What 160 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Kia Forte Koup

FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELTS CLICK AS THOUGH THEY ARE CONNECTED PROPERLY, BUT THE BUCKLE DOES NOT STAY CONNECTED AND DISCONNECTS DURING NORMAL USE, STATIONARY, IN MOTION, TURNING OR GOING STRAIGHT.

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WHEN PULLING INTO THE GARAGE TO PARK THE CAR, I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO SLOW/STOP. THE CAR EXELLERATED VIOLENTLY AND THE CAR CRASHED INTO SOME STORED ITEMS AT THE BACK WALL. I INSTINCTIVELY STOMPED HARDER ON THE BRAKE AND TURNED THE KEY OFF. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN - THANK GOODNESS I WASN'T OUT IN TRAFFIC OR POINTED OUT MY DRIVEWAY, SINCE THAT IS A 60 FOOT PLUNGE TO THE LAKE! THE FRONT BUMPER WAS DAMAGED AND REQUIRES REPLACEMENT - WON'T KNOW WHAT OTHER DAMAGE WAS DONE INTERNALLY UNTIL THE REPAIR IS COMPLETED. I SEE ONLINE THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH OTHER KIA FORTE OWNERS, BUT KIA HAS NOT BEEN REQUIRED TO DO A RECALL "SINCE THEY CANNOT RE-CREATE THE CIRCUMSTANCES". PLEASE INVESTIGATE FURTHER BEFORE SOMEONE DIES.

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TOOK MY 2011 KIA FORTE INTO THE KIA DEALERSHIP TODAY BECAUSE THE ENGINE IS MAKING A TICKING SOUND. I HAVE HAD TWO OTHER MECHANICS IN RECENT WEEKS TELL ME IT IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE LIFTERS AND/OR THE PISTONS INSIDE THE ENGINE. THE KIA MECHANIC REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THERE IS A TICKING SOUND, BUT IN FORMED ME THE AIR BAG SENSOR IS MALFUNCTIONING AND I WILL HAVE TO PAY $1100 TO HAVE THE AIR BAG SENSOR REPAIRED BEFORE I CAN SELL THE CAR. ALSO, MY BRAKES WILL OCCASIONALLY MAKE A VERY LOUD 'THUMP' WHEN I APPLY THEM, BUT THE KIA DEALER CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THEM.

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I BOUGHT A 2011 KIA FORTE AND WAS HAVING ISSUES WHERE THE CAR SEEMED LIKE IT WAS DYING AFTER INITIAL STARTING OF THE VEHICLE AND SOMETIMES WOULDN'T GO INTO GEAR. AFTER DRIVING IT SEEMS TO CORRECT ITSELF AND I BROUGHT IT INTO KIA. THEY PUT IT UNDER A SPECIFIC CLAIM NUMBER INCASE THE WARRANTY WENT OUT IT IS STILL COVERED. A FEW MONTHS LATER THE CAR STARTED TO NOT GO INTO GEAR EVEN MORE AND ISSUE OF DYING SEEMS MORE PREVALENT. NOW KIA IS TRYING TO SAY IT COULD BE A NUMBER OF THINGS WHICH ARE NOT COVERED BECAUSE THE WARRANTY IS UP FROM FACTORY, AND THE EXTENDED WARRANTY THEY CLAIM DOESN'T COVER POWERTRAIN WHICH LAST TIME I CHECKED POWERTRAIN INCLUDES SHIFTER/GEAR SHIFTER. THEY ARE NOW REFUSING TO FIX THE ISSUE BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO CLUE WHAT THE ACTUAL PROBLEM IS BUT HAVE SEEN THE ISSUE FIRST HAND. THIS CAR HAS LESS THAN 70,000 MILES AND 70% OF THE TIME YOU CANT PUT IT INTO GEAR. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN SINCE IT COULD POP INTO ANY GEAR IT WANTED TO AND IF I AM DOING 70 MPH AND IT DECIDES TO GO INTO PARK IT WONT BE A FUN RIDE.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA FORTE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE DRIVER SIDE SHOULDER AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED AND THE SEAT BELT LOCKED. THE KEY FOB WAS DEPRESSED AT THE TIME OF DEPLOYMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 68,000. UPDATED 11/12/15*LJ; UPDATED 4/5/18*JB *TR

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IN A MULTI HIT CAR ACCIDENT, INITIAL 30 MPH FRONT END, THEN 20 MPH REAR HIT. SEAT BELTS DID NOT LOCK, AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY.

