2005 Kia Sorento Engine Problems

While driving, you heard a clunking noise followed by stiff steering and a battery warning light. The harmonic balancer bolt had broken, requiring the vehicle to be towed for repairs. This caused a loss of power steering, creating a dangerous driving situation.

Your car's crankshaft bolt broke while your children were driving, causing a loss of steering control and creating a dangerous situation on the road. The vehicle had to be towed to a repair shop, where the crankshaft bolt failure was confirmed. This repair is estimated to cost around $2,000, and the owner reports that Kia initially promised to cover it but has not followed through.

Your crankshaft detached from the engine while driving at 10 mph, causing your car to stop completely. The dealer replaced the crankshaft, but oil began leaking from the camshaft seal afterward. The manufacturer refused to cover the additional repairs under warranty. The repair will likely involve replacing the camshaft seal and possibly resealing other engine components to stop the oil leak.

Your steering wheel became very difficult to turn while making a left turn, requiring all your strength to move it. A mechanic diagnosed that the crankshaft bolt needed replacement. The repair may involve removing engine components to access and replace the crankshaft bolt.

The bolt that holds your harmonic balancer to the crankshaft broke and damaged the threads on your crankshaft, causing the harmonic balancer to fall off while driving. This caused your serpentine belt to come off, making it difficult to drive the car. The repair required extensive work and took several months to complete.

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE THE CAR'S ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. MELTED EVERYTHING IN ENGINE. WHEN TOLD I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE, I SOLD THE CAR TO A JUNK YARD FOR PARTS. NOW, I HEAR THIS RECALL. SO PISSED@

HARMONIC BALANCER IS FALLING OFF . HAVE READ MANY REVIEWS WHERE OTHERS WITH THE SAME VEHICLE AND THEIRS ARE ACTUALLY FALLING OFF. AS WELL AS A LAWSUIT IN FEBRUARY

THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE ON SUNDAY FEBRUARY 26 AND TODAY MARCH 1ST

ON 07/14/16 I TRIED TO START MY VEHICLE. IT DID NOT START SO I CALLED A TOW TRUCK TO GIVE ME KICK START. THE ENGINE STARTED AND THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IT HAD. TWO DRIVER TOLD ME TO TAKE IT AND GET THE BATTERY CHECKED OUT IT JUST DIDN'T SEEM RIGHT TO HIM. SO I DID AND THAT IS WHEN I FOUND OUT THE I HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET AND UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION THEY FOUND THAT THE COOLANT GOT INTO THE ENGINE AND TWO OF THE PISTONS WERE GONE AND THE INTERIOR WALL OF THE ENGINE WAS SCORCHED BADLY. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF I LOVED IT AND MADE SURE I FOLLOWED ALL THE REQUIREMENTS BU KIA TO KEEP THIS CAR RUNNING. WITH SUCH LITTLE MILES THIS SHOULD OF NEVER HAPPENED. IN MY INVESTIGATION, I FOUND SIMILAR REPORTS REGARDING KIA SORENTO'S AND ENGINE PROBLEMS. I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH KIA BUT THEY HAVE NOT MADE ANY GESTURES TO HELP ME. I DO NOT HAVE MONEY TO GET A NEW CAR AND THIS WAS MY TRANSPORTATION TO DRIVE ABOUT 2HRS TO HELP MY 93 1/2 YR OLD MOTHER. NOW I CAN'T DO THAT. I LOVED THIS CAR AND CAN NOT BELIEVE THAT KIA WILL NOT HELP. I HAVE HAD TO RENT A CAR FOR 2 DAYS, TAKE A TAXI AND DEPEND ON OTHERS IN MY TIME OF NEED.

WHILE DRIVING A NOISE COMES FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT. BATTERY AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHT COME ON. POWER STEERING GOES OUT. HAVE TO MAN AHNDLE SUV TO A SAFE SPOT. CRANKSHAFT BOLT THAT HOLD HARMONIC BALANCER BROKE. COMMON PROBLEM KNOWN TO KIA ENGINES THEY OFFER TO FIX IT FOR $1300.00 PLUS MORE.

I PURCHASED A 2005 KIA SORENTO IN NOVEMBER 2013 FROM DEALERSHIP. IN JUNE 2014 I HAD THE FIRST INCIDENT. WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY, SUDDENLY ALL WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON, POWER STEERING WAS LOST. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER WITHOUT INCIDENT. HAD TO BE TOWED. HAD THE PROBLEM FIXED: CRANKSHAFT SENSOR, WARPED PULLEY, SHEERED BOLT ON SAID PULLEY, RESULTING IN MORE DAMAGE, INCLUDING WATER PUMP AND TIMING BELTS. TWO WEEKS LATER THE SAME THING OCCURRED, AGAIN WHILE I WAS DRIVING IN TOWN. MY MECHANIC SAID IT IS A DEFECT IN THE KIA DESIGN. TWO WEEKS LATER GOT IT FIXED. NOW TEN MONTHS LATER THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURS, AGAIN WHILE DRIVING. EACH TIME THIS HAS COST ME $2,000 TO FIX. I STILL OWE $4,500 ON THE VEHICLE! SINCE REPAIRING WITH KIA PARTS AND THE PROBLEM IS NEVER SOLVED DUE TO POOR DESIGN, KIA REALLY NEEDS TO STEP UP AND ISSUE RECALL. SAME PROBLEM 3 TIMES IN LESS THAN A YEAR! PLEASE HELP!

