2007 Kia Rondo Complaint Log

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: I WORK FOR THE MIDWEST CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT AS THE PUBLIC EDUCATION SPECIALIST. I AM A CERTIFIED CAR SEAT TECHNICIAN WITH OVER 2 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE. ON THURSDAY APRIL 23, 2009, I WAS HELPING PUT A CAR SEAT IN THE CENTER REAR SEAT OF HER KIA RONDO. AFTER A TRIAL RUN, I REALIZED THE SEATBELT NEEDED TO BE ADJUSTED IN ORDER TO ACCOMMODATE FOR MORE ROOM FOR TIGHTENING. I TWISTED THE WEBBED PORTION OF THE BUCKLE APPROXIMATELY 3-4 TIMES TO ALLOW FOR MORE ROOM TO TIGHTEN THE BELT ONTO THE CAR SEAT. I WAS TAUGHT THIS IN MY CAR SEAT TECHNICIAN CLASS AND IT IS A COMMON PRACTICE THAT MANY CAR SEAT TECHNICIANS USE. AFTER BUCKLING IN THE LATCH PLATE, I BEGAN TIGHTENING THE SEAT BELT ONTO THE CAR SEAT. ONCE FORCE WAS APPLIED, A SEAM OF STITCHING ON THE SEATBELT WEBBING RIPPED APART RESULTING IN THE TWO SIDES OF THE WEBBING NO LONGER BEING ATTACHED TO ONE ANOTHER. BECAUSE OF THE UNCERTAINTY OF THE CENTER SEAT BELT, I ADVISED HER TO PUT THE CAR SEAT ON THE OUTBOARD POSITION. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS. *TR

HAD JUST BOUGHT THE CAR FROM DEALERSHIP, BEFORE I TOOK CAR OFF LOT, I NOTICED CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. RETURNED INSIDE AND LEFT CAR AT DEALERSHIP FOR 1 WEEK AND WHEN RETURNED, FOUND OUT GAS CAP WAS CAUSE. APPARENTLY AFTER IT CLICKS TO SHOW IT'S LOCKED, IT MUST BE CLICKED A FEW MORE TIMES TO KEEP CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FROM COMING ON. I NOTICED 1 WEEK LATER THAT WHEN PARKING OR EMERGENCY BRAKE IS DEPRESSED, THE BRAKE DOES NOT ENGAGE. CALLED DEALERSHIP AND 1 WEEK LATER ADJUSTMENT WAS PERFORMED. I PERSUADED DEALERSHIP TO COVER THE COST SINCE I HAD JUST BOUGHT THE CAR FROM THEM 2 WEEKS EARLIER. *TR

2/5/09, I HAD AN ACCIDENT, MY 2007 KIA RONDO, PURCHASED NEW IN 12/07 RAN OFF THE ROAD, SLID ON ICE HEAD ON INTO A TREE. MY SEATBELTS DID NOT LOCK UP AND MY AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY LEAVING ME WITH A BROKEN BONE BETWEEN MY 1ST AND 2ND VERTEBRA AND A SEVERELY INJURED RIGHT ARM AND MY HEAD HIT WITH WINDSHIELD. MY CAR WAS TOTALED, MY SON RECEIVED 9 STITCHES TO HIS CHIN AND I AM FACING AT LEAST 2 SURGERIES. KIA'S RESPONSE IS THAT THE AIR BAGS SHOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED. HOW CAN SOMEONE HIT A TREE, DEAD CENTER, COMPLETELY TOTALING OUT THE VEHICLE AND THE MANUFACTURER MAKE SUCH A STATEMENT? THE POLICE, HOSPITAL, TREATING PHYSICIANS AND MY AUTO INSURANCE COMPANY ALL AGREE, ALONG WITH MYSELF, THAT HAD THESE SAFETY FEATURES WORKED I WOULD HAVE NEVER SUSTAINED SUCH INJURIES. *TR

