NHTSA Complaint #10891523 — 2004 KIA SORENTO

RUSTED BRACKETS POSING A DANGEROUS SAFETY RISK, 2004 KIA SORENTO WITH 162,000 MILES. THE ENTIRE BRACKET HOLDING THE DIFFERENTIAL RUSTED THROUGH. THE FRAME REAR CROSS MEMBER ALSO RUSTED THROUGH CAUSING THE CONTROL ARMS IS DETACHED FROM THE REAR END ALSO CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD. THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW THAT ALLOWS WATER TO STAY INSIDE THE HOLLOW CROSS MEMBER THAT CAUSED THE CORROSION. DRAIN OR WEEP HOLES IN THE CROSS MEMBER AND AN ANTI-CORROSION COATING WOULD HAVE PREVENTED THIS. WHEN THE BRACKET(S) BREAKS THE REAR AXLE IS NO LONGER HELD IN PLACE THERE ARE REPORTS ON NHTSA WHERE THESE BRACKETS HAVE ROTTED AWAY AND FAILED CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A KNOWN DESIGN FLAW THAT HAS BEEN APPEARING ON THE OLDER CARS WHERE THE ENTIRE FRAME AND REAR END WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THERE WILL EVENTUALLY BE MORE OF THESE FAILURES AND THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR FATAL ACCIDENTS FROM LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. I AM AWARE THAT IN EUROPE KIA HAS BEEN REPAIRING SORENTOS.