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, IT WAS NOT ABLE TO FULLY ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE HARMONIC BALANCER PULLEY BOLT FRACTURED FROM THE CRANKSHAFT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STOPPED AND SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT BOLT DETACHED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT DID NOT RESPOND TO THE REIMBURSEMENT REQUEST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,310.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE REMAINED AT THE DEALER FOR THREE CONSECUTIVE MONTHS TO LOCATE THE FAILURE. THE CAM SENSOR, CRANK SENSOR, AND TIMING BELT WERE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE ECM COMPUTER WAS REPLACED. ONE MONTH LATER, AFTER THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,300. ..UPDATED 02/23/16 *BF....UPDATED 03/16/16 *BF *CN

BROKEN CRANK BOLT WITH 100,000 MILES.

HAD A CAR REPAIR IN OCTOBER 2014 DUE TO A BROKEN BOLT NEAR CRANK SHAFT DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. PAID FOR REPAIR AND GOT CAR BACK AND WITHIN A MONTH THE MOTOR WAS SHOT . I WENT TO GO START THE CAR TO GO TO WORK AND IT WAS MAKING A TERRIBLE NOISE, IT WAS STATIONARY. I STILL HAVE AT 7 MORE CAR PAYMENTS TO MAKE ON THE CAR.

THE KIA SORENTO HAS A CATASTROPHIC FAILOR DO TO A SINGLE PIN ON THE CRANK SHAT TIMING GEAR. THIS GEAR HAS BROKEN FREE TWICE AND CAUSED HEAD DAMAGE BENT VALVES AND ALSO COST BETWEEN 2 AND 4 THOUSAND DOLLARS TO REPLACE THE 30 DOLLAR GEAR THAT WILL WITH OUT QUESTION FAIL AGAIN I'M ON MY THIRD TIME OF THIS HAPPENING THIS TIME THE TIMING GEAR PIN GROW SLOWING ONLY THE CRANK SHAT HIMONIC BALANCER TO COME FREE BRAKING A 10 DOLLAR BOLT BUT WITH OUT A DOUBT IT WILL COST ME AGAIN THOUSANDS TO FIX . EACH TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED IT HAS BEEN A DIFFERENT SITUATION ONCE WAS WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGH WAY THE VECHICAL MADE A LOUD BANG AND THE VECHICAL LIST POWER AND CAME TO A HALT ONCE WHILE PULLING OUT OF MY DRIVE WAY THIS TIME THE ENGINE LOCKED UP AND THE VEHICLE HAD TOBE TOWED TO A SHOP ONLY TO FIND OUT THEY WOULD NOT WORK ON IT BECAUSE IT IS A KNOW DEFECT THE THIRD TIME WAS DRIVING THREW TOWN AND IT SOUND LIKE I HAD DROPPED A SAW MILLE UNDER THE HOOD IT DAMAGED THE VALVES AND BROKE THE FANS AND TORE UP THE MOST THUS TIME.

DRIVING IN RURAL EASTERN COLORADO WHEN THE BATTERY AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. DROVE ON TO THE NEXT TOWN WITH A REPAIR SHOP (BRUSH, CO) AND CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD. BELTS WERE LOOSE AND THE BOTTOM PULLEY WAS LYING IN THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED 70 MILES TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP IN WINDSOR, CO ($375). THEY DID THE REPAIR AND CHARGED $1303.85. HAD TO RENT A CAR WHILE THE REPAIR WAS COMPLETED ($343.57). HARMONIC BALANCER HAD FAILED AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO TIMING BELT, TENSIONER, CRANK SPROCKET, ETC. UPDATED 10/9/15 *LN UPDATED 12/21/2015*JS

CRANK SHAFT BOLT BROKE THREE SEPARATE TIMES (2ND TIME JAN. 21, 2015; 3RD TIME JULY 3, 2015) AFTER REPAIRS MADE. THE LAST TIME, THE CAR WAS CONSIDERED IRREPARABLE DUE TO THE INEVITABILITY OF FAILURE DUE TO FAULTY DESIGN OF THE FACTORY MADE CRANK SHAFT BOLT. WHOLE NEW ENGINE NEEDED FOR COMPLETE REPAIR.

