2003 Kia Sorento Complaint Log

WHEN FUELING MY 2003 KIA SORENTO THE GAS WILL SPEW BACK OUT (AS IF UNDER PRESSURE) ONTO ME, THE VEHICLE AND THE SURROUNDING AREA. THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME I TRY TO PUT GAS INTO THE SORENTO. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM WITHOUT A COSTLY DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THEY DID 'LOOK' AT THE FUEL LINE AND COULD NOT SEE A PROBLEM. THE ONLY WAY TO PREVENT THE GAS FROM SPEWING IS TO PUT THE GAS IN EXTREMELY SLOWLY. FILLING IT SLOWLY SEEMS TO PREVENT THE PRESSURE BUILD UP THAT CAUSES THE GAS TO SPEW. THE SPEWING GAS IS CAUSING THE PAINT ON MY VEHICLE TO PEEL. *TR

2003 KIA SORENTO HARMONIC BALANCER BOLT BROKE OFF REPORTED TO KIA THEY WILL NOT HONOR ANY RECALLS, THEY SAID IT WAS A RECALL FROM SEVERAL YEARS AGO . BUT IF ITS A SAFETY ISSUE LIKE THIS THEY SHOULD TRY HARDER TO INFORM PEOPLE OF THIS BEFORE THERE IS MAJOR ACCIDENT . JUST WISH THEY WOULD HONOR A RECALL THAT THEY HAVE HAD WITH THIS BOLT. I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE OR IT IS NOT POSTED ON ANY SITE THAT I COULD FIND, ,JUST WANT MY CAR FIXED WITHOUT A $2900 BILL AT THE END . *TR

2003/04 KIA SORENTO CRANK SHAFT PULLEY BOLT IS FAILING. THERE WAS A NOTICE SENT BY KIA IN JULY 2007 TO NOTIFY THE OWNERS OF THE ISSUE AND TO HAVE IT FIXED. THE REPLACEMENT BOLTS ARE FAILING. WHEN THE REPLACEMENT BOLTS FAIL IT IS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STOP NO MATTER WHAT SPEED THE DRIVER IS TRAVELING AND THE STEERING IS LOCKING UP. THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT ADDRESS THIS. THIS IS A AN EXTREME SAFETY ISSUE. SOME OWNERS HAVE REPORTED THIS PART FAILING UP TO 4 TIMES IN LESS THEN 24 MONTHS. THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS JUNE 27, 2007 AND THE SECOND INCIDENT WAS 8/27/2009. *TR

BACK IN OCT 2008 WENT TO CAR AT 5AM TO GO TO WORK STARTED MY 2003 KIA SORENTO HEARD THIS NOISE GOT OUT TO RAISE HOOD BEFORE I COULD SAW COOLANT COMING FROM UNDER MY CAR DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO REALLY INVESTIGATE HAD MY SISTER TAKE ME TO WORK WHEN I CAME HOME HAD CAR TOWED TO KIA DEALER THEY ADVISED ME THAT MY COOLANT RESERVOIR HAD CRACK AND I NEEDED TO HAVE REPLACED AT 250.XX AT THIS POINT THEY DID TELL ME THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY SORENTO MADE APPT TO TAKE BACK TO HAVE PART REPLACED NEVER, BEFORE THIS SO CALL RECALL PART WAS REPLACED NEVER HAD ANY WARNING LIGHTS COME ON AFTER THEY SAY THEY REPLACED THE PART MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON TOOK MY SORENTO BACK TO THE SAME DEALER 5 TIMES WITHIN A 2 MONTH PERIOD THEY KEPT TELLING ME NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH MY CAR SO I LET THE LIGHT STAY ON, MOVED TO A DIFFERENT CITY TIRED OF SEEING THIS LIGHT ON TOOK TO ANOTHER KIA DEALER THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTIC FOR 125.00 TO TELL ME NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH MY CAR BUT I NOTICED WHEN I WAS LEAVING THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS OFF WHEN BACK IN TO FIND OUT WHY AND HOW DID THE LIGHT GO OFF HE STATED HE TURNED IT OFF NOW WHILE SITTING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WITH NO WARNING MY CAR JUST SHUT OFF GOT STARTED BACK BUT THIS TIME WITH A LOUD BANGING NOISE I WAS ONLY ABOUT 3 BLOCKS FROM MY HOME SO I DROVE ABOUT 5 MILES PER HR TO GET HOME TO HAVE TO HAVE A TOW TRUCK COME GET MY CAR THE DEALER HAS YET TO LET ME KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS.... *TR

I HAVE A 2003 KIA SORENTO THAT FAILED THE EMISSIONS TEST. WHEN GOING ONTO THE WEBSITE FOR RECALLS IT COMES UP THAT THEIR WAS A RECALL IN NOVEMBER 2005. I NEVER GOT NOTIFIED AND WHEN CALLING KIA THEY ARE TELLING ME IT IS NOT MY CAR AS MY CAR WAS BUILT IN A DIFFERENT MONTH, AND I AM TELLING THEM THAT THE RECALL IS COMING UP FOR THE SAME SAFETY/EMISSIONS AND THEY WILL NOT LISTEN TO ME. IF THERE IS A RECALL ON MY CAR FOR THE YEAR LISTED AND THE RECALL IS THE EMISSIONS THAT IS MAKING MY CAR FAIL WHAT CAN I DO. *TR

