2001 Kia Sportage

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO FISH TAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND INSPECTED. THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMALLY AT A REDUCED SPEED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY DETECTED THE MAIN FRAME EXHIBITED EXCESSIVE RUST CORROSION NEAR THE FUEL TANK AREA. ALSO, THE REAR BRAKE LINE WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. THE MAIN FRAME WAS ULTRA THIN AND DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE BRAKE LINE AND ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE NOT BE DRIVEN DUE TO THE SAFETY HAZARD. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 137,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, SHE HEARD AN UNUSUAL CLUNK AND THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES YET THE BRAKE PEDAL FELL MUCH FARTHER INTO THE FLOORBOARD THAN USUAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE SHE WAS ADVISED THAT THE FRAME WAS SEVERELY RUSTED AT THE REAR CROSS MEMBER. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT WHEN THE PART FRACTURED FROM THE VEHICLE, IT STRUCK THE BRAKE LINE, CAUSING THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED TO TAKE THE LIABILITY FOR PARTIAL REPAIR COSTS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 140,000.

I WAS DRIVING HOME JULY 14TH 2010 WHEN I BEGAN TO HEAR A "THUD" UNDERNEATH MY 2001 KIA SPORTAGE. IT WAS THEN THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT WARNING CAME ON. I PRESSED THE BRAKES, BUT THEY WERE NOT FUNCTIONING AT ALL. I HAD TO TRAVEL OVER 20 MILES BACK HOME ON THE FREEWAY WITH NO BRAKES. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE CAR BACK WITH NO DAMAGE TO IT, MYSELF, OR MY TWO FRIENDS WHO WERE RIDING WITH ME. IT TURNS OUT THAT WHAT HAPPENED WAS THAT THE FRAME WAS ROTTED OUT AND THUS FELL SUDDENLY, CUTTING THE BRAKE LINE. I LATER LEARNED THAT THE ROTTING OF THE FRAME WAS DUE TO POOR AND NEGLIGENT DESIGN. IT IS COMPLETELY EXPOSED AND HAS NO VENTILATION TO FLUSH OUT WATER AND SALT. IT WAS A MIRACLE THAT THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN SOONER AND THAT I WAS ABLE TO GET HOME WITH NO INJURIES. KIA LATER OFFERED TO REPLACE THE FRAME WITH AN $1,800 ONE, BUT NOTED THAT IT WOULD COST OVER $6,000 TO HAVE IT INSTALLED WHICH IS SIMPLY UNREASONABLE. I AM NOW WITHOUT A VEHICLE UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. *TR

PURCHASED A 2001 KIA SPORTAGE WITH 55200 MILES. WENT TO KIA DEALER BECAUSE OF FUEL LEAK. TECHNICIAN TOLD ME THAT THE FRAME WAS SO ROTTED ON THE VEHICLE AND THAT IF I HIT A POT HOLE THAT THE REAR END COULD LET GO. THE TECHNICIAN TOLD ME THAT FROM 1995 TO 2001 KIA USED LOW GRADE MATERIAL ON THE FRAMES OF THEIR VEHICLES AND POSSIBLY DID NOT COAT THEM. HE TOLD ME WHEN HE PUT MY CAR ON THE LIFT THAT THERE WAS PIECES OF THE FRAME DROPPING ON THE GROUND. HE SAID HE SLIGHTLY TAPPED A HAMMER AGAINST THE FRAME AND IT MADE HOLES. HE TOLD ME THAT I SHOULD JUNK THE VEHICLE AND GAVE ME PAPERWORK STATING THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I ALSO HAD SPOKEN TO THE OWNER OF A USED CAR DEALERSHIP IN MY AREA PRIOR TO THIS AND HE TOLD ME THAT HE COULD NOT SELL THE 1999 KIA SPORTAGE THAT HE PURCHASED AT AUCTION WITH APPROX. 73,000 DUE TO THE FRAME ROTTING OUT. I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED IF I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY IF I HAD NOT HAD THAT FUEL LEAK. I CANNOT UNDERSTAND HOW KIA COULD PRODUCE A VEHICLE LIKE THIS. LOWER QUALITY COSMETICS ARE ONE THING BUT A FRAME ON A VEHICLE IS ANOTHER. *TR

FUEL TANKS RUST OUT QUICK. I NOTICED SMELL OF GAS, AND REPLACED TANK IMMEDIATELY. NO DAMAGE WAS DONE, JUST CONCERN FOR OTHERS. POOR DESIGN CAPTURES MOISTURE BETWEEN FUEL TANK AND SKID PLATE. THIS HAS COST ME 250.00 FOR THE TANK, A HALF DAY OF LABOR, AND I'M CONCERNED WITH PUTTING SKID PLATE BACK ON. I LOOKED ON THE INTERNET TO SEE IF THERE WERE SIMILAR PROBLEMS. THERE WERE SEVERAL EXACT AND OTHERS FOUND WITH THE FUEL TANKS. NO CARS HAVE CAUGHT FIRE YET. *TR

2001 KIA SPORTAGE TEMPERATURE GAUGE NEVER REGISTERED THAT THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING HOT. THE CONSUMER HAD TO HAVE THE ENGINE REPLACED.*MR THE COOLANT SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED, THE REAR HATCH PANEL INSIDE FELL OFF, NEW CLIPS WERE INSTALLED. REPLACED MANUAL TRANSMISSION CLUTCH, TIMING BELT WAS REPLACED, WIND NOISE FROM FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AREA. *BF

CONTINUAL PROBLEMS WITH 2001 KIA SPORTAGE CONVERTIBLE. REPLACEMENT OF BRAKES 5 TIMES, REPLACEMENT OF BELTS 6 TIMES AND 14 OTHER PROBLEMS. *BF THE CUP HOLDER, CONVERTIBLE TOP, AND BELTS WERE REPLACED. THE ALARM WIRES WERE RE-ADJUSTED, THE AC COMPRESSOR, IGNITION COIL PACK, CD PLAYER RIGHT REAR AXLE, RIGHT FRONT STRUT, CATALYTIC CONVERTER, CENTER CONSOLE, REAR WINDOW FUSE, SPARK PLUG AND ENGINE HARNESS WERE ALL REPLACED NUMEROUS TIMES. *JB *NM