A small number of 2016 Kia Optima owners will be returning to their dealerships to repair a problem affecting the airbag system. According to the defect report filed with the NHTSA, the secondary chemical enhancer required for deployment of the second stage frontal airbag was not loaded during manufacturing. As a result, the airbag will not deploy. Continue reading
Category Archives: Kia
2011 Kia Forte Transmission Fluid Leak
Kia will be contacting the owners of certain 2011 Kia Forte vehicles equipped with automatic transaxle, about a problem affecting the power train system of their cars. According to the defect report, that automatic transmission fluid cooler hose may have been improperly cured during the manufacturing process and could leak. If sufficient fluid is lost abnormal transmission shifts with noise and/or illumination of the Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) will occur. The problem could result in complete loss of vehicle movement. Continue reading
2014-2016 Kia Soul Steering Problem
Kia will be asking the owners of certain 2014-2016 Kia Soul and Soul EV vehicles to return to their dealerships to repair a problem affecting the steering system. According to reports filed with the NHTSA, the adhesive used to secure the steering pinion gear to the gear assembly may have insufficient strength. The pinion gear could separate from the assembly, resulting in loss of steering and an increased risk of an accident. Continue reading
2014-2015 Kia Soul Acceleration Defect
Kia will be notifying owners of certain 2014-2015 Kia Soul and Soul Electric vehicles about a safety defect that could result in difficult acceleration. Due to bending of an unsupported section of the accelerator pedal, the pedal could fracture if excessive force is applied. Field experience and testing indicates that such force has only occurred when stationary, but if drivers continue to operate their vehicle with this problem, it may increase the risk of an accident. Continue reading
2016 Kia Sorento Acceleration Problem
A defect affecting certain 2016 Kia Sorento vehicles could result in the illumination of the check engine light and/or electronic stability control indicator light. According to reports filed with the NHTSA, a capacitor on the accelerator pedal assembly may have been improperly soldered at the manufacturer. This problem could result in a fault code indicating the senor circuit is open or shorted, forcing the vehicle into Limp Home Mode or Forced Idle Mode. If this happens, the driver will be permitted only minimal vehicle acceleration, increasing the risk of an accident. Continue reading
2014 Kia Forte – Fire Risk Due To Electrical Defect
Owners of approximately 90 thousand 2014 Kia Forte cars will be contacted by the manufacturer to return to their dealership to repair a cooling fan thermal issue. According to reports on the NHTSA website, under certain circumstances, a cooling fan resistor could overheat and melt creating the risk of a fire. Continue reading
2011 Kia Sorrento CA Lemon Law Buyback
The Law Offices of Delsack & Associates, P.C. recently helped the owner of a 2011 Kia Sorento obtain a vehicle buyback under the California Lemon Law. Prior to contacting us, he had given his dealership eight (8) opportunities to repair the defects and had complained to the service manager many times, but the vehicle was still not repaired. The defects included engine and other manufacturing non-conformities which caused the vehicle to stall under normal operating conditions and repeated problems with the ignition system and electrical system which would result in a no start condition and the check engine light to remain on. Continue reading
2014 Kia Soul Steering Problem
Hyundai/Kia will be contacting owners of certain 2014 Kia Soul subcompacts about a safety problem affecting the vehicles steering system.
According to reports filed with the NHTSA, an improper application of thread locking adhesive during the manufacturing process could result in the pinion gear separating from the steering gear assembly. If this happens, drivers could experience loss of steering and an increased chance of an accident. Continue reading
