NHTSA Complaint #10441707 — 2005 KIA SORENTO

BRACKETS THAT HOLD THE REAR END UPPER CONTROL ARMS ARE COMPLETELY RUSTED INTO TWO USELESS PIECES. ONLY THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND SIDE LINK OR CANARD IS HOLDING THE REAR END IN PLACE, ANY TORQUE APPLIED COULD POTENTIALLY TWIST THE REAR CAUSING CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE, OBVIOUSLY THE METAL IS BAD AND WITH NO WEEP HOLES SALT, WATER, ETC. HOLD IN BRACKET. I THOUGHT THE HANDLING FELT BAD, AND HEARD SLIGHT, EVER SO SLIGHT CLUNKING, WOULD NEVER HAVE SUSPECTED THIS UNTIL TOO LATE EXCEPT I WAS CHECKING BRAKE PADS AND NOTICED THE DISCONNECTED SUSPENSION, NOW MUST GRIND OFF OLD BRACKETS, FABRICATE NEW ONES AND WELD ON AFTER FREEING UP UPPER CONTROL ARM BOLTS, NOT YOUR NORMAL MECHANIC WORK ON A 6 YEAR OLD CAR,,[XXX],,I FEAR WHAT COULD HAPPEN TO THE UNSUSPECTING NORMAL PERSON,,STAY WELL CLEAR OF ANY SORENTO'S YOU SEE ON THE ROAD, AND BY ALL MEANS INFORM ANY OWNERS OF THESE TO CHECK THEIR UPPER CONTROL ARMS BRACKETS. THIS SHOULD BE A FACTORY RECALL. WHY SHOULD WE (I) HAVE TO REPAIR OR JUNK AN OTHERWISE GOOD CAR. P.S. ANY AND ALL GARAGES THAT INSPECT THIS CAR SHOULD BE FAILING THEM AND IF THERE NOT THEY AREN'T LOOKING AT THE SUSPENSION WELL ENOUGH, EVERY ONE I CHECKED, THREE SO FAR ARE IN VARIOUSLY ILL SHAPE, NOT COMPLETE FAILURE BUT SO CLOSE, TO CALL THEM UNSAFE AGAIN [XXX] METAL BRACKETS, OTHER PIECES OF METAL CLOSE BY LOOK BRAND NEW, THANKS, I FEEL BETTER NOW, TIME TO RECALL. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).*TR *KB UPDATED 06/13/13*LJ