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MY SON WAS DRIVING THE CAR AT THE TIME AND THE STEERING LOCKED UP ON HIM TAKING HIM TO THE LEFT AND HE HAD TO JERK IT BACK VERY HARD TO UNLOCK IT TO STAY ON THE ROAD, THANK GOODNESS THERE WAS NO ON COMING TRAFFIC. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES AND IT ALSO LOCKS WHEN PUT IN PARK AND I CAN'T GET IT TO START OR GET STEERING WHEEL TO MOVE.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA FORTE. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATED AND CONTINUED TO DRIVE STRAIGHT ALTHOUGH THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED TO THE LEFT. THE CONTACT INDICATED ONCE THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED BACK TO THE RIGHT, THE STEERING WOULD OPERATE AS NORMAL. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 8/21/15*CN UPDATED 10/12/2017*CN

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THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM (A/C) IS CREATING MOLD IN THE VEHICLE. KIA WILL NOT REPAIR AND HAS REFUSED TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED A VERY STRONG ODOR WHILE RUNNING THE A/C AND WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. BOTH THE DEALER AND KIA MOTORS, USA HAVE DONE NOTHING TO ADDRESS THE MOLD ISSUE. BOTH ASPERGILLIUS/PENICILLIUM AND STACHYBOTRYS/MEMNOIELLA WERE FOUND IN GREATER ABUNDANCE IN THE INTERIOR AIR SAMPLE THAN IN THE EXTERIOR AIR SAMPLE. THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMPANY PERFORMING THE TEST RECOMMENDED THAT "THE DUCT SYSTEM IN THE VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE TREATED WITH A FUNGICIDE TO KILL EXISTING MOLD SPORES AND HELP PREVENT NEW MOLD GROWTH." THE TEST RESULTS WERE SHARE WITH KIA MOTORS OF AMERICA, IRVINE CALIFORNIA, AND NO CORRECTIVE MEASURES OR REPAIRS HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED BY KIA. I HAVE IDLED THE VEHICLE AND IT IS NO LONGER IN USE SINCE MY DAUGHTER DEVELOPED SERIOUS HEADACHES WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE WITH THE A/C ON. I HAD TO PURCHASE ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE KIA IS JUST SITTING IN FRONT OF MY HOME SINCE IT IS NOT DRIVE ABLE. THIS IS A SERIOUS HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUE AND I CANNOT GET ANY ACTION FROM KIA TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. MOLD IS NOT AN ISSUE JUST IN THE HOME AS WE HAVE FOUND IN THIS SITUATION. THE KIA TECHNICIANS WORKING ON THESE VEHICLES ARE INHALING MOLD, AND OWNERS DRIVING THESE VEHICLES ARE ALSO INHALING MOLD. GRANTED, IT IS NOT A MECHANICAL ISSUE, BUT IT DOES IMPACT THE SAFETY AND HEALTH OF DRIVERS OPERATING A VEHICLE WITH MOLD IN ET A/C SYSTEM. A MECHANIC HAS SUGGESTED THAT THE EVAPORATOR CORE IN THESE VEHICLES MAY BE DEFECTIVE, OR A DESIGN DEFECT ALLOWS MOISTURE TO ACCUMULATE IN THE A/C SYSTEM AND DEVELOP MOLD. THANK YOU, *TR

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CAR WOULD NOT COME OUT OF PARK. I HAD NO IDEA AT THE TIME WHAT THE ISSUE COULD BE BECAUSE IN THE KIA OWNERS MANUAL IT DOES NOT STATE THAT ONCE THE BRAKE LIGHTS GO OUT, YOU CAN NOT TAKE IT OUT OF PARK. CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR UNTIL I USED THE SHIFT LOCK RELEASE TO TAKE IT OUT OF GEAR. DROVE IT HOME AND FOUND A BLOWN FUZE (BRAKE LIGHT FUSE) .. REPLACED IT AND DROVE FINE (WHILE IT WAS DOING THIS THE ELECTRICAL SUSPENSION LIGHT CAME ON ALSO). FAST FORWARD 7 DAYS, WAS DRIVING OUT OF TOWN AND THE SUSPENSION LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE EXPRESSWAY AND I KNEW THEN THE ISSUE WAS BACK. SURE ENOUGH. HAD TO TAKE IT TO A KIA DEALERSHIP OUT OF TOWN .. THEY REPLACED MY FUZE, BRAKE LIGHT BULB AND BRAKE LIGHT ASSEMBLY SWITCH. FAST FORWARD A WEEK AND A HALF AND THE PROBLEM IS BACK ... KIA IS TELLING ME OVER $1000 AND I'M NOT GOING TO BE GUARANTEED THAT THIS WILL FIX THE PROBLEM. I'M A SINGLE MOTHER AND PURCHASED THIS CAR BECAUSE I FELT IT WOULD BE A SAFE CAR FOR ME AND MY SON AND NOW I'M STUCK WITH A CAR THAT IS NOT SAFE ... NO BRAKE LIGHTS ARE SERIOUSLY NOT SAFE AT ALL!!! *JS

