2004 KIA SORENTO Power Train Problems

Crank pully bolt snapped. Causing crank pully to fall, and critical belts to fail.

CRANKSHAFT BOLT BROKE WITH APPROX 75,000 MILES. KIA ISSUED SERVICE BULLETIN AND REPLACED THE BOLT. BUT THE MOTOR WAS DESTROYED WHEN IT BROKE AND CONTINUOUSLY OVERHEATED AND WAS UNDRIVABLE. IT REQUIRED A NEW MOTOR. NOT HAVING $ TO REPLACE MOTOR & KIAS ZERO ACCOUNTABILITY. VEHICLE SAT AT A REPAIR SHOP FOR 2 YEARS & THEY FILED FOR AN ABANDONED TITLE. AT THE TIME VALUED AT APPROX $7500. WASTED!!!! THANKS KIA!

Mileage: 75,000

RUSTED BRACKETS POSING A DANGEROUS SAFETY RISK, 2004 KIA SORENTO WITH 162,000 MILES. THE ENTIRE BRACKET HOLDING THE DIFFERENTIAL RUSTED THROUGH. THE FRAME REAR CROSS MEMBER ALSO RUSTED THROUGH CAUSING THE CONTROL ARMS IS DETACHED FROM THE REAR END ALSO CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD. THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW THAT ALLOWS WATER TO STAY INSIDE THE HOLLOW CROSS MEMBER THAT CAUSED THE CORROSION. DRAIN OR WEEP HOLES IN THE CROSS MEMBER AND AN ANTI-CORROSION COATING WOULD HAVE PREVENTED THIS. WHEN THE BRACKET(S) BREAKS THE REAR AXLE IS NO LONGER HELD IN PLACE THERE ARE REPORTS ON NHTSA WHERE THESE BRACKETS HAVE ROTTED AWAY AND FAILED CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A KNOWN DESIGN FLAW THAT HAS BEEN APPEARING ON THE OLDER CARS WHERE THE ENTIRE FRAME AND REAR END WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THERE WILL EVENTUALLY BE MORE OF THESE FAILURES AND THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR FATAL ACCIDENTS FROM LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. I AM AWARE THAT IN EUROPE KIA HAS BEEN REPAIRING SORENTOS.

Mileage: 162,000

RUSTED BRACKETS RECALLED IN EUROPE, REFUSED BY KIA TO REPLACE EVEN THO THEY WERE RUSTED UNDER WARRANTY, POSE A DANGEROUS SAFETY RISK TO UNSUSPECTING OWNERS. THE ENTIRE BRACKET HOLDING THE DIFFERENTIAL RUSTED THROUGH CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD. PRESENTED WITH A SMALL SQUEAK IN REAR. I ASKED KIA TO SEND PEOPLE LETTERS WARNING AND THEY WOULD NOT ADDRESS THE REQUEST. HOW KIA IS GETTING AWAY WITH SEVERE RUST, CAUSING SAFETY HAZARDS IN ALL VEHICLES, IS BEYOND ME. I KNOW THEY ARE LESS EXPENSIVE, IS IT WORTH IT? CAN SOMEONE PLEASE ADDRESS THE ISSUE AND AT LEAST LET THE PUBLIC KNOW IT IS HAPPENING BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SEVERELY INJURED OR GOD FORBID DIES. THERE ARE THOUSANDS STILL ON THE ROAD. I PAID FOR THEIR DIAGNOSTIC WORTHLESSNESS TO MAKE SURE IT WAS DOCUMENTED.

Mileage: 98,000

I WAS DRIVING OUR 2004 KIA SORENTO WITH MY 3 YOUNG CHILDREN IN THE CAR. DRIVING DOWN A CITY STREET AT 45 MPH THE CAR BEGAN TO JERK AS ALL THE LIGHTS FLASHED ON THE DASHBOARD. I LOST ALL POWER, BUT I WAS ABLE TO CRUISE TO PARK NEXT TO A CURB, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. I HAD IT TOWED TO MY MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE CRANKSHAFT SPROCKET, KEY SHAFT, DAMPER PULLEY, AND CRANK BOLT ALL WERE DAMAGED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

Mileage: 121,000

ON MONDAY, AUGUST 10TH, 2015 I WAS DRIVING MY 2004 KIA SORENTO LX AND HEARD A LOUD BANG AND THEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO FISHTAIL. I WAS TRAVELING AT A LOW SPEED OF AROUND 35 MPH. I IMMEDIATELY SLOWED DOWN AND MANAGED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO A NEARBY GARAGE. AT THE GARAGE THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED ON THE LIFT AND IT WAS IDENTIFIED THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE FRAME RAIL HAD COMPLETELY BROKEN IN HALF AND WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS ALSO SEVERELY CORRODED BUT NOT BROKEN ALL THE WAY THROUGH. THE CROSS-MEMBER ABOVE THE REAR AXLE IS ALMOST COMPLETELY GONE. I NOW HAVE AN 11 YEAR OLD VEHICLE WHICH SHOULD HAVE A RETAIL VALUE OF AROUND $5K WHICH IS NOW COMPLETELY WORTHLESS. I DID SOME INTERNET RESEARCH AND FOUND I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE EXPERIENCING THIS SEVERE CORROSION PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR AND MODEL KIA. I AM SURPRISED THERE HAVE BEEN NO SAFETY RECALLS FOR THIS PROBLEM. HAD MY INCIDENT HAPPENED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE STORY MAY BE A LOT DIFFERENT.