I WAS DRIVING THOUGH A PARKING LOT ON LATE FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND HEARD A RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. SO, AFTER I PARKED I POPPED THE HOOD, I ALSO STARTED TO HEAR A SQUEAKING NOISE (BELTS RUBBING), SO I DROVE HOME AND PARKED IT UNTIL MONDAY WHEN I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL SHOP AND THEY SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE A PULLEY FOR THE TIMING BELT, THEY GOT IT IN ON WEDNESDAY AND CALLED TO HAVE ME COME TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT WAS CAUSING THE NOISES WHEN I GOT THERE, THEY EXPLAINED THAT IT WAS THE CRANKSHAFT BOLT THAT HELD THE FLY WHEEL ON AND THERE WHERE TWO OPTIONS (1)I COULD DRIVE IT UNTIL THE BOLT SNAPPED OR (2) THEY COULD TRY AND BREAK THE BOLT LOOSE AND REPLACE IT, SO WE WENT WITH OPTION NUMBER 2 AND AFTER ABOUT FIVE HOURS I GOT A CALL TELLING ME THAT THE BOLT HAD SNAPPED AND THEY HAD TRIED WELDING A NEW BOLT ON TO TRY AND BREAK THE REST OF IT LOOSE, AND THEY HAD TRIED TO DRILL OUT THE BOLT BUT WITH NO LUCK, THEY THEN GAVE ME AN ESTIMATE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE WITH A RE-MANUFACTURED ENGINE THE ESTIMATE WAS $6,900.00 BEFORE TAX, SO I CALLED KIA CORPORATE AND THEY TOOK A WEEK TO COME BACK AND TELL ME DUE TO THE AGE, THE MILEAGE, AND NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER THEY WOULD NOT PAY TO REPLACE THE ENGINE SO NOW I'M GOING TO JOIN THE CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT. VERY BAD ENGINEERING DESIGN TO THINK ONE SEER PIN COULD HOLD THAT BOLT PLUS IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY ARE USING A DEEP THREAD SKINNY SHAFT BOLT WHICH MEANS THE THREADS ARE HOLDING A 15-20LBS FLY WHEEL WHEN THAT SEER PIN SNAPS, VERY DISAPPOINTED IN KIA, WILL NEVER BUY THEIR CARS AGAIN ..UPDATED 08/24/15 *BF

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE KEY WAS TURNED TO THE OFF POSITION AND REMOVED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT REMOVED THE BATTERY FROM THE VEHICLE, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO RUN. THE CONTACT THEN REMOVED AN AIR MASK VALVE THAT CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000. MA 08/05/15 UPDATED 11/13/2015*JS

I PURCHASED A 2005 KIA SORENTO FROM A DEALERSHIP ON NOV. 18, 2014. IN JANUARY 2015 THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR BROKE . IT WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALERSHIP UNDER WARRANTY. ON APRIL 8TH I STARTED HEARING A KNOCKING SOUND SO I STOPPED DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND DID SOME RESEARCH TO FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. I FOUND OUT THAT THE CAR I HAD WAS PART OF A RECALL AND THERE WAS A LAWSUIT FOR THE SAME ISSUE I WAS HAVING WITH MY VEHICLE. I PURCHASED THE PARTS AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY MECHANIC. MY MECHANIC HAS ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE CAR WITHOUT SUCCESS. I HAVE HAD TO RENT A CAR AND ALSO PAY DAILY FOR RIDES TO AND FROM WORK. I CONTACTED KIA TODAY AND THEY STATED THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY KIA TO DO A DIAGNOSTIC TEST BEFORE ANYTHING CAN BE DONE. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED ABOUT A RECALL. EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A FEW YEARS AGO, THIS IS INFORMATION THAT SHOULD BE GIVEN TO EVERY PURCHASER WHETHER NEW OR USED. *TR

DURING MY TRIP HOME FROM A LOCAL OUTING I NOTICED MY BATTERY LIGHT FLASHING INTERMITTENTLY. AS I GOT CLOSER TO HOME THE LIGHT BECAME MORE STEADY STEERING BECAME MORE DIFFICULT. I HAD A GOOD GUESS WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO THE FACT THAT I'VE HAD THIS SAME ISSUE TWICE IN THE LAST EIGHT MONTHS. I MADE IT HOME SAFELY AND HAD MY VEHICLE TOWED A FEW DAYS LATER TO A REPAIR SHOP. I WAS NOT AT ALL SURPRISED WHEN THE MECHANIC TOLD ME I HAD A CRANK SHAFT PROBLEM. THIS IS SOMETHING KIA HAS KNOWN ABOUT FOR YEARS AND SHOULD HAVE SCHEDULED A RECALL TO REPAIR THIS ISSUE. I MIGHT NOT BE HERE TODAY IF I WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AT A FASTER SPEED. *TR

VEHICLE DIED WHILE DRIVING, THEN WOULD NOT CRANK OVER. HAD TOWED TO DEALER. VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER COVERED BY WARRANTY. DEALER REPLACED CAM AND CRANK SENSORS, TIMING BELT, CRANK BOLT AND BADLY FRAYING ACCESSORY DRIVE BELT. *TR

FRONT DRIVE SHAFT BROKE. OTHER ISSUES AND INCIDENTS INCLUDE BUT NOT LIMITED TO: INDUCTION CONTROL SYSTEM BROKE. HARMONIC BALANCER BROKE. CRANK SHAFT TIMING BELT SPROCKET, CRANKSHAFT BOLT BROKE AND THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR. *TR

