2012 Kia Sportage Complaint Log

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS HIGH SPEEDS, THE ENGINE SPUTTERED AND THE VEHICLE JERKED AND LURCHED FORWARD. JIM BONE KIA (1255 SANTA ROSA AVE, SANTA ROSA, CALIFORNIA 95407) WAS CONTACTED, BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 45,000.

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 45-50 MPH AND THE ENGINE BEGAN KNOCKING. LOST ALL POWER TO THE CAR. A FEW MOMENTS LATER, THE CAR STOPPED COMPLETELY IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY INTERSECTION. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND PUSHED IT INTO A GAS STATION PARKING LOT. THE CAR WOULD CRANK BUT THE KNOCKING OF THE ENGINE WAS BECOMING WORSE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A SHOP WHERE THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS "ROD KNOCK" WHICH IS CAUSED BY A FAULTY MOTOR, ALLOWING METAL SHAVINGS TO ENTER AND BLOCK THE FLOW OF OIL TO THE MOTOR. NOT WANTING TO BELIEVE THAT I WAS GOING TO HAVE TO PAY $5,000 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE, I GOT A SECOND OPINION FROM A KIA DEALERSHIP IN MY HOME TOWN. NOT ONLY DID THEY CONFIRM WHAT THE INITIAL MECHANIC HAD DIAGNOSED, BUT WERE VERY RUDE WHEN ASKING US TO "REMOVE OUR CAR FROM THEIR PARKING LOT BECAUSE UNLESS WE WERE GOING TO PAY THEM TO FIX IT, IT HAD NO BUSINESS BEING THERE." ALL OIL CHANGES HAVE BEEN DONE REGULARLY AND I HAVE DOCUMENTATION FOR THEM ALL. OUR VEHICLE HAD 74,000 MILES ON IT AND WAS KEPT IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. AS OF NOW, KIA HAS DONE NOTHING TO EXPLAIN WHY NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT OUR PROBLEM, AS WELL AS MANY OTHERS WHO HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM.

BEGIN TO HEAR FLUTTERING SOUND WHILE DRIVING ON SECONDARY AND MAIN ROADS. THE SOUND BEGIN TO GRADUALLY GET LOUDER OVER THE COARSE OF FEW DAYS. PUT THE VEHICLE IN THE SHOP TO GET A DIAGNOSTIC. THE RESULTS CAME BACK ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO ENGINE OIL RESTRICTION. RECEIVE 2 OPINIONS FROM MECHANIC SHOPS BOTH PLACES RESULTS CAME BACK THE SAME. WHEN THE RPMS WAS REVVED UP YOU COULD HEAR A LOUD KNOCKING SOUND, ALONG WITH DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN MOTION WOULD STALL , AND THE ENGINE LIGHT WOULD FLICKER ON AND OFF.

OUR 2012 KIA SPORTAGE BROKE DOWN OVER A MONTH AGO AFTER MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER HAD JUST GOT OFF THE PA TURNPIKE, THEY HAD STOPPED AT A MALL AN HOUR FROM HOME AFTER TRAVELING ALL DAY. WHEN THEY RETURNED TO THE CAR FROM SHOPPING, IT WOULDN'T START. IT WAS TOWED TO GATEWAY KIA OF WARRINGTON AT THE ADVICE OF KIA CORPORATION OF AMERICA, BECAUSE THAT WAS THE CLOSEST DEALERSHIP. AFTER SITTING THERE FOR ALMOST FIVE DAYS AND NO CALL FROM THEM, AND MULTIPLE INQUIRIES BY US, THEY FINALLY TOLD US THAT IT WAS ENGINE FAILURE. THEY RAN BASIC DIAGNOSTIC TESTS AND NEVER WENT ANY FURTHER AS FAR AS LOOKING INTO THE ENGINE. BECAUSE WE WERE THE SECOND OWNER OFF A ONE YEAR LEASE, WE WEREN'T ELIGIBLE FOR THE ORIGINAL 10 YEAR/100,000 WARRANTY. OUR WARRANTY WAS NOW 5 YEARS/ 50,000 MILES. OUR CAR HAS 70,0000 MILES. SO NOT COVERED WE HAVE BEEN TOLD. WE KEPT GOOD CARE OF THIS CAR WITH REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND STATE INSPECTIONS. AFTER BEING TOLD THAT WE WERE NOT GOING TO BE COVERED, WE STARTED RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM. SOON AFTER WE FOUND A LAW FIRM THAT WAS HEADING A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST KIA. THE LAWSUIT ALLEGED THAT KIA HAS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH SOME OF THEIR ENGINE, WHICH INCLUDES OUR VEHICLE AND ENGINE. WE WERE ALSO NOTIFIED THAT THE LAW FIRM HAD CEASED TO PURSUE THE SUIT BECAUSE KIA HAD AGREED TO FIX THE ENGINES FOR THE VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THE SUIT. KIA HAS DENIED TO COVER OUR CAR UNDER THIS SPECIAL EXTENDED WARRANTY WHICH WOULD INCLUDE 10 YEARS/120,000 MILES NOW. WE HAVE BEEN PASSED AROUND AND DENIED ALL THE UP TO THE CORPORATE OFFICES "ESCALATION OFFICE", WHICH HAS ULTIMATELY TOLD US THAT WE HAVE BEEN DENIED AND HAVE REACHED THE HIGHEST OFFICE AVAILABLE FOR COMPLAINT/APPEALS AND THERE IS NOTHING THAT WE DO ANY LONGER. WE STILL OWE ALMOST $10,000 ON THIS CAR, WHICH WILL BE A TOTAL LOSS IF IT ISN'T FIXED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY OR BY US AT A COST OF ALMOST $5000.

WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE OF THE CAR BEGAN TO MAKE A LOUD KNOCKING SOUND. AFTER THE NOISE STARTED, THE ENGINE POWER WAS SEVERELY REDUCED. THE CAR FAILED TO ACCELERATE AS NORMAL. AT THE FIRST STOPLIGHT AFTER EXITING THE HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE STALLED. IT STARTED AGAIN, AND STALLED AGAIN AT THE NEXT LIGHT BUT WE WERE ABLE TO GET IT SAFELY TO A PARKING LOT AT AN AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE CENTER. AT NO TIME, DID THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT EVER ILLUMINATE INDICATING THAT THERE MAY BE A PROBLEM BEFORE OR DURING THIS ISSUE. THE CAR WAS INSPECTED THE NEXT DAY AND THE SHOP RECOMMENDED ENGINE REPLACEMENT. CAR WAS TOWED TO A KIA DEALERSHIP AND UPON THEIR INSPECTION, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE KNOCKING NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE CRANKSHAFT WHICH CAUSED "EXCESSIVE METAL THROUGHOUT THE ENGINE". TOTAL ENGINE REPLACEMENT WAS NECESSARY. THE CAR HAD APPROXIMATELY 103,000 MILES AT THE TIME. KIA CORPORATE OFFERED NO FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE SINCE CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 100,000 MILES. THE TOTAL COST OF THE ENGINE REPLACEMENT WAS $5,037.93 WHICH HAD TO BE PAID OUT OF POCKET.

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 45 MPH PROBABLY A FEW HUNDRED YARDS FROM GETTING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN BLACK SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE EXHAUST OF MY SPORTAGE AND IT COMPLETELY WENT DEAD. LUCKILY, I HAD A PLACE TO STOP JUST TO THE LEFT OF THE HIGHWAY ENTRANCE. I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED HAD THIS OCCURRED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I LEARNED FROM THE DEALER THAT THIS IS ACTUALLY A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE KIA THETA ENGINES. THE BEARINGS AND RODS IN MY ENGINE WERE APPARENTLY SHREDDED AND THE ENGINE SEIZED. WHILE THE DEALER IS PAYING FOR THE DAMAGE UNDER WARRANTY, THE CAR WILL BE RETURNED TO ORIGINAL STATE MEANING THE ENGINE AND THE CAR WILL BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. IF WHAT HAPPENED TO ME HAPPENS TO ANYONE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, IT'S VERY EASY TO IMAGINE THE POSSIBILITY OF A FATAL CRASH. THESE ENGINES NEED TO BE RECALLED AND HAVE A PROPER FIX IN PLACE BEFORE SOMEONE DIES. I'VE NOW READ HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS SIMILAR TO MINE ON THE INTERNET SO ACTION NEEDS TO BE TAKEN BEYOND THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT THAT WAS FILED IN JUNE FOR THIS VERY SAME ISSUE. *TR

THE ENGINE LOCKED UP ON MY VEHICLE JUST AS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL. KIA REFUSED TO REPAIR BECAUSE "IT WAS NOT ON THE LIST". THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO PICK AND CHOOSE WHICH VEHICLES TO INCLUDE IN THE RECALL. MY VEHICLE IS STILL SITTING IN MY GARAGE AND I AM STILL PAYING A MONTHLY NOTE.

LEAVING A FRIEND'S HOUSE MY CAR MADE A CLICKING SOUND. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE AND THE SOUND APPEARED TO HAVE GONE AWAY. MINUTES LATER WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH ON I-85 N IN ATLANTA MY 2012 KIA SPORTAGE (WITHOUT WARNING LIGHTS OR ANY INDICATION THAT ANYTHING WAS WRONG) MADE A VERY LOUD NOISE AND LOST SPEED QUICKLY. I PUT ON MY EMERGENCY FLASHERS AND MOVED ACROSS LANES UNTIL I COULD EXIT. WHEN I GOT TO THE RAMP THE ENGINE DIED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR AGAIN. IT STARTED OFF BUT DIED AGAIN. I TRIED IT ONCE AGAIN AND IT STARTED. I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND PRESSED THE GAS SO IT WOULDN'T TURN OFF. I THREW IT IN DRIVE AND THE CAR DID BEGIN TO MOVE BUT IT NEVER GOT OVER 20 MPH DESPITE THE FACT THAT I HAD THE PEDAL PRESSED TO THE FLOOR. CARS WERE HONKING THEIR HORN AND PASSING ME RECKLESSLY. I PULLED INTO THE PARKING LOT OF A PEP BOYS CENTER AND CALLED TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED. IT (AND ME) WAS TOWED BACK TO GAINESVILLE, GA TO THE DEALERSHIP AT 11:00 PM . THE SAME DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT AND HAVE HAD IT SERVICED SINCE I PURCHASED IT. MONDAY I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO SEE WHAT WAS WRONG. THE MECHANIC IMMEDIATELY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS MY ENGINE AFTER ONLY HAVING ANOTHER MECHANIC START THE CAR'.IT ONLY RAN FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. MAYBE LIKE 5-SECONDS HE STATED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT THIS IS INDICATIVE OF THE 2012 KIA SPORTAGE AS WELL AS A NUMBER OF OTHER KIA MODELS. I FOUND NUMEROUS TESTIMONIALS ONIINE WHERE THIS HAPPENED TO OTHERS. I ALSO LEARNED THAT THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST KIA CALLED THE ENGINE OIL DEFECT LAWSUIT WHERE THOSE INVOLVED IN THE SUIT SHARE EXPERIENCES EERILY SIMILAR TO MINE. KIA OF AMERICA AND CARRIAGE KIA HAVE NOT BEEN VERY COOPERATIVE IN THIS MATTER.

