NHTSA Complaint #10158940 — 2000 KIA SPORTAGE

WAS GOING OFF TO WORK ON 3 DIFFERENT SNOW DAYS ENGAGED VEHICLE 4X4 (AT LEAST ACCORDING TO THE IDIOT LIGHT I WAS ) PROCEEDED TO WORK SO I SLID ALL OVER THE ROAD AND GOT STUCK IN 2 INCHES OF SNOW. AFTER 3RD ATTEMPT CONTACTED DEALER TO ASK IF IT WAS A KNOWN CAUSE AND THEY TOLD ME YES THAT THERE WAS A TSB FOR A NEW HUB ASSEMBLY. CAUSE THE INNER SEALS ARE FAILING DUE TO THE MANUFACTURES DESIGN OF THE 4X4 VACUUM /SEAL SYSTEM , I ASKED THAT IF THIS IS A FAILURE IN THE DESIGN SHOULD THE KIA MANUFACTURES HAVE MADE A RECALL FOR THIS DEFECT IN THEIR WORKMANSHIP, AND WAS TOLD "NO" THERE IS A FIX FOR IT BUT MY 4X4 IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE IT WAS A CONVENIENCE ISSUE AND IT WOULD COST ME $1000 DOLLARS TO FIX , WHEN I ASK WHY WASN'T IT FIXED IN 2001 WHEN I HAD IT IN FOR A 4X4 CONCERN THEY TOLD ME THAT THE TSB WASN'T ISSUED THEN BUT HAVE FOUND ON DIFFERENT WEB SIGHTS THAT IT WAS ..SO TO SOLVE MY OWN PROBLEM I ASK THE HEAD TECHNICIAN AT WHAT USE TO BE LYNNFIELD KIA "WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE AND IS THERE A BETTER SOLUTION" HIS RESPONSE WAS WE DON'T REPAIR WE JUST REPLACE ...I FEEL IF ITS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT IN DESIGN IT SHOULD BE A RECALL. *JB