Mileage: 83,904

ABOUT TO GET ON HWY IN NC, RED LIGHT TURNED GREEN STARTED DRIVING NOT EVEN 10 SECONDS LATER GAS PEDAL GOES STRAIGHT TO FLOOR AND SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING DROPS. IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD CAR JUST STOPS WITH NO WARNING-RIGHT BEFORE MAJOR HWY. TRY TO CRANK THE KIA, NOTHING. AGAIN, NOTHING. PHYSICALLY PUSH THE CAR OFF ROAD WHILE OTHERS ARE SPEEDING BY-ACCIDNET WAITING TO HAPPEN THANK GOD IT DIDNT. GET IT TOWED HOME. SAT IN YARD EVER SINCE. REPLACED MULTIPLE PARTS. STILL DOES NOT RUN..

Mileage: 930,000

I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35-40 MPH AND MY CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER WITH ALL THE DASH LIGHTS BRIEFLY COMING ON (BATTERY, OIL, ETC.). FORTUNATELY I WAS CLOSE TO A SIDE STREET AND WAS ABLE TO MAKE A HARD TURN AND COAST TO THE CURB. I WAITED A MINUTE AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. I DROVE HOME AND THERE WAS ONE MORE INCIDENT WHEN THE CAR STARTED TO LOSE POWER (LIGHTS DIMMED) HOWEVER I PUSHED ON THE GAS AND IT POWERED UP AGAIN. I HAVE HAD THE LIGHTS DIM AND THE CAR SEEMINGLY LOSE POWER SEVERAL TIMES. JUST PRIOR TO THIS THE CAR TYPICALLY HESITATES WHEN YOU ARE GOING FULL SPEED AND THEN THE DIMMING OCCURS. I'VE HAD MY CAR IDLE AT STOP SIGNS AND AT TRAIN CROSSINGS AND HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED ANY POWER LOSS. IT ALWAYS SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING 35-40 MPH OR MORE. I'VE HAD IT HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING 60-70 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAD A DIAGNOSTIC RUN ON THE CAR AT THE DEALERSHIP WITH NO CONCERNING RESULTS. I'VE HAD A MECHANIC I TRUST CHECK THE ALTERNATOR, THE SPARK PLUGS, FLUSH THE COOLANT, PUT IN FUEL CLEANER, ETC. AND HE CANNOT LOCATE THE PROBLEM.

Mileage: 92,400

I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK ON TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015. IT WAS ABOUT 7:30/7:40 A.M. I WAS DRIVING MY 2004 KIA SORENTO EX. I HAD JUST DRIVEN THROUGH ST. PETER, MN ON HWY 169 SOUTH ON MY WAY TO MANKATO AND WAS STARTING TO PICK UP MY SPEED AS THE SPEED LIMIT INCREASES AS YOU LEAVE TOWN. ALL OF A SUDDEN, WITHOUT WARNING, MY VEHICLE JUST SHUT DOWN. THE "DUMMY LIGHTS" ALL LIT UP. I HAD NO POWER STEERING, NO BRAKES, NO ACCELERATOR - NOTHING WAS WORKING. THANK GOODNESS THE VEHICLE, BECAUSE THERE WAS NO POWER, SLOWED TO A STOP WITHIN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER WITHOUT A COLLISION AND NO ONE WAS HURT. I PUT IT IN PARK AND TURNED THE KEY TO THE OFF POSITION. I TRIED TO SEE IF IT WOULD START AGAIN AND ABSOLUTELY NOTHING HAPPENED WHEN I TURNED THE KEY. I CALLED AAA AND THE SORENTO WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST MECHANIC SHOP. WITHOUT INVESTING TOO MUCH TIME IN IT BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT A HUGE BILL, THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT IT HAS ELECTRICAL POWER - HAS GOOD POWER TO THE STARTER, BUT THE ENGINE DOES NOT ROTATE. THEY COULD NOT EVEN PHYSICALLY ROTATE THE ENGINE. HE TOLD ME THAT REGARDLESS OF WHAT IT WAS, IT WOULD BE VERY EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR IT BECAUSE, AT THIS POINT, THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT. THAT'S WHEN I GOT ON FACEBOOK AND STARTED ASKING IF ANYONE HAD ANY IDEAS OF WHAT COULD BE WRONG AND A FRIEND TOLD ME ABOUT THE KIA SORENTO ENGINE DEFECT CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. I BELIEVE MY 2004 KIA SORENTO EX IS AFFECTED BY THIS ENGINE DEFECT. IT WAS DANGEROUS TO BE DRIVING AND I AM THANKFUL I WAS NOT ON A BUSY FREEWAY. AS THIS JUST HAPPENED 3 DAYS AGO, I DO NOT KNOW WHAT I AM GOING TO DO WITH THIS SORENTO. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE IT FIXED, BUT CANNOT AFFORD TO DO IT. IT IS STILL SITTING IN THE PARKING LOT AT THE MECHANICS IN ST. PETER WHERE AAA TOWED IT TO. *TR

