1996 Kia Sportage

NOTE: THIS INFORMATION WAS REPORTED TO THE CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION (CPSC), WHO INDICATED THAT IT WAS NOT IN THEIR JURISDICTION, AND DIRECTED ME TO REPORT IT TO THIS (NHTSA) GROUP. THERE APPEARS TO BE NO FORM OR EMAIL NOTIFICATION METHOD ON THIS SITE FOR NON-VEHICLE NOTIFICATIONS, PLEASE CONTACT ME TO DIRECT ME TO AN ALTERNATE WAY TO REPORT THIS FAILURE: THE KARRITE DUOSPORT CARTOP CARRIER IS A MOLDED PLASTIC "SHELL" TYPE CARRIER, SIMILAR TO THE YAKIMA AND THULE LINES. ON JULY 4, 2000, WHILE TRAVELING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS, THIS CLOSED AND LOCKED CARRIER, OPENED, AND ALLOWED EQUIPMENT TO FLY OUT ONTO THE ROADWAY OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THIS RESULTED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT, INVOLVING SEVERAL CARS. YOU MAY CONTACT ME FOR FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AT THE SPEED OF 40 MPH AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT INFLATE. THE IMPACT BETWEEN MY CHEST AND THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT ME WITH BRUISED RIBS. I AM VERY APPRECIATIVE THAT THE ACCIDENT OR THE INJURY WAS NOT SEVERE. IF YOU CAN LOOK INTO A COUPLE OF MY CONCERNS, 1) AT WHICH SPEED SHOULD THE AIR BAG DEPLOY, 2) IF IT WAS TO DEPLOY AT 40MPH THEN WHAT SHOULD BE MY NEXT STEP TOWARDS KIA TO VERIFY THAT THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN TO ANY ONE AGAIN. *AK

THE WIND LEAKS WERE AN ONGOING ANOYANCE AND I HAD TO TAKE THE CAR BACK SEVERAL TIMES AND FINALLY GAVE UP WITH AN IMPROVEMENT BUT NO FIX. THE DEALER SAID KIA ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM BUT HAD NO FIX. THE SHIFT SENSOR AND SOLENOID FAILURE MADE THE CAR SO IT COULD NOT SHIFT GEARS AND THE KEY COULD NOT BE REMOVED FROM THE CAR! THIS WITHIN DAYS OF THE WARRENTY EXPIRATION AND AND WITH LESS THAN 16K MILES ON THE CAR. THIS SHOULD BE CHECKED TO SEE IF ITS SYMTOMATIC AND A RECALL STARTED IF IT IS.

HELP!! I HAVE TRIED FOR 6 WEEKS NOW TO CONTACT KIA WITH LITTLE SUCCESS, AFTER A MONTH OF TRYING A FACTORY TECH FINALLY CAME OUT TO LOOK AT MY CAR AND DID CONFIRM SOME OF THE PROBLEMS, INCLUDING THE RANDOM ACCELRATION, HE PROMISED TO CONTACT ME WITHIN 4 DAYS AND IT HAS NOW BEEN 3 WEEKS, I HAVE LEFT MESSAGES AND FAXES WITH THEIR CONSUMER AFFAIRS DEPT AND AS OF YET HAVE RECEIVED NO RESPONSE. THESE ARE SOME OF THE PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD: TRANSMISSION REPLACED 3 TIMES, 4 TRANS HAS PROBLEMS, REAR SHOCKS BROKEN - MANUF. REFUSES TO REPAIR, SEATBELT RANDOMLY DISENGAGED, FRONT RIGHT DOOR CONTINUALLY JAMMED, CATALYTIC CONVERTER CAME LOOSE, ENGINE RANDOMLY REVES AND ACCELERATES, ENGINE WOULD NOT IDLE AT ALL, ENGINE IDLES ROUGHLY, MOTOR FAN BROKE LOOSE AND EMBEDDED IN RADIATOR, POWER MIRRORS SWITCH DEFECTIVE, DOME LIGHT INOPERATIVE, LEFT REAR DOOR VERY STIFF, HUB CAPS FALLING OFF, WIND SHIELD MOTOR DEFECTIVE, ANTILOCK BRAKE SENSOR DEFECTIVE, RIGHT REAR WINDOW DEFECTIVE, ECT....

REMOTE CONTROL WINDOW MOTOR BLEW IN THE RIGHT PASSAGER SEAT FRONT EXHUAST PIPE FELL FROM THE MANIFOLD, A/C BLOWER SWITCH FAILED,A/C FILTER BROKE,3 TIMES BRAKES HAD TO BE ADJUSTED, HEAD LIGHT BLEW, BOTH OXYGEN SENSORS HAVE BEEN REPLACE DUE TO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON, CURRENTLY CAR IS STILL IN THE SHOP FOR THE 21 DAY CONCERNING THE CHECK ENGINE ISSUE.