2004 Kia Sorento

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED DUE TO RUSTING OF THE FRAME, WHICH DAMAGED THE BRAKE LINES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,000.

WHILE EXITING MY DRIVEWAY AT HOME (WHICH IS ON A AN INCLINE AND EXITS ONTO A STATE HIGHWAY) I LOST ALL BRAKING CAPABILITY. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR INTO MY LOCAL GARAGE TO HAVE THE PROBLEM DIAGNOSED I WAS TOLD THE BRAKE LINES WERE COMPLETELY CORRODED THROUGH WHICH CAUSED THE LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY. WHILE ATTEMPTING THE REPAIRS THE MECHANIC SMELLED GASOLINE FUMES AND FOUND THAT THE FUEL LINES WHERE THEY EXIT THE TANK HAS ALSO CORRODED THROUGH. I STARTED TO NOTICE UNDER BODY CORROSION SEVERAL YEARS AGO WHEN THE PARKING BRAKE BODY ATTACHMENT POINTS ON THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL CORRODED AND BECAME DISLODGED. ALL OF THIS CORROSION SEEMS TO BE OCCURRING MUCH SOONER THAN I WOULD EXPECT AND SOONER THAN I HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED WITH OTHER VEHICLES I HAVE OWNED MANUFACTURED BY OTHER COMPANIES. *TR

WE PURCHASED OUR SORENTO USED (APPROX 65K MILES)ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO. SINCE THEN, WE'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE GAS TANK ($1500) AMONG OTHER THINGS. THIS YEAR HAS BEEN ABSURD: HAD TO REPLACE THE RADIATOR, WATER PUMP, COMPUTER SYSTEM (2 MONTHS, $4700), BRAKES ($750) AND 2 BATTERIES. 2-3 MONTHS AGO, WE NOTICED A CLUNKING/CHUNKING SOUND THAT GREW STEADILY WORSE. IT SOUNDED AS IF THE 4WD WAS ENGAGING AND DISENGAGING EVERY 3 SECONDS AND FELT VERY UNSAFE AT HIGH SPEEDS. I TOOK IT TO KIA OF COBB COUNTY AND WAS JUST GIVEN A QUOTE FRIDAY FOR A NEW TRANSFER CASE, DRIVE SHAFT, "REAR END CHUNK" (ALL THE SERVICE REP COULD TELL ME) AND 4 NEW TIRES. QUOTE FOR THIS WORK ($9767). THE TRANSFER CASE ALONE WAS AROUND $5700. THIS VEHICLE NOW HAS 112K MILES AND IS LESS THAN 10 YEARS OLD. THE BLUE BOOK VALUE IS (WAS) AROUND $5-6000 AND WE'RE TOLD IT'LL TAKE $10,000 TO FIX IT? I CALLED KIA'S CORPORATE OFFICE TO ASK IF THIS WAS TO BE EXPECTED AT KIA. I WAS TOLD THAT OUR VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. I SAID, " I'M JUST ASKING IF THERE'S ANYONE AT KIA HEADQUARTERS WHO BELIEVES IN THEIR PRODUCT AND WANTS TO PROTECT THE KIA NAME AND YOU JUST KEEP APOLOGIZING." THE REP RESPONDED, "I'M SORRY, SIR." WE'VE FOUND MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ONLINE FROM KIA OWNERS REPORTING SIMILAR ISSUES (CHUNKING, TRANSFER CASE, ETC). WHEN DOES THIS BECOME.A RECALL ISSUE? A SAFETY ISSUE? *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING AN ANNUAL INSPECTION PERFORMED, THE TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THAT THE UPPER CONTROL ARM HANGERS WERE COMPLETELY CORRODED. AS A RESULT, THE ENTIRE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 114,000. ...UPDATED 12/03/13 *BF THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ON 09/13/13

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE AS THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED. THE BATTERY WARNING LIGHT AND THE PARKING BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 154,000.