2018 Kia Niro

A FEW MONTH AGO, THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR HANDLE FELL OFF WHEN TRYING TO OPEN THE DOOR WHEN THE CAR WAS PARKED/STATIONARY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THE HANDLE AND COVER WERE REPLACED. TODAY, 10/22/2018, THE RIGHT REAR PASSENGER DOOR HANDLE POPPED OFF WHEN TRYING TO OPEN THE DOOR WHEN THE CAR WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. BOTH TIMES THE DOORS WERE UNLOCKED, AND THE PRESSURE APPLIED TO DOOR HANDLE WAS MINIMAL (NORMAL). THE HANDLE BROKE IN THE SAME PLACE AS THE FIRST. WHEN CONTACTING THE DEALERSHIP, WE ASKED IF THE OTHER HANDLE (RIGHT REAR PASSENGER) COULD ALSO BE REPLACED, AS THIS SEEMS TO BE A DEFECT. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID THAT THEY COULD INSPECT IT WHEN REPLACING THE OTHER HANDLE, BUT COULD NOT ORDER PARTS UNTIL IT IS DETERMINED THAT IT IS BROKEN. UPON RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET, WE FOUND THAT KIA HAD ISSUED TSB #TSBBOD180_R1 NHTSA ID #10151899, AND TSB #TSBBOD186 NHTSA ID #10151901 IN REGARDS TO THE DOOR HANDLES ON 2017/18 NIROS, AND SAID THAT ALL THREE PASSENGER HANDLES WERE TO BE REPLACED (NOT THE DRIVER). WE THEN CALLED BACK THE SERVICE DEPT AND INQUIRED ABOUT THE TBS, AND WERE TOLD THAT IT WASN'T FOR OUR VEHICLE. 2 HANDLES IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS WOULD WARRANT THE REPLACEMENT OF ALL HANDLES. WE DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY A RECALL HASN'T BEEN DONE, IF THIS IS AN KNOWN ISSUE, OR WHY OUR VEHICLE IS SUPPOSEDLY NOT INCLUDED IN THE TSB. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE, AS ACCESS CANNOT BE OBTAIN FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE.

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. AFTER SLOWED DOWN AND STOPPED COMPLETELY, SUDDENLY IT LOSE POWER TO RUN. TRYING TO STEP DEEPER THE GAS PEDAL, BUT NO REACTION AT ALL. AFTER TURN OFF AND TURN ON ENGINE FEW TIMES, IT CAN RUN AGAIN, BUT THIS TIME, THE REAL PROBLEM OCCUR. THE ENGINE SOUNDS SO LOUD..IT'S HYBRID CAR SUPPOSED TO SO QUIET (THAT'S WHAT SOUNDS USUALLY). LATER ON, I FOUND OUT HOW TO STILL CAN DROVE IT, BUT WITH HIGH RISK SUDDENLY LOSE POWER ON THE STREET. LATER FOUND OUT, WHEN THE CAR IN MOTION, THE HYBRID SYSTEM DIDN'T WORKED COMPLETELY, AND THE TRANSMISSION SOUND VERY ROUGH. EVERY TIME WHEN COME TO BRAKE OR WANT TO SLOW DOWN, CAN FEELS OBVIOUSLY AND HEARD THE TRANSMISSION IS VERY ROUGH MAKING CLUTCH LOUD SOUNDS. THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM ALSO TOTALLY NOT FUNCTION. WHEN IN STATIONARY, VERY FIRST WHEN STARTED THE ENGINE, MADE LOUD SOUNDS ON THE ENGINE, AND CAN'T REVERSED OR MOVE FORWARD, JUST STAYED IN PLACE. THE DASHBOARD DISPLAY "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM". AND ON THE MIDDLE SCREEN DISPLAYING, "LOW VOLTAGE DC / DC CONVERTER".

NO INCIDENT TO REPORT. DESIGN SAFETY ISSUE. THE DESIGN OF THE EMERGENCY LIFTGATE SAFETY RELEASE REQUIRES THE USE OF THE VEHICLE'S MECHANICAL KEY TO EXIT THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE REAR LIFTGATE IN AN EMERGENCY (SEE OWNERS MANUAL PAGE 4-26. THE NEED TO HAVE A KEY IN HAND UTTERLY DEFEATS THE INTENDED CONCEPT OF AN EMERGENCY RELEASE. THIS DESIGN WOULD BE COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE FOR THE TRUNK OF A SEDAN AND IT SHOULD ALSO BE UNACCEPTABLE FOR A HATCHBACK OR LIFTGATE. A RELATIVELY INEXPENSIVE FIX WOULD BE TO INSTALL A SIMPLE METAL LEVER IN THE DOOR THROUGH THE SLOT PROVIDED FOR INSERTING THE KEY. I HAVE HAD OTHER VEHICLES WITH SIMILAR EMERGENCY RELEASE MECHANISMS. I DO NOT KNOW HOW WIDE SPREAD THIS IS THROUGH THE INDUSTRY OR IF THERE ARE IN FACT DIFFERENT STANDARDS. I WOULD URGE NHTSA TO REQUIRE MANUFACTURERS TO MAKE ALL DOORS OPENABLE FROM THE INSIDE WITHOUT THE NEED FOR A KEY OR ANY OTHER TOOL, ESPECIALLY WHERE IT IS SPECIFICALLY IDENTIFIED AS AN EMERGENCY MEANS OF EXIT. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR EFFORTS TO KEEP THE DRIVING PUBLIC SAFE. SINCERELY (XXXXX) PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

