2017 Kia Niro

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2017 KIA NIRO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE, A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD. THE CONTACT LOOKED OUTSIDE AND NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER TURN SIGNAL LIGHT AND THE MIDDLE OF THE VEHICLE WERE ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE BATTERY CAUSED THE FIRE AND DECLARED THE VEHICLE A TOTAL LOSS. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AND THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A CALL BACK. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 8,000.

LEASED THE 2017 KIA NIRO EX HYBRID CAR, LATE SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2017 AND DROVE HOME 10+ MILES. ODOMETER HAD 15 MILES AT START. LEFT THE CAR IN THE GARAGE FOR TWO DAYS AND ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE IT EARLY WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2017 AT 4AM. BACKING OUT OF THE GARAGE AND WAS STEERING ONTO THE STREET WHEN THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND STEERING WAS VERY DIFFICULT AND NOISY (GROWLING) - VIBRATING WHILE TURNING THE WHEEL ITSELF. PULLED BACK INTO THE GARAGE AND ALL WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. SHUT THE CAR OFF AND RETRIED SEVERAL TIMES. WAITED WITH THE CAR IDLING. BATTERY - HYBRID SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. LET THE CAR SIT AND LOOKED IN THE MANUAL FOR ANSWERS. TRIED BACKING OUT AGAIN AND ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AGAIN, AND STEERING WAS AGAIN VERY DIFFICULT. DROVE BACK INTO THE GARAGE. CALLED THE ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE NUMBER AND THE FLATBED TRUCK TOOK THE 2017 KIA NIRO EX BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE TOW DRIVER HAD MUCH TROUBLE GETTING THE CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE AND MANEUVERED ONTO THE FLATBED. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE TO US BECAUSE OF A CATASTROPHIC STEERING FAILURE. RECEIVED CALL FROM SERVICE AT KIA CERRITOS SAYING POWER STEERING MOTOR HAD TO BE REPLACED AND THAT KOREAN ENGINEERS WERE FLYING OUT TO LOOK AT THE CAR PERSONALLY. STILL DO NOT HAVE A CAR, BUT WE ARE IN LIMBO NOW ABOUT THE BRAND ITSELF. WE DO NOT WANT THIS CAR OR A KIA PRODUCT.