2003 Kia Sorento Complaint Log

DT: THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS MAKING A CLICKING NOISE, TOOK IT TO THE DEALER. THEY SAID THE CALIPER WAS MISSING AND BRAKES WERE GONE. ALSO, THEY SAID THE INDICATOR LIGHT WAS MISSING ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NINE MONTHS AGO FROM THE KIA DEALER, AND THEY SAID THIS WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE DEALER REFUSED TO FIX THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE INDICATOR LIGHT WAS MISSING. THE CONSUMER STARTED NOTICING THIS ON SEPTEMBER 1, 2005 TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER SOON AS THE CONSUMER NOTICED THIS. *AK

COMMENTS: I WOULD LIKE TO INFORM YOU OF WHAT I THINK IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. SEVERAL WEEKS AGO MY WIFE AND I WERE RETURNING FROM A VACATION IN OUR CAR AND IT CAUGHT FIRE. LUCKILY THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR SERIOUS DAMAGE. AT THE END OF THIS LETTER WILL BE ALL THE PARTICULARS. WE WERE COMING FROM SANTA CRUZ ON HIGHWAY 1, IN CALIFORNIA AND AT WHAT IS CALLED THE SUMMIT, OF I STARTED SEEING SMOKE IN BACK OF OUR VEHICLE. WE STOPPED, TURNED OFF THE CAR ,OPENED THE HOOD AND THERE WAS A SMALL FIRE DOWN ON THE DRIVER SIDE NEAR THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. I CLOSED THE HOOD AND TRIED TO LOCATE A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THE FIRE EXTINGUISHED ITSELF AND WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. AFTER A DAY OF TESTING THE ONLY THING THEY FOUND WAS THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIGHTLY OVERFILLED, WHICH WAS MY ERROR. WHILE I REALIZE THAT CAN CAUSE THE PROBLEM HERE IS MY CONCERN. THE TECHNICIAN WHO WORKED ON MY CAR SAID THAT TRANSMISSIONS ARE DESIGNED TO BLOW OUT OR THROUGH OVERFLOW THE TRANSMISSION FILLER TUBE. HE ALSO SHOWED ME THAT ON TOP OF THE DIPSTICK WAS SLOT WHICH WOULD ALLOW THE FLUID TO ESCAPE. HOWEVER IT IS LOCATED RIGHT OVER THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. IT WOULD SEEM THAT IT SHOULD BE LOCATED WHERE THE FLUID WOULD NOT COME IN CONTACT WITH SUCH HOT ENGINE PARTS. I AM NOT SURE IF THIS AFFECTS OTHER VEHICLES BUT IT DOES CONCERN ME. MY VEHICLE IS 2004 KIA SORENTO 6 CYC, AUTOMATIC WE WERE NOT TOWING ANYTHING NOR WHERE WE LOADED DOWN. I THANK YOU FOR YOU TIME. STEVE ELIJAH 225 MERRILL AVE FREMONT, CA 945 SELIJAH@SBCGLOBAL.NET 510.623.8211. *NM

I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN THE PARKING LOT WHEN I HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING BECAUSE THE CAR DIED AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. I LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND NOTICE ALL THE BELTS AND FRONT OF THE MOTOR FELL OFF AND WAS LAYING AT THE BOTTOM. I CALLED THE TOW TRUCK THEY TOWED IT TO THE KIA DEALER. WHERE THEY TOLD ME ITS A PROBLEM THE 2003 KIA SORENTO HAS. THEY TOLD ME THEY WILL REPLACE THE ENGINE THAT WAS AT 38,000 MILE. NOW THE CAR HAS 72,000 MILES ON IT SO THAT'S 34,000 MILES ON THIS MOTOR NOW THEY TELL ME THE SAME THING IS HAPPENING AND THE MOTOR HAS TO BE REPLACED. SO THE KIA MOTOR IS ONLY GOOD FOR 30,000 MILES THAT'S JUST RIDICULOUS AND THE COST IS ON ME. *TR

I HAVE CONSISTENTLY HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR FROM THE 1ST MONTH OF PURCHASE. THE MAJOR PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN: CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEPT COMING ON AND A PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVE SHAFT. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED APPROXIMATELY 2 ATTEMPTS AFTER IT FIRST APPEARED. IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A PROBLEM WITH THE TSP. THE PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVE SHAFT HAS NOT YET BEEN RESOLVED AS IT STILL CONTINUE TO VIBRATE AT SPEEDS HIGHER THAN 65 MPH. THESE PROBLEMS CONCERN ME AS IT MAY INTERFERE OR HINDER WITH MY DRIVING ABILITIES AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *JB

DT: CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A GAS LEAK IN VEHICLE. SHE FIRST NOTICED GAS COMING OUT OF THE VEHICLE ON JULY 5, 2005. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND IT WAS FIXED, BUT THEY DID NOT TELL HER WHY IT WAS LEAKING. DEALERSHIP STATED IT WAS THEIR FAULT, AND IT WAS THE THIRD ONE IN THE SHOP TO FIX. SHE HAS BEEN SMELLING GAS FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS.*AK

