NHTSA Complaint #10453918 — 2004 KIA SORENTO

SUMMARY: UPDATE TO BELOW PROBLEM I BOUGHT MY SORENTO IN 2004, NEW. I REPLACED THE COOLANT RESERVOIR AT 61000 MILES DUE TO OVERHEATING, REPLACED THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT BULBS ON 4 OCCASIONS, TAIL LIGHTS ON 2 OCCASIONS. MY VEHICLE, 5 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION, STARTED TO HAVE A ROARING NOISE APPROX. 6 MONTHS AGO AND THE U-JOINTS WERE REPLACED. IT STILL ROARS. IT QUIT RUNNING ON 2-16-12 WHILE I WAS DRIVING, BUT RESTARTED. IT FINALLY QUIT AGAIN AND WOULD NOT RESTART ON 2-17-12. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT INDICATE A FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR PROBLEM, BUT MECHANIC SAYS THIS SHOULD NOT CAUSE THE PROBLEM I PRESENTLY HAVE. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP SINCE 2-18-12. THE MECHANIC SAID IT STARTED FOR HIM. I INSISTED HE LET IT RUN FOR A WHILE AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS. SURE ENOUGH, IT QUIT. KIA MECHANIC TOLD ME IT MAY BE A CRANK OR CAM SENSOR ISSUE. OTHER PROBLEMS--FRONT DOME LIGHT OFF AND ON AT WILL, REAR ONE WORKS, CLOCK ON AND OFF AT WILL, VEHICLE HUMS LOUDLY WHEN DRIVING FOR A WHILE. IT HAS BEEN A RELIABLE VEHICLE FOR THE MOST PART, BUT WHEN THERE IS AN ISSUE, IT IS HARD TO DETECT. ABOVE WORK WAS COMPLETED AT A COST OF 1126,00. BUT NOW CRANKSHAFT BOLT BROKE WHILE DRIVING COSTING DAMAGE TO ENGINE HEADS. VEHICLE WENT BACK INTO SHOP AND IS STILL WAITING REPAIRS. KIA OWES IT CUSTOMERS BETTER SERVICE AND MUST PAY REPAIR COST AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FAULTY CRANKSHAFT BOLTS THEY PROVIDE TO THE MECHANICS . *TR