NHTSA Complaint #10235319 — 2007 KIA SORENTO

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA SORENTO. THREE DAYS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED, WHICH INDICATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WAS DEACTIVATED. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 40-45 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND JERKED. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN OR A RED LIGHT, THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT HAS HAD TO STRIKE THE DASHBOARD IN ORDER TO GET THE AIR CONDITIONING TO WORK. IN ADDITION, NONE OF THE WINDOWS WILL ROLL DOWN. THE BLINKERS, TURN SIGNAL, AND CRUISE CONTROL DO NOT WORK. AFTER OWNING THE VEHICLE FOR TEN MONTHS, THE ALTERNATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED AND IT CURRENTLY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THE RAILS TO STEP UP INTO THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE. DURING A CRASH WITH A DEER, BOTH THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOYED AND THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT WORK. AS A RESULT, THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED A BROKEN ARM. ON TWO OCCASIONS, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIRES NEEDED TO BE ROTATED AND ALIGNED. ON THE THIRD OCCASION, SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. SINCE OWNING THE VEHICLE, SHE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES WITH MANY COMPLAINTS, BUT THEY HAVE NEVER MADE ANY REPAIRS. A HYUNDAI INSPECTOR STATED THAT THE ENTIRE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF SPECIFICATIONS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 600. UPDATED 09/23/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER HIT A DEER AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT PERFORM AS THEY WERE DESIGNED. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD DELAY IN SHIFTING AND WOULD NOT SHIFT IN THE CORRECT GEAR. UPDATED 09/24/08. *JB