MY 2003 KIA SORENTO KEPT LOSING ANTIFREEZE AND TO FIND OUT THE RESERVOIR HAD A CRACK IN IT. ALSO, AFTER I PURCHASE BRIDGESTONE FIRE DESTINATION TIRES A YEAR LATER THEY WERE WORN AFTER SPENDING $600.00 I HAD TO HAVE TWO OF THEM REPLACED WITHIN A YEAR. P245/70R16. ALSO 2 DEFECTS RECALLS WHEN MY CAR WAS PUT IN THE SHOP ONE FROM 2007 SC073 AND SC072 WHEN MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. IT WAS STILL ON AFTER THE CAR WAS SUPPOSEDLY FIXED BY QUIRK KIA IN BRAINTREE. WHEN I WAS DRIVING OUT OF THE PARKING LOT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS STILL ON. I WAS TOLD THE CAR WAS FINE AND IT WAS JUST A SENSOR AND TO FIX IT THE COST WOULD BE OVER $200. A YEAR LATER, I BROUGHT IT TO GET A STICKER, THEY REJECTED MY FOR ANOTHER RECALL THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN LAST YEAR. THE RECALL WAS FROM 2005. NOW I AM TRYING TO CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE OF THE INCONVENIENCE OF ME GOING TO GET THIS FIXED WHEN IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF LAST YEAR. I WILL NEVER BUY A KIA AGAIN, THE DEALERSHIP DOES NOT CARE ABOUT THEIR CARS OR CUSTOMERS. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 KIA SORENTO,BOUGHT IN JANUARY,2003. DURING THE SUMMER OF 2009 I FOUND EVERYTIME I FILLED THE GAS TANK,FUEL WOULD "BLOW-BACK" AT FIRST I COULD SOMETIME REMOVE THE NOZZLE AND RE-START THE FILL AND IT WOULD STOP. I ALSO I HAD TO DELIVER THE GAS VERY SLOWLY. SINCE LAST YEAR I FIND I CAN NEVER FILL WITHOUT "BLOW-BACK" AND IT SEEMS I MUST LISTEN FOR THE RUSH OF FUEL TO SPIT BACK. I USUALLY FIND I AM COVERED WITH FUEL AND THE PAINT ON THE REAR PANEL IS BEGINNING TO SHOW DAMAGE FROM THE FUEL. I HAVE NOT BEEN TO THE DEALER AS JUST AS THIS PROBLEM BEGAN, THE KIA DEALER IN DAYTONA BEACH CLOSED. *TR

WHILE FUELING UP THE SORENTO, THE FUEL SPIT OUT EVERY TIME EVEN WHILE FUELING AT SLOW SPEEDS. VERY FRUSTRATING , AND DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE FUEL GETS ON MY SKIN & CLOTHES, THE VEHICLE, AND AT TIMES LEAVES A HUGE PUDDLE ON THE GROUND WHICH COULD BE A FIRE HAZARD. THE DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED AND WILL NOT HELP ME EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS A RECALL ISSUED FOR THE FUEL FILTER, WHICH I MENTIONED.

I PURCHASED CAR FROM ORGINAL OWNER ABOUT 4 YEARS AGO WITH AROUND 47K MILES. WITHIN A MONTH OR TWO THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER NUMEROUS VISITS OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST 4 YEARS TO THE DEALERSHIP, COMMENTS ON THE WORK ORDERS THAT THEY COULD NOT FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM, REPLACING THE TIMING BELTS, PLUGS, WIRES AND COILS I AM TOLD THAT THE 4TH CYLINDER IS BAD AND BASED UPON THE ISSUE I AM LOOKING AT BETWEEN $2800.00 TO $4,000 TO FIX. IF ITS THE TOP END THE LESSER OF THE TWO NUMBERS AND IF ITS THE BOTTOM END I WAS TOLD THAT I SHOULD CONSIDER WETHER OR NOT I WANT TO SINK $4,000 INTO THE CAR AT THIS POINT. WHATS MORE DISTURBING IS WHEN RESEARCHING THE ISSUE ON VARIOUS WEBSITES I COME TO FIND OUT THE MOST REOCCURING PROBLEM IS THE CRANKSHAFT BOLT COMING OUT AND CAUSING SERIOUS DAMAGE AND A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR THE DRIVER. THE RESPONSE BY KIA SEEMS TO BE CONSISTENT AND NOW KNOWING THAT THEY DO NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR WARRANTIES, ISSUE RECALLS(CRANKSHAFT BOLT 2007) AND STILL EXPECT THEIR CUSTOMERS TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS I CAN CONFIDENTLY SAY I WILL NEVER PURCHASE A KIA PRODUCT AGAIN. THE CAR CURRENTLY HAS 67,00 MILES ON IT AND I AM INTRIGUED BY THE COMMENTS AND REQUESTS FOR A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST KIA. I AM HOPPING THAT A ENOUGH PEOPLE HAVE THE DESIRE TO FOLLOW THROUGH AND IF NEEDED I WOULD SUPPORT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA SORENTO. AFTER REMOVING THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING. SHE IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 67,000.