ON 2/5/09 I WAS THE DRIVER OF A 2007 KIA RONDO THAT I PURCHASED NEW AT THE END OF 2007. I SLID ON ICE AND HIT A TREE HEAD ON AT AN ESTIMATED SPEED OF 30 MPH. MY 14 YEAR OLD SON WAS THE PASSENGER. I AUTOMATICALLY EXTENDED MY RIGHT ARM OVER MY SON AND THE NEXT THING I KNEW WAS THAT I WAS LAYING BACK IN MY SEAT CRYING THAT I HAD BROKE MY ARM. I BELIEVE THAT I WAS KNOCKED OUT FOR A FEW SECONDS AS I DO NOT RECALL HITTING THE WINDSHIELD. IT IS MY BELIEF THAT I WAS THROWN FROM MY SEAT INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD. I HAD A KNOT ON MY HEAD AND THE NEXT DAY DURING THE DAY LIGHT, IT WAS CLEAR THE WINDSHIELD WAS HIT AS IT WAS SHATTERED. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT ALL AND MY VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. I ALSO DID NOT HAVE ANY SEATBELT MARKS AND BOTH MY SON AND I WAS WEARING A SEATBELTS. MY SON SUSTAINED A CUT TO HIS CHIN THAT REQUIRED 9 STITCHES, I SUSTAINED A NECK INJURY THAT I AM STILL HAVING TREATMENT FOR AND I HAD A SEVERELY TORN ROTARY CUFF THAT REQUIRED SURGERY AND SOME METAL PIECES TO PUT IT BACK TOGETHER. AS A DIRECT RESULT OF THIS ACCIDENT, I AM NO LONGER ABLE TO WORK, I HAVE HAD TO FILE FOR DISABILITY, AM REQUIRED TO TAKE EXTENSIVE PAIN MEDICATIONS, HAVE LOST MY HOME, MY CAR AND MOST IMPORTANTLY MY ABILITY TO WORK AND SUPPORT MY FAMILY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA RONDO. THERE IS A CRACK ON THE FRONT WINDSHIELD OF THE VEHICLE. IT APPEARS TO BE THE EXACT SHAPE OF THE VEHICLE DEFROSTER ON THE DASHBOARD. THE CRACK STARTED ON THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE PASSENGER SIDE AND WITHIN SIX MONTHS IT HAD EXPANDED TO THE DRIVER SIDE. THE CRACK GOES ALONG THE FRONT BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE WINDSHIELD. THE OWNERS ARE CONCERNED IT MAY BREAK OR WATER MAY LEAK THROUGH. THEY STATED THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO SORT OF INCIDENT THAT MAY HAVE STARTED THE CRACK AND BELIEVE IT IS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP PREVIOUSLY BUT THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 21,000. UPDATED 03/12/10. *LJ UPDATED 09/21/10

I WAS INVOLVED IN A SIDE IMPACT ACCIDENT. THE OTHER DRIVER RAN A RED LIGHT AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH STRIKING MY VEHICLE IN THE FRONT DRIVERS DOOR. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE ACCIDENT RESULTED IN C6 AND C7 BEING FUSED. THIS RESULTING IN A PERMANENT DISABILITY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA RONDO. HE HAD CONTINUOUS ELECTRICAL FAILURE WITH HIS VEHICLE. DURING THE RECENT FAILURE, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED OUTSIDE HIS GARAGE IN ORDER TO SAVE HIS HOME FROM BEING BURNED. THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE ABS MODULE AND THE BRAKES FAILED. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, HE ALSO LOST POWER ON THE ELECTRICAL INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ENTIRE FUSE PANEL AND WITHIN THREE DAYS, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER STATED THAT HE WOULD NEED AUTHORIZATION FROM THE MANUFACTURER BEFORE REPAIRING THE VEHICLE A SECOND TIME. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED HIM THAT THEY HAD THE RIGHT TO MAKE THE REPAIRS; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT REFUSED SINCE PREVIOUS ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 22,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,485. UPDATED 02/05/09. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED. WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKE, IT WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE WIRING IN THE DASH SHORTED OUT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. UPDATED 02/10/09. *JB

