NHTSA Complaint #10232415 — 2005 KIA SORENTO

DRIVING OUT OF MY OFFICE PARK AT LUNCH TIME, HEARD FAN NOISE LIKE LOOSE BELT, THEN WHEN TURNING WHEEL TO EXIT LOT, HEARD A LOUD "CLUNK" AND LOST POWER STEERING. ENGINE SITTING LOOSE IN COMPARTMENT LAND LOOSE BELTS EVERYWHERE. CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. TOLD 2.5 HOURS LATE, WHEN I CALLED TO THE DEALER, THAT THE CRANKSHAFT BOLT WAS BROKEN AGAIN. CONTACTED KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND FOUND ALTHOUGH THERE IS AN ACTIVE CAMPAIGN TO RECALL THIS BOLT, MY VIN IS NOT ON THE LIST (THIS IS THE SECOND FAILURE). ALTHOUGH "SHORT BLOCK" WAS REPLACED AT LAST FAILURE (IN 4/07 AT 20,200 MI) THIS FAILURE REQUIRED MACHINING THE BOLT OUT AND ONLY REPLACING THE CRANKSHAFT SPROCKET, CRANK PULLEY AND CRANKSHAFT BOLT, THEN REINSTALLING OTHER COMPONENTS. CONTACTED KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS 6/18/08 AND REQUESTED DIST SERVICE MGR APPROVAL SHORT BLOCK REPLACEMENT. NO RETURN PHONE CALLS ALTHOUGH MESSAGES WERE LEFT FOR AGENT ON 6/19 AND 6/20. AGENT CALLED ON 6/25/08 TO ASK "HOW IS THE VEHICLE RIDING?", BUT WE HAD NOT PICKED UP THE VEHICLE FROM THE DEALER, SINCE YET AGAIN NO ALTERNATE TRANSPORTATION WAS PROVIDED. SAFETY IS NOW A MAJOR CONCERN WITH THIS VEHICLE. NO CONFIDENCE IN REPLACEMENT PARTS TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. RESEARCH SHOWS MANY OTHER OWNERS REPORTING MULTIPLE FAILURES OF THE CRANKSHAFT BOLT. REPAIR TOOK 6 BUSINESS DAYS (8 CALENDAR DAYS) AND AGAIN NO ALTERNATE TRANSPORTATION WAS OFFERED OR PROVIDED. WWW.KIA-FORUMS.COM HAS INFORMATION FROM A KIA TECHNICIAN THAT THE CRANKSHAFT PROBLEM IS DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW THAT CANNOT BE FIXED BY REPLACING A BOLT EVERY 10,000 TO 20,000 MILES OR EACH FAILURE. NO OWNER SHOULD BE EXPECTED TO WAIT FOR ANOTHER FAILURE THAT DROPS THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE ENGINE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. I HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE THAT THE FAILURES HAVE BEEN OUT OF TRAFFIC AND NOT ON THE INTERSTATES. LIVING IN METRO ATLANTA, GA MEANS I A FAR GREATER CHANCE OF THE NEXT FAILURE CAUSING INJURY TO ME OR OTHERS. *TR