NHTSA Complaint #10343006 — 2002 KIA SPORTAGE

OUR 2002 KIA SPORTAGE WAS DUE FOR A NEW TIMING BELT SO WE HAD IT REPLACED, SUBSEQUENTLY A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER WE RECEIVED NOTIFICATION THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE FAN BLADE AND HAD IT REPLACED. APPROXIMATELY 5 WEEKS LATER THE FAN BLADE CAME OFF AND WENT THROUGH THE RADIATOR AND THE ENGINE SEIZED UP, SO WE HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEIR ASSESSMENT WAS THAT IT WASN'T THEIR FAULT BUT THAT THE FAN CLUTCH LET GO, WHICH IS ATTACHED TO THE FAN BLADE, AND THEY CLAIMED THAT THEY HADN'T TOUCHED THE FAN CLUTCH WHEN THEY REPLACED THE BLADE. AFTER TALKING TO THE SERVICE PERSONNEL AND ASKING ABOUT THE PROCEDURE TO REPLACE THE BLADE I WAS FINALLY TOLD, "IT WAS DONE BY MAGIC". CONTACTED THE KIA REPRESENTATIVE WHO SAID HE'D LOOK INTO IT, BUT TO DATE HAVE NEVER HEARD FROM HIM, ONLY THE DEALERSHIP WHO WANTED ME TO GET THE CAR OFF THEIR LOT. THEY WERE WILLING TO REPLACE THE ENGINE FOR $3000, BUT FORTUNATELY I HAD ACCESS TO RESOURCES AND GOT IT DONE FOR HALF THE PRICE. WOULDN'T DO BUSINESS WITH THIS DEALER AGAIN AFTER BEING TREATED THIS WAY, AND TO THINK WE'D PURCHASED 4 VEHICLES FROM THEM. *TR