WHEN I STOPPED AT 12,000 FT MT PASS SUMMIT IN REMOTE AREA I NOTICED FLUID DRAINING FROM MY KIA SORENTO. I LIMPED INTO SMALL TOWN -HAD THE RADIATOR CHECKED AND REFILLED-TEMPERATURE GAUGE DID NOT REGISTER HOT- I WAS SENT ON MY WAY BUT THEN BECAME STRANDED IN MIDDLE PARK AREA OF COLORADO (KREMMLING) WITH WHAT WAS DISCOVERED TO BE CRACKED, LEAKING RESEVOIR. NO AUTHORIZED REPAIR SHOP IN AREA AND KIA WANTED ME TO CROSS MT PASS TO GET INTO DENVER 100 MILES AWAY!--KIA REFUSES TO HONOR WARRANTY AS I WAS NOT AT AUTHORIZED SERVICE SHOP-IT TOOK ME DAYS TO LOCATE THE NEEDED PARTS AND HAVE THE REPLACEMENT DONE. UPON RETURNING HOME TO AUTHORIZED KIA DEALER FOR A GENERAL INSPECTION OF THE PROBLEM I WAS TOLD THERE WERE 3 OTHER VEHICLES WITH SAME INCIDENT--NOW THERE ARE 2-3 MORE CRACKED AND LEAKING RESEVOIRS PLUS MINE -(TOLD TO ME BY THE KIA SERVICE DEPARTMENT)--KIA SORENTO 2003; MILEAGE 33,500--OLD PART IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION--INTERESTING TO NOTE-NEW RESEVOIR IS OF DIFFERENT DESIGN, SO KIA KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM!*JB

HARMONIC BALANCER BOLT BROKE. TRAVELING LESS THAN 5MPH. VEHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE. UPON INVESTIGATION, FOUND THAT THE MAIN BOLT HOLDING THE HARMONIC BALANCER IN HAD SHEARED OFF. THERE WERE SOME RUST DEPOSITS AT THE BREAKAGE POINT. THIS OCCURED WHILE ON AN OFFROAD TRIP. THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT IN THE BACKCOUNTRY. I WILL HAVE TO ATTEMPT TO MAKE REPAIRS IN THE FIELD IN ORDER TO GET IT TO THE DEALER. THERE IS NO WAY TO TOW THE VEHICLE OUT OF ITS CURRENT POSITION.

VIBRATION AT 70+ MPH. *JB

WE HAD A VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END OF THE CAR WHEN WE STOPPED. WE TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL KIA DEALER. WE WERE TOLD THAT THE ROTORS WERE WARPED. WE BOUGHT THE CAR NEW, IT ONLY HAD 33,000 MILES ON IT. WAS TOLD THAT THE ROTORS WARRANTY WAS 5YR/50000 MILES, BUT ONLY ON DEFECTS. SINCE MOST ROTORS WEAR OUT AT 65K OR 70K MILES I SAID IT WAS A DEFECT. DEALER REFUSED REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY. CALLED KIA NATIONAL OFFICE, WAS TOLD THEY CAN'T MAKE DEALER DO REPAIRS, ITS UP TO THE DEALER TO DECIDE IF WARRANTY OR NOT! KIA DOES NOT BACK UP THE WARRANTY'S AND WILL NOT SUPPORT CONSUMERS.

DT: FRONT AXLE CAUSES TIRES TO WEAR FASTER ON THE INSIDE. SIGNIFICANT WEAR DIFFERENCES BETWEEN INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE TIRES. FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE IT IS APPARENT THAT THE TIRES ARE NOT IN LINE VERTICALLY. VEHICLE IS REGULARLY SERVICED WITH RECORDS AVAILABLE. IN APRIL, CONTACT WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT THE TIRES NEEDED ALIGNED AND THEY WERE ALIGNED. AT THIS TIME THE TIRES ARE SIGNIFICANTLY WORN ON THE INSIDE AND NEED REPLACED. TIRES WERE REPLACED ON 5/11/05. TIRES HAVE 26,000 MILES ON THEM. *NM

ROTORS WARPING AT 16000 MILES CAUSING HIGH SHUDDER AT STOPPING. REPAIR BY DEALER AT A COST AND IT IS HAPPENING AGAIN AT 27000 MILES HAVE TALKED TO OTHER SORENTO OWNERS AND SOME HAVE EXPERIENCED SAME PROBLEM. *JB

THE AIR BAG SENSOR LOCATED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT DID NOT ENGAGED WHEN A PASSENGER SAT IN THE, SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED CONSUMER SMELLED A BURNING ODOR. THEN, SMOKE CAME FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, TRANSMISSION FAILED AND FLAMES EMANATED FROM THE UNDER CARRIAGE. *AK

