2004 Kia Sorento

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VIBRATION DAMPER ON THE FRONT OF THE CRANK SHAFT FAILED. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL, BUT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED, EVEN THOUGH HIS VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 71,000.

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) WE HAVE A 2004 KIA SORENTO AUTOMOBILE THAT HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE CRANKSHAFT BOLT IN SEPT. 2009. THE REPAIR COST OVER $1000.00. WE LATER FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS SOME KIND OF "REPAIR CAMPAIGN" (SC072) FOR THE SAME ISSUE. WHEN WE CONTACTED KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE FOR REPAIR REIMBURSEMENT WE WERE TOLD OUR VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED 11 DAYS AFTER THE VEHICLES INVOLVED IN THE RECALL. KIA OFFERED NO GRACE PERIOD AND TOLD US THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. ON SATURDAY, 5/8/10, THE SAME BOLT BROKE AGAIN WHICH RENDERS THE VEHICLE UNDRIVEABLE. IF THIS BOLT WERE TO BREAK WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE CONSEQUENCES WOULD BE CATASTROPHIC. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TOWED BACK TO BILL DODGE KIA IN WESTBROOK, ME. AGAIN FOR REPAIR, AND HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED AS KIA CASE # [XXX] . THE CASE WAS OPENED BY CONTACTING KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE (ALBERT) AT 800-333-4542, EXT. 45060. THE KIA REGIONAL MANAGER FOR THIS PART OF THE U.S. IS GARY AIROLDI AND KIA WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL CONTACT INFORMATION FOR MR. AIROLDI. I CAN'T HELP BUT WONDER IF THE STATE OF MAINE SHOULDN'T LEAD THE WAY IN FORCING KIA MOTORS INTO A NATIONAL RECALL AND REPAIR EFFORT FOR ALL OF THEIR VEHICLES IMPACTED BY THIS DEFECT AND REIMBURSE THOSE WHO HAVE INCURRED OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES AND/OR INJURIES AS A RESULT. OUR DESIRE IS TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AT NO COST (CONSIDERING THE PREVIOUS REPAIR CAMPAIGN) AND TO RECOUP THE $1030.30 SPENT ON THE PREVIOUS REPAIR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR REVIEWING OUR INQUIRY AND WE APPRECIATE ANY ASSISTANCE YOU CAN OFFER. PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO ALSO CONTACT ME AT WORK AT [XXX] . [XXX] *TR

MY 2004 KIA SORENTO WAS IN THE DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSTICS DUE TO ENGINE MISFIRE. DURING WHICH PHIL SMITH KIA TECHNICIANS GAVE MY COOLING SYSTEM GREEN CHECK THAT ALL WAS OK. APPROXIMATELY TEN MILES AFTERWARDS THE ENGINE SUFFERED FAILURE, HEADGASKET BLOWN. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. WAS ADVISED BY SERVICE MANAGER WHEN THEY STARTED THE VEHICLE THE ENGINE SEIZED. DEALERSHIP IS REFUSING TO COVER UNDER WARRANTY, CLAIMING THAT THE CAR OVERHEATED CAUSING THE FAILURE. THE EVEN OCCURRED WITHIN 5 MINUTES OF THE CAR STARTING AND IT NEVER OVERHEATED. I HAVE CONTACTED KIA CONSUMER AND RECEIVED NO ASSISTANCE. DESPITE HAVING DOCUMENTATION TO SUPPORT THE COOLING SYSTEM WAS FINE, THEY WILL NOT ACCEPT THE CLAIM. I AM FORCED TO PAY FOR CHARGES RELATING TO THE ENGINE TEAR DOWN, APPROXIMATELY $400 BEFORE THEY WILL RELEASE MY VEHICLE BACK TO ME. I WILL THEN HAVE TO TAKE IT ELSEWHERE TO BE REPAIRED. *TR

