KIA Motors

In 2012 we purchased a new KIA Optima GDI EX at Rk Kia, paying cash. We preformed all the required maintence to include tire & brake service. The vehicle only has approximately 53, 500 miles on it.

In Dec. 2019 we took our vehicle to Rk Kia for a front end alignment. They tols us there was a recall on a steering column and that a part mwas replaced. After picking up the car, we later returned home where we parked.

A few days later I started the car and although it would start, it would not shift out of park and the steering column would not unlock. I used the shift lock release button and was able to shift into drive. When I did the dash board lights went out. I drove about two miles and the dash lights returned.

I took the vehicle back to Rk Kia. I am now being told that my steering column isn't designed to lock. Both the owners manual and the KIA website explained how it is supposed to lock and how to release it. It has locked correctly for the last 8 yrs. that we have owned the vehicle.
Now it does not lock at all at anytime. I am afraid to drive the car in fear that the steering will lock up when we are driving. we also noticed that the steering wheel heater was not working. Again back to RK KIA. I was told that there was a pinched wire to the heater. There was also no charge for the repair. The reason being that they are the ones who pinched the wire while doing the recall repair. All I know is that everything worked perfectly and we were happy with our purchase prior to the recall repair.

KIA Service continue to say they didn't do anything. Again all I know is that after the recall repair my steering column is defective. The service manager said that the owners manual and the KIA video website is wrong. He says that they are not used. My question is, Why are owners manuals provided with the purchase of a new vehicle and the KIA company posts websites that are not true?

This is the third Kia we have owned and we had planned to purchase a fourth. We now have reservation of doing that.