SPOKANE, Wash. – A woman is frustrated after she says her vehicle, one she is making monthly payments on, is currently undrivable. She received an ‘interim notice’ letter from KIA warning her about an ‘important safety recall’ for her Kia Optima Hybrid, but currently, there is no timeline on when the part for the fix will be made available.
“I was scared having my children in the car,” Gabrielle Budano said of how she felt when she received the letter from KIA. “Myself too, driving to and from work, but I have kids, and I don’t want them in a vehicle that’s unsafe.
It’s been weeks since Gabrielle received that letter warning of the potential for a problem. Days later, while driving with her mother, problems the letter said may occur seemed to be happening. Her vehicle began smoking with a terrible smell. She immediately called the number on the letter. She paid for a tow of her vehicle and hasn’t driven it since the days before Christmas.
“We’re not driving it, no,” she said. “We smelled the burning plastic…. We pulled over.”
She turned to the letter for further guidance on where to have her towed vehicle left. Due to fire concerns, it advised her not to park it near other property.
“Park your vehicles outdoors and away from other vehicles or structures until this recall is performed,” she said of the letter.
Gabrielle has a job, busy days with family, and currently, cannot rely on her own vehicle for her busy life.
“They do not have the part to fix it right now,” she said. “It’s just upsetting. You know. Especially being a customer, someone who doesn’t miss payments and then to have a car I can’t use.”
She turned to her bank for help, but got more frustrating news.
“They tried to help … but right now, I owe more than the trade in value for it,” she said. “Hard to trade it in, anywhere.”
She purchased the vehicle for a used lot, but reached out to specific Kia dealerships who told her they too are awaiting the part. The defect with the vehicle, according to the letter ‘can result in engine compartment fire’ and impacts 2011-2013 My Optima Hybrid vehicles. It also stated, ‘the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short circuit, which can result in an engine compartment fire while driving or parked.’
Gabrielle says she’s fearful for the safety, and frustrated over the expense. She’s called Kia for guidance.
“They basically told me I can pay everything out of pocket and I might get a reimbursement later on,” she said. “Especially after the holidays and kids, it’s frustrating that Kia can’t help me with anything.”
Gabrielle did what experts advise when in a similar situation. Alert the https://www.atg.wa.gov/.
She received a response to her complaint from the Washington Attorney General’s Office stating they will ‘continue the complaint process and notify (Gabrielle) of any responses from Kia Motors of America during the process.’ They go on to state if they fail to respond, they will give her resources and more information to help.
Gabrielle is also in the process of seeing if her insurance can help in any way. We will continue to follow the story.
If you are wondering if your vehicle has a recall, visit: https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls
Use our VIN lookup tool to check for recalls on your car, or search by make and model. Also, get recall information on car seats, tires and equipment.
If it does and you need assistance navigating next steps, visit: https://vinrcl.safercar.gov/vin/faq.jsp
State law has also addressed similar situations with more here: https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=46.96.095
