Kia recalls 70,000 Optimas in the US over rollaway fears

More on defects and recalls. Kia is recalling 70,115 Optima sedans in the US over over concerns that automatic transmission shift cables were improperly assembled, which in the worst case scenario can cause a parked car to roll away. It concerns models assembled between September 2005 and June 2007.

Last November, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened an investigation into rollaway concerns on the 2007 model year Optima. NHTSA said it received three complaints about automatic transmission shift cable detachment and inability to select/engage the gears – P, D and R. One of the complaints were of a rollaway incident.

The Korean carmaker has “concluded that this condition has not been creating real world safety incidents. However, it has concluded that under extraordinary circumstances a significant vehicle rolling event could potentially occur and has thus decided to conduct a recall,” the company said.

Kia has also identified that certain Optima vehicles had been manufactured with the shift cable connection improperly attached to the shifter assembly and changed its manufacturing procedures.

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