PURCHASED 2003 SORENTO ONLY TO FIND THE BRAKES AND ROTORS NEED REPLACED EVERY 8,000 MILES A COSTLY FIGURE TO GO ALONG. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO MERCHANTS DUE TO THE BRAKING SYSTEM THEY INDICATED NOTHING WAS FOUND AND ALL WAS GOOD ONLY TO LEAVE THE STATION PAYING THE PRICE FOR TIRE BALANCE/FRONT END JOB/BRAKE BLEEDING/AND TURNING OF ROTORS LETS NOT FORGET THEY REPLACED FRONT BRAKES FOR $1,000. JUST TO LEAVE AND HAVE THE PROBLEM STILL THE JERKING,SHAKING WHEN APPLYING BRAKES WHEN SPEEDS 30 MILES PER HR WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THE CAR FELT AS IF IT WERE TO FALL APART. I CALLED THE FACILITY BACK AND THEY WOULDN'T WARRANT THE SERVICE. I THEN CALLED KIA OF WESTMINSTER MD WHERE I WAS TOLD TO BRING THE CAR BACK AND THEY WOULD REVIEW THE PROBLEM AND GIVE ME A CALL, AGAIN THE BACK BRAKES THIS TIME AND THE ROTORS WERE PULLED AND REPLACED TO GET A BILL OF $400 AND ABOVE. WAS ONLY OUT OF THE SHOP FOR LESS THEN 5,000 MILES AND IT STARTED ALL OVER AGAIN. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO REPORT THIS AND THEY BROUGHT THE CAR BACK IN JUST TO DO THE BACK ALL OVER AGAIN, BUT I WAS WARNED THAT IF IT GOES AGAIN I WOULD HAVE TO HAVE THIS REPLACED BOTH FRONT/BACK AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO CHARGE ME. WELL GUESS WHAT ????? WE HAVEN'T EVEN PUT 8,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND IT'S GOING ON A SPELL AGAIN. I HAVEN'T DECIDED WHAT I'M GOING TO DO AS OF YET - I DO NEED A 4X4 DUE TO THE WINTER AND GETTING BACK AND FORTH TO WORK. LUCKILY MY FATHER HAS OFFERED TO DO THE WORK FOR ME JUST BUY THE PARTS MAYBE IT WILL LAST LONGER THIS TIME. I HAVE TO BUY MY SON A CAR WE KNOW WHICH NOT TO BUY- I'VE READ HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THE KIA WHICH EVER MODEL AND IT SEEMS THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS AND THE BIGGEST IS THAT THE MANUFACTURER HASN'T NOTED ANY FOR RECALL - WOULDN'T YOU THINK BRAKE LOSS OF UNABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR WHEN BRAKING WOULD THROW UP RED FLAGS ------I GUESS THEY DON'T CARE WHO THEY HURT. I HAVE TOLD EVERYONE I KNOW THAT THIS ISN'T A GOOD PRODUCT TO BUY. LUCKILY I'VE STOPPED MANY FROM MAKING A MISTAKE. *NM

WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE BLEW OUT THE FIRST TIME ON 10-04-04. IT WAS REPLACED AND IT BLEW AGAIN ON 01-21-05. THE VEHICLE IS ON ITS THIRD ENGINE. *AK THE KEY BECAME STUCK IN THE IGNITION, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED OUT OF PARK. THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAS HAD TRANSMISSIONS AND ENGINE PROBLEMS SINCE HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS WERE DAMAGED. THE FOG LIGHT WAS INOPERATIVE. *JB

BRAKE ROTORS ARE WARPING EVERY FEW THOUSAND MILES. WITHIN 16,000 MILES OF USE, ROTORS HAVE BEEN RESURFACED TWICE, AND ARE IN NEED OF IT ONCE AGAIN. ALTHOUGH THIS CONDITION IS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, KIA REFUSED TO HONOR IT.*AK

2003 KIA SORENTO GAS TANK DOES NOT REGISTER CORRECTLY. AFTER ABOUT 3/4 FULL, IT DROPS TO READ "EMPTY". THIS STARTED HAPPENING AFTER THE CAR WAS ONLY A YEAR OLD. I WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX IT AND TO JUST TRY TO GAUGE WHEN THE CAR WAS GETTING CLOSE TO EMPTY. I TRAVEL QUITE A BIT FOR MY JOB AND HAVE BEEN STRANDED ABOUT 4-5 TIMES AT NIGHT WITH AN EMPTY GAS TANK....NOT THE SAFEST OF SITUATIONS. *TR

ACCELERATE AFTER STOPPING, PRESSING BRAKE PEDAL HARD, VEHICLE LEAPED FORWARD. *BF WHEN BEGINNING TO ACCELERATE AFTER STOPPING SUDDENLY OR PRESSING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL HARD, THE VEHICLE LEAPS FORWARD WITH A FORCE THAT FEELS LIKE YOU JUST GOT REAR ENDED . *TC

I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE TO WORK. FOR THE PAST 2 TO 3 DAYS, I NOTICED SOME NOISE FROM MY ENGINE THAT SOUNDED LIKE A LOOSE BELT. NO PROBLEM, I COULD REPLACE IT ON THE WEEKEND. ON THE WAY TO WORK, MY POWER STEERING WENT AND THE ENGINE LIGHT FLICKERED ON AND OFF. I DIDN'T WANT TO BE STUCK ON A BACKROAD IN MAINE WITH NO CELL SERVICE SO I CONTINUED, SLOWLY, TO WORK. AFTER REACHING WORK, I HAD THE 24 HOUR SERVICE TOW MY KIA SORENTO TO THE NEAREST DEALER. THIS VEHICLE IS 18 MONTHS OLD AND THEY TELL ME THE BOLT HOLDING THE CRANKSHAFT TO THE PULLEY HAS SHEARED OFF. THEY CANNOT REMOVE THE BOLT PIECES FROM THE CRANKSHAFT AND HAVE TO REPLACE IT. TO TOP IT OFF, THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ON, FOR THE SECOND TIME, AND THE RADIO HAS BEEN REPLACE TWICE. *LA

