NHTSA Complaint #10504175 — 2005 KIA SORENTO

THE POWER STEERING ON OUR 2005 KIA SORENTO BEING DRIVEN BY MY 18 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER FAILED. IT WAS SO FORTUNATE THAT IT OCCURRED WHEN SHE WAS DECELERATING TO TURN A CORNER, HOWEVER IT WAS INCREDIBLY HARD TO STEER WITH THE LOSS OF POWER. SHE WAS LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO NAVIGATE OUT OF TRAFFIC SAFELY. HAD AAA TOW TO THE DEALER WHO HAD SOLD US THE CAR 2 MONTHS EARLIER. I HAD PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR JUST THIS PURPOSE...NEVER THINKING THAT I WOULD NEED TO USE IT SO SOON.. THE AAA DRIVER SAID IT LOOKED AS A BELT HAD COME OFF. WHEN AT THE DEALER, FOUND THAT THE CRANK PULLY BOLT HAD SHEARED OFF RESULTING IN NO POWER STEERING, AC OR CHARGING SYSTEM! BOLT HAD BROKEN OFF AND HARMONIC BALANCER HAD DROPPED OFF THE VEHICLE! AFTER SOME NET RESEARCH I FOUND A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN{ #072 REVISED} FOR THIS SAME CRANKSHAFT BOLT. KIA IS WELL AWARE OF THIS FAILING BOLT AND CONTINUES TO PUT PEOPLES LIVES AT RISK? THIS IS A HUGE DESIGN FLAW. *TR