I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2007 KIA RONDO ON NOV.13,2006. BEFORE THE CAR HAD 20,000 MILES ON IT, I HAD TO REPLACE 2 KUMHO TIRES(ORIGINAL ON CAR) BECAUSE METAL WIRES WERE SHOWING THROUGH. I CONTACTED KUMHO ABOUT THEIR WARRANTY AND WAS TOLD IT WAS DUE TO THE WAY I DROVE AND IT WAS NOT COVERED. THEY DID NOT SEE THE TIRES AND YET MADE THIS DECISION! NOW I JUST HAD 2 MORE TIRES PUT ON THE CAR 2 DAYS AGO. THE TIRE I INTENDED TO REPLACE HAD METAL WIRES SHOWING THROUGH. WHEN MY HUSBAND BROUGHT THE TWO KUMHO TIRES HOME THAT THE DEALER TOOK OFF-WE NOTICED THE TIRE THAT SHOWED NO VISIBLE WEAR ON THE OUTSIDE HAD A LARGE PILE OF RUBBER FRAGMENTS INSIDE. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION WE NOTICED THAT THE TIRE WAS WORN ON THE INSIDE AND THAT METAL WIRES WERE SHOWING THROUGH. I WILL BE CONTACTING THE MANUFACTURER TOMORROW MORNING BUT EXPECT A RUN AROUND LIKE LAST TIME. ACCORDING TO THE TIRE DEALER WHO CHANGED OUT MY TIRES-KUMHO TIRES ARE CHEAP, CRAPPY TIRES. *TR

PURCHASES A BRAND NEW 2007 KIA RONDO THREE MONTHS AGO. CAR PULLS TO THE RIGHT. CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER TWO TIMES TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. THE FIRST TIME THE DEALER CLAIMED TO HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM. WHEN DRIVING HOME THE CAR STILL PULLED TO THE RIGHT. TOOK THE CAR IN AGAIN. WAS TOLD THE ALIGNMENT WAS OUT OF SPECS AND THEY SAID THEY FIXED IT. CAR STILL PULLS TO THE RIGHT. *TR

PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2007 KIA RONDO 3 MONTHS AGO. AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING FOR 6 HOURS OR LONGER THE BRAKES SQUEAL UPON PUTTING LIGHT PRESSURE ON THEM. TOOK CAR TO THE DEAL AND WAS TOLD THIS IS NORMAL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA RONDO. ON EIGHT SEPARATE OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ICON ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DRAG AS IF THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HAD BEEN ENGAGED. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HAD TO BE RELEASED IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO CORRECT ITSELF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TWICE WITH NO RESOLUTION. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,646 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,900. UPDATED 7/3/08 *CN THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND BELIEVED THE PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE MAY HAVE CAUSED THE ACCIDENT. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS NOT SURE HOW THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED. SHE STATED SHE ATTEMPTED TO PASS A SLOW MOVING VEHICLE AND THE NEXT THING SHE KNEW, SHE SWERVED INTO THE MEDIAN. UPDATED

HELLO, I HAVE A 2007 KIA RONDO LX 4 CYLINDER. FROM THE DAY OF THE PURCHASE THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE SOMETIMES MAKES NOISES AND DURING THE RAIN THE NOISE IS MORE APPARENT. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES FOR THIS REASON AND THEY COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT THE ISSUE WAS. ALSO ONCE THE ESC LIGHT WAS BLINKING AND I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AGAIN AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. THE ESC SENSOR IS GOING TO BE REPLACED NEXT WEEK. WHAT CONCERNS ME IS THAT I WAS INFORMED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS MAY NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. LAST YEAR MY CAR WAS HIT FROM THE BACK TWICE WHILE IT WAS AT A STOP POSITION. IN THE SECOND ACCIDENT IT WAS A HIT AND RUN, I WAS IN A TRAFFIC ON A HIGHWAY AND THE OTHER DRIVER HIT MY CAR FROM THE BACK. HE SCREAMED FROM HIS WINDOW "CHECK YOUR LIGHTS", NOW I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN THE RESULT OF THE BRAKE LIGHTS NOT WORKING CAUSING ANOTHER VEHICLE TO HIT ME. I WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND THE DRIVER AND WAS FORCED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS MYSELF. IT COST ME $1235.30, OUT OF WHICH $190.25 WAS USED TO ORDER A BACK BUMPER AND $10.68 FOR SIDE BRACKET AND $19.37 FOR RIGHT GUARD BRACKET AND I PAID TO THE ZOOM AUTO BODY SHOP(LOCATED AT 240 N. HILL AVENUE, PASADENA, CA 91106) $915.11. THE FIRST ACCIDENT WAS SIMILAR AND NOW I AM WONDERING WHETHER MY VEHICLE'S NON-FUNCTIONING BRAKE LIGHT COULD HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE AS WELL. THAT ACCIDENT COST ME $2461, LUCKY THE OTHER VEHICLE'S OWNER'S INSURANCE PAID FOR THAT. BOTH CASES ARE STILL OPEN. I WAS TOLD TO CONTACT YOU, HOPEFULLY, YOU CAN ASSIST ME SOMEHOW. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR UPDATED 02/04/10.*JB