THERE IS A PLASTIC CAP HOLDING ON THE ROD TO THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS THAT WILL POPPED OFF WITHOUT ANY KIND OF WARNING. MY FAMILY WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IN THE RAIN, AND THE WIPERS CAME TO A HALT WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING NO VISIBILITY. I THINK THAT THIS MATTER SHOULD REALLY BE ADDRESSED BECAUSE IT COULD HAVE CAUSED MAJOR ACCIDENT AND TAKEN MANY LIVES. THERE WERE NO DEATHS, BUT IT CERTAINLY COULD HAVE BEEN. BY THE GRACE OF GOD. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 KIA SORENTO AND LAST YEAR IT STARTED TO SPRAY GAS OUT AT ME EVERYTIME I WENT TO FILL IT UP. I TOOK IT IN TO HAVE IT CHECKED AND THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING. MY KIA IS STILL DOING THIS AND I AM GETTING TIRED OF GETTING SPRAYED WITH GAS EVERYTIME I TRY TO PUT GAS IN THE THING. IT NEEDS FIXED AND KIA SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS. THIS IS A HAZARD AND SOMEBODY WILL EVENTUALLY GET HURT. PLEASE HELP ME WITH THIS SITUATION. *TR

2003 KIA SORENTO, PURCHASED USED WITH 11,000 MILES ON IT. HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT IT! HEAD GASKETS WARPED AT 28,000 MILES, OVERHEATED WITHOUT WARNING, NO SPIKE IN TEMP GAUGE, WHAM SMOKE FROM EVERYWHERE AND EVEN WITH PROOF OF MAINTENANCE UPKEEP IT TOOK KIA 2 MONTHS TO DECIDE TO HONOR THE WARRANTY. THIS WAS AFTER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON EVERY TWO SECONDS AND HAVE TO BE IN THE SHOP FOR MONTHS FOR THEM TO SAY NOTHING WRONG WITH IT, EVEN WHEN IT WAS TOWED IN EVERY TIME BECAUSE IT WOULD JUST SHUT OFF. THEN THE HEADLIGHT ISSUES ARE INSANE. EVERY OTHER MONTH AND THAT IS NO EXAGGERATION I HAVE TO REPLACE EITHER LOW BEAMS, HIGH BEAMS, BRAKE LIGHTS & TAIL LIGHTS. *TR

MY CAR HAD A HORRIBLE NOISE & I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS THE DRIVE SHAFT. I GOT A FRIEND TO DRIVE IT TO A KIA KENDALL AND THEY WERE TO WARRANTY THE PART THAT WAS DEFECTIVE. IN THE PROCESS OF DRIVING CAR TO DEALER IT CAME APART HIT THE BOTTOM OF CAR DEPLOYED AIR BAGS, CRACKED WINDSHIELD, GAS TANK ALSO CRACKED. THIS WAS A DEFECTIVE DEALER PART AND WAS SUPPOSED TO BE WARRANTIED. NOW IT HAS BEEN REPORTED TO INSURANCE AND IN THE PROCESS OF FIXING THIS ITEM THEY BROKE A PLASTIC HOSE FROM THE RADIATOR AND THEN CLAMPED IT & PUT A SCREW IN MY RADIATOR. THEY KNOW THAT THIS WAS GOING TO CAUSE A PROBLEM & DID NOT EVEN CARE. *TR

KIA INFORMED ME OF A "CRANK SHAFT BOLT" RECALL FOR MY 2003 SORENTO LX. 3 DAYS AFTER HAVING THIS REPAIR PERFORMED, MY CAR BEGAN TO JUST "DIE" AT HIGH SPEEDS ON THE FREEWAY, BUT IT WAS INTERMITTENT AND THE KIA DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THEY PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM IF THEY COULDN'T RECREATE IT. AN INTERNET SEARCH ON THE ISSUE REVEALS MANY CONSUMERS HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM WHICH ULTIMATELY TURNS OUT TO BE A DEFECTIVE "CRANK SHAFT SENSOR" -- BUT KIA SERVICE JERKS PEOPLE AROUND AND KEEPS THEIR CARS FOR DAYS/WEEKS SAYING THAT THEY "CANNOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM". THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE WHEN YOUR VEHICLE JUST SUDDENLY DIES ON THE FREEWAY WITH ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING... NOT EVEN SPUTTERING. I PRINTED OUT SEVERAL CONSUMER ACCOUNTS DESCRIBING MY EXACT PROBLEM--REVEALING IT'S ULTIMATELY THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR, AND KIA IS REFUSING TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THEIR REPAIR WORK AND THE LIKELIHOOD THAT IT'S THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR -- ADMITTEDLY HOLDING MY VEHICLE WITHOUT EVEN REVIEWING THE BASIC DIAGNOSTICS. *TR

PURCHASED VEHICLE USED IN NOVEMBER 2008 - KIA SORENTO 2003. I NOTICED A GASOLINE SMELL SHORTLY AFTER THE PURCHASE, BUT DIDN'T THINK IT WAS FROM MY VEHICLE. LAST WEEK NOTICED A DAMP SPOT UNDER MY CAR, CHECKED IT, FOUND GASOLINE LEAKING FROM MY TANK. TOOK THE CAR IN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE. THEY FOUND A CRACK ALONG A SEAM IN THE GAS TANK AND REPLACED IT. *TR

