NHTSA Complaint #10542432 — 2011 KIA SORENTO

FROM POINT OF PURCHASE (NOVEMBER 2010) THE VEHICLE ALWAYS HAD A HARD START, THE SEAT BELT WAS INCORRECTLY INSTALLED AND THE GAS LID FAILS TO OPEN WITHOUT MANUAL PRODDING. IN APRIL 2012 THE ENGINE FAILED TO START, AND THEN THIS CONTINUED TO HAPPEN MULTIPLE TIMES THEREAFTER. THE DEALERSHIP CHANGED THE BATTERY AND SERVICE THE VEHICLE. IN THE FOLLOWING MONTHS A SERIES OF ISSUES CONTINUED, WINDSHIELD WASHER PUMP STOPPED WORKING, FAILURE START, LOUD KNOCKING SOUND IN THE ENGINE WHILE IDLE AND DRIVING, AND THEN THE CAR STARTED TO STALL AND THRUST HARD FORWARD. THE CAR WAS SERVICED AGAIN, OIL CHANGED, THE CHANGED THE PUMP AND FILTERS, ALL REPORTED PROBLEMS PERSISTED THROUGH 2013. FOR THREE MONTHS THE CAR REMAINED IN THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE SHOP WHERE THE ENGINE WAS SERVICED, AND SOME ?TAPPETS? WERE REPLACED. THE DEALERSHIP CRACKED THE ENGINE COVER, REPLACED IT, WITHOUT INFORMING ME. ALL ENGINE, FAIL START, AND WINDSHIELD PUMP ISSUES CONTINUES TO PERSIST TO DATE (SEPTEMBER 2013) DESPITE MULTIPLE SERVICES.