ON JULY 13TH 2013 I STARTED FINANCING A 2005 KIA SORRENTO LX FROM A DEALERSHIP IN PINELLAS PARK, FLORIDA CALLED E-Z CAR CREDIT. DURING THE FIRST MONTH OF FINANCING THE CAR HAD TO BE SERVICED FOR MANY DIFFERENT REASONS. OVER THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF OF FINANCING THE PROBLEMS HAVE GOTTEN WORSE AN MORE EXPENSIVE. PROBLEMS INCLUDE BUT NOT LIMITED TO: OVERHEATING, BAD SENSORS, FRONT END ALIGNMENT, NEW WATER HOSES, NEW WATER RESERVOIR, THERMOSTAT, POWER STEERING, ELECTRICAL. AN THEN WE COME TO THE MOST RECENT PROBLEM. THE ONE 1,000S UPON 1,000S OF CUSTOMERS HAVE BEEN HAVING "CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE" BROKEN PUSH RODS, CAMS DESTROYED, VALVES, PISTONS. ESTIMATED COST $4000. AN NOW THAT I HAVE $7,000 INVESTED AND OWE ANOTHER $5,000 ON MY LOAN I AM JOINING THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST KIA MOTORS. *JS

WHILE LEAVING OUR HOME TO RUN ERRANDS, I LOST POWER STEERING AND SEVERAL DASHBOARD LIGHTS CAME ON. WE PURCHASED THE KIA SORENTO IN 2005 NEW AND HAVE HAD VERY FEW PROBLEMS WITH IT UNTIL NOW. IT HAS LESS THAN 70K MILES AND HAS BEEN SERVICED BY THE DEALER EVERY 3K MILES. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO RATHER QUICKLY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A BROKEN CRANK BOLT AND ESTIMATED REPAIRS WOULD COST ABOUT $1300. THE DEALER CHECKED WITH KIA ON WHETHER OUR 100K WARRANTY WOULD COVER THE REPAIRS. KIA SAID THIS PROBLEM WAS NOT COVERED. AT THE TIME I DIDN'T REALIZE THIS IS A FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE KIA SORENTO'S. CHECKING THE COMMENTS FROM OTHER SORENTO OWNERS, I HAVE CONCLUDED THIS CERTAINLY APPEARS TO BE A DESIGN DEFECT. OUR CONCERN IS THAT THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED IN TRAFFIC AT 70 MPH AND THE LOSS OF THE ABILITY TO STEER COULD CERTAINLY BECOME A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM, WITH POTENTIAL FATAL CONSEQUENCES. I AM ESPECIALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE NUMBER OF SITUATIONS THAT THE BOLT FAILED A SECOND AND SOMETIMES A THIRD TIME AFTER THE INITIAL REPAIR WAS MADE. REQUEST SERIOUS CONSIDERATION OF KIA ISSUING A RECALL TO REMEDY THIS DESIGN DEFECT. UPDATED 01/14/15

THE CRANKSHAFT SPROCKET KEY (PIN) GOT LOOSE AND THE SPROCKET DISPLACED WHICH CHEWED THE TIMING BELT AND SHORT-CIRCUITED THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR AND FUEL PUMP, CAUSING $1946.03 OF REPAIR, $213.67 CAR RENTAL DURING REPAIR, LOSS OF WORKING TIME AND STRESS TO ME WITH HEALTH DAMAGE. THE TOTAL LOSS IS ESTIMATED TO BE $3,000.00 AT LEAST. *TR

DAUGHTER HAD CRANKED VEHICLE AFTER COMING INTO GRANDMOTHER'S AFTER HER WEDDING GETTING FOOD. SHE SAID THE STEERING WAS WORKING PROPERLY AND THE MOTOR SEEMED TO BE HAVING ALOT OF PROBLEMS SO I TOLD HER TO PARK IT AND NOT TO DRIVE IT AGAIN THAT I WOULD HAVE IT TOWED TO BE LOOKED AT.MY NEPHEW LOOKED AT IT SAID IT SEEMED TO BE THE BOLT COMING OUT OF HARMONIC BALANCER. I BOUGHT IT USED BUT IT WAS PURCHASED AT KIA IN HUNTERSVILLE,N.C. FROM THE PERSON I PURCHASED IT FROM. AFTER TAKING IT BACK THERE TO BE LOOKED AT THEY DID UNAUTHORIZED WORK BREAKING THE BOLT OFF THEN TELLING ME I HAD TO BE THE ONE TO REPLACE THE MOTOR. I EVEN WENT TO KIA IN GASTONIA,N.C. THEY DIDN'T SEEMED TO BE CONCERNED AT ALL AND SAID THEY WOULD NOT EVEN TAKE IT AS A TRADE IN SO I STARTED DOING RESEARCH AS TO ANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE. *TR

THE ENGINE DEVELOPED A VERY LOUD TICK/KNOCK IN THE MOTOR. *TR

CRANKSHAFT PULLEY CAME LOOSE BOLT BROKE KIA HAS A PROBLEM WITH THIS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY AND MAKING A LOUD NOISE WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE HARMONIC BALANCER WAS NOT PROPERLY ATTACHED TO THE CRANK SHAFT CAUSING THE BOLT TO BRAKE. AS A RESULT, THE HARMONIC BALANCER AND BOLT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 87,000.