MY RESPONSE IS TO THE PERSON WHO FILED THE BELOW COMPLAINT: MINE WAS 2004 SAME EXACT THING HAPPENED TO ME 6500. FOR NEW ENGINE! ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WAS COVERED BY KIA EXCUSE AFTER EXCUSE I ALSO HAD ALL RECORDS ON THE CAR. I ALSO HAD IN WRITING TEN DAYS BEFORE PROOF THAT THEIR WAS NOT A CRACK IN RESERVOIR BECAUSE I HAD SERVICE DONE---KIA'S RESPONSE WAS THAT I MUST HAVE KNOWN I HAD ISSUES WITH THE CAR IF I TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE...MIND YOU THIS WAS MY NORMAL 3 MONTH-3000 MILE NORMAL ROUTINE CHECK UP...........KIA IS HORRIBLE...... I AM ON BOARD WITH YOU FOR CLASS ACTION SUIT TO GET MY MONEY BACK THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE PAID FOR!!! MY 2003 KIA SORENTO STOPPED WITH NO WARNING OR INDICATION OF A PROBLEM AT 67,735 MILES DUE TO WHAT WAS LATER DETERMINED TO BE ENGINE OVERHEATING. AT FIRST THE KIA DEALER SAID IT WAS DUE TO THE COOLANT RESERVOIR CRACKING AND GOING EMPTY. SINCE THIS IS NOT A PART OF THE ENGINES ACTUAL MEANS OF COOLING, THEY CHANGED THEIR STORY TO THE THERMOSTAT FAILED. KIA SAID THAT THIS PORTION OF THE WARRANTY PASSED AT 65,000 MILES. THEIR WARRANTY SAYS 100,000 MILES. COST OVER $3,600.00 TO REPAIR, SIMILAR SITUATION AT 80,000 MILES FOR $1,400.00. STILL NO WARRANTY COVERAGE. I HAVE FURNISHED COMPLETE MAINTENANCE RECORDS SHOWING MAINTENANCE AT EVERY INTERVAL REQUIRED BY KIA. LOOKING FOR SOME ONE TO JOIN IN A CLASS ACTION SUIT. *TR

NO PROBLEMS BEFORE HAND TO INDICATE THERE WAS A PROBLEM UNTIL COMPLETE POWER LOSS WITH ENGINE FAILURE, WITHIN A 50 SECOND SPAN OF DRIVING ON INTERSTATE. THIS WAS THE ONLY FAILURE , AS STATED, WITH THIS CAR. NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE COOLANT RESERVOIR TANK WAS FAULTY ON THIS MODEL . INFORMED OF THIS FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND LOCAL CORPORATE REP., AFTER THE FACT. I WAS NEVER INFORMED OF THIS FAULTY PART AT ANY TIME. EVEN WHEN CAR SERVICED. THIS WAS A 3 YEAR KNOWN FAULTY PART THAT MANUFACTURER KNEW ABOUT. CAR WAS NEW WHEN BOUGHT. HAD A ENGINE WARRANTY OF 10/100,000. I ONLY HAD 5 YEARS AND 77,000 ON CAR. CAR CORPORATION REFUSES TO HONOR OR DEAL WITH REPLACING ENGINE. WAS TOLD THE FIRST WEEK TWICE IT WOULD BE COVERED. LOCAL CORP. REP. THEN SAID NO TO WARRANTY COVERAGE. I HAVE SINCE PAY FOR A NEW ENGINE OUT OF MY OWN POCKET. *TR

ON SAT. SEPT. 12, 2009, I WAS ON THE EXPRESS WAY AND NOTICED THAT MY 2004 KIA SORENTO WAS SLOWING DOWN. I IMMEDIATELY LOOKED AT MY DASHBOARD TO SEE IF ANY LIGHTS WERE ON, NONE ON. I THEN NOTICED THAT MY HEAT GAUGE WAS AT H. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OF AT THE NEXT EXIT AND THERE WAS A GAS STATION AT THE CORNER. STEAM STARTED TO COME FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND FLUID FROM UNDER THE CAR. I HAD IT TOWED HOME BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT START. I THEN HAD IT TOWED TO A KIA DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPT AND THEY LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE. THE SERVICE MANAGER CALLED TO INFORM ME THAT MY ENGINE WAS GONE. I SAID GONE. HOW DID THAT HAPPEN. HE SAID BECAUSE I DROVE IT TOO LONG AFTER IT STARTED TO SHUT OFF. II EXPLAINED THE CAR WAS SLOWING DOWN AND I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OFF THE EXPRESS WAY TO A GAS STATION (WHICH IS RIGHT OFF THE RAMP). I DID NOT DRIVE IT FAR. HE TOLD ME I HAD 2 CHOICE, A NEW ENGINE FOR $10, 000+ OR A USED ENGINE $6300+. IT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AS OF 10/2008. I AM DEVASTATED. I THOUGHT THE COMPANY OFFERED A 100,000 MILE WARRANTY. I HAD ABOUT 87,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. I CALLED KIA HEADQUARTERS AND THEY ARE LOOKING INTO THIS MATTER. I AM AWAITING A REPLY FROM THEM. *TR

