2004 Kia Sorento

MY SISTER PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW AND HAS HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH IT AND PROBLEMS WITH DEALERSHIP/KIA HONORING THEIR 10 YEAR/100,000 MILE WARRANTY. SHE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE BELIEVING SHE WOULD BE DRIVING A QUALITY VEHICLE (ADVERTISING 10 YEAR/100,000 MILE WARRANTY SHE ASSUMED IT MUST BE OF HIGH QUALITY BECAUSE WHO WOULD OFFER THAT KIND OF WARRANTY IF IT WAS JUNK....WRONG!) SHE HAS HAD NOTHING BUT STRESS, FINANCIAL EXPENSE, LOST WORK TIME, AND A BATTLE OF HER LIFE TRYING TO SEEK CONSUMER JUSTICE...DEALERSHIP, KIA MOTORS, LEMON LAW REQUIRES A PART TO FAIL FOUR TIMES, ATTORNEY GENERALS OFFICE, CONCILIATION COURT, WRITING TO RUUKIVINA, OBERSTAR, AND MOST RECENTLY AMY KLOBUCHAR...ALL FAILED. NO ONE HAS SAID THAT THEY WILL INVESTIGATE KIA AND PROTECT THE CONSUMERS FROM THIS FRAUDULENT AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURER. WHY? THE PROBLEMS SHE HAS HAD WITH HER VEHICLE CONSIST OF RUST ON THE TAILGATE AND REAR DOORS JUST A FEW MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING, ALL KINDS OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS FROM HEADLIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS BURNING OUT NUMEROUS TIMES, THE DIGITAL DASH FOR RADIO AND HEATER GOING BLACK, THE HEATER NOT WORK, A RELAY SWITCH FOR FAN FAILED, FOAM BETWEEN WINDSHIELD AND FRAME COMING OUT TAPPING ON THE WINDOW, A PROBLEM WITH THE COOLANT RESERVOIR, THE REAR DRIVESHAFT FAILED, THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED AND MOST RECENTLY THE TRANSFER CASE. SAFETY ISSUES AND CONCERNS WOULD BE WITH TAIL LIGHTS AND HEADLIGHTS BURNING OUT PREMATURELY AND FREQUENTLY AND THE CRANKSHAFT BOLT BROKE CAUSING TO LOOSE ALL ABILITY TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THERE ARE PROBABLY OTHER PROBLEMS SHE HAS HAD WITH THE VEHICLE BUT I DO NOT RECALL AT THIS TIME. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SORENTO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT ANTIFREEZE WAS LEAKING FROM THE TANK ASSEMBLY RESERVOIR. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE TANK ASSEMBLY. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 77,600. UPDATED 09/15/08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE COOLANT STORAGE TANK WAS MADE OUT OF PLASTIC. UPDATED 09/17/08. *JB

I PURCHASED A 2004 KIA SORENTO IN JULY 2004, HAD A FEW PROBLEMS SUCH AS BRAKES WEARING OUT TOO SOON AND THINGS LIKE THAT BUT THE DEALERSHIP WAS GREAT TO MAKE THE REPAIRS AT NO COST. ON MAY 13, 2008 WHILE SITTING OUT A STOP SIGN IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD THE ENGINE BEGAN MAKING A VERY LOUD BANGING NOISE AND THEN STALLED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND MY IMMEDIATE FEAR WAS THE ENGINE HAD BLOWN. I KNEW THE OIL AND PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE SERVICE WORK HAD JUST PERFORMED AND NOW THE SERENTO HAD 61K MILES ON IT. I HAD A WRECKER TRUCK TOW THE SERENTO TO THE BAYWAY KIA DEALERSHIP (HOUSTON) WHICH IS WHERE I HAD SERVICE WORK DONE BEFORE. THE NICE SERVICE MANAGER NAMED "JOE' HAD THE ENGINE INSPECTED AND FOUND THE ENGINE FAILED BECAUSE OF A ITEM FALLING OFF THE FUEL INJECTOR INTO A CYLINDER, THUS BLOWING THE ENGINE. "JOE" ADVISED THE ENGINE REPAIR (REPLACEMENT) WOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE OF A KNOWN DEFECT. NOW IT HAS BEEN 3 MONTHS, STILL NO REPAIR, BAYWAY KIA IS NOW OWNED BY A DIFFERENT COMPANY, THUS "JOE" IS NO LONGER THERE, AND THE KIA DEALERSHIP KEEP STALLING ON THE REPAIR. THEY ONLY HAVE ONE CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO HAS BEEN SNOWED UNDER WITH WORK. THIS ENTIRE WEEK THE CERTIFIED MECHANIC IS ON VACATION AND TWENTY-FIVE (25) CARS IN THE REPAIR SHOP WAITING ON HIM... HUMMM.... THEY BASICALLY REFUSED TO ALLOW ME TAKING IT TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE ENGINE TAKEN APART AND ORDERED THE REPLACEMENT PARTS. WHAT GOOD IS A 100K WARRANTY IF THEY KEEP THE VEHICLE FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS, WHILE I STILL PAY THE FINANCE COMPANY? *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY DIAGNOSED THAT THE RADIATOR WATER OVERFLOW CONTAINER CRACKED. AS A RESULT, FLUID LEAKED AND OVERHEATED THE ENGINE, WHICH CAUSED IT TO FAIL. THE ENGINE WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $11,000. THE VEHICLE HAS OVER 60,000 MILES; THEREFORE, THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT ASSIST. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 62,000.