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TRAN. WENTOUT STILL NOT WORKING. *TR

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2011 KIA FORTE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO INTERMITTENT ACCELERATION PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO MERGE ONTO THE HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE WOULD DROP TO AN IDLE. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE WOULD JUMP FORWARD, WITH THE SLIGHTEST TOUCH OF THE ACCELERATOR. THE CONSUMER HAS SINCE TRADED THE VEHICLE. *JB

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING, THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND AND THE CONTACT TO CRASHED INTO A LIGHT POST. THE VEHICLE THEN ACCELERATED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO A BUILDING. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

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THE WARNING INFORMATION IS NOT CORRECT ON THE SPARE TIRE ON MY 2011 KIA FORTE. IT'S LISTED IN KILOMETERS PER HOUR AND KILOMETERS ON THE WARNING STICKER. THERE IS NO INFORMATION FOR MILES AND MILES PER HOUR. THE CAR WAS BOUGHT NEW IN THE UNITED STATES, IT SHOULD HAVE THE CORRECT LABEL INFORMATION. *JS

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA FORTE COUPE EQUIPPED WITH NEXEN N5000 TIRES, SIZES P215/45/R17. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW. THE TIRE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOTISIC REVIEW AND THEY COULD NOT INDICATE THE CAUSE FOR THE BLOW OUT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,900. PAM

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I WAS HIT FROM BEHIND IN MY 2011 KIA FORTE AT 70 MPH WHILE I WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP. MY BRAKES DID NOT WORK AT ALL FOR ME TO STOP ON THE ROAD BEFORE I WAS PUSHED INTO AN 8FT DEEP DITCH, INTO BIG BRANCHES AND MY CAR THEN BOUNCED THROUGH A HUGE FIELD. MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AS THEY SHOULD HAVE, THE FRONT OF MY CAR IS DENTED IN FROM THE IMPACT OF THE DITCH AND THEN THE SEATBEAT DID NOT LOCK UP, IT THREW ME INTO THE STEERING WHEEL. I AM VERY UNHAPPY ABOUT THIS. THIS IS THE 3RD TIME I HAVE PERSONALLY HEARD ABOUT THE AIRBAGS NOT DEPLOYING IN A KIA AND THE SEAT BELT NOT LOCKING UP. *TR

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WHILE DRIVING AND ATTEMPTING TO GAIN SPEED TO ENTER THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY IN SAN ANTONIO TEXAS THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT CHANGE GEARS AND HAD TO PULL OVER. I THEN HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A KIA DEALERSHIP 10 MILES AWAY. I AM AWAITING A CALL FROM THEM REGARDING REPAIRS. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SITTING AT A COMPLETE STOP, ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING 60 MPH CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE IMPACT CAUSED THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE TO BE PUSHED FORWARD AT APPROXIMATELY TWO HUNDRED FEET AND INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEAD REST AND METAL BAR BECAME SEPARATED UPON IMPACT. THE CONTACT SUFFERED FROM WHIPLASH, NECK STRAINS, AND LACERATIONS TO THE LOWER BACK AND RIGHT LEG. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. IN ADDITION, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

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DRIVING IN A SHOPPING CENTER PARKING LOT. MADE A RIGHT TURN INTO AN ALLEY. VEHICLE THEN RAPIDLY ACCELERATED THROUGH THE ALLEY AND THEN SMASHED INTO THE TREE. CAN'T REMEMBER IF BRAKES WERE APPLIED OR NOT. IT ALL HAPPENED TO QUICKLY. KIA FORTE WAS TOTALED AND DRIVER WAS HOSPITALIZED WITH EXTENSIVE INJURIES (FOOT BROKEN, HAND WAS BROKEN, VERTIBRAE DAMAGE) HOSPITALIZED FOR APPROX. 5 DAYS AND NURSING HOME FOR APPROX. 10 DAYS. LAST VISIT TO SURGEON FOR SMASHED FOOT IN 4/2013. *TR