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND HEARD A LOAD NOISE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. NOISE STOPPED AND THEN LOSS ALL POWER! EVERTHING DIED. GOT IT PULLED OVER AND NOW THE MOTOR IS SEIZED. GOT THE OIL CHANGED A WEEK BEFORE AND NEVER HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THIS CAR.

AFTER DRIVING HOME FROM A VACATION TRIP, OUR CAR LITERALLY SHUTOFF AS WE WERE CROSSING A MAJOR HIGHWAY NEAR HOME. I WAS ABLE TO COAST BACK OFF THE ROAD. WE WERE TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT IT WAS THE MOTOR AND IT WAS NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. THEY SHARED WITH US THAT THERE WERE 3 OTHERS SITTING ON THEIR LOT WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THOSE MOTORS AND THAT WE SHOULD REACH OUT TO KIA FOR ASSISTANCE. MY CHILDREN WERE IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME. I PREVIOUSLY OWNED ANOTHER KIA SPORTAGE, A 2001, THAT WE HAD FOR WELL OVER 10 YEARS AND MANY MILES OVER 100,000 THAT WE ABSOLUTELY LOVED AS DO I WITH THIS ONE. I JUST WANT TO GET IT FIXED AND BACK IN TO IT. THE CAR IS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD. WHAT HAS CHANGED??

WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH ON INTERSTATE 15 IN CALIFORNIA ON A FRIDAY AFTERNOON, THE CAR BEGAN JERKING AND LOSING POWER WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS NORMAL, NO LIGHTS OF ANY KIND CAME ON. WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE CENTER MEDIAN AND WAITED 1-1/2 HRS FOR A TOW FROM AAA TO THE NEAREST KIA DEALER IN VICTORVILLE, CA. THEY DID NOT LOOK AT IT UNTIL MONDAY AND IT TOOK A COUPLE OF DAYS TO GET A STRAIGHT ANSWER FROM THEM AS TO WHEN THE CAR WOULD BE FIXED. THEY FINALLY TOLD US THE CAR NEEDED A NEW ENGINE! THEY HAVE NOW HAD THE CAR 2 WEEKS AND THEY SAY THEY NEED A PART CALLED A CAMSHAFT ASSY (P/N 242002G700) WHICH THEY WILL NOT HAVE FOR ANOTHER 3 WEEKS! IN RESEARCHING THIS SITUATION, I SEE THAT OTHER KIA OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME FAILURE. IT SEEMS AS THOUGH A RECALL AND SAFETY WARNING IS NEEDED! THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT. THE CAR ONLY HAS 27,000 MILES AND WAS PURCHASED USED FROM A KIA DEALER AS A "CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED VEHICLE". AT THIS TIME, WE DO NOT KNOW HOW MUCH THIS IS GOING TO COST. WE HAD TO PAY FOR THE TOW, STAY IN A HOTEL, RENT A CAR TO GET HOME AS WE LIVE IN UTAH. WE WERE TOLD WE WILL HAVE TO GO BACK THERE TO PICK UP THE CAR! WE ARE THANKFUL WE WEREN'T INJURED BUT SOMEONE ELSE MAY BE IF KIA DOESN'T DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS SITUATION.

OVER THE LAST SIX MONTHS OR SO, MY KIA SPORTAGE SUV HAVE BEEN STALLING PERIODICALLY WITHOUT WARNING. I NEVER KNOW WHEN IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN. I CAN BE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH OR 25 MPH AND IT WILL STALL. IT HAS HAPPENED ON SUNNY DAYS AS WELL AS RAINY DAYS. I'VE CONTACTED GATEWAY KIA IN DENVILLE NJ MANY TIMES COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS ISSUE TO NO AVAIL. THE SERVICE MANAGER JOE TOLD ME TO TRY USING SUNOCO PREMIUM GAS TO NO AVAIL. I ALSO HAD THE MANIFOLD CHANGED BUT THE STALLING STILL HAPPENS. I'VE CONTACTED KIA CORPORATION AND WAS TOLD BY BRUCE HARTD SINCE MY CAR HAS OVER 187,000 MILES (MOSTLY HIGHWAY MILES) AND SINCE THE DEALERSHIP HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO REPRODUCE THE STALLING THERE IS NOTHING KIA CAN DO. I WAS TOLD BY KIA CORPORATION THAT MY CAR IS NOT PART OF THEIR ENGINE STALLING RECALL TO BE ANNOUNCED MAY 19TH. I THINK IT SHOULD BE INCLUDED BECAUSE MY CAR ENGINE IS ALSO STALLING MAKING IT VERY DANGEROUS FOR ME TO USE IT BUT IT IS THE ONLY FORM OF TRANSPORTATION I HAVE TO GET BACK AND FORTH TO WORK. PLEASE HELP!

