NHTSA Complaint #10414046 — 2007 KIA SORENTO

MY 2007 KIA SORENTO WAS INVOLVED IN TWO ACCIDENTS IN 2009-10. BOTH WERE AS A RESULT OF A FAULTY 4-WHEEL DRIVE MECHANISM. WHEN WE PURCHASED THE CAR IN 2007, WE REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT WHEN THE CAR WAS IN 4-WHEEL DRIVE AND STOPPED TO TURN, IT MADE A JERKING MOVEMENT THAT WAS DANGEROUS. WE WERE TOLD IT OPERATED AS DESIGNED. ON FEBRUARY 21, 2010, I WAS TURNING INTO MY GARAGE IN CENTRAL OREGON ON ICE, THE CAR WAS IN 4-WHEEL DRIVE AND IT MADE A SERIES OF LURCHING MOVEMENTS WHICH CAUSED THE CAR TO SLIDE INTO THE GARAGE WALL. I STILL HAVE THE DENT IN THE PASSENGER DOOR FROM THAT INCIDENT. ON OCTOBER 27, 2009 ON MY WAY TO WORK, I NOTICED THE TEMPERATURE WAS 31 DEGREES, AND PUT MY ("ON THE FLY" 4-WHEEL DRIVE) CAR INTO 4-WHEEL DRIVE. I IMMEDIATELY WENT INTO A 360 SPIN ON A HIGHWAY. I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MILES AN HOUR. ALL FOUR TIRES WERE FLAT WHEN I LANDED IN THE DIRT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THIS CAR ISN'T AN "ON THE FLY" 4-WHEEL DRIVE EVEN THOUGH THE MANUAL SAYS IT IS. I REPORTED BOTH OF THESE ACCIDENTS TO KIA SAFETY HEADQUARTERS. THEY TELL ME THE CAR OPERATES AS DESIGNED, AND THEREFORE ARE NOT CONCERNED. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT SOMEONE WILL DIE IN ONE OF THESE 2007 KIA'S WHEN USING 4-WHEEL DRIVE. I KNOW THAT KIA REDESIGNED THE SORENTO IN 2008 TO BE ALL WHEEL, AND IT DOESN'T HAVE THIS DESIGN DEFECT . HOWEVER, WHAT ABOUT ALL OF US WHO DRIVE IN COLD, ICY WEATHER MANY DAYS OF THE YEAR AND NEED OUR 4-WHEEL DRIVE? DO WE JUST HOPE THE JERKING MOTION WHEN WE ARE STOPPED AND TURNING WILL NOT CAUSE US TO SLIDE INTO SOMETHING? DO WE STOP EVERY TIME WE NEED TO PUT OUR "ON THE FLY" FOUR WHEEL DRIVE IN PLAY? KIA NEEDS TO FIX OUR CARS SO THEY ARE SAFE FOR THE ENTIRE 100,000 MILE WARRANTY PERIOD! *KB