DEAR SUZANNE
By Suzanne Henderson
LETTER 224 – Judith M. from Columbus, OH
Dear Suzanne,
From my experience, nothing ruins the joy of owning a car faster than unexpected problems. The moment my vehicle troubles began, my excitement faded, and now I just tolerate the car because I feel stuck with it.
At first, it was just the doors locking themselves at random times. Then, I realized my rear driver-side door never actually locked, even when I used the key fob. But the worst part? It took multiple trips to the Kia dealership before they could even figure out the main issue. And honestly, you won’t believe what it turned out to be.
For reference, my car is a 2024 Kia Forte. Given how new this model is, I can’t help but wonder—am I dealing with a common problem in Fortes, or did I just get a bad one? I need answers before I lose my mind.
A Weekend Getaway Turned Nightmare
One weekend, I decided to take a short getaway trip to Lake Erie—a great place for fresh air, a change of scenery, and a little adventure. The drive up was smooth, but some snow got into the car on the driver’s side. No big deal, right? At least, that’s what I thought.
Then, weird things started happening.
First, my driver’s side lock/unlock button stopped working. Then, the door started opening by itself. If that wasn’t bad enough, I soon discovered I couldn’t open the door from the outside at all. Every time I wanted to get into my own car, I had to reach in from the passenger side and pop the lock.
The next day, something even stranger happened—the locking problem just… disappeared. Since the weather had warmed up a little (from 30°F to 40°F), I assumed the cold had caused the issue. It seemed like everything was back to normal.
That was until I got home and washed the car.
As soon as I finished cleaning off all the road salt and snow, the problem came right back. So much for blaming the cold—it clearly wasn’t just ice. Something was letting moisture in, and I had no idea how to stop it.
Frustrating Trips to the Dealership
At first, I considered asking my dad for help. He’s a mechanic, but he mostly works on older cars and isn’t familiar with modern vehicle electronics. So, I decided to take the car to the dealership instead.
That was a mistake.
As soon as I got there, they couldn’t replicate the issue and told me to come back if it happened again. Typical.
Meanwhile, my frustration kept growing. The locks started malfunctioning in new ways—sometimes, the doors would randomly relock at 10 mph, even if they were already locked. Then, I noticed something even worse: the rear driver-side door never actually locked at all.
No matter how many times I pressed the key fob or used the door button, that door stayed unlocked. That made me paranoid about break-ins, especially when I had to park in public places.
Then came another problem—the passenger door stopped unlocking altogether. Every time I had someone riding with me, I had to reach across the seat and open the door from the inside.
Eventually, after multiple frustrating trips back to the dealership, they finally admitted the door handles weren’t watertight. Water was seeping in and messing with the circuit board that controlled the locks. Their solution? Nothing. Apparently, the only real fix would be better factory quality control, which, of course, doesn’t help me at all.
New Warning Lights and a Dashboard Scare
Just when I thought the door issues were bad enough, I had a scare with my dashboard. One morning, I started my car, and suddenly, a warning flashed on the screen:
“Faulty Antipollution System”
At the same time, my check engine light turned orange, and my car started acting like it was possessed.
- The engine vibrated heavily whenever I drove slowly—anything under 30 km/h, and it felt like the whole car was shaking.
- The fuel range reading started going up instead of down, at one point showing I had 1,000 km of fuel left (which obviously wasn’t true). Then, it just displayed “- – – – km” instead.
- The problem came out of nowhere—no warning, no gradual changes, just instant chaos.
Where Do I Go From Here?
At this point, I feel like I’m driving a car that makes up its own rules. Normally, I’d take it back to the dealership, but I already know how that’s going to go. They’ll either tell me they “can’t replicate the issue” or that it’s “normal”, and neither will fix my car. That’s been their response every time I’ve gone there.
So, Suzanne, I need some real advice.
- Does my situation qualify under Ohio’s Lemon Law?
- If so, do I have the option of getting a replacement Kia Forte, or would I have to take a refund?
- Do I need an attorney to file a claim, or is this something I can handle on my own?
