THE CRANKSHAFT BOLT SHEARED OFF, CAUSING THE HARMONIC BALANCER TO FAIL. THE ENGINE STALLED AND I COASTED TO SAFETY. THIS HAPPENED ON THE INTERSTATE AT 75MPH. KIA IS AWARE OF THIS AND SHOULD BE HELD LIABLE. *TR
2006 Kia Sorento
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2006 Kia Sorento do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 242.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Sorento years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
208 reports with mileage · 34 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine. Review the 67 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Exterior Lighting. Review the 56 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 53 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Power Train complaints
35 reportsREPEATED PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. NOT SMALL PROBLEMS. LIFE THREATENING PROBLEMS. WHAT IS THE NHTSA DOING? WHY NOTHING, NO QUESTIONS, NO NOTHING. THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF CONSUMERS WITH NO HELP FROM THIS PUBLIC AGENCY. WHY? BRAKE PROBLEMS, WIDELY KNOWN. KIA REFUSES TO ADMIT THAT THE BRAKES DON'T WORK ON THEIR VEHICLES, THE …
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REPEATED PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. NOT SMALL PROBLEMS. LIFE THREATENING PROBLEMS. WHAT IS THE NHTSA DOING? WHY NOTHING, NO QUESTIONS, NO NOTHING. THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF CONSUMERS WITH NO HELP FROM THIS PUBLIC AGENCY. WHY? BRAKE PROBLEMS, WIDELY KNOWN. KIA REFUSES TO ADMIT THAT THE BRAKES DON'T WORK ON THEIR VEHICLES, THE ROTORS HAVE TO BE CHANGED EVERY 3 MONTHS. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. I HAD MANY NEAR ACCIDENTS THINKING MY BRAKES WERE FINE AND THEN BRINGING MY CAR IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND THE ROTORS ARE GONE, THE GUYS ARE SAYING YOU ARE LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. NOW AFTER REPEATED REPAIRS, WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON 6/13/14 I WAS ALMOST KILLED WHEN MY CAR NEARLY FLEW OUT OF A HIGH RISE PARKING GARAGE BECAUSE THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT SHEARED OFF CAUSING MY HARMONIC BALANCER TO COME OFF. THE RESULT NO BRAKES, NO STEERING WHILE IN A HIGH RISE PARKING GARAGE. WHAT WILL IT TAKE? SOMEONE NEEDS TO DIE? WHY? WHY NO ENFORCEMENT OF KIA? PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS. WHY WOULDN'T YOU? IF YOU JUST TAKE 5 MINUTES TO LOOK ON THE INTERNET, DON'T SEARCH REALLY HARD, JUST PUT IN KIA SORENTO OR ANY KIA AND YOU WILL SEE THOUSANDS OF REPORTS LIKE THIS. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THIS AGENCY, THE AGENCY TASKED WITH LOOKING INTO THESE THINGS IS NOT LOOKING INTO THIS. HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HAVE MADE COMPLAINTS ON YOUR OWN SITE BUT STILL NOTHING. DO THESE COMPANIES HAVE TO FOLLOW THE RULES OF THE USA OR NOT BECAUSE THIS IS A FOREIGN CAR MANUFACTURER. APPARENTLY NOT. AGAIN, THIS HAS HAPPENED REPEATEDLY, I AM AFRAID OF MY CAR. MY GRANDCHILDREN RIDE IN THIS CAR WITH ME. I CANNOT AFFORD ANOTHER REPAIR. IN JANUARY IT WAS A REPAIR OVER 1200.00. I WAS LAID OFF IN MAY AND NOW ANOTHER REPAIR OF AT LEAST 3000.00 TO 4000.00. I HAVE ONLY 53000 MILES ON MY CAR. WHAT WILL IT TAKE NHTSA? IS IT NOT WORTH YOUR ATTENTION YET? HOW MANY LIVES BEFORE IT IS WORTHY OF YOUR ATTENTION? *JS
25 MINUTE DRIVE TO TOWN. SQUEALING SOUND. PULLED OVER, THE CRANK SHAFT PULLEY WAS SO LOOSE THAT THE BOLT COULD BE HAND TIGHTENED. MECHANIC SAID PIN FELL OUT AND BOLT SHEERED. MAY NEED NEW ENGINE. COULD HAVE DESTROYED THE CRANK SHAFT. ALSO HAVE TRANSMISSION HESITATION, THE 4X4 LOW LIGHT ON DASH GOES ON AND THE TRANSMISSION KICKS …