GAS SPEWS OUT WHILE TRYING TO REFUEL, DOESN'T MATTER IF IT'S ALMOST EMPTY OR HALF FULL,GETS ALL OVER CAR,GROUND AND ME. HAVE TO DRIBBLE FUEL IN TANK AND TAKES 15 MIN. JUST TO PUT A 1\4 TANK IN. I DON'T LIKE SMELLING OF GAS AND BEING A WALKING FIRE HAZARD. *TR

MY ENGINE BLEW ON THE CAR IT ONLY HAS ABOUT 78,000 MILES ON IT GETS REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND NO MAJOR PROBLEMS. I HAVE NEVER HAD A WARNING LIGHT COME ON AS TO INDICATE I HAD SOME OIL OR ENGINE PROBLEMS. THE CAR HAD JUST BEEN INVOLVED IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT AND BEEN SITTING SINCE 12/15 I JUST GOT IT BACK ON 01/23 AND THE ENGINE BLOWS ON 01/30 AND THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME $5,000 TO REPLACE ......I HAVE HEARD THINGS ABOUT KIA ENGINES BUT MY SUV WAS IN FINE CONDITION AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY ENGINES BLOWS....SOUNDS LIKE A DEFECT TO ME. *TR

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL NOT SHUT OFF. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. DEALERSHIP HAS AT TIMES BEEN RUDE AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. THEY DO NOT KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. ALSO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH HEADLIGHTS BURNING OUT VERY REGULARLY AND THE BACK HATCH WILL NO LONGER OPEN. *TR

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND IT HAS BEEN CHECKED BY A DEALERSHIP AND THEY DON'T KNOW THE PROBLEM, THE FRONT HEADLAMPS KEEP BURNING OUT. *TR

WHEN I ATTEMPT TO FILL THE GAS TANK IN MY 2003 KIA SORENTO, THE GASOLINE BLOWS BACK AT ME. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME I ADD GAS. IF I AM NOT CAREFUL IT GETS ON MY CLOTHING, SHOES, OUTSIDE OF MY VEHICLE AND ON THE GROUND. THE DEALERSHIP HAS QUOTED THAT A REPAIR WOULD COST BETWEEN $650.00 AND $850.00 TO FIX IT ALTHOUGH THEY CANNOT TELL ME FOR SURE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. I CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED. *TR

THE HEADLIGHTS AND BRAKELIGHTS ON MY VEHICLE (2003 KIA SORENTO EX) GO OUT APPROXIMATELY EVERY 3-4 MONTHS. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THEM AT LEAST 12 TIMES SINCE I GOT THE VEHICLE IN 2005. I HAVE HAD THE BULBS REPLACED BY THE DEALER 3 TIMES JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WAS DONE CORRECTLY AND WITH THE KIA PARTS AND THEY STILL BLEW OUT. I HAVE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO KIA 4 TIMES. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION TO BE PUT IN AND I AM REQUIRED TO DRIVE QUITE OFTEN AT NIGHT. SEVERAL TIMES I WAS DRIVING AND SUDDENLY MY HEADLIGHTS OR BRAKELIGHTS WENT OUT WHILE I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY WHICH IS ALSO DANGEROUS AND INCONVENIENT. I FEEL THAT SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, BASED ON MY RESEARCH AND TAKING TO THE KIA DEALER IT IS A COMMON AND WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITH 2003 KIA SORENTOS THAT THE HEADLIGHTS AND BRAKELIGHTS GO OUT ALL THE TIME. *TR

REFERENCE NHTSA ITEM NUMBER 10015248 -- TSB# 029 2003 KIA SORENTO -- AIR BAGS PURCHASED CAR IN 8/2003 AND HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH AIR BAG COMING ON AND OFF OVER THE PAST 5 YEARS. NOW THE CAR HAS BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND IS THREE MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY, THE DEALERSHIP IS NOT INCLINED TO COVER THE EXPENSE TO REPLACE THE "ADU" BUT RATHER WISHES TO CHARGE ME MORE THAN $500. MY DAUGHTER WAS IN A SCARY ACCIDENT AND AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 35-40 MPH, THE MOTOR IN THE COOLING FAN FAILED. THE MOTOR WAS ATTEMPTING TO TURN OVER; HOWEVER, IT COULD NOT BECAUSE THE FUSE IN THE FUSE BOX DID NOT BLOW OUT AS IT SHOULD. THE WIRE FROM THE TERMINAL BLOCKER MELTED INTO THE FUSE BOX. THIS CAUSED THE WIRES TO BURN AND THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT BECAME ENGULFED IN SMOKE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME AND DID NOT CATCH ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE HAS TWO SAFETY FEATURES, ONE IN THE TERMINAL BLOCK AND THE OTHER IN THE FUSE BOX, BUT THEY DID NOT WORK. THE CONTACT CALLED KIA AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE WARRANTY ENDED AT 60,000 MILES. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