DEFECTIVE ALUMINUM FACTORY WHEELS - 2007 KIA RONDO EX. I WAS DRIVING ON A FOUR-LANE DIVIDED HIGHWAY (U. S. HIGHWAY 11, SOUTHBOUND, 2 MILES NORTH OF KINSTON, NORTH CAROLINA). SPEED WAS APPROX. 55 MPH. I MOVED TO THE PASSING LANE TO OVERTAKE A TRACTOR TRAILER TRUCK. I IMMEDIATELY CAME UPON SOME ROAD DEBRIS IN THE PASSING LANE AND THE TIRES ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR DROVE OVER SOME OF IT . NONE OF IT APPEARED LARGER THAN 2X4 LUMBER. THE DEBRIS, PROBABLY ITEMS THAT FELL OFF OF A CONTRACTOR'S TRUCK, BENT BOTH WHEEL RIMS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE LETTING THE AIR OUT OF THE TIRES. I TEMPORARILY LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR. I GRABBED ONTO THE STEERING WHEEL TO STAY ON THE ROAD. I STEERED THE CAR TOWARD THE RIGHT LANE, AND COASTED UNTIL THE SPEED CAME DOWN BELOW 25 MPH. HAD I HIT THE BRAKES I BELIEVE THE CAR MIGHT HAVE ROLLED OVER. I PULLED OVER AND PARKED ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CALLED FOR HELP. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA RONDO. WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS ARE ON LOW BEAM, THE LIGHTS ONLY SHINE 100 FEET. THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO READ THE ROAD SIGNS. THE HIGH BEAMS OPERATED CORRECTLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,200. UPDATED 03/10/08. *LJ

MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AND O2 SENSOR WENT BAD ON A VEHICLE THAT HAD ONLY 3,000 MILES. AFTER A HALF OF A DOZEN TIMES IN THE SHOP, IT IS STILL NOT FIXED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA RONDO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FOR MORE THAN THREE YEARS THE CONTACT HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE HEADLIGHTS DIMMING AND FLICKERING ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURS WHEN THE RPMS ON THE VEHICLE CHANGES. THE MANUFACTURER HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THEY HAVE NO FIX FOR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER TOLD THE CONTACT THAT THIS FAILURE WOULD BE CORRECTED ON THE 2010 MODEL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE 20 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78000. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE HEADLIGHTS WERE ADJUSTED TO HIGH. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT KIA WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WITH THE 2010 MODEL AND WAS WORKING ON A FIX. THE TIRES WERE CUPPING IN THE REAR, THE REAR BRAKES, BATTERY AND BRAKE SWITCH HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT COME OUT OF PARK. THE DEALER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BRAKE PEDAL SWITCH. THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED. UPDATED EVOQ 02/28/11

MY KIA FRONT AIRBAGS DID NOT INFLATE WHEN I REAR-ENDED ANOTHER CAR IN FRONT OF ME ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON. THIS IS A BRAND NEW KIA RONDO LX. I SINCE WENT TO THE CHIROPRACTOR AND HAD X-RAYS RUN. MY NECK AND MY BACK ARE SHOWING DAMAGE AND REQUIRE TREATMENT. I THINK IF THE AIRBAGS HAD INFLATED PROPERLY, MY WHIPLASH WOULD HAVE BEEN LESSENED. I WOULD LIKE YOU TO CONTACT ME ASAP ON CELL PHONE [XXX] OR WORK PHONE [XXX] RE: THIS ISSUE. I THINK KIA IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS CAR'S MALFUNCTIONING AIRBAGS AND FOR MY INJURIES. MY CAR IS IN THE SHOP NOW FOR REPAIR. THE POLICE REPORT ALSO DETAILS THE LACK OF THE CAR'S AIRBAG INFLATING ON A SEVERE IMPACT. I AM GOING TO CONTACT THE NTSB AND DOT RE: THIS ISSUE AND HOPE YOU WILL HAVE A RECALL NOTICE ON THIS KIA RONDO ISSUE!!! [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR