2004 Kia Sorento

CORROSION OF REAR DIFFERENTIAL, BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT ARM COMPLETELY BROKE OFF AXLE ASSY, UNSAFE TO DRIVE. REPAIR SHOP I'VE USED FOR THE LAST 4 YEARS GAVE ESTIMATE OF $1,300.00 WITH POSSIBLE ADDITIONAL COST OF UP TO $500.00. THEY SUGGESTED I CALL KIA REGARDING MY 10 YR. 100,000 MILE WARRANTY. CALLED KIA CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS FOR 10 YR. 100,000 MILE WARRANTY. WAS TOLD I NEEDED TO TOW IT FROM MY REPAIR SHOP TO THE NEAREST KIA DEALER WHICH WAS 48 MILES AWAY. SERVICE MANAGER AFTER LOOKING AT DEFECT TOLD ME WARRANTY DENIED WOULD COST $2,700.00 (APPROXIMATE) AND COULD COUNT ON AN ADDITIONAL $500.00 TO $1,000.00 WHEN TAKEN APART. PLACED ANOTHER CALL TO KIA CORP. HEADQUARTERS FOR WARRANTY AND WAS TOLD THERE IS NO DEFECT. DAMAGE AS A RESULT OF SALT OUT OF THEIR CONTROL, AND THE SERVICE MANAGER HAD THE FINAL SAY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED HE USED THE WRONG STEERING FLUID IN THE VEHICLE, WHICH CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT EMAILED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS AWAITING A RESPONSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

SUMMARY: I WAS DRIVING ALONG THE INTERSTATE AT APROX. 65 MPH. I HEARD A TICKING NOISE AND LOOKED AT THE DASH. NO WARNING LIGHTS MY FRIEND ASKED IF THE CAR FELT LIKE IT WAS LOSING SPEED AND IT WAS I IMMEDIATLY PULLED OVER. MOVING TO THE EMERGENCY LANE THE ENGINE STALLED. NONE OF THE GUAGES INDICATED ANYTHING WRONG , AND EVEN AFTER THE ENGINE FAILED THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT DOES NOT LIGHT UP, NONE OF THE SAFETY INDICATORS LIGHT UP. THE VEHICLE HAS 75,000 MILES ONLY 13,000 OF WHICH I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR. I AM NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY BECAUSE I AM NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER WHICH IS RIDICUALOUS IN ITSELF BECAUSE THE WARRANTY SHOULD COVER MILEAGE AS IT STATES NOT OWNERS. HOWEVER, THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED BECAUSE OF THE FLUID LEAKING OUT OF THE WATER RESERVOIR/OR POSSIBLY A FAILED WATER PUMP THAT KIA KNOWS WILL FAIL. IF KIA WAS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND DID NOT ISSUE A RECALL, KNOWING THAT THIS COULD CAUSE SERIOUS ENGINE PROBLEMS OR DEATH, WHY ARE THEY NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS MOTOR? THE REPAIRS ARE GOING TO COST MORE THAN 5000 DOLLARS THIS SHOULD NOT BE TOLERATED. IF YOU SPEND ANY MONEY ON A VEHICLE, CHANGE THE OIL EVERY 3 TO 5 THOUSAND MILES FOLLOW ALL SAFETY RECALLS, YOU SHOULD EXPECT MORE THAN 75,000 MILES OUT OF IT. KIA SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE! I HAVE CONTACTED A LAWYER IN THIS MATTER I BELIEVE THAT KIA KNOWS ITS VEHICLES ARE FAULTY AND ARE WAITING FOR THE COST OF LAWSUITS AGAINST THEM TO INCREASE TO BE MORE THAN THE COST OF A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM, BEFORE THEY DO ANYTHING TO RECTIFY THE ISSUES. *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

I BOUGHT MY SARENTO IN 2004, NEW. I REPLACED THE COOLANT RESERVOR AT 61000 MILES DUE TO OVERHEATING, REPLACED THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT BULBS ON 4 OCASIONS, TAIL LIGHTS ON 2 OCASIONS. 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. *TR

WHILE DRIVING I SUDDENLY HEARD A SOUND COMING FROM MY ENGINE AND SEVERAL DASHBOARD LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR TO THE AUTO MECHANIC THAT WORKS ON MY CAR WHO INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS A CRANK PULLEY BOLT THAT HAD SHEARED OFF. THE MECHANIC ALSO INFORMED ME THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH KIAS. AFTER DOING A LOT OF INTERNET RESEARCH I FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS TRUE. THE CAR HAS 135,000 ON IT. I HAVE SPENT OVER $4,000 ON REPAIRS ON THIS CAR IN THE LAST YEAR. IT SEEMS THAT EVERYTHING DECIDED TO GO THIS YEAR. I ONLY DO HIGHWAY DRIVING AND I AM THE ONLY OWNER. I AM VERY CAREFUL WITH MY CAR. ANY CHANCE KIA WILL REIMBURSE? *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SORRENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN ABNORMALLY LOUD NOISE WHEN DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED AT THE MUFFLER TAIL PIPE HANGER AND THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT BOTH COMPONENTS WERE CORRODED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DENIED ASSISTANCE DUE TO THE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 128,000.

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!