NHTSA Complaint #756045 — 2001 KIA SEPHIA

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY ON A SLIGHT INCLINE. I MADE SURE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, TURNED OFF AND I REMOVED THE KEY. I WENT INSIDE AND AN HOUR LATER I WAS INFORMED BY MY UNCLE THAT MY CAR WAS SITTING AT THE BOTTOM OF THE DRIVEWAY. WHEN WE WENT OUTSIDE MY CAR WAS IN NEUTRAL AND HAD ROLLED BACKWARDS DOWN THE DRIVEWAY. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED BACK UP THE DRIVEWAY I TRIED TO TAKE THE KEY OUT AFTER PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL, IT WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. I THEN PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND TRIED TO REMOVE THE KEY, IT AGAIN WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO REMOVE THE KEY. I THEN PUT THE CAR IN PARK, TURNED THE CAR OFF, AND REMOVED THE KEY. AFTER REMOVING THE KEY, I TRIED TO FORCE THE GEAR INTO REVERSE AND INTO NEUTRAL, IT WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TOO. I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE AND PULLED ON THE GEAR TO GET IT TO MOVE AND IT WOULD NOT. MY FATHER, AND INSURANCE AGENT, HAD INFORMED ME THAT A WHILE BACK THERE WAS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT IN SOME FORD VEHICLE'S. THE RESULT OF THE MANUFACTURER DEFECT WAS THAT THE TRANSMISSIONS WERE THROWING THEMSELVES INTO REVERSE. I HAVE SPOKEN TO MECHANICS AND THEY SAY THAT IT IS POSSIBLE FOR A VEHICLE WITH A TRANSMISSION DEFECT TO THROW THEMSELVES INTO NEUTRAL, BUT WHEN I CALLED AROUND TO DIFFERENT KIA DEALERS, THEY REFUSE TO BELIEVE ME AND TELL ME THAT IT WAS HUMAN ERROR. THERE IS NO WAY THAT I COULD HAVE REMOVED THE KEY IF THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN PARK. I AM AFFRAID THAT A CHILD MAY BE PLAYING BEHIND MY CAR, OR AN INDIVIDUAL MAY BE HARMED IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN AGAIN, SO IF YOU COULD PLEASE LOOK INTO IT, AND LET ME KNOW IF THERE IS ANYTHING ELSE THAT I CAN DO BESIDES SET MY PARKING BREAK. THANK YOU.*AK