2004 Kia Sorento

PICKED UP VEHICLE AFTER HAVING REAR SUPPORT BEARINGS REPAIRED DRIVING BACK HOME AT 65MPH ON I-35/TEXAS 410 EAST STARTED TO EXPERIENCE STRONG SMELL OF EXHAUST FUMES IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. DURING DRIVE HOME STARTED TO RAIN, ACTIVATED WIPERS, DRIVERS SIDE WIPER BLADE FELL OFF DURING RAINSTORM HAD TO OPEN DRIVER SIDE WINDOW TO NAVIGATE! UPON ARRIVAL AT HOME NOTICED, SMOKE COMING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT (PASSENGERS SIDE) AND SMOKE UNDERNEATH VEHICLE FROM CATALYTIC CONVERTER. LOOKED UNDERNEATH VEHICLE AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER, WAS SMOKING, INSIDE ENGINE COMPARTMENT A HOSE AT THE REAR OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT (SORRY NOT A MECHANIC) HAD A HOLE IN IT AND WAS SMOKING ALSO? VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN SINCE 12/7/12, VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED 10/4/12, HAS LIMITED WARRANTY. *TR

TWO BRACKETS (ONE LEFT, ONE RIGHT) THAT HOLD THE REAR UPPER CONTROL ARMS TO THE REAR AXLE HOUSING HAVE COMPLETELY SNAPPED OFF. THIS LEAVES A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION WHICH WILL CAUSE THE REAR AXLE OF THE CAR TO ROTATE AND FALL OUT OF THE CAR. IF THIS HAPPENS AT SPEED, SERIOUS INJURY AND/OR DEATH IS LIKELY. THERE ARE MANY MANY POSTS ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM ONLINE AND KIA REFUSES TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM STATING THAT IT'S NOT A FLAW OR DEFECT. IT IS IF IT HAPPENS TO ALMOST EVERY VEHICLE OF THIS YEAR AND MODEL. KIA DOES NOT OFFER A REPLACEMENT BRACKET THAT CAN BE WELDED ON AND THEY SUGGEST THAT THE ENTIRE REAR AXLE HOUSING ASSEMBLY IS REPLACED AT A COST OF SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS PER VEHICLE. KIA MOTORS REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM OR ASSIST AFFECTED CUSTOMERS IN RESOLVING IT. *TR

SUMMARY: UPDATE TO BELOW PROBLEM I BOUGHT MY SORENTO IN 2004, NEW. I REPLACED THE COOLANT RESERVOIR AT 61000 MILES DUE TO OVERHEATING, REPLACED THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT BULBS ON 4 OCCASIONS, TAIL LIGHTS ON 2 OCCASIONS. MY VEHICLE, 5 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION, STARTED TO HAVE A ROARING NOISE APPROX. 6 MONTHS AGO AND THE U-JOINTS WERE REPLACED. IT STILL ROARS. IT QUIT RUNNING ON 2-16-12 WHILE I WAS DRIVING, BUT RESTARTED. IT FINALLY QUIT AGAIN AND WOULD NOT RESTART ON 2-17-12. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT INDICATE A FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR PROBLEM, BUT MECHANIC SAYS THIS SHOULD NOT CAUSE THE PROBLEM I PRESENTLY HAVE. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP SINCE 2-18-12. THE MECHANIC SAID IT STARTED FOR HIM. I INSISTED HE LET IT RUN FOR A WHILE AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS. SURE ENOUGH, IT QUIT. KIA MECHANIC TOLD ME IT MAY BE A CRANK OR CAM SENSOR ISSUE. OTHER PROBLEMS--FRONT DOME LIGHT OFF AND ON AT WILL, REAR ONE WORKS, CLOCK ON AND OFF AT WILL, VEHICLE HUMS LOUDLY WHEN DRIVING FOR A WHILE. IT HAS BEEN A RELIABLE VEHICLE FOR THE MOST PART, BUT WHEN THERE IS AN ISSUE, IT IS HARD TO DETECT. ABOVE WORK WAS COMPLETED AT A COST OF 1126,00. BUT NOW CRANKSHAFT BOLT BROKE WHILE DRIVING COSTING DAMAGE TO ENGINE HEADS. VEHICLE WENT BACK INTO SHOP AND IS STILL WAITING REPAIRS. KIA OWES IT CUSTOMERS BETTER SERVICE AND MUST PAY REPAIR COST AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FAULTY CRANKSHAFT BOLTS THEY PROVIDE TO THE MECHANICS . *TR

VEHICLE IS ONLY 8 YEARS OLD. I CONSTANTLY HAVE THIS PROBLEM. THE FIRST TIME I HAD THIS PROBLEM I SLID WHILE TRYING TO HOLD BRAKES, THERE WAS ALSO A LOT OF WEIRD SOUNDS AND THE REAR END DID NOT FEEL STURDY. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE FOUND METAL BRACKET WELDED TO THE REAR AXLE THAT HOLDS THE UPPER CONTROL ARMS HAD COMPLETELY FAILED! THE NORMAL TORQUE FROM THE REAR AXLE WAS BROKEN BOTH BRACKETS HOLDING THE UPPER CONTROL ARM TO THE CARS FRAME. ALL THAT IS HOLDING THE REAR AXLE IN PLACE IS THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND THE SWAY BARS. THERE ARE NO WEEP HOLES TO ALLOW WATER TO DRAIN OUT OF THE BRACKET WELDMENT, CAUSING WATER TO FILL THE CUP-LIKE CONDITION CREATED. THIS CONDITION HAS (AN WILL) CAUSE PREMATURE FAILURE OF ALL KIA SORENTO REAR AXLE/UPPER CONTROL ARM CONNECTIONS. WHILE DRIVING THE REAR AXLE COULD BECOME DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE DUE TO EXCESSIVE STRESS PLACED ON THE REMAINING PARTS. REGULAR DRIVING COULD CAUSE A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE, AND RENDER THE VEHICLE UNCONTROLLABLE, WITH THE LIKELIHOOD OF MASSIVE INJURY AND POSSIBLY DEATH AS A RESULT!!! HE ALSO SAID THAT IT CANNOT BE REPAIRED. THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM FOR ME BECAUSE I STILL HAVE A CAR NOTE TO PAY. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CONDITION!!! THESE CARS NEED TO BE RECALLED NOW BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED!!! *KB

