OFF THE OBD LIGHT.*AK