Mileage: 159,600

WHILE I WAS DRIVING OUT OF MY COMPLEX MY THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH CAME ON AND IT SEEMED AS IF I LOST MY BRAKES (WHICH I COST TO THE SIDE ROAD AS WELL AS NO STEERING. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE PULLEY MOUNTING BOLT HAD BROKEN OFF INSIDE THE CRANKSHAFT. *TR

Mileage: 102,000

DRIVING ON INTERSTATE HWY, 70 MPH, THE HARMONIC BALANCE BOLT AND ROLL PIN SHEARED OFF LEAVING BROKEN OFF STUBS IN CRANKSHAFT. CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING, POWER BRAKES, I HAD DEALER REPLACE ALL FAN BELTS BECAUSE OF SQUEALING FOR THE TRIP, 300 MILES BEFORE THE FAILURE. *TR

Mileage: 100,300

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

Mileage: 112,000

ENTERING I-35 NORTH FROM ACCESS ROAD IN SAN ANTONIO TEXAS. TIME 08:15AM (RUSH HOUR) LOUD BANG FROM REAR OF VEHICLE SPEED IMMEDIATELY DROPPED TO 20MPH, INITIALLY THOUGHT I HAD BLOWN A TIRE. PULLED OFF ACCESS ROAD TO SIDE STREET. WAS HAVING TROUBLE STOPPING VEHICLE NO BRAKE PRESSURE FOOT WENT ALL THE WAY TO FLOORBOARD. CHECKED REAR TIRES, NO VISIBLE DAMAGE TO EITHER TIRE (TIRES WERE NEW)WHEN VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. AGAIN ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE VEHICLE, REAR TIRES WERE HAVING TROUBLE ROTATING? LATER DISCOVERED WHEEL BEARINGS HAD FAILED. *TR

Mileage: 138,057

WHILE DRIVING ALL WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND ALL BELTS BROKE STEERING WOULDN'T WORK. *TR

Mileage: 168,431

I HAD THE VEHICLE IN THE DEALERSHIP JUST BELOW 100,000 MILES. THEY DIDN'T BOTHER TO TELL ME THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE WAS MESSED UP AND NEEDED REPLACED. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH SEVERAL PEOPLE. AND THEN TO FIND OUT THIS IS A DEALER ONLY PART AND OVER 900.00! I THINK THIS WAS POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY SHOULD'VE KNOWN SOMETHING WAS WRONG. THE GEAR SHIFT WASN'T SITTING IN DRIVE AND NOT SHIFTING CORRECTLY. I DOUBT I'D EVER BUY ANOTHER KIA BECAUSE THEIR SERVICE SUCKS! THEY DON'T VALUE THEIR CUSTOMERS AND THAT REALLY MAKES ME UNEASY. *TR

Mileage: 99,000

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH THE CRANKSHAFT BOLT BROKE, THE TIMING BELT AND DRIVE BELT CAME LOOSE. *TR

Mileage: 137,685

WE HAVE HAD 4 INSTANCES WITH THE SAME ISSUE IN THE FIXING THE PULLEY CRANK SHAFT. JUNE 30, 08, (RECALL) OCTOBER 6, 09, AUG 10, 10 AND ONCE AGAIN SEPT 18,12. THIS IS THE SAME ISSUE THAT CAUSES YOU TO LOOSE STEERING WHILE DRIVING WITH APPARENTLY NO WARNING. I FIND THIS EXTREMELY TROUBLING AS WE HAVE A NEW DRIVER LEARNING WITH THIS CAR. WE ARE LUCKY TO REPORT THAT THERE HAVE BEEN NO ACCIDENTS OR DEATHS BUT I THINK IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT WILL SOON HAPPEN. THE DEALER WAGNER KIA OF SHREWSBURY,MA FEELS THAT IT IS NOT AN ISSUE AND IS JUST FROM WEAR AND TEAR. 4 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM? OBVIOUSLY KIA HAS NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM CORRECTLY. IT ANGERS ME THAT KIA IS NOT TAKING THIS SERIOUSLY. WE DRIVE OUR CHILDREN AS WELL AS OTHER CHILDREN IN THIS CAR AND COULD OF HAD SERIOUS TO FATAL INJURIES. FROM THIS BOLT SHEARING OFF IT HAS ALSO CAUSED OTHER MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE CAR THAT WE HAVE ALREADY HAD FIXED. *TR

Mileage: 77,178

TWO BRACKETS (ONE LEFT, ONE RIGHT) THAT HOLD THE REAR UPPER CONTROL ARMS TO THE REAR AXLE HOUSING HAVE COMPLETELY SNAPPED OFF. THIS LEAVES A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION WHICH WILL CAUSE THE REAR AXLE OF THE CAR TO ROTATE AND FALL OUT OF THE CAR. IF THIS HAPPENS AT SPEED, SERIOUS INJURY AND/OR DEATH IS LIKELY. THERE ARE MANY MANY POSTS ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM ONLINE AND KIA REFUSES TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM STATING THAT IT'S NOT A FLAW OR DEFECT. IT IS IF IT HAPPENS TO ALMOST EVERY VEHICLE OF THIS YEAR AND MODEL. KIA DOES NOT OFFER A REPLACEMENT BRACKET THAT CAN BE WELDED ON AND THEY SUGGEST THAT THE ENTIRE REAR AXLE HOUSING ASSEMBLY IS REPLACED AT A COST OF SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS PER VEHICLE. KIA MOTORS REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM OR ASSIST AFFECTED CUSTOMERS IN RESOLVING IT. *TR

Mileage: 75,000

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

Mileage: 84,566

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

Mileage: 120,000

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

Mileage: 120,200

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.

