NHTSA Complaint #10894683 — 2011 KIA SORENTO

IN AUGUST 2010 THERE WAS A RECALL TO REROUTE THE WIRING HARNESS FOR THE STARTER AND WAS SUPPOSEDLY CORRECTED. THREE WEEKS AGO I WAS COMING DOWN A MOUNTAIN IN THE VEHICLE (2011 KIA SORENTO) AND I NOTICED A LITTLE HESITATION. WHEN I STOPPED THE VEHICLE, IT WOULD NOT START AGAIN. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE LOCAL KIA DEALER AND THEY ADVISED THAT THE FUSE PANEL HAD BEEN SHORTED OUT AND WAS DEFECTIVE. THEY SAID THAT KIA WOULD PROVIDE THE FUSE PANEL IF I WOULD PAY THE COST OF THE LABOR. I RELUCTANTLY AGREED. WHEN I PICKED UP THE VEHICLE, THEY STATED THEY HAD TO PUT A "SALVAGED STARTER" ON THE VEHICLE TO GET IT TO START. I AGAIN RELUCTANTLY AGREED BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE MONEY FOR A NEW STARTER($500). WHEN I CHECKED MY PAST REPAIR TICKET I NOTICED THAT KIA AND THE DEALER SUPPOSEDLY REROUTED THE STARTER WIRING HARNESS ON A RECALL. AFTER CHECKING WITH OTHER TECHNICIANS, THEY ADVISED THAT IF THE WIRING HARNESS WAS NOT INSTALLED CORRECTLY, IT COULD HAVE SHORTED OUT THE STARTER AND FUSE PANEL AND POSSIBLY COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO SUDDENLY LOOSE POWER EVEN WHILE DRIVING. I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE NOW; FEARFUL THAT IT WILL LOOSE POWER WHILE IN OPERATION CAUSING AN ACCIDENT AND POSSIBLY LOSS OF LIFE.