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LIVING ONLY 3.7 MILES FROM MY WORK I DRIVE TO WORK 2 TIMES DAILY, MON- FRI, ROUND TRIP. I COME HOME FOR MY LUNCH HOUR. NEVER BEING ABLE TO DRIVE FASTER THAN 20-30 MPH DUE TO THE ROADS & BUSYNESS OF THEM DURING THAT TIME I HAD NEVER HAD A PROBLEM BEFORE. I HAD NOTICED PRIOR TO MY ACCIDENT THAT AT TIMES MY 6 SPEED 2011 KIA FORTE KOUP WAS VERY RESISTANT TO PUT IT INTO 1ST GEAR. ALMOST AS IF IT WAS LOCKING THE SHIFTER OUT. HAVING IT LOOKED AT BY A KIA DEALERSHIP, THEY CLAIMED IT WAS JUST "USER ERROR"...PERHAPS MY FOOT WASN'T PRESSED ALL THE WAY DOWN ON THE CLUTCH OR B/C I'M A WOMAN? THIS WAS NOT MY FIRST MANUAL CAR! SO AS I LEFT MY HOUSE FOR WORK AFTER LUNCH I NOTICED THAT EVERY TIME I UPSHIFTED MY CAR DID THIS JERKING THING, ALMOST AS IF THE BRAKES WERE WORKING WHEN THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN. I TOLD MYSELF WHEN I GET TO WORK (IN 8 MINS) I WOULD CALL MY BROTHER WHO IS A MECHANIC. I DIDN'T GET MY CAR TO WORK SAFELY. I ENDED UP REAR ENDING A TRUCK WHO ROLLED FORWARD INTO A NEW CAMARO, EVERYONE WAS OK THANK GOD! AS I APPROACHED THE STOP LIGHT W/3 CARS STOPPED AT THE RED LIGHT ALREADY. I PROCEEDED TO SLOW DOWN .3 MILES FROM THE LIGHT & IT SEEMED AS IF IT WAS SLOWING DOWN IN SLOW MOTION. WHEN I REALIZED MY BRAKES WEREN'T ACTUALLY SLOWING THE CAR DOWN FROM 28MPH, I DID EVERYTHING I COULD TO STOP BY CAR BEFORE CRASHING. I TRIED DOWN SHIFTING AS WELL AS SLAMMING DOWN ON THE BRAKES. IT WAS AS IF MY BRAKES WERE NON EXISTENT. IF I HAD TIME LEFT I WOULD HAVE YANKED UP ON THE E BRAKE...I WAS ONLY 1.2 MILES FROM MY WORK! NO AIRBAGS WENT OFF NOR WAS MY CAR TOTALED. I PAID CASH FOR THIS CAR IN 2011 & SINCE HAVING WRECKED I'VE FELT IT WAS NOT SAFE FOR MY FAMILY TO DRIVE. AFTER FIXING THE REPAIRS & PAYING MY DEDUCTIBLE I TRADED THE CAR IN. I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW CAR WHICH I NOW HAVE A CAR PAYMENT ON. I HOPE THAT THIS ISSUE CAN BE DISCOVERED & RESOLVED BEFORE IT HURTS ANYONE SEVERELY. *TR

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I WAS STOPPED ON THE FREEWAY AND REAR ENDED THEN PUSHED INTO A PKUP IN FRONT OF ME AND MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MY VEHICLE ENDED UP BEING TOTALED OUT DUE TO THE EXTENSIVE REAR AND FRONT END DAMAGE. THE CAR THAT HIT ME WAS SKIDDING AND TRAVELING AT APPROX 30-35 MPH. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 TO 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND THE ODOMETER READ 40 MPH. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OR REVERSE. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED DURING OR AFTER THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 24,000.

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WHEN GOING 60 ON THE HIGHWAY THE CAR SUDDENLY DROPPED DOWN TO 40 AND I HAD TO PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY. CAR WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. UPON RECIEVING THE CAR AGAIN IT WOULD JERK AND STALL WHEN ACCELERATING. CAR WAS THEN TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND A "RELEARN" OF THE TRANSMISSION WAS PERFORMED. THIS HAS NOT STOPPED THE PROBLEM AND HAS MADE IT WORSE. IT NOW JERKS WHEN STOPPING AND WHEN ACCELERATING AND PEEDS OF 5 MI/HR OR MORE. AS WELL AS WHEN FIRST SHIFTING THE CAR OUT OF PARK. *JS

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TL* TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, SHE VEERED INTO THE OPPOSITE LANE AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE IMPACT WAS TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF BOTH VEHICLES. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER WAS INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL SALVAGE YARD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THE ACCIDENT WAS BEING INVESTIGATED. UPDATED 7/26/12 *CN UPDATED 08/06/12

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT WAS DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL AND MOVED THE GEAR SHIFTER INTO PARK WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A CURB. THE FAILURE RECURRED, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A TREE. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED LURCHING AND HESITATION WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1000. UPDATED 04/10/12*LJ UPDATED 04/23/12

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