THE CAR BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE FIRST YEAR , I CALLED DISTRICT MANAGER FOR KIA BACK IN 2004,TOLD HIM CAR WAS SKIPPING BEAT, AND SHAKING...HE TOLD ME IS WAS MY IMAGINATION...THE 2ND BIG PROBLEM<WHICH I HAD TO SOLVE THROUGH COMPUTER INVESTIGATION> CAR WOULD JUST START LOSING POWER IN I-95 OR FL.TURNPIKE AND COME TO STAND STILL, NO MATTER HOW MUCH I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL, NO GO, ALMOST GOT IN SEVERAL ACCIDENTS IN I-95,FLORIDA LATE AT NITE...SPEND $800 AT KIA OF KENDALL IN FLORIDA, IN MIAMI, TOLD ME WAS FUEL PROBLEM...WAY BACK HOME THAT SAME DAY, CAR DID SAME THING SLOWED DOWN IN RUSHING TRAFFIC IN I-95 FLOIRDA,ALMOST GOT DEADLY ACCIDENT FROM CAR BEHIND ME, TOOK IT TO KIA OF FT.PIERCE , KEPT CAR 1 WEEK, MECHANIC COULD NOT FIGURE OUT PROBLEM, ...I FOUND ON LINE,PROBLEM WAS AT THE FUELING ENTRANCE,SOMETHING DISSOLVED AND PARTICLES WENT TO FUELING INJECTORS,CLOGGING IT AND CAUSING PROBLEMS, TOLD MECHANICS ,REPLACED THIS PART ,CAR GOT FIXED....LAST INCIDENT,MAJOR ONE, BACK 3 YEARS AGO TOOK CAR TO KIA DEALER, DUE TO LETTER FROM KIA CORPORATION, MAJOR RECALL ON SCREW THAT HOLD HARMONEY BLANCER TO LOWER ENGINE CASE...THEY REPLACED IT...1/9/2004.DRIVING BACK FROM ORLANDO,FL,AT NITE, CAR JUST SLOWS DOWN, SHAKES, BATTERY LIGHT AND BRAKE LITE COME ONE...MIRACLE , 1 HOUR I DROVE CAR SLOWLY BACK HOME...FRIDAY I TAKE TO SHOP,FIND OUT SAME RECALL ,REPLACED SCREW,RUSTED OFF ,SHEARED OFF, HALF OF IT STILL IN ENGINE,HARMONEY FELL OFF,..MIRACLE I DID NOT GER MAJOR FIRE IN CAR,LATE AT NITE,ON I95..TOOK IT FRI.TO FT.PIERCE KIA,MECHANIC SAID CAN NOT BE REPAIRED, NEED SPEND$79000ON NEW ENGINE...NOTHING WAS MENTIONED SAME SCREW ,RECALL, THEY REPLACED BACK 3 YEARS AGO...CAR HAS HISTORY OF MY COMPLAINTS TO CORPORATE KIA..NOTHING EVER DONE. *TR

AT 12000 MILES I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS ON MY 2003 KIA SORENTO MACHINED TWICE DUE TO WARPING AND RESULTANT BRAKE PULSING/VIBRATION. DUE TO REQUIRED ROTOR THICKNESS, THE NEXT EPISODE WILL NECESSITATE ROTOR REPLACEMENT. THE NEED TO DO THIS AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE INDICATES A SEVERE DEFICIENCY, PROBABLY RELATING TO FAULTY DESIGN OR A METALLURGICAL PROBLEM WITH THE ROTORS. THE SORENTO IS A NEW MODEL AND I SUSPECT THAT AS MILES ARE ACCUMULATED THIS PROBLEM WILL BECOME MORE EVIDENT FLEET-WIDE. I AM SUBMITTING THIS COMPLAINT DUE TO THE CRITICAL NATURE OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM AND THE HIGH POTENTIAL FOR DISASTER RESULTING FROM ANY KIND OF BRAKE MALFUNCTION. THERE IS ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY SORENTO OWNER ENCOUNTERING THIS DIFFICULTY. *LA

WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKES AT LOW SPEEDS VEHICLE VIBRATED. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS HAD BEEN REPLACED ON SIX SEPARATE OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

ON SATURDAY, APRIL 3, 2004, MY 2003 KIA SORRENTO WAS PARKED IN THE MIDDLE OF MY DRIVEWAY WHILE I MOVED THE LAWN. AFTER RETURNING MY LAWN MOWER TO THE GARAGE, I GOT INTO THE SORRENTO TO MOVE IT BACK INTO THE GARAGE. AFTER I STARTED THE VEHICLE AND PUT IT INTO DRIVE, IT ACCELERATED RAPIDLY, PULLED ME THROUGH THE GARAGE AND THROUGH THE BACK WALL, WHICH IS SOLID BRICK. I WENT THROUGH MY FRONT YARD, AND THE ONLY REASON I STOPPED WAS BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WENT OVER SOME BOULDERS AND DOWN AN INCLINE, CAUSING THE BACK WHEELS TO COME OFF THE GROUND. I ALSO HIT A TREE IN MY FRONT YARD. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK

BOUGHT 2003 SORENTO JULY 1, 2003. SOON AFTER THE BACK BRAKES OR SOMETHING AFTER BRAKING WOULD "CLUNK". WHETHER IS WAS AFTER RELEASING BRAKES OR SECONDS LATER IT WOULD "CLUNK" (DEALER KEEPS SAYING IT 'POPS', IT CLUNKS). FIRST TIME IN THEY DIDNT FEEL IT THEY SAID. SECOND TIME THEY FELT IT AND THEN SAID THEY DIDNT KNOW WHAT IT WAS AND WOULD CONTACT KIA ABOUT IT-----THIS THIRD TIME---THEY SAY ITS NORMAL FOR THE VEHICLE. FTER THE FIRST TIME IN THE SHOP FOR THE 'CLUNKING' THE SERIOUS VIBRATION ON THE HIGHWAY BEGAN TO BE FELT STARTING AT 68 MPH AND WORSENING AT 70 MPH.....TOOK IT IN AND THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS THE TIRES AND THEY BALANCED THEM-----NOW THE VIBRATION IS WORSE AND YOU FEEL IT AT 60 MPH AND AT 68 MPH IT IS REALLY NOTICABLE. TOOK IN INTO THE SHOP 02/19/04....DEALSHIP DROVE IT AND THEN JUST TOLD US IT WAS NORMAL ON THE VEHICLE---SOME GUY LAST FALL HAD THE VIBRATION WORSE---AND SAID KIA CANT FIX IT. WELL, WE DIDNT TAKE THAT ANSWER AND IS NOW BEING INVESTIGATE. TWO FIELD KIA INVESTIGATORS JUST DROVE IT BEFORE MY HUSBAND ARRIVED AT THE DEALERSHIP. THEY TOLD MY HUSBAND THEY DIDNT FEEL REALLY ANYTHING. HE TOLD THEM TO GET IN THE VEHICLE AND NOW DRIVE WITH HIM---THE INVESTIGATORS ALL OF A SUDDEN SAID THEY FELT SOMETHING.....NOW THEY ARE GOING TO LOOK AT SEEING WHAT IT IS. BOTH KIA AND THE DEALERSHIP ARE DRAGGING THIS OUT......CALL KIA'S CONSUMER AFFAIRS OFFICE (OR WHATEVER IT IS CALLED) AND THEY SAY THEY HAVE NO REPORTS OF THESE PROBLEMS. THE DEALERSHIP TELLS US THEY KIA TELLS THEM IT IS NORMAL. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND LEFT IT ALL WEEKEND AT THE DEALERSHIP! MY DAUGHTERS LIFE IS AT STAKE DRIVING IT LIKE THAT IF SOMETHING FALLS OFF OR SOMETHING. I AM AFRAID THAT KIA OR THE DEALERSHIP WILL HAVE MORE EXPERIENCE AND ABLE TO COVER THINGS SO THAT WE CAN NOT FILE FOR THE LEMON LAW........... HELP!!!*AK

I PURCHASED A 2003 EX KIA SORENTO IN JUNE 2003. ON JULY 13,2003 THE AIR BAG LIGHT SYSTEM CAME ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BARRON KIA. THEY STATED THEY REPLACED THE AIR BAG MODULE. IT TOOK FIVE DAYS TO REPAIR. ON NOVEMBER 11, 2003 THE AIR BAG LIGHT WENT BACK ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BARRON KIA ON THE 14TH. IT WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR ANOTHER SIX DAYS. THEY STATED IT WAS THE LOJACK ALARM SYSTEM THAT WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. IT WAS FIXED. ON NOVEMBER 29,2003 THE AIRBAG LIGHT BEGAN TO FLICKER ON AND OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO BARRON KIA ON DECEMBER 3, 2003, IN ORDER FOR A LOJACK TECHNICIAN TO REMOVE THE ALARM AND FOR BARRON KIA TO FIX AND RUN TEST ON THE AIRBAG. THE CAR WAS THERE 11 DAYS AND SUPPOSEDLY CHECKED FOR ALL AIRBAG POSSIBLE PROBLEMS. ALL TEST CAME BACK NORMAL. ON JANUARY 19, 2004 THE AIRBAG LIGHT WENT BACK ON. THE CAR WAS ONCE AGAIN TAKEN TO BARRON KIA ON THAT DAY. AT THIS POINT, THE ALARM IS DISCONNECT AND THE AIR BAG CONTINUES TO ILLUMINATE AND INDICATING THAT THERE MAY BE A MALFUNCTION WITH THE SAFETY SYSTEM WITH THE CAR. THE VEHICLE IS STILL AT BARRON KIA (HAS BEEN THEIR 7 DAYS NOW) AND IS AWAITING THE INSTALLATION OF ANOTHER AIRBAG MODULE. I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACTED WITH THE KIA HOTLINE SEVERAL TIMES AS WELL AS LOJACK CUSTOMER SERVICE. NEITHER COMPANY WANTS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY OR ACCOUNTABILITY. IT IS DISTRESSING TO ME THAT SUCH COMPANIES WOULD JEOPARDIZES THE LIVES OF THEIR CUSTOMERS. I AM ALSO DISTURBED THAT A NEW CAR WOULD BE SOLD AND RETURNED TO ME SEVERAL TIMES WITH A DEFECTIVE SAFETY SYSTEM. *LA

FRONT BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS HAD TO BE REPLACED BY DEALER AFTER ONLY 20,000 MILES. DEALER SAID THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE SORENTO. *LA

THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT-END ACCIDENT. *BF AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT AND THE AIR BAG NOT DEPLOYING, THE CONSUMER SUFFERED NECK AND BACK INJURIES. *JB

THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON AFTER BEING SERVICED NINE TIMES. *JB

ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH POWER STEERING. FEELS LIKE ENGINE IS STALLING AND POWER STEERING IS LOCKING UP WHEN MAKING TURNS AT LOW SPEED. VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. THIS HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY. *JB

VEHICLE DISPLAYS RUMBLING VIBRATION AND NOISE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. DEALER HAS REMOVED UNDERCOATING FROM DRIVELINE AND ROTATED AND BALANCED TIRES TO IMPROVE PROBLEM. THIS INITIALLY SEEMED TO HELP, HOWEVER, RUMBLING HAS RETURNED AND IS JUST AS BAD AS BEFORE. DEALER HAS NO IDEA WHAT ELSE TO DO. KIA DENIES THERE ARE ANY REPORTED ISSUES AND HAVE NO INPUT. WILL BE RETURNING TO DEALER AGAIN FOR #3 REPAIR THIS WEEK. *LA

I HAVE A 2003 KIA SORENTO THAT I PURCHASED IN SEPTEMBER OF 2003. I BOUGHT THE SORENTO WITH 5000 MILES ON IT AND FROM THE TIME I GOT IT HOME, IT DEVELOPED PROBLEMS. EVERYTIME I START MY SORENTO AND PUT IT IN DRIVE OR REVERSE AND BACK-UP OR DRIVE FORWARD, I HEAR THIS AWFUL HUM NOISE FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR THAT THE DEALERSHIP SAYS IS NORMAL THAT IT'S THE ABS RESETTING ITSELF AND THAT IT'S SOMETIMES NOISIER IN SOME SORENTO'S THAN IN OTHER'S (NO OTHER SORENTO OWNER THAT I KNOW HAS THIS NOISE) I FELT A VIBRATION WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND IT WOULD HAPPEN BETWEEN 68 AND 72 MPH. IT WOULD NOT VIBRATE IF I WAS DRIVING ABOVE OR BELOW THIS SPEED. SO I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME TO ROTATE AND BALANCE MY TIRES AND I TOLD THEM THAT I ALREADY DID THAT. WELL COME TO FIND OUT AFTER I HAD TO PUT IT INTO THE SHOP, THEY REPLACED THE WHOLE DRIVE SHAFT, IT WAS BENT (MANUFACTURER DEFECT THEY SAID.) SECOND, MY CONSOLE BROKE AND THE LIGHTS WENT OUT INSIDE MY CAR, STILL WAITING ON THAT TO BE FIXED, HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT LIGHTS TWICE THUS FAR. REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER KEEPS GETTING STUCK EVEN AFTER HAVING THE DEALERSHIP ADJUST IT. *AK

2003 KAY SORENTO EX: VEHICLE VIBRATES EXCESSIVELY ONLY BETWEEN APPROX. 68 -78 MPH. REAR-VIEW MIRROR (AND IMAGE) SHAKES. DIFFICULT TO SEE CARS IN REAR-VIEW MIRROR CLEARLY. VIBRATION CAN BE HEARD AND FELT. *JB

2003 KIA SORENTO WOULD LOOSE POWER STEERING ASSISTANCE WHEN TRANSITIONING FROM MODERATE SPEEDS (30-50 MPH) TO LOW SPEED (5-10 MPH), SUCH AS WHEN EXITING A HIGHWAY BY SLOWING IN A CENTER TURNING LANE AND TURNING LEFT IN FRONT OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. FIRST OCCURANCE WAS AT 19,000 MILES (SEPT 2003), KIA DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE PROBLEM AND RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO ME. PROBLEM CONTINUED INTERMITTENTLY UNTIL 30,000 MILES (MAY 2004) WHEN I RETURNED TO DEALER AND THEY DISCOVERED A TSB ON THIS ISSUE. DEALER REPLACED P/S SENSOR AND LOADED IMPROVED SOFTWARE CODE. THERE WERE A NUMBER OF NEAR COLLISIONS DUE TO THIS FAILURE. *NM

HEADLIGHTS/FOG LIGHTS NEED TO BE REPLACED EVERY 3-4 MONTHS. I BOUGHT MY CAR NEW SO I KNOW IT IS NOT THE FAULT OF ANYONE ELSE, OTHER THAN THE MANUFACTURER. EACH BULB COSTS APPROXIMATELY $19.00 [DEPENDING ON BRAND AND TYPE OF BULB}. I KNOW I HAVE SPENT HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS ON BULBS SINCE 2003; IT IS NOW 2009. *TR

INTERMITTENTLY POWER STEERING FAILED, MAKING HARD TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. *AK

1) UPON PURCHASE, EXHAUST SMELL WAS STRONG INSIDE SUV, LEADING TO HEADACHES AND QUEASINESS. 2) TOOK IT IN WITHIN WEEKS (?) 3) A CORRECTION WAS MADE, PART REPLACED. SINCE THEN, THE EXHAUST SMELL IS INTERMITTENT, AND NOT AS STRONG. SERVICE DOES NOT SEE FURTHER ISSUE. *JB

