NHTSA Complaint #10759940 — 2006 KIA SORENTO

WHILE DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY, BOTH THE BREAK LIGHT AND BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AND LOST POWER STEERING. WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO A SAFE LOCATION. WHEN AT FIRST GLANCE IT APPEARED THAT THE MAIN BELT HAS SLIPPED OFF THE PULLEY. WHEN TOWED TO A SERVICE STATION FOR ASSESSMENT AND REPAIR, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE HARMONIC BALANCER BOLT HAD BROKEN OFF IN THE CRANKSHAFT. WE ARE STILL IN PROCESS OF TRYING TO FIND OUT OF THE REMAINING PART OF THE BOLT CAN BE REMOVED OR IF THE ENTIRE ENGINE WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE BOLT IS NOT CONSIDERED A 'WORKING PART' OF THE ENGINE AND EXTENDED WARRANTY REFUSES TO COVER THE REPAIRS. THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM IS IN THE ROLL PIN INSIDE THE CASING THAT WEARS DOWN AND THE BOLT CAN NOT SUPPORT THE STRESS. KIA HAS HAD A RECALL ON MODEL YEARS 2003 AND 2004 BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUES FOR 2005 AND 2006 YEARS AND RESEARCH IS SHOWING THAT KIA IS NOT COVERING THE PROBLEM FOR 2005 OR 2006