Mileage: 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!

Mileage: 118,000

I BOUGHT A 2004 KIA SORENTO IN 2006 FINISHED PAYING FOR IT IN 2010,OVER THE YEARS I HAVE HAD TO CHANGE THE LIGHTS SO MANY TIMES I CANT COUNT,I HAVE HAD TOPAINT IT TWICE,THEN THE DRIVING SHAFT BROKE,THE COMPRESSOR WAS CHANGED TWICE, THE CD PLAYER WORKS ON AND OFF THE AIR BAGS LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED FOR MONTHS ON END THE ENGINE LIGHT DOES THE SAME AND MOST RECENTLY THERE IS SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE, I AM HAVING TO STOP PARK AND LET IT COOL OFF BEFORE CONTINUING ON MY JOURNEY, AT THE MOMENT I GOT SCARED AND I NOW I HAVE MY VEHICLE PARKED AT HOME BECAUSE I AM SCARED TO DRIVE IT, IT IS A SHAME AND I AM VERY UPSET. IS THERE ANYONE OUT THERE WHO IS TRYING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS US CONSUMERS ARE HAVING? I OWN MY VEHICLE AND HAS A CLEAN TITLE AND WOULD LIKE TO TRADE IN OR SELL BUT WITH ALL THESE PROBLEMS HOW CAN I PASS IT ON TO SOMEONE ELSE? I AM ASKING SOMEONE FROM KIA TO DO THE RESPONSIBLE THING AND GIVE US SOME ANSWERS BEFORE SOMEONE LOSES THEIR LIFE,THAT IS IF IT HASN'T HAPPENED ALREADY. DON'T LET THIS BE TOYOTA. *TR

I BOUGHT A 2004 KIA SORENTO IN 2006 FINISHED PAYING FOR IT IN 2010,OVER THE YEARS I HAVE HAD TO CHANGE THE LIGHTS SO MANY TIMES I CANT COUNT,I HAVE HAD TOPAINT IT TWICE,THEN THE DRIVING SHAFT BROKE,THE COMPRESSOR WAS CHANGED TWICE, THE CD PLAYER WORKS ON AND OFF THE AIR BAGS LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED FOR MONTHS ON END THE ENGINE LIGHT DOES THE SAME AND MOST RECENTLY THERE IS SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE, I AM HAVING TO STOP PARK AND LET IT COOL OFF BEFORE CONTINUING ON MY JOURNEY, AT THE MOMENT I GOT SCARED AND I NOW I HAVE MY VEHICLE PARKED AT HOME BECAUSE I AM SCARED TO DRIVE IT, IT IS A SHAME AND I AM VERY UPSET. IS THERE ANYONE OUT THERE WHO IS TRYING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS US CONSUMERS ARE HAVING? I OWN MY VEHICLE AND HAS A CLEAN TITLE AND WOULD LIKE TO TRADE IN OR SELL BUT WITH ALL THESE PROBLEMS HOW CAN I PASS IT ON TO SOMEONE ELSE? I AM ASKING SOMEONE FROM KIA TO DO THE RESPONSIBLE THING AND GIVE US SOME ANSWERS BEFORE SOMEONE LOSES THEIR LIFE,THAT IS IF IT HASN'T HAPPENED ALREADY. DON'T LET THIS BE TOYOTA. *TR

MY SISTER PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW AND HAS HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH IT AND PROBLEMS WITH DEALERSHIP/KIA HONORING THEIR 10 YEAR/100,000 MILE WARRANTY. SHE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE BELIEVING SHE WOULD BE DRIVING A QUALITY VEHICLE (ADVERTISING 10 YEAR/100,000 MILE WARRANTY SHE ASSUMED IT MUST BE OF HIGH QUALITY BECAUSE WHO WOULD OFFER THAT KIND OF WARRANTY IF IT WAS JUNK....WRONG!) SHE HAS HAD NOTHING BUT STRESS, FINANCIAL EXPENSE, LOST WORK TIME, AND A BATTLE OF HER LIFE TRYING TO SEEK CONSUMER JUSTICE...DEALERSHIP, KIA MOTORS, LEMON LAW REQUIRES A PART TO FAIL FOUR TIMES, ATTORNEY GENERALS OFFICE, CONCILIATION COURT, WRITING TO RUUKIVINA, OBERSTAR, AND MOST RECENTLY AMY KLOBUCHAR...ALL FAILED. NO ONE HAS SAID THAT THEY WILL INVESTIGATE KIA AND PROTECT THE CONSUMERS FROM THIS FRAUDULENT AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURER. WHY? THE PROBLEMS SHE HAS HAD WITH HER VEHICLE CONSIST OF RUST ON THE TAILGATE AND REAR DOORS JUST A FEW MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING, ALL KINDS OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS FROM HEADLIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS BURNING OUT NUMEROUS TIMES, THE DIGITAL DASH FOR RADIO AND HEATER GOING BLACK, THE HEATER NOT WORK, A RELAY SWITCH FOR FAN FAILED, FOAM BETWEEN WINDSHIELD AND FRAME COMING OUT TAPPING ON THE WINDOW, A PROBLEM WITH THE COOLANT RESERVOIR, THE REAR DRIVESHAFT FAILED, THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED AND MOST RECENTLY THE TRANSFER CASE. SAFETY ISSUES AND CONCERNS WOULD BE WITH TAIL LIGHTS AND HEADLIGHTS BURNING OUT PREMATURELY AND FREQUENTLY AND THE CRANKSHAFT BOLT BROKE CAUSING TO LOOSE ALL ABILITY TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THERE ARE PROBABLY OTHER PROBLEMS SHE HAS HAD WITH THE VEHICLE BUT I DO NOT RECALL AT THIS TIME. *TR