I HAVE A 2004 MAGENTIS WHICH I HEARD IS LIKE THE SERENTO. THE TIMING BELT JUMPED AND THIS TOOK OUT THE MOTOR. UP TO THIS I LOVED MY CAR. KIA SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO BUT REPLACE THE ENGINE AT MY COST AND I WOULD NOT GET IT BACK UNTIL IT WAS PAID FOR. WELL BEING A SINGLE MOTHER OF 4, STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON THE CAR FOR ANOTHER 4 MORE YEARS. NEEDLESS TO SAY I HAVE A CAR WITH NO MOTOR AND MAKING PAYMENTS. *TR

2004 KIA SORENTO LEAK IN A/C COOLANT BOTTLE. MY CAR WAS IN FOR A PRESSURE TEST THREE WEEKS BEFORE THIS AND IT PAST JUST FINE WITHOUT ANY LEAKS OR CRACKS. ON THE FREEWAY, OVER HEATS, PULL OVER, ALL THE FLUID LEAKS OUT, ENGINE IS DEAD AND MUST BE REPLACED. JUST HIT 61,000 MILES. KIA DOES NOT OFFER 100,000 MILE COVERAGE UNLESS YOU ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNER. I AM THE SECOND OWNER AND HAVE HAD THE CAR THREE MONTHS. $5000. LATER I HAVE MY CAR BACK. KIA WILL NOT HONOR TO DO THE WORK BECAUSE THEY SAY IT WAS A LONG TERM LEAK. WELL, BEFORE I PURCHASED THE CAR, KIA DID ALL THE MAINTENANCE ON THIS CAR FOR FOUR YEARS..... IF IT WAS A LONG TERM LEAK, SHOULDN'T THEY HAVE CAUGHT IT? THEY SAY NO. I ALSO PURCHASED AN EXTENDED 80,000/3 YEAR WARRANTY WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR, THEY ALSO DECLINED MY CAR COVERAGE BECAUSE THEY COVER NOTHING DUE TO ANY OVERHEATING. THIS IS REALLY JUST A COMPLETE JOKE. I DID NOTHING WRONG. KIA SERVICED THE CAR FOR FOUR YEARS. I HAD THE CAR IN THREE WEEKS BEFORE IT BLEW UP AND IT WAS TESTED AND FILLED WITH FLUIDS. WHY DOES THIS NOT MAKE ANY SENSE??? *TR