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25 MINUTE DRIVE TO TOWN. SQUEALING SOUND. PULLED OVER, THE CRANK SHAFT PULLEY WAS SO LOOSE THAT THE BOLT COULD BE HAND TIGHTENED. MECHANIC SAID PIN FELL OUT AND BOLT SHEERED. MAY NEED NEW ENGINE. COULD HAVE DESTROYED THE CRANK SHAFT. ALSO HAVE TRANSMISSION HESITATION, THE 4X4 LOW LIGHT ON DASH GOES ON AND THE TRANSMISSION KICKS IN LOW . HAVE TO SIT AND WAIT FOR IT TO GO OFF. THIS HAPPENS WITH OUT THE BUTTON BEING TURNED ON. THIS KIA ONLY HAS 79,000 HIGHWAY MILES. ITS AMESS. THIS CRANK SHAFT HARMONIC BALANCER SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OFF THE VEHICLE. SOME ONE IS GOING TO DIE OR GET SERIOUSLY INJURED BECAUSE WHEN THIS HAPPENED YOU COULD NOT STEER THE KIA OR USE BRAKES. *TR
JUST DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. MADE A TURN ON TO A STREET AND HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND ENGINE CUT OFF AND POWER STEERING HAD QUIT WORKING. IF I WAS GOING FAST WOULD HAVE BEEN A WRECK. I GOT IT STOPPED AND HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED HOME. MY HUSBAND LOOKED UNDER HOOD AND A BELT WAS LOOSE AND THE CRANKSHAFT BOLT WAS LA…
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JUST DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. MADE A TURN ON TO A STREET AND HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND ENGINE CUT OFF AND POWER STEERING HAD QUIT WORKING. IF I WAS GOING FAST WOULD HAVE BEEN A WRECK. I GOT IT STOPPED AND HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED HOME. MY HUSBAND LOOKED UNDER HOOD AND A BELT WAS LOOSE AND THE CRANKSHAFT BOLT WAS LAYING THERE BROKE OFF.CALLED KIA AND THEY SAID IT IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY FOR THAT. I HAVE 92,500 ON MY SUV AND THE POWERTRAIN IS FOR 100,000 MILES BUT THEY SAY A BOLT IS NOT COVERED. I HAVE READ ONLINE - THIS HAS HAPPENED TO SEVERAL PEOPLE. NOW HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO HAVE IT FIXED. SHOULD BE A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED... ALSO THEY SHOULD RECALL ABOUT THE HEAD AND TAIL LIGHTS - THEY HAVE TO HAVE A BULB REPLACED AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH AND THE INTERIOR LIGHT DOES NOT WORK. HAS BEEN THIS WAY SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. *TR
I HAVE A 2006 KIA SORENTO THE REAR HOUSING AXLE HAS RUSTED ALL THE WAY . AND THERE IS LARGE HOLE FROM THE RUST AND OIL DRIPPING OUT. AND THE BODY HAS IS ALREADY STARTING TO RUST. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF. I'VE HAVE WASHED AND WAXED AND KEPT IT . BUT IT DIDN'T DO ANY GOOD. KIA NEEDS TO WORK TO IMPROVE. *TR
I WAS MERGING ONTO A HIGHWAY WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEARD A LOUD THUD AND MY BATTERY LIGHT & E BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND I LOST POWER STEERING. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO INFORMED ME THAT THE HARMONIC BALANCER HAD FALLEN OFF DUE TO THE CRANKSHAFT BOLT SHEARING OFF. ONCE IT WAS FIXED BY AN ASE CERTIFIED…
