Problems with 2003 Kia Sorento EQUIPMENT

I have a 2003 kia sorento..crankshaft pulley bolt broke, steering went out, belts and bolt fell off and air stopped working. this is the second time this has happened to me in the past 6 months. the result of this problems caused me to buy a new senor that was $400. after looking on the internet, it seems as though hundreds and maybe thousands of people are having a problem with this and it needs to be recalled. i was on a major highway when my steering went out and i could barely turn the car because the steering had locked. this is extremely dangerous and could potentially injure someone or others around them..please investigate this case. *tr

Crankshaft pulley bolt failed. brought to dealer for repair. bolt was part of nhtsa recall. dealer stated they needed to replace crankshaft as well. dealer returned vehicle w/o replacing crankshaft. 15 months later the same bolt failed. took to an independent repair shop, they explained the crankshaft needed to be replaced. took back to the dealer, they replaced bolt and didn't replace crankshaft. on 9/13/10 the bolt failed again, independent repair shop, and a different dealer verified the need for crankshaft to be replace. contacted kia of america, and casey kia with no sign of resolution. *tr

I have a 2003 kia sorento. as i left the garage at my office around 6 p.m. monday 11/16, the car began making a horrible squealing noise. it immediately lost power steering, several warning lights came on, and it felt like the parking brake was on (it wasn't). i managed to get out of the garage to a space on the street. i turned the car off. when i tried to start it again, it wouldn't start. i had it towed to a service station, which said the car had thrown its drive belts and that it needed a new crankshaft balancer pulley, crankshaft sprocket, crankshaft pulley bolt and crankshaft pulley washer to fix the underlying cause. i called kia customer service to see if there was a recall related to those parts. there was a recall in 2007 and my car was serviced at that time as ordered by kia. kia said tuesday that they would only consider paying for needed repairs if i had the car towed to a kia dealership. i had it towed to king kia in gaithersburg, md., at my expense. the service writer, wayne johnson, told me that the garage that had put my new timing belt on had left a bolt loose. he told me his mechanic put the three drive belts back on. he told me i needed a new battery (though the current battery was only 2 years old) because the current one wasn't holding a charge. i told him to put one on. he told me the car was running fine and ready to go. i assumed -- it now turns out, wrongly -- that the kia mechanic had tightened whatever bolt he found loose. i picked up the car wednesday night and drove it straight home. when i started it yesterday morning to leave for work, i drove it about 1.5 blocks and the steering locked up, the brake and battery warning lights came on, and it felt like the parking brake was on. this time the engine kept running. i brought it back home and called the kia garage back. wayne now admits the mechanic never looked for an underlying cause. he simply put the old drive belts on and a new battery in. today he says it needs a new crank pulley. *tr

There is a plastic cap holding on the rod to the windshield wipers that will popped off without any kind of warning. my family was driving on the highway in the rain, and the wipers came to a halt without warning causing no visibility. i think that this matter should really be addressed because it could have caused major accident and taken many lives. there were no deaths, but it certainly could have been. by the grace of god. *tr

My 2003 kia sorento stopped with no warning or indication of a problem at 67,735 miles due to what was later determined to be engine overheating. at first the kia dealer said it was due to the coolant reservoir cracking and going empty. since this is not a part of the engine's actual means of cooling, they changed their story to the thermostat failed. kia said that this portion of the warranty passed at 65,000 miles. their warranty says 100,000 miles. cost over $3,600.00 to repair, similar situation at 80,000 miles for $1,400.00. still no warranty coverage. i have furnished complete maintenance records showing maintenance at every interval required by kia. looking for some one to join in a class action suit. *tr

Dt*: the contact stated while driving various speeds a noise and a vibration was noticed. upon further inspection, unusual wear on the inner tread of the front tires was also noticed. the vehicle was driven to the dealer who could not duplicate the problem. updated 9/11/2006 - the left front strut was noisy due to loose bottom strut bolt. the dealer tightened end and secured bolt. the consumer felt vibration in brake pedal when reversing and making turns. the dealer resurfaced the brake rotors and pads. the vibration returned. the dealer indicated that the rotors were warped and replaced them. the vehicle's engine made noise. the dealer adjusted all the belts. the cd player would not eject properly. *nm

Air bag light keeps coming on. kia fixed this issue at least 5 times now the light is back on and they will not repair because i am out of warranty. if air bag light is on air bags will not deploy at time of impact i have 3 small children. they have not been able to resolve the issue. *tr

Bought 2003 sorento july 1, 2003. soon after the back brakes or something after braking would "clunk". whether is was after releasing brakes or seconds later it would "clunk" (dealer keeps saying it 'pops', it clunks). first time in they didnt feel it they said. second time they felt it and then said they didnt know what it was and would contact kia about it-----this third time---they say its normal for the vehicle. fter the first time in the shop for the 'clunking' the serious vibration on the highway began to be felt starting at 68 mph and worsening at 70 mph.....took it in and the dealership said it was the tires and they balanced them-----now the vibration is worse and you feel it at 60 mph and at 68 mph it is really noticable. took in into the shop 02/19/04....dealship drove it and then just told us it was normal on the vehicle---some guy last fall had the vibration worse---and said kia cant fix it. well, we didnt take that answer and is now being investigate. two field kia investigators just drove it before my husband arrived at the dealership. they told my husband they didnt feel really anything. he told them to get in the vehicle and now drive with him---the investigators all of a sudden said they felt something.....now they are going to look at seeing what it is. both kia and the dealership are dragging this out......call kia's consumer affairs office (or whatever it is called) and they say they have no reports of these problems. the dealership tells us they kia tells them it is normal. i am afraid to drive the vehicle and left it all weekend at the dealership! my daughters life is at stake driving it like that if something falls off or something. i am afraid that kia or the dealership will have more experience and able to cover things so that we can not file for the lemon law........... help!!!*ak

I purchased a 2003 ex kia sorento in june 2003. on july 13,2003 the air bag light system came on. the vehicle was taken to barron kia. they stated they replaced the air bag module. it took five days to repair. on november 11, 2003 the air bag light went back on. the vehicle was taken to barron kia on the 14th. it was at the dealership for another six days. they stated it was the lojack alarm system that was causing the problem. it was fixed. on november 29,2003 the airbag light began to flicker on and off. the vehicle was taken back to barron kia on december 3, 2003, in order for a lojack technician to remove the alarm and for barron kia to fix and run test on the airbag. the car was there 11 days and supposedly checked for all airbag possible problems. all test came back normal. on january 19, 2004 the airbag light went back on. the car was once again taken to barron kia on that day. at this point, the alarm is disconnect and the air bag continues to illuminate and indicating that there may be a malfunction with the safety system with the car. the vehicle is still at barron kia (has been their 7 days now) and is awaiting the installation of another airbag module. i have been in contacted with the kia hotline several times as well as lojack customer service. neither company wants to take responsibility or accountability. it is distressing to me that such companies would jeopardizes the lives of their customers. i am also disturbed that a new car would be sold and returned to me several times with a defective safety system. *la

The vehicle was purchased in april 03. not long after that there was a strange sound, then there was oil leak under the car. took it in. checked. did dye check. replaced some bolts. replaced a part. every few months up to today feb 2006, there has been an oil leak. taking car again to dealer on feb 3, 2006 to see what they say now. the oil is felt when one touches under the car and there is a puddle in the driveway (oil stain). the car has only been serviced by the kia mechanics at the kia dealer. criswell kia as of january 06 no longer services kia. i have to now take the car to farrish kia in virginia. *nm