NHTSA Complaint #10452535 — 2002 KIA SPORTAGE

MY 2002 KIA SPORTAGE HAS 112,000 MILES ON IT. AFTER HEARING A CLANKING NOISE FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE I BROUGHT IT TO MY LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP. THE REAR FRAME HAS RUSTED OUT AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. UPON CALLING KIA HEADQUARTERS @800-333-4542 AND SPEAKING WITH RICHARD I WAS TOLD THAT "THERE IS NOTHING KIA CAN DO TO HELP. THE VEHICLE'S WARRANTY ON THE FRAME IS 5 YEARS OR 60,000 MILES." I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT I COULD HAVE IT REPAIRED AT A BODY SHOP BUT THE COST WOULD BE VERY HIGH AND WOULD NOT BE WORTH IT. THEY WOULD NOT CONSIDER BUYING IT BACK FROM ME EITHER. THEY COULD CALL A SALVAGE YARD AND GET "A COUPLE OF HUNDRED DOLLARS" FOR ME. I PAID $17,000.00 FOR THIS VEHICLE NEW IN JANUARY 2003. WHO EXPECTS THE FRAME TO BE SHOT AFTER 9 YEARS?? I HAVE LOOKED ON-LINE AND SEE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH KIA SPORTAGES. WHY WAS THERE NEVER A RECALL? HAD THERE NOT BEEN A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED TO ME OR SOMEONE ELSE ON THE ROAD HAD THE FRAME COMPLETELY LET GO WHILE I WAS DRIVING. *JS