2004 KIA SORENTO MANUAL TRANSMISSION TRANSMISSION LOCKS UP RANDOMLY. I AM UNABLE TO CHANGE GEARS. THE SHIFT STICK MOVES TO THE VARIOUS POSITIONS BUT THE CAR REMAINS IN GEAR. THIS OCCURS WHILE DRIVING OR STOPPED AND TRYING TO UPSHIFT OR DOWNSHIFT . I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE TO THE KIA DEALER ON THREE OCCASIONS, BUT THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND HENCE, CAN DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. LAST OCCURRENCE, ON 3/27/2008, HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER, HOWEVER THEY SAID THAT IT WAS NOT LOCKED UP WHEN THEY DROVE IT. NO HELP FROM KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE EITHER. *TR

Mileage: 30,930

CAR STARTED MAKING A SQUEAKING RUBBER NOISE IN AFTERNOON THEN BY NEXT EARLY MORNING CAR WAS MAKING A LOUD SQUEALING NOISE THEN A LOUD THUNK AND BY THE TIME WE GOT IT TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP IT WAS SLIGHTLY SHAKING. WAS TOLD THE WHOLE DRIVE SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND IT WOULD TAKE 6 DAYS TO GET THE PART IN! NO LOANER CAR AVAILABLE SO I'M LEFT WITH NO TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM WORK!! THANK GOD THIS IS WARRANTY WORK OTHERWISE I'D BE SCREWED EVEN MORE! *JB

Mileage: 73,800

WELL, THERE IS AN ANNOYING, OVER TIME DRIVEN HISSING SIBILANT NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE KIA SORENTO 2004 VEHICLE I WENT TO KIA, AND COMPLAINT ABOUT IT . THEY CLAIMED THAT THEY HEARD THE NOISE, BUT IT WAS NOT ENOUGH LOUD FOR THEM TO FIX THE PROBLEM. IN MY LIFE I NEVER HAD A CAR THAT MADE SUCH NOISE . COULD SOMETHING BE DONE ABOUT IT?*AK

Mileage: 500

TRANSMISSION OVERHEATED CAUSING OVERFLOW OF ATF ONTO EXHAUST MANIFOLD IGNITING A FIRE. *TR

Mileage: 32,135

I PURCHASED A 2004 KIA SORENTO TWO YEARS AGO. IT WAS NOT LONG BEFORE I BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH MY VEHICLE. TAIL LIGHTS/BRAKE LIGHTS BURNING OUT FREQUENTLY WHICH IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE SINCE I DELIVER RURAL USDA MAIL. NOW MY TRANSMISSION IS BROKEN!! KIA-DULUTH ASKED IF I HAD HAD THE TRANSMISSION FLUSHED AT THE SPECIFIED MILEAGE AND THAT THEY WILL NEED VERIFICATION OF THIS. (I KNEW IMMEDIATELY THEIR OBJECTIVE WAS TO NOT HONOR THEIR WARRANTY (10 YEARS/100,000 MILE WARRANTY IF I HAD NOT FLUSHED THE TRANSMISSION). I FAXED THEM THE RECEIPT INDICATING THE TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN FLUSHED. I CONTACTED KIA-DULUTH THE FOLLOWING DAY BECAUSE I HAD NOT HEARD FROM THEM. HE SAID HE HAD NOT HEARD BACK FROM KIA YET TO AUTHORIZE THE REPAIR. THIS VEHICLE HAS CAUSED ME SO MUCH LOST WORK TIME, STRESS AND HAS BEEN EMOTIONALLY DRAINING FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS. KIA'S DECEPTIVE ADVERTISING - I BELIEVED THAT SINCE KIA WAS OFFERING A 10 YEAR/100,000 MILE WARRANTY, THEIR VEHICLE MUST BE REALLY GOOD. BOY WAS I WRONG! KIA IS BUILDING VEHICLES WITH DEFECTIVE PARTS AND MATERIALS AND HAS SET-UP THEIR WARRANTY PLAN TO BE ABLE TO VOID THEM FROM HAVING TO HONOR THEIR WARRANTY PLAN AND HAVING ANY RESPONSIBILITY. FOR FURTHER COMPLAINTS ON KIA VEHICLES, PLEASE CONTACT THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU AND ATTORNEY GENERAL OFFICES ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND YOU WILL FIND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS. NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS BY CONSUMERS ARE ALSO LOCATED AT THE FOLLOWING WEBSITES: WWW.MY3CENTS.COM AND WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM. KIA NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED AND PUT A STOP TO THEIR SCAMMING AND DEFRAUDING THE CONSUMER AND BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED DUE TO NUMEROUS DEFECTIVE PARTS IN THEIR VEHICLES. *NM

