NHTSA Complaint #10131354 — 2000 KIA SPORTAGE

DT: A 2000 KIA SPORTAGE STATION WAGON. THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE RUSTED. THE FUEL TANK HAD A HOLE IN IT. WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE FUEL HAD SLOWLY LEAKED OUT. THE CONSUMER WAS UNAWARE OF THIS UNTIL SHE DROVE VEHICLE HOME AND NOTICED THAT THERE WAS FUEL UNDER IT. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A LOCAL FUEL STATION; THEY TOLD CONSUME RBECAUSE THERE WAS NO ONE TO WORK ON IT TO BRING IT BACK THE NEXT DAY. SHE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THEM THE NEXT DAY. THEY REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP, TANK, LINES, AND EVERYTHING ON THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE. THE FUEL HAD LEAKED ALL OVER THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE AND MADE IT HARD TO FIX THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC TOLD HER THAT THEY HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH OTHER KIAES CONCERNING THIS. THE CONSUMER IS VERY CONCERNED WITH THE SAFETY OF THIS. THE MECHANIC SAID HE HAD NO TROUBLE GETTING THE TANK, HE FIGURED THAT IT MIGHT BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THEM. PREVIOUSLY THEY REPLACED THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE UNIT. *AK