NHTSA Complaint #10296669 — 2003 KIA SORENTO

I PURCHASED MY 03 KIA SORENTO IN 2004 AND HAVE HAD MANY ISSUES SINCE THEN. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE LIGHTS FROM THE FRONT TO THE BACK NUMEROUS TIMES. I'VE BEEN DRIVING DOWN OUR REMOTE COUNTRY ROAD AT NIGHT AND HAD MY HEADLIGHTS GO OUT. MY COOLANT TANK CRACKED AND LEFT ME STRANDED ON ANOTHER COUNTRY ROAD IN THE SNOW LAST YEAR. I LATER FOUND OUT IT WAS RECALLED FOR THAT PARTICULAR DEFECT; AFTER I HAD IT REPLACED. THE LIGHTING ISSUE IS MY BIGGEST CONCERN RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF WHERE I LIVE (REMOTE COUNTRY ROADS, DEER AT NIGHT, ETC) I HAVE TO HAVE PROPERLY FUNCTIONING HEADLIGHTS AT ALL TIMES. NOW, I AM HAVING PROBLEMS CONCERNING THE BEARINGS ON IT. IT MAKES A HORRIBLE SCREECHING NOISE THAT IS NOW; ALMOST CONTINUOUS. IT DOESN'T MATTER THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE, DRIVING CONDITIONS, ETC. IT HAS BECOME HARDER TO STEER AND THE POWER STEERING FLUID IS FINE. I DON'T FEEL SAFE IN THIS VEHICLE ANYMORE, AND I CANNOT AFFORD TO JUST GO OUT AND BUY SOMETHING NEW. I JUST ASK THAT IF FAULT LIES WITH KIA; THEN THEY SHOULD FIX IT AT THEIR EXPENSE....NOT MINE! I HAVE INVESTED WAY TOO MUCH TIME, MONEY AND PATIENCE THUS FAR AND FEEL IT'S KIA'S RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THEY CREATE A VEHICLE THAT FUNCTIONS PROPERLY. AND WHEN THEY DON'T...FIX IT!!! AS FOR THE QUESTIONS BELOW; WAS THERE A FIRE?...NOT YET!!! WAS THERE PROPERTY DAMAGE?....THERE PROBABLY WILL BE WHEN MY BEARINGS GO OUT AND THE WHEELS FALL OFF! WHERE THERE ANY DEATHS OR INJURIES?....DEAR LORD, I PRAY EVERY TIME I GET IN MY TRUCK THAT NOTHING LIKE THAT EVER HAPPENS TO ME OR MY SON....BUT; WITH AN UNRELIABLE VEHICLE THAT HAS CONSTANT ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL PROBLEM; THEN WHO KNOWS.... *TR