THE SORENTO SUV WAS BOUGHT IN JUNE 2003. WITH LESS THAN 1000 MILES IN JUNE 2003 THE SORENTO WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALER'S SERVICE TO CHECK AN OIL LEAK ON THE FRONT AXLE. THE DEALER CITED AN OVERFILLED GEAR OIL AND THE GEAR OIL LEVEL WAS CORRECTED. AFTER FEW WEEKS, IN JULY 2003, THE SORENTO WAS BROUGHT BACK AGAIN TO THE SAME DEALER BECAUSE THE GEAR OIL LEAK WAS STILL THERE. THE DEALER KEPT THE SORENTO, CITED NON-DRIVABLE AND HAVE TO ORDER THE PART. THE GASKET WAS REPLACED AND SORENTO WAS TEST DRIVEN. THE GEAR OIL LEAK STILL SHOWED UP. NOW THE DEALER SAID THAT THEY GOT HOLD OF KIA AND CITED THAT THEY HAVE TO REPLACE THE BLEEDER TUBE. THE BLEEDER TUBE WAS REPLACED AND THE GEAR OIL LEAK DID NOT GO AWAY. AT THIS TIME, THE WHOLE UNIT OF THE FRONT DRIVE AXLE WAS ORDERED AND REPLACED THE ORIGINALLY INSTALLED UNIT OF THE SORENTO. AFTER THE DEALER TEST DROVE THE NEWLY INSTALLED FRONT AXLE, THE GEAR OIL WAS STILL LEAKING. AT THIS TIME, FOR ALMOST A MONTH, THE SORENTO IS STILL IN THE REPAIR BAY OF THE DEALER AWAITING DIRECTION FROM KIA. *AK

PURCHASED 2003 KIA SORENTO 4X4 ON 5/26/03. ON 5/31/03 (ODOMETER 600 MILES)WHILE DRIVING AND MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN THE POWER STEERING FAILED, ALMOST STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE, TRIED TO REGAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD. A FRIEND WAS IN THE VEHICLE WITH ME AND CAN ATTEST TO THE POWER STEERING FAILURE BECAUSE HE TRIED TO STEER THE VEHICLE ALSO. 6/2/03 DEALERSHIP REPLACED POWER STEERING RACK, GEAR AND ASSEMBLY. ON 6/10/03 (ODOMETER 830) POWER STEERING FAILED AGAIN WHILE I WAS EXITING DOWN IN A PARKING GARAGE; HAD TO FIGHT WITH THE STEERING WHEEL TO GAIN CONTROL. ON 6/12/03 (ODOMETER 850) POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED AND LATER THAT EVENING WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING STALL FROM THE RESTAURANT THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AGAIN. DEALERSHIP SAID A TEAM OF 3 KIA SERVICE TECHS NOW FOUND OUT THERE WAS A PROGRAM ERROR ON THE VEHICLES COMPUTER; THEY CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THEY(KIA OR THE DEALERSHIP) DIDN'T HAVE A CLUE. MONDAY 6/16/03 ENGINEER TEAM FROM KIA WAS TO EVALUATE THE VEHICLE. THEY COULD NOT FIGURE THE PROBLEM OUT. AFTERNOON OF 6/16/03 DEALERSHIP SAID KIA'S FIELD INSPECTOR WILL BE OUT WEDNESDAY 6/18/03 TO EVALUATE THE VEHICLE FURTHER. I COULD HAVE KILLED SOMEONE OR MYSELF DRIVING THIS VEHICLE WHILE THE POWER STEERING REPEATED FAILED. NOW I'M DEATHLY TERRIFIED DRIVING THE VEHICLE, I'M IN A RENTAL CAR UNTIL WEDNESDAY 6/18/03 WHILE THE KIA FIELD INSPECTOR EVALUATES THE VEHICLE. IN MY OPINION KIA NEEDS TO RECALL THIS VEHICLE AND GIVE MY MONEY BACK. I DON'T NEED TO RISK MY LIFE IN ORDER TO MAKE THE COMPANY LOOK GOOD. KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS WERE KEPT IN THE LOOP FROM DAY ONE BUT NO ONE CARES HOW SERIOUS THIS IS, PLEASE HELP. *NLM

I PURCHASED THE SORENTO 5/31/03, WHILE MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN THE POWER STEERING COMPLETELY WENT OUT; I ALMOST HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE REGAINING CONTROL. CONTACTED KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS IMMEDIATELY, THEY HAVE COMPLETE LOGS ON FILE. 6/2/03 DEALER REPLACED POWER STEERING RACK. 6/10/03 830 MILES,POWER STEERING FAILED AGAIN;HAD TO FIGHT WITH THE STEERING TO CONTROL VEHILE IN PARKING GARAGE.6/12/03 POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED. PICKED UP VEHICLE THAT EVENING AND PULLING OUT FROM THE RESTAURANT THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AGAIN. 6/13/03 850 MILES, COMPUTER MALFUNCTION; NEW DOWNLOADS HAD TO BE DOWNLOADED TO VEHICLES COMPUTER. 6/18/03 ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING MODULE HAD TO BE REPLACED. NOW 6/20/03 DEALER SAID THEY WONT HELP ME, KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS SAID THEY WONT REPLACE THE VEHICLE NOR BUY BACK THE VEHICLE. I'M TERRIFIED TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE TONIGHT. KIA WANTED ME TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE 30 DAYS MORE THEN CALL BACK AND THEY WILL RE-IMBURSE ME 2 MONTHS PAYMENTS FOR ALL THE TROUBLE. I REPLIED I WONT DRIVE IT, I'LL HAVE IT FLAT BEDDED TO MY HOUSE AND SEEK LEGAL COUNCIL.