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE HESITATED UPON DEPRESSION OF THE ACCELERATOR WITH AN UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT INITIALLY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO FLOOD FORD OF EAST GREENWICH (2545 S COUNTY TRAIL, EAST GREENWICH, RI 02818) WHERE THEY REPAIRED THE CAMSHAFT AND OTHER CYLINDERS WITHIN THE ENGINE. FOUR YEARS LATER, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS SON WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, HE BEGAN TO HEAR AN ABNORMAL TICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE THEN BEGAN TO STALL AS THE CONTACT'S SON PULLED THE VEHICLE OFF TO THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY. DUE TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE WITH ENGINE FAILURE. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT LINKED THE FAILURE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND CONFIRMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.*BF*JB

AUTO WINDOW SWITCHES HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED.STARTING WITH ORIGINAL OEM SWITCH AS #! ,PASSENGER SIDE FRONT IS ON THIRD REPLACEMENT, PASSENGER SIDE REAR HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE AND IS STARTING TO GO OUT AGAIN, SWITCH WILL ONLY OPERATE FROM THE DRIVERS MASTER CONTROL PANEL AND DRIVERS SIDE REAR HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE. I BELIEVE IT IS A POORLY MANUFACTURED PART. TWO WERE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY, THE OTHER TWO WILL BE OUT OF MY POCKET. WHEN THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WENT OUT FOR THE SECOND TIME, WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED BY ONE MONTH WITH A HISTORY OF PROBLEM AUTO WINDOW SWITCHES. I CALLED KIA MOTORS CORPORATE OFFICE AND EXPLAINED THAT THESE PARTS ARE JUNK AND I WOULD LIKE ANOTHER REPLACEMENT. PERSON IN CHARGE OF SERVICE FOR KIA MOTORS BASICALLY SAID TOUGH YOUR WARRANTY IS OVER. VEHICLE AUTO WINDOW SWITCHES START OUT WORKING INTERMITTENTLY WHEN PASSENGER TRIES TO HAVE WINDOW GO UP OR DOWN, THEN PASSENGER HAS NO WAY OF PUTTING WINDOW UP OR DOWN THEN DRIVER HAS TO CONTROL WINDOW MOVEMENT UNTIL SWITCH FINALLY GOES OUT. THIS OCCURS WHETHER VEHICLE IS IN MOTION OR PARKED WITH IGNITION ON

I OWN A 2012 KIA SPORTAGE THAT I PURCHASED FROM RIVERHEAD AUTO MALL, THAT EXPERIENCE WAS WONDERFUL. I ORIGINALLY PURCHASED A KIA FOR A FEW REASONS, THE AFFORDABILITY BUT MAINLY THE 5 YEAR/10 YEAR WARRANTY. SINCE I HAVE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE, I HAVE HAD A FEW ISSUES THAT I HAVE VISITED VARIOUS SERVICE DEPARTMENTS TO RECTIFY WHICH HAVE STILL NOT BEEN RESOLVED. THESE ARE SAFETY RELATED ISSUES, WHICH I SPOKE TO CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT REGARDING AND CANNOT BELIEVE THAT KIA WOULD NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR VEHICLES. I CAN GUARANTEE YOU ONE THING, AFTER MY RECENT EXPERIENCES WITH KIA I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER KIA OR RELATED VEHICLE AGAIN. FOR YEARS, I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO HAVE TWO ISSUES RESOLVED, AGAIN BOTH SAFETY ISSUES. FIRST, THE SEATBELTS ON THE DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE DO NOT FULLY RETRACT. THEY END UP GETTING STUCK IN THE DOOR, ALSO MORE RECENTLY THERE ARE TIMES WHEN WEARING A SEATBELT AND STEPPING ON THE BRAKES, THE SEATBELT IS NOT RESTRAINING THE PERSON. SECOND, THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR LOCK WILL NOT OPEN WITH EITHER KEY' YOU NEED TO MANUALLY OPEN THE DOOR. WHEN THE CAR IS PUT INTO DRIVE, THE DOOR WILL NOT LOCK. ALL OTHER DOORS WILL LOCK, NOT THE DRIVERS DOOR. I HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR TO MULTIPLE SERVICE LOCATIONS OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS TRYING TO GET THESE ISSUES RESOLVED. ALL WHILE UNDER WARRANTY, AND WAS TOLD TIME AFTER TIME THIS WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM AND MY COMPLAINTS WERE NOT SHOWING AT THAT TIME. IN MAY I BROUGHT THE CAR IN AGAIN FOR SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WOULD BE A DIAGNOSTIC FEE FOR BOTH ISSUES OF APPROXIMATELY $200 EACH TO SIMPLY LOOK AT THE ISSUES. THERE IS A GREAT DEAL OF DETAILS AND PAPERWORK THAT I HAVE SUPPLIED TO KIA TO SUPPORT THIS. I WENT BACK AND FORTH WITH MULTIPLE DEALERSHIPS IN BETWEEN MULTIPLE SURGERIES SINCE LAST SUMMER.

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT ABOUT 70MPH WHEN ENGINE SEIZED. SHE WAS IN THE LEFT LANE BUT THANKFULLY MANAGED TO GET INTO THE EMERGENCY LANE WITHOUT BEING HIT BY OTHER MOTORIST. VEHICLE ONLY HAD 68K MILES ON IT. KIA DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS EVEN THOUGH IT COVERS OTHER SPORTAGES & OPTIMAS WITH THE SAME ENGINE FOR SAME EXACT PROBLEM. THANKFUL MY DAUGHTER DID NOT GET HURT BUT SHE WAS LEFT WITH A $5,500 BILL THAT WE HAD TO PAY TO FIX. KIA NEEDS TO EXPAND THE ENGINE RECALL TO ALL OF THE ENGINES AND NOW THEY ARE RECALLING SOME FOR A FIRE HAZARD. KIA NEEDS TO STEP UP BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED!