I WAS DRIVING ON THE WAY TO WORK AND THE CAR LOST POWER AND SHUT OFF.... LOST ALL ABILITY TO STEER, LUCKILY NO OTHER CARS WERE CLOSE BY. OR ELSE THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A CRASH BETWEEN US. HAD IT TOWED TO A LOCAL SHOP. BEFORE LOOKING AT THE VEHICLE THEY IMMEDIATELY TOLD ME IT SOUNDED LIKE THE INFAMOUS CRANK SHAFT PULLEY BOLT. I WAS AT A LOSS FOR WORD AS IT SOUNDED LIKE ITS BEEN AN ON GOING ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESS. TOO MANY PEOPLES LIVES ARE AND CAN BE IN TROUBLE BECAUSE OF IT. AFTER THE LOCAL SHOP LOOKED AT IT AND CONFIRMED IT WAS THE CRANK SHAFT PULLEY BOLT. I WAS ADVISED TO TALK TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL OF THE BOLT. WHEN I SPOKE TO THE PARTS REP A KIA, I WAS TOLD THERE IS NO RECALLS ON THE BOLT OR ANYTHING ELSE 2003-2006 KIA SERENTO. THEY COULD GET ME A NEW/USED MOTOR FOR $4K.... SEEMS THAT KIA IS ONLY IN THE BUSINESS OF PUTTING MONEY IN THEIR POCKETS WHILE OTHER PEOPLES LIVES ARE AT STAKE. FOR A PART/PIECE THEY KNOW IS FAULTY. AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION THERE IS A COUNTLESS AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE. EVEN PEOPLE COVERED UNDER THE 100,000 MILE WARRANTY WAS TOLD ITS NOT APART OF THE DRIVE DRAIN SO ITS NOT COVERED. I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND A KIA TO ANYONE... *TR

I WAS LEAVING A PATIENT'S HOME WHEN I GOT AROUND THE CORNER FROM THEIR HOME, MY CAR JUST SHUT OFF ON ME. ALL THE LIGHTS WERE ON IN THE VEHICLE BUT IT WOULD NOT MOVE. AFTER WAITING FOR ABOUT TWO HOURS FOR SOMEONE TO COME HELP ME IN MY SITUATION. I HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED ALL THE WAY FROM WEST HAVEN TO AMITY, WHERE I HAD THE CAR CHECKED OUT BY THE MECHANIC THAT FIXED THE CRANKSHAFT BOLT AND OTHER THINGS COSTING ME A TOTAL OF $1100. THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER THE WARRANTY FOR BEING FIXED AGAIN WHEN THE MECHANIC TOLD ME AFTER HAVING MY CAR THEIR FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS THAT THE BOLT BROKE AGAIN AND IT MESSED UP THE WHOLE BOTTOM HALF OF MY ENGINE. I AM STILL MAKING MONTHLY PAYMENTS ON THIS CAR AND I AM COMPLETELY LOST AS IN WHAT TO DO WITH IT. KIA DOESN'T WANT ANYTHING BUT MONEY AND THE OTHER MECHANIC IS CALLING THIS A RECURRING DEFECT AND DOESN'T SEE THE POINT IN FIXING IT WHEN THE CAR NEEDS A NEW ENGINE. I'M READY TO SCREAM MY HEAD OFF BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE MONEY TO KEEP THROWING AWAY ON SOMETHING I CANT EVEN USE. *TR

MY WHOLE FAMILY WAS IN THE CAR DRIVING HOME GOING APPROXIMATELY 40-45MPH WHEN WITHOUT WARNING ALL THE DASH LIGHTS STARTED COMING ON AND ALL POWER WAS LOST ON THE VEHICLE. WE WERE ABLE TO MOVE OUT OF TRAFFIC AND RESTART THE VEHICLE AND MAKE IT HOME. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER WHERE WE WERE EVENTUALLY ADVISED THE CRANK SHAFT BOLT SHREDDED INTO OUR ENGINE, AND THAT ALONG WITH SOME OTHER COMPONENTS WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED TO THE TUNE OF OVER $5000 DOLLARS. WE WERE TOLD THAT BECAUSE THIS WAS AN OUTSIDE COMPONENT OF THE ENGINE THAT THIS WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE POWER TRAIN 10 YEAR/100,000 MILE WARRANTY. I CALLED THEIR CONSUMER ASSISTANCE LINE AND WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THEM. THIS SAME BOLT I WAS ADVISED WAS AN ISSUE IN THE 2004 MODELS, BUT THEY ASSURED ME OURS WAS MANUFACTURED OUTSIDE THE FAULTY BOLT DATES (TELL THAT TO MY FAILED BOLT). I WAS INCREDIBLY DISAPPOINTED WITH THE LACK OF RESPONSIBILITY THEY ARE WILLING TO TAKE TO ENSURE THAT NO ONE IS INJURED OR WORSE BY SIMPLY FIXING A BOLT. WE ENDED UP TRADING IN THE VEHICLE AND LOSING A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY IN THE PROCESS. *TR

