Kia recalls over 118,000 minivans

DETROIT, July 22, 2005; Reuters reported that Kia Motors Corp. is recalling 118,447 Sedona minivans in the United States (see complete recall notice)because their throttle cables can get stuck, causing the vehicles to maintain speed or accelerate inadvertently, federal safety regulators said on Friday.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said the problem occurs in winter driving conditions, when water on the throttle cable can freeze, potentially causing the cable to jam.

Under the recall, which is expected to begin in September, dealers will modify a protective sleeve around the throttle cable, NHTSA said.

Kia is an affiliate of South Korea's Hyundai Motor Co. Ltd., which has carved out a growing share of the U.S. market in recent years and won accolades for improvements in vehicle quality.