2012 KIA SPORTAGE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO REIMBURSEMENT FOR VEHICLE REPAIRS. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE SHIFTS TO NEUTRAL FOR 10 TO 15 SECONDS. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO BE REIMBURSED FOR RECALL REPAIR 19V101. *JS

DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE, A LOUD SQUEAK SOUND OCCURRED AND ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD LIT UP AND THE ENGINE PROMPTLY SHUT OFF AND HAS SINCE THEN BEEN UNABLE TO START AGAIN. THE KIA DEALERSHIP HAS INFORMED ME THAT THE VEHICLE HAS INTERNAL ENGINE FAILURE. MY CONCERN IS DRIVING A VEHICLE AT THAT SPEED AND HAVING IT INSTANTLY SHUT OFF IS A HUGE SAFETY RISK AND LIABILITY, ESPECIALLY AFTER HEARING IR HAS HAPPENED TO OTHERS WITH IDENTICAL VEHICLES.

WINDSHIELD SEAL STRIP START PEELING FROM THE TOP OF THE DRIVER SIDE .

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, WE HEARD A THUMP FROM OUR 2012 KIA SPORTAGE. WHEN WE GOT HOME, MY HUSBAND CHECKED THE ENGINE AND HE FOUND WE HAD NO OIL. WE NEVER HAD A CHECK ENGINE OR OIL LIGHT COME ON AND NEVER HAD AN OIL SPOT UNDER OUR CAR. WE TOOK IT TO OUR KIA DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. AFTER READING OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE, I REALIZE WE WERE VERY LUCKY WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE IT HOME WITH OUR CAR THAT NIGHT. OUR KIA HAD LESS THAN 35,000 MILES ON IT AND WE CHANGED THE OIL REGULARLY , SO WE JUST KNEW IT WOULD BE UNDER WARRANTY. HOWEVER, BECAUSE MY HUSBAND DID SOME OF THE OIL CHANGES HIMSELF, THEY WOULD NOT HONOR THE WARRANTY- HE DIDN'T HAVE ALL OF THE RECEIPTS FOR THE OIL AND FILTERS SINCE 2012. THE RECEIPTS WE COULD PROVIDE FROM BUSINESSES THAT DID OIL CHANGES AND SOME COPIES OF RECEIPTS MY HUSBAND COULD GET FROM THE AUTO PARTS STORES SHOWED THAT THE OIL WAS CHANGED OFTEN, BUT WE DIDN'T HAVE ALL THE RECEIPTS. REGARDLESS, A VEHICLE WITH LESS THAN 35,000 MILES, WITH PROOF OF SEVERAL OIL CHANGES, NOT EVER HAVING A CHECK ENGINE OR OIL LIGHT COME ON, AND NO OIL SPOTS WHERE IT'S PARKED EVERY DAY- SHOULD NOT RUN OUT OF OIL AND NEED A NEW ENGINE. I KNEW THIS HAD TO BE A DEFECT WITH KIA ENGINES AND AFTER READING MANY COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER KIA OWNERS, IT'S OBVIOUSLY A KNOWN AND DANGEROUS DEFECT AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *TR

WHILE DRIVING CAR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, SUDDENLY CAR BEGAN TO DECELERATE, LUCKILY WAS ABLE TO GET TO SHOULDER OF HIGHWAY. CAR DIED WHEN GETTING TO SHOULDER, STARTED AGAIN, ENGINE MAKING HORRIBLE KNOCKING SOUND, AND WOULDN'T MOVE. GOT TOWED TO KIA DEALER, STATED WE NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. KIA DEALER STATED THE CONNECTING ROD ON THE CRANKSHAFT EITHER SEIZED UP OR BROKE AND LOCKED UP.

TL* THE CONTACT IS AN ATTORNEY WHOSE CLIENT OWNS A 2012 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE THE CLIENT'S WIFE WAS DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (RICK CASE KIA SUNRISE 14500 W SUNRISE BLVD, SUNRISE, FL 33323), BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AGAIN AND THE FAILURE RECURRED AS THE DEALER DROVE THE VEHICLE. IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT AND CRANK POSITION SENSORS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT SPOKE TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT IF NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED, THEY COULD NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE RECURRED ONCE AGAIN. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE) AND TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO RICK CASE KIA FOR AN ENGINE INSPECTION. THE DEALER PERFORMED AN OIL CHANGE, REPLACED THE DIPSTICK, AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE PASSED PER KIA'S SPECIFICATIONS. THE FAILURE HAD NOT RECURRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE CONTACT SHOULD MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,918.

AIR QUALITY. CAR CONSISTENTLY SMELLS LIKE MOLD AND MILDEW IN THE AIR VENTS DESPITE FREQUENT CHANGING OF FILTERS AND TREATMENT FOR MOLD AND MILDEW. CONDENSATION DOESN'T EVAPORATE AND MILDEW FORMS CREATING AN INDOOR AIR QUALITY ISSUE IN THE CAR. HAPPENS FREQUENTLY AND MAKES THE CAR UNDRIVEABLE FOR ANYONE WITH MOLD AND MILDEW ALLERGIES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE DRIVING OR ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE SEIZED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BATTERY POST WERE TOO BIG FOR THE BATTERY CONNECTORS. AS A RESULT, ALL THE ELECTRICITY IN THE VEHICLE FAILED, INCLUDING THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,132.

WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY AT 70 MPH CAR ENGINE SLOWED TO 40 WITHOUT WARNING THEN DOWN TO 20, ALMOST CAUSING MULTIPLE CARS TO CRASH INTO ME. MANAGED TO DRIVE CAR DIRECTLY TO KIA DEALER WHILE GOING FROM DRIVING FINE, TO SLOWING TO 20 MPH TO SHAKING WHEN AT A STOP LIGHT WHEN I DROPPED OFF CAR TO DEALER THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. SAYS I HAVE TO PICK BACK UP. PRIOR TO THIS, WHILE ON FREEWAY ENGINE WOULD WIND AND REV RPM WITHOUT MOVING OR ACCELERATING. HAD KIA COMPUTER HOOKED UP FOR WEEKS AND IT DID NOT RECORD ANYTHING. I HAVE HAD IT IN NUMEROUS TIMES AND THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH MY CHOICE IN KIA. *JS

DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, THE ENGINE OF THE CAR GAVE OUT. I WAS GIVEN ZERO WARNING BEFORE THE ENGINE COMPLETELY DIED AND I WAS FORCED TO PULL MY CAR OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I WAS LUCKY THAT THE CAR BEHIND ME DID NOT HIT ME. THE CAR IS ONLY 2 YEARS OLD WITH ABOUT 30,000 MILES AND THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. IT PUT MY LIFE AND THAT OF MY 11 MONTH OLD SON AT RISK. THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO BE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE! NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT BEING IN A FATAL ACCIDENT DUE TO KIA'S FAULTY PARTS. *TR

AT APPROXIMATELY 5:30AM, I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY. MY KIA SPORTAGE SUDDENLY MADE A LOUD BANG, AND THE ENGINE STALLED. IT ALSO SHUT OFF THE HEADLIGHTS, AND DISABLED THE POWER STEERING, WHILE ON A CURVE, GOING 70MPH. THE POWER ASSISTED BRAKES WERE ALSO NOT WORKING, BECAUSE THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN. I MANAGED TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER WITHOUT INCIDENT, BUT WAS ALMOST HIT BY SEVERAL VEHICLES THAT COULD NO LONGER SEE ME, BECAUSE MY LIGHTS WERE OFF. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START UP AGAIN, AND I HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED HOME. THIS IS THE 3RD TIME THIS VEHICLE HAS DONE THIS, AND KIA REFUSES TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. *TR

I WAS EXITING THE HIGHWAY ONTO A MEDIAN DIVIDED STREET THAT RUNS EAST/WEST. I WAS STOPPED AT THE LIGHT, IN A DOUBLE TURN LANE, ONCE THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN I PROCEEDED TO TURN WEST GOING ABOUT 5 MPH, IMMEDIATELY I WAS HIT BY A WOMAN TO THE LEFT OF ME IN THE PARALLEL TURN LANE IN MY FRONT DRIVER SIDE QUARTER PANEL. HER CAR HIT AT NEARLY A 90 DEGREE ANGLE WITH ENOUGH IMPACT TO ROCK THE SPORTAGE, IT BUCKLED THE HOOD AND KNOCKED OFF SEVERAL OF THE GRILL PANELS. NOT UNTIL I MOVED THE CAR AND EXITED DID I REALIZE THAT THERE WAS A THIRD CAR INVOLVED THAT IMPACTED THE CAR THAT HIT ME DRIVING HER INTO MY CAR WITH ENOUGH FORCE THAT HER WINDOWS SHATTER AND BENT HER FRONT WHEEL IN. HER AIRBAGS EMPLOYED IN HER VM JETTA CONVERTIBLE, IN ADDITION, TO THE ROLL BARS DEPLOYING. I AM CONCERNED THAT NONE OF MY FRONT AND/OR SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED DURING THE CRASH. MY PASSENGER AND MYSELF SUSTAINED BRUISING FROM THE IMPACT AND SEAT BELT RESTRAINT. WHY DIDN'T THE BAGS DEPLOY? IT WOULD APPEAR THEY ARE DEFECTIVE? *TR

I WAS PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC AND DID NOT SEE A CAR DUE THEIR HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT ON. WE HIT AND NONE OF MY AIR BACK DEPLOYED THE WHOLE FRONT OF MY CAR WAS SMASHED AND I HIT MY HEAD ON THE DOOR JAM AND MY VEHICLE HAS SIDE AIR BAGS ALSO. I HAVE CONTACTED KIA AND INITIALLY GOT A CASE # AND STUFF. THE CASE # IS [XXX]. I DID RECEIVED ONE MESS FROM THEM REQUESTION STUFF BUT THEY DID NOT LEAVE ANY KINDOF RETURN # OR ANY FAX # OR EMAIL FOR ME TO SEND THE REQUESTED INFORMATION BACK TOO. I HAVE CALLED KIA APPROX. THREE TIMES A WK WITH NO ANSWERS OR RETURN CALLS TODAY I CALLED AND WAS ABLE TO GET A FAX #. I WAS PERFECTLY HEALTHY PRIOR TO MY WRECK NOW I HAVE TO TAKE PAIN MEDS TO MAKE IT THROUGH THE DAY AND I CAN NOT DO HOUSE WORK OR PICK UP MY TOW YEAR OLD. SOMEONE SHOULD LOOK INTO WHY THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