I HAVE A 2005 KIA SORENTO AND IT HAS 123000 MILES. I WAS DRIVING WITH MY WIFE AND I LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING,BRAKES AND THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN. I HAD IT TOWED TO MY REPAIR CENTER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT MY ENGINE WAS BLOWN AND I WOULD NEED A NEW ENGINE. THE CRANK SHAFT BOLT SNAPPED AND IT WAS A DEFECT IN THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS BUT KIA IS NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS MATTER. KIA IS CLAIMING THAT THERE WAS A SERVICE DOCUMENT REGARDING THIS BUT NO RECALL NOTICE WAS EVER SENT OUT TO THE OWNERS OF THIS MODEL CAR. KIA IS TRYING TO WASH THEIR HANDS OF THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE SPOKEN TO MANY PEOPLE AND THEY ARE SAYING THAT EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT KIA WANTS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE ISSUE AND ARE REFUSING TO REPAIR THIS DEFECT. I HAVE FILED A CLASS ACTION SUITE AGAINST KIA BUT THEY ARE TRYING TO HAVE THIS CASE THROWN OUT OF COURT REFUSING TO FIX TO ISSUE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 64 MPH, THE BOLT ON THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR FRACTURED AND DETACHED, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE AND MOTOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000. *TR UPDATED 07/31/13*LJ THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW ENGINE, DUE TO THE IDLE PULLEY BOLT FALLING OFF.

I OWN A 2005 KIA SORENTO 4WD LX. AFTER A SCHEDULE OIL CHANGE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE COMPUTER SHOWED A PO300 CODE. WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE THE VEHICLE BECAME SLUGGISH AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PAST 50 MPH. THE NEXT DAY WHILE DRIVING, A LOUD NOISE STARTED IN THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE CRANK SHAFT PULLEY, BALL BEARING AND CYLINDERS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE TECH ALSO SAW METAL IN THE OIL. THE TECH BASICALLY TOLD ME THAT THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACE AT A COST OF $4700.00. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,400. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE CRANK SHAFT PULLEY HAD TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE PART WAS REPLACED ON THE CRANK SHAFT PULLEY, THE CONTACT HEARD A GRINDING NOISE IN THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND HAD NO PASSING GEAR WHEN YOU ACCELERATE. CODE P0122 TPS. *TR

I BOUGHT MY 2005 KIA SORENTO OCTOBER 2011. THE COST OF THE VEHICLE WAS $8664.00 AND FINANCED FOR $13,399.48 OR 36 MONTHS. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AT BRICK CITY MOTORS, 316 BROADWAY AVE, NEWARK, NJ 07104. A WARRANTY FOR 6 MONTHS OR 7500 MILES WAS ISSUED WITH IT. THE WARRANTY DID NOT COVER THE DEFECT IN THE ENGINE. ON FEBRUARY 7 2012, I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 280 IN THE 3RD LANE GOING WEST WHEN THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE HAZARD LIGHTS ON. THANK GOD PEOPLE WERE NOT FLYING OR THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A TRAGIC ACCIDENT. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A KIA DEALERSHIP IN NUTLEY NJ. I DID THAT BECAUSE I FIGURED IT WAS A KIA PRODUCT LET THEIR DEALERSHIP REPAIR IT. THE RESULT FOR THE PROBLEM WAS REPLACED TIMING BELT/CRANKSHAFT GEAR/TENSIONER/PULLEY/IDLER/BALANCER-NOTE: CR DAMAGED- JEWELED KEY WAY TO CRANK SLOT LIMITED WARRANTY ON REP. THE LABOR COST WAS 826.00 WITH NO GUARANTEE ON PARTS OR LABOR. BRICK CITY PAID FOR THE PARTS AND I PAID FOR THE LABOR. ON JULY 15TH 2012 MY KIA SORENTO HAD TO BE TOWED TO KIA IN NUTLEY NJ. THE REP ADVISOR TOLD ME THAT I NEED TO GET RID OF THE VEHICLE WHILE I CAN. I PAID 50 SOME DOLLARS FOR AN OIL CAP TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD SHUT OFF AGAIN LIKE IT DID IN FEB 2012. THE REP ALSO TOLD ME THAT I NEED A TRANSMISSION. ON JULY 26 THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START UP AND A FRIEND OF MINE TOOK ME TO HER BROTHERS MECHANIC SHOP. THE END RESULT WAS THAT THEY FOUND THE CRANKSHAFT NEEDS REPLACING AND WAS BENT AGAIN. ON JULY 26, 2012, I, THEN WENT BACK TO KIA IN NUTLEY NJ AND THE MANAGER TOLD ME THE WORK THEY DID WAS NOT WARRANTED AND THAT BRICK CITY MOTORS SCREWED ME. I CALLED KIA MOTORS IN WOODBRIDGE NJ AND THEY TOLD ME THE WORST CASE SCENARIO IS THAT I HAVE TO PAY MAYBE 2000.00 FOR A REPLACEMENT. I AM A DISABLED VETERAN PERMANENTLY AND TOTALLY DISABLED. I HAVE TO HAVE A SUV DUE TO DAILY CHRONIC PAIN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,522. UPDATED 1/29/13 *CN UPDATED 2/6/2013*JS