OVERHEATING , THE OVERFLOW AND FILLER TANK CRACKING OPEN ON THE BOTTOM OUT OF SIGHT . CAUSED ME TO REPLACE THE WATERPUMP AND THERMOSTAT BEFORE BEING ABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM AND LEFT MYSELF AND FAMILY STRANDED. TOOK TO DEALER WHO FOUND THE CRACK AFTER CHECKING AND STATED THEY NATIONWIDE THEY HAD TO REPLACE OVER A HALF A MILLION TANKS ON THESE VEHICLES AT $200.PLUS PER JOB NOT TO MENTION THE COST OF CREATED PROBLEMS FROM THE OVERHEAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT MULTI MILLIONS OF LOSS TO CONSUMERS . *TR

WHILE DRIVING THE SORENTO TO HIS GIRLFRIENDS HOUSE MY SON NOTICED THAT THE TEMPERATURE GAGE WAS HIGHER THAN NORMAL. HE WASN'T TO FAR FROM TOWN SO HE CALLED AND I TOLD HIM TO GET SOME 50/50 ANTIFREEZE TO PUT IN THE RESERVOIR. HE DID THIS AND HAD NO MORE PROBLEMS UNTIL THE NEXT DAY ON HIS WAY HOME. HIS GIRL LIVES ABOUT 20 MILES FROM US. ABOUT HALFWAY HOME THE VEHICLE JUST DIED. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO KIA DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NO WARNING LIGHTS OR GAUGES IDENTIFIED ANYTHING WRONG. WAS ALSO TOLD THAT ENGINE WAS DRIVEN WHILE EXCESSIVELY HOT. NOT BECAUSE A WARNING LIGHT OR GAUGE TOLD US SO! IF ALL OF THIS COST TO US IS DUE TO A SMALL PIECE OF PLASTIC SOMEONE NEEDS TO TAKE KIA OUT TO THE WOODSHED. "THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE COOLANT TANK WAS CRACKED AND ALL OF THE COOLANT LEAKS OUT THE VEHICLE. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE TEMPERATURE SENSOR STOPS WORKING. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATS WITHOUT THE CONTACTS KNOWLEDGE; THEREFORE, HE CONTINUES TO DRIVE UNTIL IT FAILS. THE DEALER DID NOT WANT TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE ENGINE FAILURE AND NO RECORDING OF PRIOR MAINTENANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA SORENTO. WHILE PLACING FUEL INTO THE VEHICLE, THE FUEL SPEWED BACK OUT FROM THE GAS PUMP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT WOULD TAKE TEN MINUTES TO PLACE $20 WORTH OF GAS INTO THE VEHICLE. HE HAD TO PLACE SMALL QUANTITIES OF FUEL INTO THE VEHICLE AT A TIME TO PREVENT IT FROM SPEWING BACK OUT. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPLACED THE FUEL TANK PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE AT THE COST OF $191; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE . THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,000. UPDATED 10/16/08 *BF UPDATED 10/20/08.*JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE COOLANT TANK WAS CRACKED AND ALL OF THE COOLANT LEAKS OUT THE VEHICLE. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE TEMPERATURE SENSOR STOPS WORKING. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATS WITHOUT THE CONTACT'S KNOWLEDGE; THEREFORE, HE CONTINUES TO DRIVE UNTIL IT FAILS. THE DEALER DID NOT WANT TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE ENGINE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000.

SECOND OCCURRENCE IN LESS THAN 900 MILES, THIRD OCCURRENCE OVERALL, OF THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT COMING LOOSE. LOSE OF POWER STEERING OCCURS WHEN BELTS COME LOOSE. *TR

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. HAD INTAKE MANIFOLD VALVE REPLACED PER KIA, NEW SPARK PLUGS, CORE COVERS AND NEW VALVES PLUS HEADS WERE SENT OUT. VEHICLE HAS BEEN BACK AND FORTH TO DEALER FOR PAST MONTH AND A HALF BUT HAS BEEN THERE ENTIRELY FOR THE PAST 2 WEEKS. VERY FRUSTRATING AS KIA WILL NOT PROVIDE A RENTAL BUT AFTER SOME DISCUSSION WITH SERVICE AT DEALER, THEY HAVE PUT ME IN A RENTAL. DEALER HAS BEEN ON PHONE WITH KIA AND STILL CANNOT COME UP WITH A SOLUTION. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE THE CRANK SHAFT PULLEY BOLT WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 107,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA SORRENTO. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICE THE COOLANT WAS LOW. APPROXIMATELY A WEEK LATER HE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AGAIN NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE RESERVOIR TANK. HE REPLACED THE RESERVOIR TANK. AS OF APRIL 15, 2008, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHTS, TAIL LIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. AS OF APRIL 15, 2008, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE FOR THIS FAILURE. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76,000.

ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON BACK IN FEBRUARY AND HAD IT TO TWO DIFFERENT MECHANIC SHOPS WHICH REPLACED SPARK PLUGS AND ONE COIL PACK. ENGINE LIGHT STILL ON SO I TOOK TO KIA DEALER AND THEY REPLACED SPARK PLUGS WITH PLATNIUM ONES AND REPLACED OTHER 2 COIL PACKS. VEHICLE HAS BEEN BACK TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS FOR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REPLACING INTAKE MANIFOLD DUE TO RECALL BUT LIGHT CAME BACK ON AND THEY HAVE HAD MY VEHICLE MOST RECENTLY FOR THE PAST 4 WEEKS. I WENT TO PICK IT UP YESTERDAY AS THEY SAID THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE CYLINDER HEADS WITH RECONDITIONED ONES AND ALL GASKETS AND SEALS. AS I STARTED TO LEAVE THE DEALERSHIP LIGHT CAME BACK ON AND VEHICLE IS THERE AGAIN. OBVIOUSLY MECHANICS AT DEALERS DON'T KNOW WHAT'S CAUSING THESE PROBLEMS AND CANNOT FIX THEM. I FEEL THAT KIA SHOULD BUY EVERYONE OUT OF THEIR SORENTOS PLUS GIVE THEM THE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE (WITHOUT DEDUCTING FOR PROBLEMS) PLUS A 15% COMPENSATION FOR PUTTING THE CUSTOMERS THROUGH THIS OR MAYBE PUT A BRAND NEW ENGINE IN VEHICLE. A NEW ENGINE OR REMANUFACTURED ENGINE WAS REPLACED IN THIS VEHICLE BACK IN AUGUST, 2006. I ORIGINALLY PUT MY DATE DOWN AS MARCH, BUT LOOKING BACK, THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE FEBRUARY!! THIS IS THE SECOND COMPLAINT I AM FILING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO DISASSEMBLE THE ENGINE AT THE COST OF $861. THE DEALER REPLACED THE HEAD GASKETS, WATER PUMP ASSEMBLY, AND THE COOLANT TANK RESERVOIR. THE TOTAL REPAIR COST WAS $1,691. AFTER RETURNING HOME, THE CONTACT HAD TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO HIS LOCAL DEALER TWO WEEKS LATER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO DISASSEMBLE THE ENGINE IN ORDER TO LOCATE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER IDENTIFIED WARPED CYLINDERS AS BEING THE FAILURE COMPONENT, AND THE HEAD GASKETS, PUMP ASSEMBLY, AND THE COOLANT TANK RESERVOIR WERE REPLACED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER BEING REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,400 AND CURRENT MILEAGE IS 66,800. THE COOLANT RESERVOIR LEAKED WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT. UPDATED 05/13/08. *JB

1. ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING ( MILEAGE 68,000 ) 2. ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND WOULD NOT RESTART 3. A MECHANIC CHECKED AND FOUND THE HARMONIC BALANCER WAS LOOSE ON THE CRANKSHAFT. IN THE ATTEMPT TO REMOVE THE HARMONIC BALANCER, THE MOUNTING BOLT BROKE OFF FLUSH WITH THE CRANK SHAFT AND APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN CROSS THREADED FROM THE FACTORY. THE HARMONIC BALANCER WAS NOT PULLED ALL THE WAY UP CAUSING THE FAILURE. DUE TO THE HARDNESS OF THE MOUNTING BOLT AND THE CRANK SHAFT, REMOVAL OF THE BROKEN BOLT IS IMPOSSIBLE. THE ENGINE WILL NEED AN OVERHAUL TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM AND OF COURSE THE WARRANTY HAS JUST EXPIRED. ( PLEASE ADVISE ). *TR

2003 KIA SORENTO. GAS TANK WILL NOT FILL AND WHEN ATTEMPTING TO FILL THE CAR WILL SPEW GAS ONTO THE CONSUMER AND ALL OVER THE CAR AND SURROUNDING AREA CREATING A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. ACCORDING TO KIA I HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE GAS TANK ASSEMBLY BECAUSE IT'S DEFECTIVE. FOR NOW I HAVE TO PUMP THE GAS IN EXTREMELY SLOWLY AND IT TAKES APPROXIMATELY 12 TIMES LONGER THAN NORMAL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA SERENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BOLT TO THE HARMONIC BALANCER WOULD FRACTURE AT ANYTIME. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE DEALER REPAIRED THE FAILURE ONCE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DENIED ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 84,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

SAME THING ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON I PULL OVER TANK CRACKED , ENGINE RUINED, KIA TOLD ME THEY DON'T CARE AND WON'T HELP. ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO MANUFACTURER DEFECT CAR HAD 110 K ON IT, BUT THEY KNEW ABOUT THE TANK AND THE ENGINE CONCERNS, KIA SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO GET AWAY WITH THIS, $4,000 LATER I HAVE A CAR THAT SHOULD NEVER HAD BROKEN. *TR

ENGINE COOLANT OVERFLOW CONTAINER IS CRACKED. *TR

2003 KIA PART # 25430-3E201 TSB # KT2007073101 DRIVING DOWN ROAD COOLANT OVER FLOW TANK SPLITS LEAKS FLUID OUT, RUINS ENGINE, FIND OUT KIA HAD A TSB OUT TO REPLACE TANK WITH STRONGER RE-ENGINEERED TANK. NEVER NOTIFIED PUBLIC, BAD DESIGN COSTS ME THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS BECAUSE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I AM LEFT STRANDED 10 PM AT NIGHT ON SIDE OF INTERSTATE IN POURING RAIN. *TR