I SWERVED TO HIT A DEER, HIT THE DEER THEN WENT IN TO THE DITCH AND DROVE HEAD ON INTO A TREE. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND I AM WONDERING WHY. *TR

DRIVING TO WORK IN JULY 2013 I HEARD A LOUD POP SOUND AND LOOKED AROUND AND NOTICED NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY ABOUT 10 SECONDS LATER MY PANORAMIC SUNROOF SHATTERED. I THOUGHT MAYBE SOMETHING WAS KICKED UP FROM A TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME AND HIT THE ROOF SO I FILED A CLAIM WITH MY INSURANCE COMPANY. LUCKILY IT WAS TAKEN CARE OF. NOW ITS MARCH 2014 AND I HAD THE SAME THINK HAPPEN, I HEARD A LOUD POP LOOKED AROUND AND SAW NOTHING UNTIL THE NEXT DAY. MY WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED AND THE PANEL OF GLASS BETWEEN THE WINDSHIELD AND THE PANORAMIC SUNROOF SHATTERED. I TOO CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME TO CALL MY INSURANCE COMPANY THAT THIS WAS NOT THEIR PROBLEM. TWICE IS ONE YEAR...I THINK THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *TR

I WAS WAITING AT A STOP LIGHT WHEN I HEARD A HUGE POP SOUND ALMOST LIKE A FIRECRACKER AND WHEN I TURNED AROUND TO SEE WHAT IT WAS MY ENTIRE BACK WINDOW WAS COMPLETELY SHATTERED. THERE WAS NO ROCK OR ANY OBJECT LIKE THAT TO BE FOUND ANYWHERE SO I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT CAUSED IT, MAYBE PRESSURE OR AN AIR BUBBLE? IT SEEMED LIKE A DEFAULT IN THE WINDOW TO ME BUT OF COURSE IT'S NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

WE HAVE HAD TO BRING IN AND HAVE REPAIRED TWICE WITH OUR KIA , IT WAS DUE TO A FAULTY CLUSTER , SO AM WONDERING WHAT DUE WE DO NEXT ,,,,,THANK YOU *TR

ITS APPROX 57 DEGREES OUT. 6:30 AM THIS MORNING WENT OUTSIDE TO START CAR CAME, BACK 10 MINUTES LATER TO GO TO WORK AND FOUND A CRACK (WHICH WASN'T THERE WHEN I STARTED THE CAR) FROM BOTTOM LEFT CORNER UP TO THE TOP. ON MY WAY TO WORK ANOTHER CRACK STARTED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD. MY CAR IS 9 WEEKS OLD, NO ACCIDENT, NO CHIPS. WHEN I CALLED THE CAR DEALER THEY SAID CALL MY INSURANCE COMPANY IT SHOULD BE COVERED. I TOLD THEM THAT I FELT THEY SHOULD TAKE CARE OF IT. THEY TOLD ME NO. WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE DEAD OF WINTER? *TR

I PULLED A TRAILER FOR THE FIRST TIME ON THIS DATE. THE TRUCK ONLY MADE IT 10 MILES, AND LOST ALL POWER, AND I BARELY MADE IT OFF OF THE FREEWAY. BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER, AND THEY FOUND THE SPARK PLUGS BLEW APART. ALL THEY DID WAS CHANGE THE SPARK PLUGS AND SENT ME ON MY WAY. ON JULY 13TH, I TOWED MY CAMPER, WHICH WAS LIGHTER THAN THE LAST TRAILER I PULLED. THIS TIME, ABOUT 6 MILES INTO THE TRIP, THE ENGINE COMPLETELY LET GO ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAD TO GET ACROSS 4 LANES OF TRAFFIC WITH NO POWER AND A CAMPER IN-TOW. WAITED AT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF BEFORE KIA SENT A TOW VEHICLE. DISCOVERED ALL 4 SPARK PLUGS WERE DESTROYED, AND A HOLE IN CYLINDER 3. KIA WILL NOT WARRANTY IT, BLAMING THE ENGINE FAILURE ON THE CAMPER NOT HAVING TRAILER BRAKES(COMPLETELY ABSURD). THE FIRST FAILURE IN JUNE, THE TRAILER WEIGHED 500LBS MORE, AND HAD TRAILER BRAKES. KIA DOES NOT WANT TO ADMIT FAULT FOR THIS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS FAULT IN THEIR ENGINE. THE VEHICLE IS RATED FOR 2,000LBS TOWING CAPACITY, AND BOTH TRAILERS WERE WELL UNDER THE LIMIT. MY CAMPER IS ONLY 1,155LBS. COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE ON THE HIGHWAY PUT ME AND MY ENTIRE FAMILY IN DANGER TWICE. THIS IS UN-ACCEPTABLE. THIS WAS A LOADED SX AWD.(TURBOCHARGED). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE GEAR PLACED IN PARK. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY UTILIZING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. HE ALSO OPENED THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR IN THE EVENT THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO JUMP FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO TWO PARKED VEHICLES, TRAPPING THE CONTACT BETWEEN THE VEHICLES. THE CONTACT RECEIVED INJURIES THE ARMS, SHOULDERS AND RIBS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,500.

WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, OR ANY SPEED ABOVE 30MPH ON A STRAIGHT ROAD VEHICLE REQUIRES CONSTANT CORRECTION TO TRACK VEHICLE IN A STRAIGHT LINE. WITHOUT CONSTANT CORRECTION, THE VEHICLE WOULD LEAVE THE ROAD SURFACE. THE RESISTANCE TO STEERING PRESSURE IN CORRELATION TO SPEED DOES NOT SEEM PROPERLY PROGRAMMED FOR VEHICLE. THE BEST WAY TO DESCRIBE THIS IS TO DRIVE A CAR THAT WOULD OTHERWISE TRACK DOWN THE ROAD CORRECTLY, NOW THROW CONTROL ARMS WITH WORN OUT BUSHINGS AND BALL JOINTS. IT ACTS EXACTLY LIKE THAT, EXCEPT A CAR WITH WORN OUT CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS AND BALL JOINTS WOULD IN NO WAY SHAPE OR FORM PASS A SAFETY INSPECTION IN ANY STATE. THIS PROBLEM, ON TRIPS OVER 45 MINUTES EXCESSIVELY FATIGUES THE DRIVER. (I THOUGHT I WAS GOING CRAZY ON A 4.5 HOUR TRIP MOSTLY EXPRESSWAY SPEEDS) OVER 80MPH THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE ELIMINATED...BUT NOT WORTH THE ENDANGERMENT OF OTHERS USING THE ROADWAY. *JS

BRAKE PEDAL GRIP PADDING FALLS OFF, LEAVING A SLIPPERY SURFACE AND A FALLEN GRIP PADDING BLOCKING BRAKE PEDAL. WHILE DRIVING IN FREEWAY AT 65 MPH. DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, SWERVING INTO TWO TOLL LANES & CRASHING INTO SEVERAL RUBBER DIVIDERS. AFTER THIS INCIDENT THE BRAKE PEDAL GRIP PADDING HAS CONTINUED TO FALL OFF WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. KIA DEALERSHIP & SERVICE DEPARTMENT DENIED A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN TGHE VEHICLE WITHOUT EVEN INSPECTING THE VEHICLE. *TT

VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW AND ON THE WAY HOME FROM THE DEALERSHIP THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AS I WAS APPROCHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND THE BRAKES MADE A VERY VERY LOUD GRINDING NOISE AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT WANT TO STOP AFTER BRAKES WERE APPLIED SO I HAD TO PUT MUCH MORE THAN NORMAL PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP. I CARRIED THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT CHECKED (DID NOT MAKE THE NOISE ON THE WAY TO THE DEALERSHIP) AND AFTER CHECKING IT I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT THEY COULD NOT GET IT TO MAKE THE NOISE AND COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES. ON THE WAY HOME FROM THE DEALERSHIP THE VEHICLE MADE THE SAME MALFUNCTION ONCE (LOUD BRAKE GRINDING NOISE AND HARD TO STOP) BUT DID NOT DO THE SAME THE REST OF THE WAY HOME. MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER DROVE THE VEHICLE AND AS THEY WERE APPROCHING STOPPED TRAFFIC AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE MADE THE SAME MALFUNCTION WITH THE BRAKES MAKING THE LOUD GRINDING NOISE (AS SHE SAID IT SOUND LIKE CHAINS WRAPPED AROUND THE BRAKE CALIPERS IT WAS SO LOUD) THE VEHICLE DID NOT WANT TO STOP AS THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED IN THE NORMAL MANNER AND SHE ALMOST HIT THE STOPPED VEHICLES IN FRONT OF HER BEFORE SHE COULD GET IT STOPPED (TRAVELING AT 45 MPH) AND THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHTS BEGAN TO FLASH ON AND OFF. PLEASE NOTE THIS BRAKE MALFUNCTION HAS HAPPENED (3) TIMES SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT NEW AND WE HAVE ONLY DRIVEN IT APPROX. 80 MILES AND MY CONCERN IS WHEN THE MALFUNCTION OCCURED WE WERE ONLY TRAVELING AT APPROX. 45 MPH AND COULD HARDLY GET THE VEHICLE STOPPED SO WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF MY TEENAGE DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED AND THIS MALFUNCTION OCCURED - SHE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE STOPPED IN THE DISTANCE REQUIRED TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. *TT

DRIVING AT APPROX. 35 MPH, EXITING THE 405 S FREEWAY IN SOCAL ON THE BROOKHURST N EXIT RAMP, HEARD A LOUD POP. CHECKING THE FRONT WINDSHIELD, I SEE A LONG 13 INCH CRACK IN THE GLASS AT THE TOP RIGHT HAND CORNER, BEGINNING AT THE EDGE OF THE WINDSHIELD WHERE IT'S CONNECTED TO THE CAR BODY FRAME AND EXTENDING LEFT TOWARD THE CENTER OF THE WINDSHIELD. AFTER PARKING THE CAR, I INSPECT THE CRACK, WHICH IS COMPLETELY SMOOTH, INDICATING THAT IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE FOR A ROCK TO HAVE CHIPPED OR GOUGED THE GLASS TO START THE CRACK. ANY GLASS DUST WAS FOUND AT THE EDGE OF THE WINDSHIELD WHERE THE CRACK ORIGINATED. CLEARLY, A STRESS CRACK. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WERE TO CRACK OR SHATTER UNEXPECTEDLY DURING NORMAL AND SAFE OPERATION OF A MOVING VEHICLE, THEN THAT WOULD CERTAINLY BE A POSSIBLE CAUSE FOR AN ACCIDENT AND/OR INJURY TO THE DRIVER AND ANY PASSENGERS. *TR