NHTSA Complaint #11122684 — 2011 KIA SORENTO

2011 KIA SORENTO - WHILE DRIVING, THE GEARS IN MY CAR STOPPED WORKING AND MADE A TERRIBLE LOUD NOISE. AFTER GETTING VEHICLE TOWED, PROBLEM WAS FOUND TO BE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT ON PASSENGER SIDE.BELOW IS THE DETAILED RECALL INFO-HOWEVER MY VIN DOES NOT SHOW THIS RECALL. BUT I THINK IT SHOULD. DESCRIPTION OF VEHICLES IS MINE. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO ME: SB082B - RECALL TO REPLACE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. RECALL: 11V258000 RECALL DATE 04/25/2011 COMPONENT POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT SUMMARY KIA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 SORENTO 2WD VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS AND 2.4L ENGINES MANUFACTURED FROM THE START OF PRODUCTION THROUGH MAY 22, 2010. THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT MAY SUFFER FROM NOISE AND EXCESSIVE WEAR DUE TO A MISALIGNMENT OF THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WITH THE RIGHT SIDE OUTPUT GEAR. CONTINUING TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE IN THIS CONDITION LEADS TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF A WHIRRING/WHINING NOISE AND CAN EVENTUALLY CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. CONSEQUENCE DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION MAY CAUSE LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. WHAT OWNERS SHOULD DO DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE RIGHT SIDE OUTPUT GEAR AND INTERMEDIATE SHAFT FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MAY 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542. **I SUBMITTED A CASE TO KIA #12833214, AFTER 10 DAYS I DIDN'T GET A REPLY SO I CALLED THEM. I SPOKE TO HALEY AND SHE ADVISED MY CAR WAS NOT MANUFACTURED IN A LOCATION THAT HAD THIS ISSUE. I THINK KIA GOT THIS WRONG. MY CAR OBVIOUSLY HAD THE EXACT PROBLEM THEY ARE STATING AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY KIA FREE OF CHARGE. INSTEAD, I HAD TO PAY $635 TO REPLACE THE EXACT PART THIS RECALL WAS ON. KIA HAS REFUSED TO REIMBURSE ME. WHEN I ASKED WHO I COULD COMPLAIN TO, THEY SAID THERE IS NO ONE. SO I AM REACHING OUT TO YOU.... THANKS, EVONNE (KIA OWNER SINCE JUN 2010)