NHTSA Complaint #10735597 — 2003 KIA SORENTO

THE BOLT HOLDING THE HARMONIC BALANCER PULLEY TO THE CRANKSHAFT FELL OUT AND ALL THE ENGINE BELTS AND PULLEYS STOPPED TURNING RESULTING IN A LOSS OF POWER STEERING, AND MAKING THE VEHICLE VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. THIS HAPPENED AT A LOW SPEED AND THE DRIVER WAS BARELY ABLE TO TURN OFF THE ROAD WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT. AT A HIGHER SPEED, IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, OR ON MOUNTAIN ROADS, THE RESULT WOULD LIKELY HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A KIA DEALER AND REPAIRED FOR APPROXIMATELY $1,500.00, REPLACING THE FAILED PARTS WITH NEW PARTS AND WITH A WARRANTY OF 12 MONTHS/10 THOUSAND MILES. PREVIOUSLY, AT 70 THOUSAND MILES AS PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE, THE TIMING BELT WAS REPLACED BY A KIA DEALER. KIA MOTORS, HAVING KNOWN OF MANY FAILURES OF THE BOLT, SPROCKET, AND PULLEY, SHOULD HAVE UPGRADED THESE PARTS YEARS AGO AND ISSUED A RECALL OR AT LEAST A SERVICE BULLETIN TO AVOID SUCH DANGEROUS FAILURES. AFTER OUR EXPERIENCE, WE DID NOT TRUST THIS CAR AND TRADED IT IN FOR A NEW CAR FROM HOPEFULLY A MORE RESPONSIBLE MANUFACTURER.