What is life like with your car? Let us know and win £500 in John Lewis vouchers | No thanks
Was my accident due to a gearbox fault in my Kia cee'd?
I drive 2008 KIA cee'd automatic which I've had since new. Last year, when attempting to reverse into a parking space, I put the car in reverse and without my touching the accelerator, the car shot backwards at such a speed that it hit the parked car behind, pushing it into a parked van. Obviously I had to admit liability and after my car was repaired I took it to the KIA dealer to check it out. They didn't believe my story, insisting I must have hit the accelerator. Unfortunately, the same thing happened again this morning as I prepared to reverse into a parking space. Again I know I didn't touch the accelerator, but again the car shot backwards out of control and hit another parked car. A witness said she saw my car reverse at speed. Do you have any views on this?
Asked on 21 July 2012 by JB, Fareham
Answered by
Honest John
The engine of any car could suffer a surge at any time, especially just after starting from cold and with an automatic this could be enough to engage ‘Drive’. So when starting an automatic or when manoeuvring one, the sensible thing to do is keep your left foot over the brake pedal so you can stop the car immediately, within a few feet.
We give you the low down on how to save on insurance, little-known tricks and tips, what insurance groups mean and how to use insurance aggregators to beat insurers.
Insurance group finder and how to save on insuranceSimilar questions
We have a 60 reg S-MAX with the power shift box. We bought it second hand from a large non-Ford dealer. When the car was 3 1/2 years old but with only 21,000 miles on the clock, in November last year,...
I purchased an ex-demonstrator B-MAX from a Ford dealership in April 2015. Auto transmission 10,000 miles. Problem with seat belt chimes was fixed promptly but the local dealership has had three attempts...
My 2005 Volkswagen Touran developed an intermittent but persistent fault with the automatic gearbox. The car would randomly drop into limp home mode (third gear). On the dash all the gear lights were flashing....
Related models
.jpg?width=115&height=75&rmode=crop)
Designed for Europe. Built in Slovakia. Excellent 1.4 and 1.6 petrol and 1.6 diesel engines. Decent quality and handling. Seven year powertrain warranty.
Elsewhere on 
.jpg)
