NHTSA Complaint #10371202 — 2005 KIA SORENTO

DECEMBER 18, 2010 KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC. DEAR KIA THIS LETTER IS TO COMPLAIN ABOUT AN INTERNET POSTED AND KNOWN DEFECT IN YOUR 2005 KIA SORENTO. I RECENTLY BROKE DOWN BECAUSE 'THE CRANKSHAFT BOLT BROKE OFF INSIDE THE ENGINE'. IT COST ME $85.00 TO GET IT TOWED AND NOW WILL RUN AN ADDITIONAL $1,200+/- TO REPAIR IT. FROM WHAT I'M READING ON THE INTERNET WHEN THE PROBLEM IS FIXED THERE IS NO WAY OF GUARANTEEING IT WON'T HAPPEN REPEATEDLY. THROUGH NO FAULT OF SORENTO OWNERS AS TOLD BY YOUR SERVICE MECHANIC (SCOTT) OF KIA OF DUTCHESS COUNTY (NY). 'JUST A BAD PART'. APPARENTLY, THIS BOLT SHEARS OFF AND FALLS INSIDE THE ENGINE CAUSING ADDITIONAL DAMAGE. YOUR FIX SUPPOSEDLY, IS TO TORQUE THE BOLT PROPERLY, WELL THAT BOLT IS FACTORY TORQUED! I HAVE NO COMPLAINTS WITH SCOTT AS HE IS COURTEOUS AND TRYING TO FIX IT. THE ISSUE IS THAT THIS VERY COSTLY FACTORY DEFECT IN EITHER THE BOLT OR THE ENGINEERING OF THE BOLT SPECIFICATIONS IS AND SHOULD BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF KIA MOTORS.' AS AN OWNER, I AM DISAPPOINTED THAT YOU HAVE TURNED AWAY FROM YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ADDRESS THE FACTORY PROBLEMS AS THEY ARE NOTED THROUGH USE OF YOUR VEHICLES. ADDITIONALLY, WHEN THE BOLT BREAKS, AND I HAVE FIRSTHAND KNOWLEDGE, THE BRAKE AND BATTERY LIGHTS APPEAR ON THE DASHBOARD AND LOSS OF POWER STEERING OCCURS. THE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING ALMOST CAUSED ME TO VEER INTO A CURB ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BUT COULD HAVE BEEN A LOT WORSE. I HAVE ADDED (BELOW) SOME OF THE MANY INTERNET POSTED COMPLAINTS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME NIGHTMARE. AND EVEN AFTER IT'S FIXED THERE IS NO GUARANTEE IT WON'T CONTINUE TO HAPPEN. HOW ABOUT SOME GOOD OLD FASHIONED OWNING UP TO THE RESPONSIBILITY OF PROVIDING SAFE AND RELIABLE CARS FOR PEOPLE WHO PAY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO PURCHASE ONE OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE THINGS WE WILL EVER OWN!!! NEEDLESS TO SAY, I AM QUITE FRUSTRATED AND WHEN I PICK UP THE CAR TOTALLY OUT OF MONEY. *TR