MY 2003 KIA SORENTO STOPPED WITH NO WARNING OR INDICATION OF A PROBLEM AT 67,735 MILES DUE TO WHAT WAS LATER DETERMINED TO BE ENGINE OVERHEATING. AT FIRST THE KIA DEALER SAID IT WAS DUE TO THE COOLANT RESERVOIR CRACKING AND GOING EMPTY. SINCE THIS IS NOT A PART OF THE ENGINE'S ACTUAL MEANS OF COOLING, THEY CHANGED THEIR STORY TO THE THERMOSTAT FAILED. KIA SAID THAT THIS PORTION OF THE WARRANTY PASSED AT 65,000 MILES. THEIR WARRANTY SAYS 100,000 MILES. COST OVER $3,600.00 TO REPAIR, SIMILAR SITUATION AT 80,000 MILES FOR $1,400.00. STILL NO WARRANTY COVERAGE. I HAVE FURNISHED COMPLETE MAINTENANCE RECORDS SHOWING MAINTENANCE AT EVERY INTERVAL REQUIRED BY KIA. LOOKING FOR SOME ONE TO JOIN IN A CLASS ACTION SUIT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN JULY OF 2007 REGARDING THE CRANK SHAFT BOAT. HE TOOK HIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE PARTS FOR THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL AND THE ENGINE FAILED SIMULTANEOUSLY. HE TOOK HIS VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL KIA DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE TIMING BELT CAUSED THE FAILURE. AN INSPECTOR FROM CARFAX STATED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED BECAUSE OF THE CRANK BOAT SHAFT. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WITHOUT A SERVICE CHARGE. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 67,000.

MY VEHICLE STARTED ACTING UP WHENEVER I TURNED ON THE AIR CONDITION I WOULD LOSE POWER. THE ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD GET REAL TIGHT AND I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO TURN IT. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT A KIA DEALERSHIP WHERE IT HAS BEEN FOR 3 WEEKS NOW WAITING ON PARTS. NOT TO MENTION I CALLED KIA ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE FOR 4 DAYS STRAIGHT BEFORE A TOW COMPANY FINALLY CAME AND TOWED MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP. I WAS TOLD I NEEDED A CRANK SHAFT, TIMING BELT, AND A ENGINE WHICH IS ALL COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, BUT THEY HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY OF THE PARTS NEEDED FOR MY CAR. I AM STILL WITHOUT A VEHICLE KIA SAYS THEY DO NOT DO LOANER CARS OR RENTALS SO I AM JUST FRUSTRATED WITH THE WHOLE ORDEAL. *JB

COOLANT SPILLING FROM THE RESERVOIR (WHICH WAS REPLACED IN DECEMBER 2006, THE PART WAS ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER. I WAITED 5 WEEKS FOR THE PART TO ARRIVE). THE CAR STALLED SEVERAL TIMES AND STEAM CAME FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE HOOD. TODAY IS 8/31/07, SIMILAR INCIDENT HAPPENED WITH THE CAR. THE DEALER SAID THAT THE HOSE FROM THE COOLANT RESERVOIR WAS CRACKED. I ASKED SINCE THE PART WAS RELATED TO THE RESERVOIR WHY DID I HAVE TO PAY ADDITIONAL FOR THE HOSE REPAIR ($193.30). THE DEALER SAID THE HOSE WAS A SEPARATE PART. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY KIA DOESN'T RECALL THE RESERVOIR AND ANY ASSOCIATED PARTS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING 15-20 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR OF THE CONTACTS VEHICLE. THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SEAT BELT DISENGAGED, WHICH CAUSED THE PASSENGER TO SUSTAIN BRUISES TO THE CHEST. THE DEALER HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAS NOT YET DETERMINED IF THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 86,000. *UPDATED 12/12/07 *BF MISSOURI ACCIDENT REPORT. UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR

WHILE DRIVING MY 2003 KIA SORENTO ON AUGUST 14, 2007, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO MAKE NOISES, LOOSE POWER AND SLOW DOWN RAPIDLY. TWO BELTS POPPED COMPLETELY OFF AND THE CAR LOST ALL ITS POWER AND SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY. I TOWED THE CAR TO THE KIA DEALER AT ARBOR PLACE IN DOUGLASVILLE, GEORGIA FOR REPAIRS. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE CRANKSHAFT BOLT WAS BROKEN AND DID DAMAGE THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY AND SPROCKET. THE DEALER MADE THE REPAIRS BUT AFTER DRIVING THE CAR A FEW DAYS LATER ON AUGUST 22, 2007 IT BEGAN LOOSING POWER AGAIN. I TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES AND TRIED TO START IT UP AGAIN BUT IT WOULD NOT START AT ALL. I AGAIN TOWED IT TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP AT ARBOR PLACE. IN SHORT, THEY SAID THAT THE CAR WAS DUMPING GASOLINE INTO THE CYLINDERS AND THAT WHEN THEY TEST DROVE IT, THE CAR LOOSES GASOLINE RAPIDLY. THE CAR CLEARLY HAS MAJOR MANUFACTURER DEFECTS THAT SHOULD BE FIXED BY KIA AT NO COST TO ME. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SHAKING ABNORMALLY ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE BATTERY WARNING LIGHT AND THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT WERE ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CRANKSHAFT A SECOND TIME BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION OF THE RECURRING FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34878.