STRIPPED CRANK SHAFT. *TR

CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR HAS TO BE REPLACED EVERY 2 YEARS WITH NO EXPLANATION AND HEADLIGHTS BEING REPLACED EVERY 3-4 MONTHS AND DOME LIGHT JUST QUIT AND NO EXPLANATION FROM KIA OR DLR. *TR

WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE, IT BEGAN MAKING A "KNOCKING" NOISE. THE POWER STEERING THEN BEGAN TO FAIL AND THEN I WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. THE CAR DIED (ON A BUSY 4 LANE HWY WITH MY 7 MOS OLD DAUGHTER IN THE CAR). ONCE STOPPED, I LOOKED UNDER MY HOOD TO FIND A LARGE BOLT LAYING ON THE FLOOR OF THE INTERIOR OF THE BUMPER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL AUTO REPAIR SHOP WHERE, AFTER 2 DAYS AND $1300 IN REPAIRS, I WAS TOLD THAT THE "LARGE BOLT" I FOUND WAS HALF OF THE CRANK PULLEY BOLT. IT HAD SNAPPED CLEAN IN HALF LEAVING THE OTHER HALF INSIDE THE PULLEY. EXTENSIVE LABOR TO REMOVE THIS PIECE AND THEN RESET ALL THE PULLEYS AND BELTS (TIMING BELT) ATTRIBUTED TO THE EXCESSIVE COST. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO REASON WHY THAT BOLT SHOULD HAVE SIMPLY BROKE IN HALF AND THAT IT WAS A FAULTY PART. KIA REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND I HAVE READ SEVERAL POSTS THAT MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME IT HAS HAPPENED. ELECTRICALLY, I HAVE HAD TO CHANGE MY HEADLIGHT BULBS SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE LAST 3 YEARS AND THE ACCUATOR FOR THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS IS FAULTY. THE CAR RANDOMLY LOCKS ITSELF AT ANY GIVEN TIME (WHILE DRIVING, WHEN SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY DURING THE NIGHT, PARKED AND RUNNING). I STOPPED IN A PARKING LOT TO GET MY DAUGHTER'S TOY THAT SHE HAD DROPPED. WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE CAR TO WALK AROUND TO THE OTHER SIDE, THE CAR LOCK DEFECT LOCKED MY DAUGHTER INSIDE THE CAR WHILE IT WAS RUNNING. *KB

HARMONIC BALANCER BOLT BROKE CAUSING FAILURE OF ALL BELT DRIVEN COMPONENTS. LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS BEING THE WORST OF WHICH. IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT FOR A SMALL FRAMED OLDER WOMAN TO CONTROL WHILE PULLING OVER. HARMONIC BALANCER FELL FROM VEHICLE REPRESENTING SUBSTANTIAL RISK TO OTHER VEHICLES ON ROADWAY. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO DEALERSHIP FOR PREVIOUS REPAIRS BUT THEY NEGLECTED TO ADHERE TO THE MANUFACTURERS TSB AND REPLACE THE BOLT. I HAVE SINCE FOUND THAT MANY MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE SPANNING MANY MODEL YEARS. I DON'T BELIEVE THE DEFECT TO BE IN THE BOLT BUT RATHER IN THE DESIGN OF THE HARMONIC BALANCER, THE CRANK SHAFT AND THE MATING OF THE TWO. WHEN THIS FAILURE OCCURS THE VEHICLE BECOMES INOPERABLE AND LEAVES IT OCCUPANTS STRANDED. LOSS OF POWER ASSISTED CONTROL AND THE HIGH PROBABILITY OF A LARGE AND HEAVY PIECE OF STEEL BEING DROPPED IN THE MIDST OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC REPRESENT A SUBSTANTIAL RISK TO THE PUBLIC. THIS ISSUE HAS NOT BEEN PROPERLY ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER AS NO NOTICE THAT THIS BOLT SHOULD BE REPLACED HAS BEEN GIVEN TO CONSUMERS. KIA MOTORS IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND SENT A TSB TO DEALERS DIRECTING THEM TO CHANGE THE BOLT IN QUESTION UPON THE VEHICLES NEXT DEALER SERVICE. HOWEVER THIS PRACTICE IS NOT PROPERLY ADHERED TO AND WITH THE CUSTOMER BEING UNAWARE OF ANY POSSIBLE PROBLEM IT BECOMES EASILY OVERLOOKED. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE MORE FREQUENT FAILURES AFTER THE BOLT HAS BEEN REPLACED. AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE TOWED TO KIA I WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AND THAT KIA WOULD NOT COVER THIS UNDER IT'S POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. *TR

THE MAIN CRANK SHAFT PULLY BOLT STRIPPED OUT AND CAUSED THE CRANK SHAFT TO START TO WORK ITS WAY OUT OF THE MOTOR BLOCK I TALKED TO KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER AND THEY SAID THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED AS A RECALL EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A MAIN FAILURE IN THE PREVIOUS TWO YEARS OF 2003 AND 2004 THEY SAID THAT THEY HAD FIXED THE PROBLEM BY INSTALLING A DIFFERENT BOLT IN THE 2005 MODEL BUT IN MY OPINION THAT IS A FALSE STATEMENT DO TO THE FACT IT HAS FAILED IN MY 2005 SORENTO TELLING ME THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN SOLVED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE BRAKE LAMP, BATTERY WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING WITHOUT ANY WARNINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVE BELTS, AND CRANK BOLT SHEERED OFF AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