Mileage: 65,000

INTERMITTENT SHIFTING DEFECT THAT CAUSES THE GEARS TO GET LOCKED UP AND THE TRUCK WILL NOT SHIFT INTO FIRST GEAR, OR THE SHIFTER WILL GET VERY TIGHT AND IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO SHIFT GEARS. *JB

Mileage: 600

THE VEHICLE HAS A HESITATION ON ACCELERATION. IT VIBRATES WHILE ON THE EXPRESSWAY. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEEDS. MOST RECENTLY, THE TRANSFER CASE SEIZED UP AND THE FRONT WHEELS LOCKED UP WHILE I WAS TURNING AND I ALMOST CRASHED. IT IS NOW IN THE SHOP GETTING THE TRANSFER CASE REPLACED AND I'M TOLD THERE ARE EVEN MORE PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. PLEASE ADVISE ME ON WHAT TO DO SO THE COMPANY CAN POSSIBLY BUY THIS VEHICLE BACK FROM ME. *JB

Mileage: 14,000

SINCE BUYING MY SORENTO IN FEBRUARY 2004, I HAVE NOTICED THAT THE CAR SOMETIMES HAS TO "THINK" BEFORE GOING INTO GEAR AND THERE IS NO PREDICTABILITY AS TO WHEN THIS WILL HAPPEN. IN EXAMPLE I WAS IN THE CENTER LANE MERGING INTO TRAFFIC WHEN THE CAR JUST WOULD NOT GET GOING IT HESITATES AND THEN DROPS INTO GEAR. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR IN AND THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THAT HE HAS HAD SEVERAL COMPLAINTS LIKE MINE BUT THERE IS NOTHING HE COULD DO TO HELP. HE SAID THAT IT SEEMS TO BE THE COMBINATION OF THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION AND THAT SINCE IT SEEMS TO BE JUST A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE CAR, THERE WOULD BE NOTHING THAT KIA WOULD DO. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS VEHICLE CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. SINCE IT IS A 6 CYLINDER, I WOULD BELIEVE THAT IT SHOULD GET UP AND GO WHEN YOU NEED IT. I ALWAYS NEED TO BE AWARE THAT I CANNOT RELY ON THE CAR TO GET IN GEAR QUICKLY. THIS IS UNSATISFACTORY, AND I HAVE NEVER HAD A VEHICLE REACT IN SUCH A WAY.*AK

Mileage: 5,000

THE CONSUMER APPROACHED A DRIVEWAY WHICH HAD A SLIGHT INCLINE. THE CONSUMER GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE WITH THE ENGINE STILL RUNNING AND THE DRIVER'S DOOR OPENED. AT LEAST TWO MINUTES LATER, A CLICK WAS HEARD AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS UNTIL IT HIT A TREE. A KIA REPRESENTATIVE CAME THREE DAYS LATER, INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, AND CLAIMED NO RESPONSIBILITY. *AK *SC *JB

Mileage: 1,500

1ST- MANUAL TRANSMISSION, HESITIATION OF TAKE OFF..O-RING REPLACED. 2ND-CLINKING NOISE WHEN SHIFTING GEARS..BEARINGS FAILING IN REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS REPLACED 3RD-FELT LOOSENESS IN EMERGENCY BRAKE..I WAS TOLD NO TROUBLE FOUND 4TH-RUST ON METAL PARTS OF HEADREST..DEALER TO REPLACE.. 5TH-METAL ATTACHMENTS IN TRUNK AREA ALSO RUSTED ..WERE NOT REPLACED.. 6TH-THE BACK DEFROST PLASTIC PROTECTORS WERE NEVER REMOVED WHEN VEHICLE WAS DELIVERED, SO WHEN BACK DEFROST WAS USED THE HEAT MELTED THE STRIPS WHICH CAUSED CONDENSATION BUILD UP CAUSING THE RUST. GARDENDALE KIA OF AL HAD MY CAR FOR FIVE DAYS AND I HAD TO FIND A WAY TO WORK ON MY OWN. I WAS TOLD THEY DIDN'T GIVE LOANER CARS..VERY POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE. I BELIEVED IN THE COMPANY/PRODUCT AND PURCHASED BRAND NEW OFF THE LOT WITH A FULL WARRANTY AND BECAUSE OF BAD KIA PRODUCTS, I SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET A LOANER CAR. I STILL HAVE TO PAY FULL MONTHLY CAR NOTE. CUSTOMER SERVICE IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME AND I DON'T FEEL THAT I GOT IT. I HAD TO CALL BACK TO THE SERVICE TO GET A STATUS OF WHERE THEY WERE REPAIRING MY VEHICLE..I WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE 09-01-04 AND I DID NOT GET A RESPONSE, SO I CALLED ON 09-02-04 AND WAS TOLD THE PART CAME IN BUT ALL PARTS WERE NOT INCLUDED SO I HAD TO WAIT ANOTHER DAY 09-03-04. I CALLED AT 4:30PM CST TO GET A STATUS, I WAS TOLD THEY WERE WORKING ON IT & IT WOULD BE LATER THAT AFTERNOON. THIS WAS AFTERNOON, THEY CLOSE AT 6:00PM CST..NEEDLESS TO SAY, I GOT MY CAR AT 5:45PM.. I GUESS IT REALLY DID NOT MATTER TO THEM SINCE THEY WERE NOT GETTING ANY MONEY OUT OF ME.*AK