IN SEPTEMBER, 2006, AT APPROXIMATELY 55200 MILES, THE AIRBAG FAILURE LIGHT CAME ON. DIAGNOSIS BY THE DEALER ON 5 SEPT 2006 (INVOICE 107484) REVEALED "ORDERED DRIVERS AIR BAG, FAULT B1346, 1ST STAGE RESISTANCE TO [SIC] HIGH." ON 25 SEPT 2006, AFTER FIRST ORDERING THE WRONG PART(INVOICE 107945), THE DEALER REPLACED THE DRIVER-SIDE AIR BAG (INVOICE 108174). ON 31 JULY 2007, AT APPROXIMATELY 59200 MILES, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. THE CAR WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALER ON 1 AUGUST, AND ON 2 AUGUST THE DEALER REPLACED THE AIR BAG. THE DEALER INVOICE INDICATES "56910R00 REPLACED DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG. RESISTANCE TO [SIC] HIGH." (INVOICE 119075). ON THE MORNING OF 3 AUGUST 2007, AT APPROXIMATELY 59220 MILES, THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. THIS CAR HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. THE AIR BAGS HAVE NEVER BEEN DEPLOYED. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 60,000 MILES ON IT AND IS ONLY 4-1/2 YEARS ONLY. DESPITE THE DRIVER-SIDE AIRBAG BEING REPLACED TWICE, THE CAR IS INDICATING FOR THE THIRD TIME THAT THE DRIVER-SIDE AIRBAG HAS FAILED. *JB

ON JULY 20, 2007 DRIVING HOME FROM WORK IN THE RAIN, ON THE HIGHWAY MY CAR MADE A LOUD NOISE AND I LOST STEERING AND DID EVERYTHING I COULD TO NOT HIT CARS BESIDE OF ME AND THE POOR GUY BEHIND ME FROM CRASHING IN TO ME. CALLED MY HUSBAND WHO CAME AND PICKED UP THE HARMONIC BALANCE OFF THE HIGHWAY, LIFTED THE HOOD TO FIND A LARGE BOLT (NOW I KNOW CRANKSHAFT BOLT) BROKEN. WHICH I HAVE. I SEARCHED AND FOUND WHERE THERE WERE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS AND THAT KIA WAS GOING TO RECALL. I CALLED KIA ON THE 1ST OF AUG. (CAR HAS BEEN SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY BECAUSE IT HAS 68000 MILES AND I AM THE SECOND OWNER), WHO HAD MY CAR TOWED TO THE RUSTY WALLACE KIA IN LOUISVILLE, TN. (CHECKED THE MAIL WHEN I CAME HOME AND THERE WAS A RECALL ON CRANKSHAFT BOLTS) IMAGINE THAT. IT IS STILL SITTING THERE AT THE DEALERSHIP. THEY KEEP TELLING ME THE DISTRICT MANAGER IS TRYING TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT TO FIX IT. I HAD SPOKEN TO A COUPLE OF TECH'S. AND THEY TOLD ME MY MOTOR WAS GONE. THE BOLT BROKE OFF INSIDE THE MOTOR. KIA IS NOW JERKING ME AROUND. I HAVE HAD TO PUT OFF VACATION AND MY HUSBAND AND I ARE SHARING A VEHICLE WHICH IS COSTING ME A FORTUNE IN GAS BECAUSE WE WORK IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS AND I WORK ABOUT 30 MILES FROM MY HOME. CAN NOT GET ANY HELP. I HAVE RESEARCHED AND FOUND HUGE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS. KIA HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS. *JB

LAST FEB. THE COOLANT RESERVOIR CRACKED, LOST ALL COOLANT. TOWED TO DEALER. THEY FIXED IT AND TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED A NEW BELT. I DIDN'T WANT ANYTHING MORE TO HAPPEN AS I TAKE MY 90 YEAR OLD MOM AROUND, THEY REPLACED ONE BELT FOR $120. NEVER RAN RIGHT AFTER THAT, WITH SCREECHING NOISES AND NO MORE A/C. TODAY, JUST AS I WAS DRIVING ONTO THE HIGHWAY-I STARTED LOSING MY STEERING AND I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER OFF THE RAMP, THEN IT STALLED AS I WAS PULLING OVER. I HAVE READ ABOUT THIS HAPPENING TO A LOT OF PEOPLE AND WAS JUST WAITING FOR IT TO HAPPEN. WELL IT DID AND THANK GOD I WASN'T GOING 70 ON THE HIGHWAY YET. IT HAS BEEN TOWED TO DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE BOLT ON THE DRIVE SHAFT THAT BROKE. THEN HE SAID THAT SINCE I'M ONLY 8000 MILES AWAY FROM 60K, THEN I SHOULD JUST DO THE TIMING BELT SERVICE NOW BECAUSE IF I DON'T AND IT GOES, THEN MY ENGINE WILL BLOW. SO I GUESS THIS IS WHAT I HAVE TO WAIT TO HAPPEN NEXT AND I'M SURE IT WILL. THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE CAN'T BE WRONG. DON'T BUY A KIA!!!!!!!!!!!!! *TR