NHTSA Complaint #10488797 — 2003 KIA SORENTO

WE HAVE A 2003 KIA SORENTO, AND SINCE NOVEMBER WHILE PUMPING GAS, FUEL SUDDENLY SPEWS OUT -- LIKE A SODA CAN THAT HAD BEEN SHAKEN. ONLINE WE CAN FIND OTHER 2003 KIA SORENTOS ALSO COMPLAINING ABOUT WHAT'S KNOWN AS FUEL SPIT-BACK. . THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION INVESTIGATED OVER 100 COMPLAINTS OF SPIT-BACK ON 2003 KIA SORENTOS. COMPLAINTS ALLEGE THAT WHILE REFUELING THE VEHICLE, FUEL CAN SPILL OUT OR SPIT BACK FROM THE FUEL FILLER PORT ON MODEL YEAR (MY) 2003 KIA SORENTO VEHICLES. CONSUMERS REPORT THAT THE SPILLED FUEL CAN SPLASH ON THE PERSON FUELING THE VEHICLE, OR ON THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND THE GROUND. JUST LIKE OURS. THEN IN JANUARY 2012, KIA'S TESTING FOUND THAT IF THE CANISTER FILTER BECOMES SIGNIFICANTLY CLOGGED, EXCESS PRESSURE CAN BUILD UP IN THE FUEL TANK AND CAUSE FUEL TO SPIT BACK FROM THE FILLER PORT DURING REFUELING. TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF FUEL SPIT BACK DURING REFUELING, KIA CONDUCTED A SERVICE CAMPAIGN OF APPROXIMATELY 86,000 MY 2003 AND 2004 KIA SORENTO VEHICLES. THE CAMPAIGN WILL PROVIDE A ONE-TIME REPLACEMENT OF THE CANISTER FILTER, AT NO COST TO THE OWNER -- THIS WAS DONE ON OUR CAR ON MARCH 6, 2012. BEFORE THIS SERVICE, THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH FUEL SPIT-BACK, NOW IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME WE FUEL UP. THE DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE US TO FIX IT, THE COMPANY IS OF NO HELP YOUR AGENCY CLOSED ITS INVESTIGATION, BUT IT SEEMS YOU MUST REOPEN IT. AGAIN, WE DID NOT HAVE THE FUEL SPIT-BACK PROBLEM UNTIL AFTER THE SERVICE!!!!!!!!!!! *TR