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I WAS MERGING ONTO A HIGHWAY WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEARD A LOUD THUD AND MY BATTERY LIGHT & E BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND I LOST POWER STEERING. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO INFORMED ME THAT THE HARMONIC BALANCER HAD FALLEN OFF DUE TO THE CRANKSHAFT BOLT SHEARING OFF. ONCE IT WAS FIXED BY AN ASE CERTIFIED MECHANIC, APPROXIMATELY 8000 MILES LATER I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND THE CAR STARTED SHAKING LIKE I WAS DRIVING ON RUMBLE STRIPS. I TOOK IT BACK TO A SERVICE GARAGE AND AFTER REPLACING THE HARMONIC BALANCER AND CRANKBOLT AGAIN THEY CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THE CRANKSHAFT WAS BENT. THE GARAGE SUGGESTED REPLACING THE ENTIRE CRANKSHAFT AND BALANCER AND THEN HAVING THE ENGINE REBALANCED OR A COMPLETE ENGINE REPLACEMENT BOTH OF WHICH ARE GREATER THAN $3500 TO REPAIR ON A VEHICLE THAT'S WORTH ABOUT $5500..IT'S BEEN APPROXIMATELY $2000 THAT I'VE ALREADY SPENT TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. IT'S AT A LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP NOW, WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT'S NOT FIXABLE AND THEY CAN ONLY RECOMMEND TO REPLACE THE ENGINE WHICH WOULD COST $6,700 FOR A USED ENGINE WITH 71,000 MILES ON IT. IT SEEMS THAT THIS SAME ISSUE HAPPENS ON THESE MOTORS BETWEEN 60K AND 90K MILES THEN FROM DOING SOME RESEARCH, IT SEEMS AFTER REPAIRS ARE DONE THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPENS APPROXIMATELY 6K-10K MILES LATER. AFTER LOOKING INTO IT, IT LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THE ONLY CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM WOULD BE MANUFACTURER DEFECTS AND FAULTY PARTS. THIS HAS CAUSED ME TO BE OUT OF A VEHICLE SINCE MID NOVEMBER OF 2012. IT'S DISTURBING WITH HOW MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS I'M READING ON THIS SITE ABOUT THE SAME EXACT THING! *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS STOPPED ILLUMINATING INTERMITTENTLY. ADDITIONALLY, WHILE ACCELERATING THE VEHICLE JERKED AND DECELERATED SUDDENLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THERE WAS A RECALL U…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS STOPPED ILLUMINATING INTERMITTENTLY. ADDITIONALLY, WHILE ACCELERATING THE VEHICLE JERKED AND DECELERATED SUDDENLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V130000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) THAT COULD HAVE BEEN RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000. *TR
WHILE DRIVING IN BUSY CITY TRAFFIC, HEARD A LOUD CLUNKY NOISE, LOSS OF POWER STEERING CAPABILITIES IMMEDIATELY ALONG WITH BRAKE AND BATTERY LIGHTS APPEARING ON DASH. VEHICLE TAKEN TO LOCAL DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT "CRANK BOLT BROKEN OFF THE CRANKSHAFT, REMOVED CRANK BOLT WITH EASY OUT, REPLACED DAMAG…
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WHILE DRIVING IN BUSY CITY TRAFFIC, HEARD A LOUD CLUNKY NOISE, LOSS OF POWER STEERING CAPABILITIES IMMEDIATELY ALONG WITH BRAKE AND BATTERY LIGHTS APPEARING ON DASH. VEHICLE TAKEN TO LOCAL DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT "CRANK BOLT BROKEN OFF THE CRANKSHAFT, REMOVED CRANK BOLT WITH EASY OUT, REPLACED DAMAGED CRANK SPROCKET, DAMPER PULLEY, AND CRANK BOLT." NOW TEN (10) MONTHS LATER AND 7000 MILES (APPROXIMATELY) WE HAVE THE SAME ISSUE IDENTICAL TO THE ORIGINAL. AM CURRENTLY WAITING FOR RESOLUTION FROM DEALERSHIP WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AND SERVICED. IT IS CURRENTLY THERE WAITING REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT. SEEMS THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT IS NOT FIXED BY SIMPLY REPAIRING OR REPLACING THE CRANK BOLT AS IT HAS HAPPENED TWICE WITH MY VEHICLE, LEADING ME TO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A STRESSOR ELSEWHERE! MORE THAN LIKELY A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT OF THE ENGINE BLOCK SOMEWHERE. *TR