I HAVE A 2004 KIA SORRENTO WHICH I PURCHASED NEW. IT CURRENTLY HAD 64,000 MILE AND I HAVE KEPT UP WITH ALL MAINTENANCE ITEMS AND HAVE HAD THEM PERFORMED BY KIA SERVICE IN THE DEALERSHIP. WHILE I HAVE HAD SOME MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR (BAD LIFTERS, VALVES, RADIATOR LEAKS, ETC), MY MAIN ISSUE IS THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. TO DATE, I HAVE REPLACED VARIOUS BRAKE LIGHT BULBS, HEADLIGHT BULBS, DOME LIGHT BULB AND MY RADIO UNEXPLAINABLE TURNS ON/OFF. WHILE I HAVE DEALT WITH THESE ISSUES AS THEY ARISE, MY CAR HAS NOW TURNED OF WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD TWICE. ON BOTH OCCASIONS, ALL OF THE CAR LIGHTS, DISPLAYS, ETC, TURN OFF COMPLETELY AND THE CAR SIMPLY COASTS WHILE OFF. ONE OF THE OCCURRENCES I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE GOING 65 MPH, AND THE CAR SHUT DOWN. BOTH TIMES I PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WHEN I TURNED THE KEY, IT STARTED AGAIN. MY OBVIOUS CONCERN IS THAT OF SAFETY AS IT RELATES TO THE VARIOUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS (WHICH ARE NO LONGER COVERED UNDER WARRANTY) WHICH THIS CAR HAS HAD. WHILE I CANNOT SPEAK FOR OTHER KIA OWNERS, THERE ARE A HOST OF FORUMS WHICH RELATE TO SIMILAR ISSUES. ADDITIONALLY, THE DEALERSHIPS THEMSELVES ARE AWARE OF THE ELECTRICAL ISSUES, AS NOTED TO ME PERSONALLY BY ONE OF THE TECHNICIANS. I AM REQUESTING FOR KIA TO PROVIDE THE LEVEL OF CUSTOMER SERVICE WHICH WE (AS KIA OWNERS) HAVE EXPECTED. THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS ARE WELL DOCUMENTED AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. FURTHERMORE, I AM LOOKING FOR ASSISTANCE IN MY PERSONAL SITUATION NOW THAT MY CAR IS ONLY 4,000 OUT OF WARRANTY AND HAS THE ELECTRICAL ISSUES AND MORE IMPORTANTLY THE HAZARDOUS PROBLEM OF SHUTTING DOWN. I AM MORE THAT HAPPY TO PROVIDE ANY RECORDS WHICH WILL DOCUMENT THE PROBLEMS DETAILED ABOVE. ALSO, I AM AVAILABLE ANYTIME TO DISCUSS FURTHER IF NEEDED. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR CUSTOMER SERVICE. *TR

I WAS TOLD BY THE FLORIDA STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE THIS IS THE SITE TO ENTER INFORMATION FOR A POSSIBLE PRODUCT RECALL. THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. THE RADIATOR RESERVOIR ON KIA SORRENTO'S START LEAKING FOR NO APPARENT REASON. IF THE CONSUMER DOES NOT NOTICE IT THEN THE ENGINE WILL OVERHEAT AND STOP WORKING. ALTHOUGH THE ENGINES ARE WARRANTED FOR 10 YRS OR 100,000 MILES I SEE POTENTIAL FOR MANY CONSUMERS LOSING THEIR ENGINES AND THE RESPONSE FROM KIA BE THAT THE CUSTOMER LET THE ENGINE OVERHEAT. IT IS NOT EASY TO REALIZE THAT THE CAR IS OVERHEATING. RATHER THAN A FLASHING LIGHT THE TEMPERATURE INDICATOR IS A GAUGE. YOU HAVE TO ACTUALLY NOTICE THAT THE NEEDLE HAS MOVED. IT SEEMS A SHAME THAT SO MANY PEOPLE MAY LOSE THEIR ENGINES BECAUSE OF WHAT AMOUNT TO A PLASTIC PART THAT JUST STARTS LEAKING. I BELIEVE THE REPLACEMENT RADIATOR RESERVOIR IS A REDESIGNED PART AND I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT THE ORIGINAL PART IS DEFECTIVE SHOULD BE RECALLED. I OWN A KIA, THIS DID NOT HAPPEN TO ME. I WAS LUCK ENOUGH TO NOTICE THAT THE RADIATOR RESERVOIR WAS LEAKING. MY SORRENTO IS A 2004 BUT I BELIEVE OTHER SORRENTOS AROUND THAT YEAR USE THE SAME DEFECTIVE PART. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SPUTTER AND HESITATE AND THEN IT COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DROVE TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE COOLANT COMPARTMENT HAD A LEAK AND WAS DRIPPING COOLANT INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, WHICH CAUSED IT TO HESITATE. SHE CALLED THE KIA CORPORATE OFFICE AND WAS INFORMED THAT HER VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THE REPAIR WOULD NOT BE FREE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 60,537.