I just want a car that works. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Judith M. from Columbus, OH
Locked Out & Fed Up? Your 2024 Kia Forte’s Defects Could Qualify Under Ohio Lemon Law
Dear Judith,
I know exactly how frustrating it is to feel like your car is fighting against you. Instead of enjoying your 2024 Kia Forte, you’ve been stuck dealing with defective locks, an unreliable dashboard, and a dealership that won’t take you seriously. No one should have to deal with this, and you don’t have to. Ohio has strong lemon laws to protect car owners like you, and I’m here to help you understand your rights.
Before I dive into your questions, let’s break it all down. Ohio’s Lemon Law is designed to protect buyers like you from defective vehicles, and from what you’ve described, your Kia Forte could qualify. Let’s go over your options.
Does My Situation Qualify Under Ohio’s Lemon Law?
Based on what you’ve shared, you may have a strong case under Ohio’s Lemon Law (ORC 1345.71 – 1345.78). The law applies to new vehicles that develop serious defects within the first 12 months or 18,000 miles—whichever comes first. Your Kia Forte is a 2024 model, meaning you’re likely within this timeframe.
For your car to qualify, the manufacturer must have had a reasonable number of attempts to fix the problem. Ohio defines this as:
- At least three repair attempts for the same defect with no fix, OR
- One unsuccessful repair for a serious safety defect (like brakes or steering), OR
- 30 total days out of service for repairs within the first year or 18,000 miles.
From what you described, your locking system and dashboard issues have been ongoing and unresolved, even after multiple trips to the dealership. If your car meets the conditions above, you could be entitled to a refund or replacement under Ohio’s Lemon Law.
If I Qualify, Do I Get a Replacement or a Refund?
If your car is legally considered a lemon, Kia must offer you either a replacement vehicle or a full refund, including your down payment, monthly payments, and taxes. However, you don’t have to accept a replacement if you don’t want one—you can choose the refund instead.
Some people prefer a replacement, but if Kia Fortes are prone to this issue, you might want to take the refund and go with a different brand. That’s completely up to you.
Do I Need an Attorney to File a Claim?
You can technically try to resolve the issue directly with Kia through their dispute resolution process, but that doesn’t always go in the consumer’s favor. Car manufacturers often drag out the process or offer lowball settlements that don’t fully compensate you.
That’s why I strongly recommend speaking with a lemon law attorney—especially since Ohio law makes the manufacturer pay your legal fees if you win. A good attorney will handle everything, from filing your claim to negotiating with Kia, so you don’t have to deal with the back-and-forth yourself.
Your Next Step
The best thing you can do right now is consult a lemon law attorney who knows how to handle cases like yours. A quick call can clarify your legal options and put you on the right path to getting compensated. Kia isn’t going to make this easy for you, but with the right help, you can finally get this resolved once and for all.
Final Thoughts
I know this has been a frustrating experience, but don’t lose hope. Ohio’s laws are on your side, and you have every right to demand a working vehicle. With the right legal help, you can finally put this nightmare behind you and move forward. Don’t wait—take action now, and let’s get you the compensation you deserve.
If you need a recommendation for an experienced attorney, let me know. I’m happy to help however I can.
Suzanne
Say Goodbye to Your 2024 Kia Forte Lemon Car Troubles!
Dear reader, are your vehicle problems ruining your life? Confused about what legal route to take? We’re here to help! Find information about Texas’ lemon law protections here, fill out the form on this page, or give us a call at (833) 743-1990 to discuss your situation with someone who understands how frustrating it can be to have a lemon car, and what to do about it.
DEAR SUZANNE is a weekly column written by Suzanne Henderson and published in LemonLawyers.ORG. If you have a defective lemon vehicle and have questions about Ohio Lemon Law or how to file a claim, please write to [email protected]. While not guaranteed, we will try to feature your letter in this column to provide you the answers you need, as well as enlighten other consumers who may have lemon problems similar to yours.
Disclaimer: Suzanne Henderson is not a lawyer and the points discussed here are intended for general information and reference purposes only and not to be construed as legal advice. Please consult a Ohio Lemon Law Attorney to get proper legal advice about your lemon law claim.
Related Articles:
- Ohio’s Lemon Law: The Step-by-Step Guide Every Car Owner Needs
- Lemon Law in Ohio: Are You Eligible for a Refund or Replacement?
- The Ultimate Guide to Ohio Lemon Law: Your Rights Explained
Featured Images:
- 2024 Kia Forte ©Charles (CC BY 2.0 Attribution 2.0 Generic)
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