NHTSA Complaint #10218976 — 2007 KIA SORENTO

I WAS DRIVING MY 2 MONTH OLD 2007 KIA OPTIMA EX 6 CYC WITH 4,000 MILES ON FEB 16 ABOUT 10:45 PM WHEN IT LOST POWER STEERING AND OTHER CAR FUNCTIONS. I HAD JUST EXIT AN EXPRESSWAY (IH 35) TO REACH MY HOME WHEN I HEARD A LARGE CLUNK AND WARNING LIGHTS APPEARED RE: LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER FROM TO THE BATTERY. I WAS UNABLE TO INITIAL STEER THE VEHICLE B/C THE POWER STEERING WAS NOT WORKING WITH SIGNIFICANT DIFFICULTLY I GAINED CONTROL FOR THE SHORT MILE DISTANCE TO MY HOME. THIS CAR IS BEING USED UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. I LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND SAW THAT THE MAIN ENGINE BELT HAD COME OFF AND A LARGE ROUND METAL CIRCULAR GEAR WAS LAYING AGAINST THE ENGINE BLOCK. THE ENGINE BELT HAD COME OFF ALL THE PULLEYS WHICH RUNS MANY MAJOR ENGINE FUNCTIONS. I HAD THE KIA TOWED IT THE FOLLOWING MONDAY (2/18/08) AT 8AM TO KIA IN GEORGETOWN, TX . KIA SERVICE MGR., MATT, AROUND 5PM SAID THAT THE HARMONIC BALANCER "BROKE AND IT WASN'T SUPPOSED TO DO THAT". WHEN ASKED HOW THIS COULD HAPPEN WITH A BRAND NEW CAR, HE SAID IT JUST HAPPENS. KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE REP, EDDY, TOLD ME THIS WAS A MAJOR PART AND REPAIR. BOTH KIA REPS REMAINED VERY VAGUE ON EXPLAINING IF THIS PART WAS A RESULT OF AN OPTIMA DEFECT THAT CAUSED THE HARMONIC BALANCER TO FAIL EARLY AND EASILY. THIS WAS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD THAT MAY/COULD HAVE RUIN MY CRANKSHAFT, ENGINE, AND CAUSED SERIOUS INJURY TO MANY DRIVERS PRESENT. I REALIZED THAT I WAS VERY LUCKY THIS DID NOT HAPPEN WHILE ON THE EXPRESSWAY AT 70 MPH ELSE YOU WOULD NEVER HEAR THIS STORY. THIS REASON AND KIA'S SUSPICIOUSLY VAGUE EXPLANATIONS IS WHY I FEEL THIS NEEDS TO BE REPORTED TO YOU AND INVESTIGATED. *TR