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *JB

THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN APRIL 03. NOT LONG AFTER THAT THERE WAS A STRANGE SOUND, THEN THERE WAS OIL LEAK UNDER THE CAR. TOOK IT IN. CHECKED. DID DYE CHECK. REPLACED SOME BOLTS. REPLACED A PART. EVERY FEW MONTHS UP TO TODAY FEB 2006, THERE HAS BEEN AN OIL LEAK. TAKING CAR AGAIN TO DEALER ON FEB 3, 2006 TO SEE WHAT THEY SAY NOW. THE OIL IS FELT WHEN ONE TOUCHES UNDER THE CAR AND THERE IS A PUDDLE IN THE DRIVEWAY (OIL STAIN). THE CAR HAS ONLY BEEN SERVICED BY THE KIA MECHANICS AT THE KIA DEALER. CRISWELL KIA AS OF JANUARY 06 NO LONGER SERVICES KIA. I HAVE TO NOW TAKE THE CAR TO FARRISH KIA IN VIRGINIA. *NM

VEHICLE WOULD NOT START/HAS BEEN IN SHOP 4 TIMES IN LAST WEEK/1ST TRIP REPLACE THROTTLE BODY 2ND RECALIBRATE ENGINE 3RD TRIP EGI UNIT FAULTY ENGINE LIGHT ON /REPLACE EGI UNIT 4TH TRIP REPLACED THROTTLE BODY(AGAIN) CALIBRATED. CHECKED IDLE SET ..VEHICLE WAS KEPT FOR 2 DAYS ON 2 OF THE VISITS. *NLM

VEHICLE VIBRATES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. TOOK TO DEALER THEY SAID WHEELS WERE UNBALANCED. DEALER BALANCED WHEELS AND STILL NO CHANGE. *NLM

VEHICLE IS A 2003 KIA SORENTO WITH 70,000 MILES, PURCHASED NEW. VEHICLE APPEARS TO HAVE SERIOUS ELECTRICAL ISSUES. I HAVE, TO DATE, REPLACED LIGHT BULBS APPROXIMATELY 38 TIMES. THIS INCLUDES HEAD LIGHT BULBS (HIGH AND LOW), FOG LIGHT BULBS, TAIL LIGHT BULBS AND BRAKE LIGHT BULBS. ALSO THE CLOCK ONLY WORKS INTERMITTENTLY AND THE POWER SUN ROOF HAS CEASED WORKING. DEALER OFFERS NO SOLUTION. THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE THE FIRST MONTH OF OWNERSHIP. *NM

BOUGHT CAR NEW. POWER STEERING NEVER WORKED. NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *LA

VEHICLE TAKES A LONG TIME TO START. SOMETIMES AS LONG AS TEN SECONDS. THE ENGINE CRANKS AND CRANKS AND THEN FINALLY TURNS OVER. HAVE BEEN TOLD IT MAY BE THE FUEL PRESSURE RISER SWITCH. HAS NOT BEEN FIXED YET. *NLM

I PURCHASED A 2003 KIA SORENTO IN FEB 2003, VEHICLE SPINS OVER FOR QUITE SOMETIME AND THEN SLOWLY FINALLY TURNS OVER, I HAVE TAKEN IT INTO THE DEALER 2 TIMES NOW AND THEY HAVE SAID IT WAS THE FUEL RELAY SWITCH AND VEHICLE STILL HAS THE PROBLEM SO I AM TAKING IT INTO THE DEALER FOR THE 3RD TIME AND THEY SWEAR IT IS A FUEL PROBLEM SO WE'LL SEE IF IT'S GOING TO GET FIXED.*JB

2003 KIA SORENTO, HEADLIGHTS SINCE NEW HAVE CONTINUED TO BURN OUT (THEIRS/OURS ANY MANUFACTURE) IT DOES NOT MAKE A DIFFERENCE IF THEY INSTALL OR WALMART (EXCEPT FOR PRICE$$$) PARTS AND LABOR NOW EXCEEDS $500.00 AND NOW MY WIFE HAS BOTH TO BURN OUT AT APPROXIMATELY THE SAME TIME. DEALERS (3) HAVE STATED IT WAS THE ALARM WHICH WAS INSTALLED WHEN WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW. THE FRUSTRATION HAS NOW REACHED THE POINT WE MUST GET RID OF IT . *NM

CONSUMER PURCHASED VEHICLE ON 11/25/02. VEHICLE TURNS OVER, BUT WILL NOT START. CAR HAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICE 3 TIMES. PROBLEM IS THE FUEL INJECTION PUMP, BUT DEALER CAN NOT REPAIR. TS

MY 2003 KIA SORENTO, MADE 10/12/02, DOES NOT TAKE GAS WELL. WHEN YOU FILL IT, IT PRESSURIZED AND BLOWS GAS BACK AT YOU. THIS IS AN ONGOING FAILURE AND SAFETY ISSUE. A MECHANIC SAYS THIS NEEDS A DIFFERENT FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY AND VALVE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *TR