Consumer Complaint Detail

KIA / OPTIMA / 2002

Recalls
1 Injured
Investigations
0 Death
Complaints
No Fire
Components - Details
NHTSA Complaint Number: 003277115 Incident Date: Jul, 14 2003
Consumer's City: LINCOLN Consumer's State: RI
Vehicle Transmission Type: AUTO Manufacturers Name: Kia Motors America
Model Name: OPTIMA Model Year: 2002
Vehicle Involved in a Crash: Yes Component's Description: Service brakes, hydraulic
Vehicle Involved in a Fire: No Persons Injured: 1
Vehicle's VIN#: KNAGD128825 Date added to File: May, 25 2021
Date Complaint Received: Jan, 14 2004 Complaint Type: CAG
Incident Reported To Police: No Purchase Date: -
Was Original Owner: No Anti-lock Brakes: No
Number of Cylinders: 0 Date of Manufacturer: -
Was Vehicle Towed: - Description of the Complaints: Purchased car brand new on april 30, 2003 - incident #1: july 15, 2003, i was traveling about 30-35 miles per hour exiting the mass pike exit at route 30. all traffic was slowing to exit - i applied the brakes - went all the way down - realized that the breaks were not working - panicked - impacted the vehicle in front of me. the airbags did not work. incident #2: august 8, 2003, when vehicle was repaired the owner of bucci's auto body took the car in the parking lot for a test drive. at about 15 miles per hour - when brakes were applied the front freezed up and the back pushed forward to create a lunge forward effect. i contacted kia motor america in irvine, ca and have a complaint file number. after about 1 month of doing nothing i demanded, on august 8th, that they tow the car from the body shop to boch kia (where the car was purchased)and check out the master cylinder/proportionate value system. they did so and on august 12th i was told that an engineer looked at the car and found nothing wrong. kia refuses to stand accountable and alledges that the vehicle has no problem. i am forced to drive a car that has bad brakes until 2 more incidents happen in order to proceed under the massachusetts lemon law. every model of kia in 2002 has had hydraulic as well as abs break failure. seems to me that kia needs to redesign the braking system - or - perhaps try this new tag line in advertising: kia - buy our car - just don't ever have to stop fast!