Mileage: 10,243

1ST- MANUAL TRANSMISSION, HESITIATION OF TAKE OFF..O-RING REPLACED. 2ND-CLINKING NOISE WHEN SHIFTING GEARS..BEARINGS FAILING IN REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS REPLACED 3RD-FELT LOOSENESS IN EMERGENCY BRAKE..I WAS TOLD NO TROUBLE FOUND 4TH-RUST ON METAL PARTS OF HEADREST..DEALER TO REPLACE.. 5TH-METAL ATTACHMENTS IN TRUNK AREA ALSO RUSTED ..WERE NOT REPLACED.. 6TH-THE BACK DEFROST PLASTIC PROTECTORS WERE NEVER REMOVED WHEN VEHICLE WAS DELIVERED, SO WHEN BACK DEFROST WAS USED THE HEAT MELTED THE STRIPS WHICH CAUSED CONDENSATION BUILD UP CAUSING THE RUST. GARDENDALE KIA OF AL HAD MY CAR FOR FIVE DAYS AND I HAD TO FIND A WAY TO WORK ON MY OWN. I WAS TOLD THEY DIDN'T GIVE LOANER CARS..VERY POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE. I BELIEVED IN THE COMPANY/PRODUCT AND PURCHASED BRAND NEW OFF THE LOT WITH A FULL WARRANTY AND BECAUSE OF BAD KIA PRODUCTS, I SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET A LOANER CAR. I STILL HAVE TO PAY FULL MONTHLY CAR NOTE. CUSTOMER SERVICE IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME AND I DON'T FEEL THAT I GOT IT. I HAD TO CALL BACK TO THE SERVICE TO GET A STATUS OF WHERE THEY WERE REPAIRING MY VEHICLE..I WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE 09-01-04 AND I DID NOT GET A RESPONSE, SO I CALLED ON 09-02-04 AND WAS TOLD THE PART CAME IN BUT ALL PARTS WERE NOT INCLUDED SO I HAD TO WAIT ANOTHER DAY 09-03-04. I CALLED AT 4:30PM CST TO GET A STATUS, I WAS TOLD THEY WERE WORKING ON IT & IT WOULD BE LATER THAT AFTERNOON. THIS WAS AFTERNOON, THEY CLOSE AT 6:00PM CST..NEEDLESS TO SAY, I GOT MY CAR AT 5:45PM.. I GUESS IT REALLY DID NOT MATTER TO THEM SINCE THEY WERE NOT GETTING ANY MONEY OUT OF ME.*AK

Mileage: 10,243

I HAVE 3 MAJOR FAILURES W/MY NEW KIA SORENTO '04 SINCE BUYING IT IN DEC '03 FROM PEAK KIA IN COLO.THE 1ST FAILURE, THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE CONTROL UNIT WAS REPLACED IN DEC '03.THE BRAKES ENGAGED WHEN THEY SHOULDN'T. I HAVE COMPLAINED MANY TIMES ABOUT A ROAD VIBRATION AT 68-72 MPH. DEALER HAS SEEN MY CAR 5 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE 1ST TIME THE DEALER SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG, BUT SAID THEY HAD ONLY DRIVEN IT TO 63 MPH. THE 2ND TIME I TOOK IT IN, PROBLEM HAD BEEN NOTED IN A NUMBER OF SORENTO'S NATIONWIDE & THEY WERE GOING TO NEED TO CHANGE THE DRIVE SHAFT. 3RD TIME FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM & UPON PICKING UP THE CAR FOUND OUT THAT THEY DIDN'T CHANGE THE DRIVE SHAFT, BUT GREASED IT W/SPECIAL HEAVY DUTY GREASE &TURNED IT 180 DEGREES. I ASKED WHY HADN'T CHANGED DRIVE SHAFT, & THEY SAID THE MANUFACTURER'S TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN RECOMMENDED THIS PROCEDURE 1ST. THE VIBRATION HAS SLOWLY RETURNED. I CALLED THE DEALER & THEY SAID THEY WOULD PUT ME ON LIST TO DRIVE CAR W/REGIONAL SERVICE MGR. THEY CALLED & SAID HE WAS IN TOWN, SO I WENT TO DRIVE CAR WITH LOCAL SERVICE MGR & REGIONAL SERVICE MGR.THEY FELT THERE WAS NOTHING HIGHLY NOTICEABLE ABOUT VIBRATION & SAID IT COULD BE THE ROADS. THEY TOLD ME TO CALL BACK IF IT GOT WORSE. IN AUGUST '04, WERE DRIVING & MY CAR BEGAN TO SMOKE. A HUGE TRAIL OF SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDER CAR. WE PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD & CALLED 24HR TOWING FROM THE DEALER. CAR TOWED TO OSBORN KIA IN COLO. & FOUND THAT THE ENTIRE RACK & PINON STEERING MECHANISM & GEAR BOX HAD BLOWN UP THROWING STEERING FLUID ON THE ENGINE. SO MUCH SMOKE I THOUGHT THE CAR WAS ON FIRE! WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED IF OUR STEERING WOULD HAVE GONE OUT IN A TIGHT TURN! THE DEALER'S SERVICE MGR SAID IN ALL OF HIS YEAR'S THE DEALERSHIP HAD NEVER REPLACED THIS PART. THE ENTIRE STEERING SYSTEM REPLACED, THE CAR IS NOW VIBRATING ONCE AGAIN AT 68-71MPH. I AM GOING TO CONTACT THE DEALER BUT AM CONCERNED THEY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING TO FIX THIS. *JB

