NHTSA Complaint #705252 — 1998 KIA SPORTAGE

I PURCHASED MY KIA SPORTAGE ON 7/14/98. ON 11/20/98, MY BATTERY WAS DEAD. I TOOK MY SPORTAGE TO THE DEALER FOR THE RECALL FOR THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT COUPLING AS SOON AS I RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE. MY BRAKES MADE A "SQUEALING" SOUND SINCE PURCHASE, BUT I WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THIS IS NORMAL FOR DISC BRAKES. THE BRAKE LIGHT BEGAN FLICKERING, THEN STAYING LIT SO I MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPT. BUT WAS UNABLE TO KEEP IT DUE TO ILLNESS. THE BRAKES NOW HAVE A "GRINDING" SOUND AND I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR SAFETY FACTOR. IN AUGUST OF 1998 I WAS STUCK IN TRAFFIC FOR OVER 2 HOURS DUE TO A BAD HIGHWAY ACCIDENT AND THE RADIATOR OVERHEATED SO I HAD TO TURN OFF, AND KEEP OFF, THE A/C. RECENTLY, THE ENGINE IS OVERHEATING AND FLUID DRAINS WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A LOT OF PROBLEMS FOR A NEW CAR LESS THAN 9 MONTHS "OLD". COULD THESE PROBLEMS BE DEFECTS? COULD THE BRAKE PROBLEM BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE RECALL PROBLEM? THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO REPORT MY PROBLEMS AND CONCERNS.