WHILE DRIVING HEARD A LOUD NOISE FROM ENGINE CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING. CAR TOWED TO MECHANIC. DIAGNOSIS: CRANK BOLT BROKEN AND LAYING IN SKID PLATE; PART OF BROKEN CRANK BOLT IN CRANKSHAFT. CRANK PULLEY SHEARED PIN AND MOVED FORWARD CAUSING POWER STEERING BELT TO COME OFF AND OTHER BELT MISALIGNMENT. UPON REMOVAL OF BR…
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WHILE DRIVING HEARD A LOUD NOISE FROM ENGINE CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING. CAR TOWED TO MECHANIC. DIAGNOSIS: CRANK BOLT BROKEN AND LAYING IN SKID PLATE; PART OF BROKEN CRANK BOLT IN CRANKSHAFT. CRANK PULLEY SHEARED PIN AND MOVED FORWARD CAUSING POWER STEERING BELT TO COME OFF AND OTHER BELT MISALIGNMENT. UPON REMOVAL OF BROKEN CRANKSHAFT BOLT, DAMAGE WAS FOUND TO CRANK GEAR AND BALANCER PULLEY. THE TIMING BELT, TENSIONER AND CRANKSHAFT BOLT HAD ALL BEEN REPLACED AT 91,000. LESS THAN TWO MONTHS AFTER REPLACING THE CRANKSHAFT BOLT, IT SHEARED OFF CAUSING MAJOR DAMAGE. LOSING POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT TO KIA THAT HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED CAUSING A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE TO ALL MOTOR VEHICLE DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS. IN ADDITION, THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR ISSUE. *TR
DRIVING 65MPH ON TURNPIKE HEARD A LOUD SCREECHING NOISE BRAKES WERE HARD TO APPLY STEERING WAS DIFFICULT AND DASH BOARD LITE UP PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST KIA DEALERSHIP TO BE TOLD THAT CRANK SHAFT BOLT BROKE. AT 60000 MILES WE DID THE REQUIRED MAINTENANCE TO THE TUNE OF 663.65 AND HAD THE TIMING …
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DRIVING 65MPH ON TURNPIKE HEARD A LOUD SCREECHING NOISE BRAKES WERE HARD TO APPLY STEERING WAS DIFFICULT AND DASH BOARD LITE UP PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST KIA DEALERSHIP TO BE TOLD THAT CRANK SHAFT BOLT BROKE. AT 60000 MILES WE DID THE REQUIRED MAINTENANCE TO THE TUNE OF 663.65 AND HAD THE TIMING BELT REPLACED. THERE WAS ALSO A MEMO TO THE DEALERSHIPS TO REPLACE THE BOLT WHEN REPLACING THE TIMING BELT. ACCORDING TO MY ITEMIZED STATEMENT THE BOLT WAS NOT REPLACED. I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE COVERED SINCE I FOLLOWED THE RULES AND GOT THE REQUIRED SERVICE THEY WERE NEGLIGENT NOT REPLACING THE BOLT. HOWEVER THEY REFUSE TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THERE MISTAKE. NOW I AM STUCK WITH A CONSIDERABLE BILL. *TR
Official recalls
109V130000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch
Apr 17, 2009
HUYNDAI-KIA IS RECALLING 139,844 MY 2006-2007- SEDONA, SPORTAGE, SORENTO AND MY RONDO AND AMANTI VEHICLES. THE STOP LAMP SWITCH IN THE AFFECTED VEHICLES MAY MALFUNCTION. A MALFUNCTIONING STOP LAMP SWITCH MAY CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED OR MAY CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS RELEASED. A STOP LAMP SWITCH MALFUNCTION MAY ALSO AFFECT THE OPERATION OF THE BRAKE-TRANSMISSION SHIFT INTERLOCK FEATURE SO THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BE SHIFTED OUT OF THE PARK POSITION. IT MAY ALSO CAUSE THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) MALFUNCTION LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE, AND IT MAY NOT DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: ANY OF THESE MALFUNCTIONS, ALONE OR IN COMBINATION, MAY LEAD TO A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STOP LAMP SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 17, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA'S CONSUMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-333-4542.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1DP21003 · Throttle Control System Vulnerabilities
