Shopping for a model new automotive is an thrilling expertise. However one mom says that thrill was a nightmare that put her toddler’s life in danger.
Amanda C. Gutierrez (@amanda.c.gutierrez) says she purchased a model new 2024 Kia Carnival. The mom of 4 boys was searching for a secure, dependable automobile and the Kia Carnival appeared to suit the invoice.
“By no means been pushed by anybody else. Zero miles, all of the issues,” she says in a TikTok.
Issues shortly went south with the automobile. Gutierrez says the sensors on the again passenger doorways stored malfunctioning.
What she says ended up occurring has folks urging her to sue.
New automotive turns into a authorized declare
In a TikTok with 154,000 views as of Saturday, Gutierrez recollects taking the Kia to the dealership again and again to get the doorways mounted.
“They’re finicky. Generally they open. Generally they don’t. Generally they gained’t shut,” she says.
After the fourth go to failed to repair the problem, Gutierrez claims she opened a case beneath her state’s lemon legislation. Gutierrez says her declare was authorized.
Lemon legal guidelines enable folks to deliver authorized claims over defects with a brand new automotive. Aid sometimes consists of a full refund.
A day on the ballpark gone flawed
Gutierrez continued driving the automobile whereas the declare went via the required course of.
Two of her sons had been sitting within the automotive on a wet day on the ballpark, Gutierrez says, when abruptly a scream pierced the air.
“And there’s my 3-year-old caught within the sliding door of the minivan,” Gutierrez recollects. “So I begin panicking, screaming Will’s title.”
Dad and mom got here working from the stands to assist, she says.
Gutierrez says the door closed fully on her son’s physique. She says that for 3 agonizing minutes, the adults frantically tried to pry it open whereas she ran via worst case eventualities about her son’s destiny.
He was in the end freed. She doesn’t say what accidents he sustained, if any.
Gutierrez has a message for Kia: “Why are you going to make a household automobile and never ensure that there are security measures taken?”
On the finish of the TikTok, she declares. “Let this be your PSA. Don’t purchase a Kia. Don’t ever purchase it … A Toyota Sienna would by no means.”
Gutierrez informed the Mary Sue through direct message that Kia informed her it might add the video to her case file.
“I attempted to name the supervisor of the service division & nobody answered me,” she added.
Is Kia a great model?
Kia is South Korea’s second largest car model behind mother or father firm Hyundai.
Like many automotive firms, it’s confronted client complaints over time. And the Carnival mannequin has reportedly generated quite a few complaints.
In October, Carscoops reported that Carnival homeowners filed a case over allegedly faulty sliding doorways on the 2022 and 2023 fashions. They allege {that a} recall failed to repair the problem. One particular person reportedly suffered a damaged arm.
The difficulty purportedly impacts 51,568 automobiles.
Judging by the feedback on Gutierrez’s put up, many individuals have misgivings about Kia Carnivals particularly and the model itself usually.
“I don’t want the entire story, you had me at Kia,” one wrote. Gutierrez replied with three cranium emojis.
“How terrifying! I will probably be sticking with both Honda or Toyota till Jesus takes me house,” one other mentioned.
@amanda.c.gutierrez Do higher @kia @Toyota would have by no means let this occur. ? #kiacarnivalhorrorstory #kiacarnival #minivan #familycar #fyp ♬ authentic sound – Amanda Gutierrez | Boy Mother ?
A number of urged Gutierrez to sue the corporate. “Sounds to me such as you received a lawsuit in your fingers,” wrote one.
Kia didn’t instantly reply to an electronic mail looking for remark.
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