I BOUGHT MY 2004 SORENTO NEW. IN MAY 2008 AND AT 64,000 MILES THIS YEAR THE WATER PUMP STARTED LEAKING. I TOOK IT INTO THE LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WAS UNDER A RECALL AND REPLACED IT. THEY ALSO RECOMMENDED A TIMING BELT CHANGE AT THAT TIME AND I DID THAT TOO. AFTER I LEFT THE DEALERSHIP AND DROVE INTO MY GARAGE, WATER WAS POURING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THE PASSENGERS SIDE TIRE, WHERE THE RESERVE TANK WAS. I TURNED AROUND TOOK IT RIGHT BACK AND SHOWED THEM. THEY SAID IT WASN'T ANYTHING THEY DID TO BUST IT, IT MUST OF BEEN THAT WAY ALREADY. I INFORMED THEM THAT I KNOW IT WASN'T THAT WAY BECAUSE I HAD BEEN POURING TONS OF WATER IN IT UNTIL I COULD GET MY CAR IN FOR THAT APPOINTMENT SINCE THE WATER PUMP WAS LEAKING AND THE LEAKING BEFORE WAS COMING FROM THE CENTER OF THE CAR, NOT BY THE TIRE. I ALSO INFORMED THEM, THAT I KNEW THEY BUSTED BECAUSE THEY HAD TO PUT PRESSURE ON THE WATER PUMP LINE TO TEST IT AND THEREFORE IT WAS THERE FOUGHT. THEY STILL SAID EVEN THOUGH THEY DIDN'T DO IT THEY WOULD GO AHEAD AND REPLACE IT FOR FREE. WHY DO THEY NOT WANT TO OWN UP TO IT TO BEGIN WITH? IF I HAD NOT MADE A SCENE IN FRONT OF THEIR OTHER CUSTOMERS THEY WHERE GOING TO MAKE ME PAY FOR IT. I HAVE ALSO HAD THE WIPER PARK AREA BURN OUT. SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM MY WINDSHIELD ON HE INSIDE AND NOW THE HEATED WIPER PARK AREA IS NOT WORKING. IT WILL NEED A WHOLE NEW WINDSHIELD. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE ENGINE STALLED UNEXPECTEDLY AND RESTARTED AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND REMAINED LIT UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. ON SIX SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR IDENTICAL FAILURES, BUT THERE WERE NO RESOLUTIONS. THE CONTACT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR EXPENSE BECAUSE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER REPLACED THE CRANKSHAFT, CRANKSHAFT SENSOR, TIMING BELT, AND DRIVE BELT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,000. UPDATED 12/23/08 THE AIR BAG ILLUMINATED AND WOULD NOT GO OUT, EVEN WHEN SOMEONE WAS SEATED IN. THE HEADLIGHT WAS BLOWN, THE REAR HATCH WOULD NOT STAY UP. THE DEALER HAD TO ORDER HOOD STRUTS. UPDATED 12/23/08.*JB

I PURCHASED MY CAR THREW A LOCAL DEALERSHIP AAP. 8 MO. AGO IT HAD 27,000 AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE. ON 8-4-08 THE VEHICLE HAD 34,000 MILES. I WAS DRIVING AT A SPEED OF APP.40 MI. AN HOUR WHEN THE CAR STARTED SMOKING FROM THE ENGINE THE SMOKE GOT THICKER . I QUICKLY PULLED OVER INTO A SMALL PARKING LOT SHUT OFF THE CAR + JUMPED OUT OF THE CAR WITH MY SON. IN A MATTER OF SECONDS THE CAR WAS IN FLAMES. AFTER THAT THERE WAS A HOSE THAT FELL DOWN UNDER THE CAR + WAS SHOOTING FLAMES FROM THAT TOO. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME + PUT IT OUT. THE DASH WAS CAVED IN .THE CAR WAS TOTALED. I REPORTED THIS TO THE DEALERSHIP + KIA CORPORATION. THEY LISTENED TO MY COMPLAINT WITH NO RESULT AND WOULD NOT TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR. IT . BUYERS BEWARE. *TR