Mileage: 6,653

I AM COMPLAINING TO LET YOU KNOW OF A DEFECT IN MY 2004 KIA SORRENTO V.I.N. [XXX] AND A POTENTIAL HIGHWAY DISASTER IF THE WHEELS LOCKED UP ON THIS VEHICLE WHILE I'M DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IT WILL PROBABLY CAUSE A MAJOR PILE-UP AND LEAD TO A LOT OF DEATHS IF THEY DON'T FIX THIS WHEN I PUT THE VEHICLE IN FOUR WHEEL DRIVE IT IS LIKE TRYING TO DRIVE WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON I BROUGHT IT IN FOR SERVICE THEY SAID THAT IS THE WAY IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE AND I'M NOT SUPPOSED TO USE THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE ANYWAY UNLESS IT'S ABSOLUTELY NEEDED THIS WAS THE SERVICE MANAGER AT KIA OF LYNNFIELD MASS. PHONE #781-596-0800 ON THE 25TH OF JUNE 2004 I AM BRINGING IT IN AGAIN ON JULY 22ND 2004 BUT EXPECT THE SAME THING I FURTHER WENT ON TO QUESTION HIM ABOUT USING THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE AND HE TOLD ME I'M NOT SUPPOSED TO USE IT TO IN RAIN OR SNOW OR FOR ANY OTHER REASON UNLESS I'M STUCK AND NEED IT TO GET OUT OF WHATEVER THE PROBLEM IS SO IF THIS VEHICLE TURNS UP IN A DISASTER YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED AND WHERE TO START YOUR INVESTIGATION I'M ALSO GOING TO FOLLOW UP WITH THE MASS. LEMON LAW THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. *LA UPDATED 07/25/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Mileage: 450

SINCE PURCHASING NEW 2004 SORENTO IN FEBRUARY 2004, HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS FOR FIVE ATTEMPTS TO RESOLVE A VIBRATION FROM UNIDENTIFIED SOURCE. THE VIBRATION WAS FIRST EXPERIENCED AT 70 MPH. ONE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE GEAR CLUSTER IN THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL, BALANCE AND REBALANCED TIRES, REPLACED REAR U-JOINTS, AND REPLACED FRONT DRIVE SHAFT. THIS DID NOT CORRECT PROBLEM. SECOND DEALER REPLACED REAR DRIVE SHAFT A SECOND TIME. VIBRATION IS NOW WORSE. IT CAN BE FELT AT 50 MPH AND 70 MPH. HAVE MET WITH KIA FACTORY REP. KIA STATES THEY HAVE A TECHNICAL BULLETIN ON THIS PROBLEM.*AK

Mileage: 1,500

SINCE PURCHASING NEW 2004 SORENTO IN FEBRUARY 2004, HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS FOR FIVE ATTEMPTS TO RESOLVE A VIBRATION FROM UNIDENTIFIED SOURCE. THE VIBRATION WAS FIRST EXPERIENCED AT 70 MPH. ONE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE GEAR CLUSTER IN THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL, BALANCE AND REBALANCED TIRES, REPLACED REAR U-JOINTS, AND REPLACED FRONT DRIVE SHAFT. THIS DID NOT CORRECT PROBLEM. SECOND DEALER REPLACED REAR DRIVE SHAFT A SECOND TIME. VIBRATION IS NOW WORSE. IT CAN BE FELT AT 50 MPH AND 70 MPH. HAVE MET WITH KIA FACTORY REP. KIA STATES THEY HAVE A TECHNICAL BULLETIN ON THIS PROBLEM.*AK

Mileage: 1,500

1. SINCE NEW, 2004 KIA SORENTO 5-SPEED TRANSMISSION HAS HAD A GRIND WHEN SHIFTING BETWEEN LOWER GEARS. I BROUGHT PROBLEM TO ATTENTION OF BERLIN CITY KIA DEALERSHIP IN BURLINGTON VT DURING MY FIRST ROUTINE SERVICE. THEY CONFIRMED THE GRIND AND ELECTED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AS AN ATTEMPTED SOLUTION. 2. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED WITH THE NEW TRANSMISSION, AND IN FACT HAS GOTTEN WORSE, PARTICULARLY ON COOLER MORNINGS. I HAVE HAD IT BACK FOR THEM TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM, AND HAVE BEEN ADVISED THAT KIA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM ON THESE PARTICULAR TRANSMISSIONS, BUT HAS NO SOLUTION AT THIS TIME. 3. I BELIEVE A RECALL IS IN ORDER, AS THE TRANSMISSIONS ARE KNOWN TO BE DEFECTIVE BY THE MANUFACTURER. *AK