Opened Nov 12, 2021 · Closed Jun 20, 2023
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:throttle
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a petition letter dated October 10, 2021, requesting an investigation of possible defects in the electronic throttle control (ETC) system on certain Kia vehicles resulting in the opening of DP21-003. Accordingly, Model Year (MY) 2005-2016 Kia Optima/K5, MY 2006-2015 Kia Sorento, MY 2007-2016 Hyundai Elantra, MY 2007-2016 Hyundai Santa Fe, MY 2006-2015 Hyundai Sonatas are all part of the subject population. The petition was originally filed as a Vehicle Owner Questionnaire that can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under reference (ODI) number 11439675.On November 12, 2021, ODI opened Defect Petition DP21-003 to evaluate the petitioner?s request. ODI performed trend analyses of the VOQs related to vehicle speed control issues for all the subject vehicles and found that none of the 52 Model/Model Year Hyundai/Kia vehicles demonstrated any actionable trend that warranted an investigation.Petitioners submitted 1119 VOQs and non-VOQ cases in which sudden uncommanded acceleration (SUA) or loss of motive power (LOMP) incidents were alleged.For the 1119 reports, 220 were incidents involving crashes, from which 69 subject Hyundai-Kia vehicles were inspected by Hyundai/Kia dealer technicians, Hyundai/Kia engineers, and/or third-party representatives.ODI found the inspections identified no vehicle defects related to the ETC system.Of the 220 crash-involved reports, 13 Event Data Recorder (EDR) records were downloaded successfully and 11 of those indicated driver error: (i.e.) pedal misapplication.A condition where the accelerator pedal is mistakenly applied instead of the brake pedal when the driver wants to stop the vehicle.In addition, ODI reviewed a scientific journal paper published in Forensic Science International in 2016 by Mr. Park et al ., as well as related test videos. ODI does not believe there is any evidence of uncontrollable SUA occurrences in any of the tests reviewed. NHTSA's Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance (OVSC) reviewed the allegations regarding the potential noncompliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 124.Based on the information provided, the Agency concludes there is insufficient information for us to determine if a possible non-compliance exists.Finally, both Hyundai and Kia informed ODI that all their vehicles manufactured after 2012 were equipped with an ETC management system, in which the engine speed will go to idle when the system sees signals from both the brake pedal and accelerator pedal at the same time; this is commonly known as the brake-throttle override system.After thoroughly assessing the material submitted by the petitioner, information already in NHTSA's possession, information submitted by Hyundai and Kia in response to an Information Request letter, and the potential risks to safety implicated by the petitioner's allegation, NHTSA does not believe that a formal investigation is warranted. After full consideration of appropriate factors, the petition is denied. A Federal Register Notice (FRN) further detailing NHTSA?s reasons for denial of the petition will be published.
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