VEHICLE IS ONLY 7 YEARS OLD. METAL BRACKET WELDED TO THE REAR AXLE THAT HOLDS THE UPPER CONTROL ARMS HAS COMPLETELY FAILED! THE NORMAL TORQUE FROM THE REAR AXLE HAS BROKEN BOTH BRACKETS HOLDING THE UPPER CONTROL ARM TO THE CARS FRAME. ALL THAT IS HOLDING THE REAR AXLE IN PLACE IS THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND THE SWAY BARS. THERE ARE NO WEEP HOLES TO ALLOW WATER TO DRAIN OUT OF THE BRACKET WELDMENT, CAUSING WATER TO FILL THE CUP-LIKE CONDITION CREATED. THIS CONDITION HAS (AN WILL) CAUSE PREMATURE FAILURE OF ALL KIA SORENTO REAR AXLE/UPPER CONTROL ARM CONNECTIONS. WHILE DRIVING THE REAR AXLE COULD BECOME DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE DUE TO EXCESSIVE STRESS PLACED ON THE REMAINING PARTS. A TYPICAL TRAFFIC MANEUVER COULD CAUSE A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE, AND RENDER THE VEHICLE UNCONTROLABLE, WITH THE LIKELYNESS OF MASSIVE PAIN, INJURY AND DEATH AS A RESULT!!! THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CONDITION!!! THESE CARS NEED TO BE RECALLED NOW BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED!!! PS IF YOU SEE A KIA SORENTO ON THE FREEWAY...STAY AWAY FROM IT FOR YOUR OWN SAFETY!

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS ENGAGED THE REAR END ROCKED BACK AND FORTH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE THE MECHANIC CONFIRMED THAT THE HANGERS ON THE REAR END WERE CORRODED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 101,000.

RECENT (6 MO. AGO) PURCHASE OF A 2004 KIA SORRENTO. AT TIME OF PURCHASE APPROX. 75,000 MI. LOGGED. TIRES APPEAR TO BE IN VERY GOOD.CONDITION. WITHIN A MONTH OR TWO OF PURCHASE, IT BECAME OBVIOUS THAT THERE WAS A TRACTION PROBLEM ON WET OR EVEN SLIGHTLY WET ROADS. AS OF TODAY, DEC. 10, 2008, I HAVE SKIDDED TWICE AND "FISHTAILED" ONCE, GOING VERY SLOWLY (20 MPH OR LESS) TODAY IT WAS BARELY SPRINKLING AND AS I LITERALLY CREPT AROUND A CORNER, THE CAR UNEXPECTEDLY BEGAN TO SWERVE AND FISHTAIL. IT WAS A LITTLE SCARY AND I'M SURE THE PEOPLE BEHIND ME FREAKED ME OUT... DESPITE MY SURPRISE, I TRIED NOT TO JERK THE WHEEL . THE CAR STRAIGHTENED UP AFTER A FEW TAIL END SWISHES BACK AND FORTH. I HAVE SEARCHED THE INTERNET RECENTLY AND HAVE SEEN CONSUMER REFERENCE TO "POOR TRACTION ON WET SURFACES" (UNDERSTATEMENT). I HAVE MENTIONED IT TO A KIA REPAIR SHOP, BUT WAS TOLD TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT AND BRING IT IN. SINCE I DO NOT HAVE THOUSANDS FOR A MAJOR SUSPENSION (OR ?) REPAIR, I HAVE BEEN PRAYING FOR DRY WEATHER. I HAVE ALSO HEARD AND FELT STRANGE NOISES WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS ACCIDENTALLY SWITCHED TO 4 WHEEL DRIVE, BUT IT IS NOT APPARENT WHEN IN 2 WHEEL DRIVE. AND, THE TRANSITION FROM ONE GEAR TO ANOTHER IS NOT SOOTH AND IS A LITTLE SLOW. ANYWAY, THE MAIN ISSUE IS SKIDDING ON WET ROADS. I AM VERY SURPRISED THERE HAS NOT BEEN SOME KIND OF SAFETY ALERT OR RECALL. THANKS FOR LISTENING. THERESA ARNEY *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO TURN TO THE RIGHT AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A POLE. THE FENDER WAS BADLY DAMAGED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW RACK AND PINION, TIE ROD, UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINT ASSEMBLY, STEERING KNUCKLE, AND A PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 38,000.

CONSUMER FELT VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE ON WASHBOARD TYPE ROADS IN CERTAIN TYPE WEATHER CONDITIONS. *PH WHILE DRIVING OVER ROUGH ROAD THE VEHICLE RIDE WAS VERY BUMPY AND CAUSED PHYSICAL PAIN TO THE OCCUPANTS. THE CONSUMER INDICATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE VEHICLE'S SUSPENSION PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER REQUEST THAT THE MANUFACTURER REPURCHASE THE VEHICLE. *NM