I AM WRITING TO YOUR COMPANY IN REGARDS TO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WHICH HAPPENED ON THE DATE OF SATURDAY, MARCH 24TH AROUND 4PM EST. THIS ACCIDENT INVOLVED MY FAMILY AND I DRIVING THE NEW KIA NIRO HYBRID EX W/ TECH PKG WE PURCHASED FROM SANSONE DEALERSHIP ON NOVEMBER 24TH, 2017. MY VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN THE ACCIDENT ON ROUTE 22 HIGHWAY WHILE DRIVING EASTWARDS AT THE SPEEDS OF AROUND 35-36 MPH AS THERE WAS A TRAFFIC FLOW AND ALSO A TRAFFIC STOP OF CARS. OUR VEHICLE (KIA NIRO) WAS ABOUT 2-3 CAR DISTANCE BEHIND THE VEHICLE IN FRONT AND AS WE WERE TRYING TO COME TO A STOP AND WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT STOPPING EVEN WITH THE EQUIPPED AUTONOMOUS EMERGENCY BRAKE SYSTEM ON, IT DID NOT FUNCTION AS I STOMPED HARD ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, SAW THE BRAKE INDICATION ON THE DASH BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SLOWING DOWN. WE HAD TO BRACE FOR IMPACT AND REAR ENDED THE CAR IN FRONT OF US WHICH ALSO SLIGHTLY HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF HIM TOTAL OF 3 VEHICLES INVOLVED INCLUDING MINE. IN MY CAR I WAS THE DRIVER, MY SPOUSE WAS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SIDE AND MY 5 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS IN THE BACK SEAT IN HER CAR SEAT. THE IMPACT CAUSED MAJOR FRONTAL DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE AND BOTH FRONT AIRBAGS WERE DEPLOYED. MY WIFE SUSTAINED NECK INJURY WHICH WE HAD CHECKED OUT AT AN URGENT CARE CENTER THE NEXT DAY. I SUSTAINED SOME BRUISES ON THE LEG AND MY DAUGHTER WAS OK, BUT IN SHOCK. I HAVE INCLUDED PICTURES OF THE DAMAGED CAR, POLICE REPORT. THE FACT THAT WE PURCHASE A VEHICLE WITH UPGRADES TO SAFETY FEATURES THAT DID NOT WORK FOR KEEPING MY FAMILY AND I SAFE IS UNACCEPTABLE. VEHICLE IS TOTALED AND INSURANCE HAS STORED IT IN THE FOLLOWING FACILITY: IAA, 700 FEDERAL BLVD. CARTERET, NJ 07008-1008. TEL: 732-634-5601. STOCK# 22133296. THIS INFO WAS GIVEN VIA VOICEMAIL TO RYAN AT KIA CONSUMERS WITH CASE# 12671522.

WIRING HARNESS CHEWED UP BY RODENTS 6 WEEKS AFTER BUYING CAR NEW. ONLY 1900 MILES ON CAR. CAR WAS PARKED BETWEEN '01 TOYOTA TACOMA AND '04 F250 DIESEL, WHICH HAVE BEEN THERE SINCE NEW WITHOUT PROBLEMS, AS WAS A '06 VW DIESEL, AND A '12 VW DIESEL, ALSO PARKED THERE SINCE NEW. THE USE OF SOY BASED INSULATION ON THE WIRING HAS TURNED VEHICLES INTO ROLLING FOOD SOURCES. WITH CRITICAL FUNCTIONS NOW CONTROLLED ELECTRICALLY RATHER THAN MECHANICALLY (THROTTLE TRANSMISSION AND STEERING), THIS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD, NOT TO MENTION EXTREMELY COSTLY $2000 TO $5000 TO REPAIR. THIS IS OCCURRING AT EPIDEMIC RATES, AND IS ACROSS ALL MAKES. DON'T LET THIS TURN INTO ANOTHER "TAKATA".

ENGINE/TRANSMISSION BECOMES VERY SLUGGISH AS TEMPERATURES DROP AND THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO BE "ENGINE BRAKING" THE VEHICLE, MAKING COASTING NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE. PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL ALLOWED THE CAR TO NORMALLY COAST BUT ONCE BACK IN DRIVE, ACCELERATION WAS TAXING. THE VEHICLE LACKS ANY POWER AND IS RUINING THE FUEL ECONOMY TRYING TO GET THE CAR UP TO SPEED.