2005 Kia Sportage

My 2005 Kia Sportage dropped on the rear drivers side. The rear drivers side rear constant velocity axle fell out when the rear sub-frame separated from the suspension and split apart. This caused the tire and wheel to angle to 45 degrees out from bottom to top. The rust and corrosion caused a complete failure of the sub-frame's ability to hold the rear wheels on. This was at low speed. This is a well maintained vehicle with no other problems, the engine had been replaced 5-6 years ago. The Kia Sportage of this year range is a commonly used car still utilized today. If this had happened at highway speed it would have been a disaster.

THE REAR CROSS MEMBER THAT HOLDS REAR TIE RODS AND REAR CONNECTING ARMS TO WHEELS IS RUSTED SO BAD IT WILL FAIL. MY EMPLOYER HAS SAME YEAR SAME MODEL BUT IN HYUNDAI HERS IS THE SAME AND DRIVERS SIDE REAR JUST SNAPPED HIKE DRIVING IT'S THE EXACT SAME PART AND RUSTED SO BAD WHEEL COLLAPSED. THIS IS WHY I CHECKED MINE. BOTTOM LINE MAIN SUSPENSION COMPONENT ON KIA AND HYUNDAI SHORTAGE OR DANTE FE FAIL AT 10 YEARS. THERE ARE AS A RECALL TO UNDERCOAT OR REPLACE PARTS UNDER THE CAR DO TO EARLY RUST FAILURE. THIS WAS 6 YEARS AGO. THIS CROSS MEMBER IS BOLTED TO HE FRAME AND I CAN GUARANTEE MOST 2005 HAVE THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRING. IT S ALSO HARD TO LOCATE THE PART AND THEY CHARGE FROM $350- $1000 FOR IT. THE HYUNDAI EXACT SAME PART # FROM KIA IS TWICE AS MUCH AS THE KIA PART. *TR

PURCHASED 2005 (NEW) RIGHT FROM THE SHOWROOM. EIGHT YEARS LATER FIND OUT THAT THE REAR SUBFRAME IS COMPLETELY ROTTED OUT. AND THAT'S PUTTING IT MILDLY. BROUGHT IT TO KIA DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THEM LOOK AT IT. SAID THEY NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT BEFORE. TOLD ME IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE, THAT IF THE FRAME BROKE IN HALF THE BACK TIRES WOULD FALL OFF. ONLY THING HOLDING IT ON IS THE TRAILING ARMS. CLAIM WAS FILED BUT KIA WONT DO ANYTHING BECAUSE OF THE MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND SAID THAT IT WAS FROM THE SALT ON THE ROAD IN THE WINTER. ONLY PROBLEM IS THAT'S THE ONLY PART UNDER THE VEHICLE THAT'S ROTTED AND EVERYTHING ELSE IS SOLID WITHOUT RUST. HMMMM!!!! I HOPE THAT AN INVESTIGATION IS OPENED BECAUSE THIS IS A SERIOUS MATTER AND KIA DOESN'T WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT. IVE TAKEN PICTURES AND EVERYONE THAT I'VE SHOWN CANT BELIEVE THERE EYES, SAYING THERE'S NO WAY A VEHICLE OF THIS YEAR SHOULD THE SUBFRAME LOOK LIKE THAT. KIA SAID THEY'VE HAD A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT RUST BUT THIS CAN'T EVEN BE CONSIDERED RUST THE HOLES ARE SO...OOOO BIG I COULD PUT MY FIST THROUGH IT. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED. THIS IS NO LAUGHING MATTER!!!!! *TR

I TOOK MY 2005 KIA SPORTAGE EX INTO THE DEALERSHIP IN JANUARY TO BE CHECKED DUE TO A SQUEAKING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR END. THE PARTS CLERK ORDERED A REAR PASSENGER SPINDLE. ITS BEEN FOUR MONTHS AND THE PART IS SUPPOSEDLY ON BACK ORDER, THEY HAVE DENIED IT BEING A RECALL AND ADVISED ME THAT IT WAS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE A SUSPICION THAT IT IS A RECALL DUE TO IT TAKING SO LONG TO GET THE PART AND THE FACT THAT THEY ARE UNABLE TO GIVE ME A DATE AS TO WHEN THE PART WILL BE AVAILABLE. I'M CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY AS WELL AS OTHER MOTORISTS. *NM