NHTSA Complaint #10706415 — 2008 KIA SORENTO

WE HEARD GRINDING NOISES WHEN DRIVING OUR 2008 KIA SORENTO. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN PULLING, JERKING, AND LUNGING. WE NOTICED NICKEL-SIZE CHIPPED PIECES OF METAL IN THE DRIVE THAT HAD FALLEN FROM UNDERNEATH THE CAR. WE TOWED THE CAR TO OUR LOCAL AUTO REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE RIGHT WHEEL BEARING HAD DISINTEGRATED; THE ROTOR AND HUB TO RIDE INTO THE CALIPER AND SEIZE--THE WHEEL WAS WITHIN SECONDS OF FLYING OFF THE AXLE. THEY HAD DIFFICULTY FINDING PARTS BECAUSE THIS SEEMED TO HAVE BEEN A COMMON PROBLEM WITH KIA SORENTOS. I CONTACTED THE NEWLY OPENED KIA DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE RECENT CAR REPAIR AND THAT AFTER HEARING OF THE DIFFICULTY IN FINDING PARTS AND BEING TOLD THAT THIS HAS BEEN A COMMON PROBLEM, I WAS EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THIS REPAIR. I WAS TOLD THAT THE ENTIRE REPAIR IS COVERED UNDER THE 100,000 MILE WARRANTY (MILEAGE ON THE KIA WAS 90,317). I WAS DIRECTED TO KIA OF AMERICA (1-800-333-4542) TO SUBMIT A REIMBURSEMENT REQUEST FOR THE REPAIR. MY CLAIM WAS DENIED SIMPLY BECAUSE WE HAD NOT TAKEN THE CAR TO A KIA DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. I ASKED FOR AN APPEAL AND WAS DIRECTED TO THE REGIONAL OFFICE. THE KIA REPRESENTATIVE MISTAKENLY STATED THAT WE HAD SAID WE KNOWINGLY WERE AWARE THAT THE CAR WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BUT WE TOOK THE CAR ELSEWHERE. I STATED THIS WAS INCORRECT--THAT WE HAD NO IDEA WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS AND THAT WE TOOK IT TO THE SAME PLACE WE ALWAYS GO. I ASSURED KIA OF AMERICA, IF WE HAD KNOWN THAT THE REPAIR WAS COVERED BY A WARRANTY, WE WOULD HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE NEWLY OPENED KIA DEALERSHIP. BOTTOM LINE: KIA OF AMERICA DOES NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR WARRANTY. OUR MAJOR CONCERN IS WITH THE SAFETY OF OUR FAMILY AND DRIVING A WELL-MAINTENANCED CAR. OUR REQUEST IS THAT KIA OF AMERICA HONOR THE WARRANTY. PLEASE INVESTIGATE WHY A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED ON THIS CONCERN. *TR