KIA Recalls 370,000 SUVs Because Cars Aren’t Supposed To Drive Away Themselves

It’s possible that Kia is working on a self-driving car, but there’s a difference between a truly autonomous vehicle and one that can unexpectedly shift into “drive” and roll away.

Kia is recalling 377,000 Sorento SUVs (model years 2011 through 2013) after determining that the transmission can shift out of the “park” position without the help of the vehicle’s driver.

According to a notice [PDF] from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the issue with the cars occurs when excessive force is applied to the gear shift lever and the brake-shift interlock mechanism chips or cracks.

As a result, the transmission is able to be shifted out of “park” without the brakes being depressed, allowing the car to roll away, increasing the risk of a crash.

NHTSA reports that the issue constitutes a violation of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard.

Kia will notify owners of affected vehicles, and dealers will replace the brake-shift mechanism.

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