I WAS BACKING UP OUT OF A PARKING SPOT WHEN THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING, I COULDN'T REACT FAST ENOUGH AND ENDED UP HITTING A CEMENT POLE. WHEN I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY MECHANIC I WAS INFORMED THAT THE BOLT FOR THE CRANKSHAFT HAD BROKEN. ( THE CAR HAS ONLY 43,500 MILES ON IT) WHEN TALKING WITH KIA DEALER AND DOING SOME ONLINE RESEARCH I LEARNED THAT THIS IS A PRETTY COMMON FAILURE. I WAS TOLD THAT KIA WAS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT LEFT THE DEALERS TO FEND FOR THEMSELVES. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL, DO THEY NEED SOMEONE TO BE KILLED IN AN ACCIDENT BEFORE THEY CONSIDER IT A PROBLEM? THE NHTSA HAS THE POWER TO INTERVENE AND I URGE YOU STEP UP AND ADDRESS THIS ONGOING PROBLEM. *TR

2005 KIA SORENTO EX WITH 80,000 MILES; CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT FAILED MAY OF 2011, RESULTING IN BEING STRANDED. TOWED TO NEAREST REPAIR FACILITY, COST APPROX. $1200.00 FOR REPAIR. THE 2003 AND 2004 KIA MODELS HAD A RECALL FOR THIS VERY PROBLEM, BUT KIA REFUSES TO EXTEND THE RECALL TO 2005, EVEN THOUGH MANY KIA OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. SOME HAVE HAD THEIR CRANKSHAFT BOLTS FAIL MULTIPLE TIMES. I HAVE CONTACTED KIA SEVERAL TIMES TO TRY TO GET THEM TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR BUT THEY HAVE REFUSED. *TR

BOLT FOR THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY HAS SHEARED OFF TWICE SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE 5 MONTHS AGO. *TR

2005 KIA SORENTO +/- 77,000 MILES...WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED THE BRAKE AND BATTERY LIGHT FLASHED ON, LOST POWER STEERING, AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE IT APPEARS IT'S THE DREADED CRANK SHAFT PULLEY/BOLT DEFECT LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY GET OFF THE ROAD......1YR TO PAYOFF VEHICLE. NOT TO MENTION THE NUMEROUS FRONT AND TAILLIGHT BULB REPLACEMENTS. I WILL NEVER BUY A KIA AGAIN!!! KIA IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND HAS DONE LITTLE TO NOTHING ABOUT IT. ARE THEY WAITING FOR A DEATH TO OCCUR? *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH IN THE RAIN, WHEN SHE HEARD A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY STIFF AND DIFFICULT TO TURN. DURING THE FAILURE, THE BATTERY LIGHT AS WELL AS VARIOUS OTHER WARNING LIGHTS BEGAN ILLUMINATING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE CONTACT EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED ALL THE ENGINE BELTS WERE DETACHED AND A BOLT WAS SEPARATED FROM THE MOTOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 66,000.

DECEMBER 18, 2010 KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC. DEAR KIA THIS LETTER IS TO COMPLAIN ABOUT AN INTERNET POSTED AND KNOWN DEFECT IN YOUR 2005 KIA SORENTO. I RECENTLY BROKE DOWN BECAUSE 'THE CRANKSHAFT BOLT BROKE OFF INSIDE THE ENGINE'. IT COST ME $85.00 TO GET IT TOWED AND NOW WILL RUN AN ADDITIONAL $1,200+/- TO REPAIR IT. FROM WHAT I'M READING ON THE INTERNET WHEN THE PROBLEM IS FIXED THERE IS NO WAY OF GUARANTEEING IT WON'T HAPPEN REPEATEDLY. THROUGH NO FAULT OF SORENTO OWNERS AS TOLD BY YOUR SERVICE MECHANIC (SCOTT) OF KIA OF DUTCHESS COUNTY (NY). 'JUST A BAD PART'. APPARENTLY, THIS BOLT SHEARS OFF AND FALLS INSIDE THE ENGINE CAUSING ADDITIONAL DAMAGE. YOUR FIX SUPPOSEDLY, IS TO TORQUE THE BOLT PROPERLY, WELL THAT BOLT IS FACTORY TORQUED! I HAVE NO COMPLAINTS WITH SCOTT AS HE IS COURTEOUS AND TRYING TO FIX IT. THE ISSUE IS THAT THIS VERY COSTLY FACTORY DEFECT IN EITHER THE BOLT OR THE ENGINEERING OF THE BOLT SPECIFICATIONS IS AND SHOULD BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF KIA MOTORS.' AS AN OWNER, I AM DISAPPOINTED THAT YOU HAVE TURNED AWAY FROM YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ADDRESS THE FACTORY PROBLEMS AS THEY ARE NOTED THROUGH USE OF YOUR VEHICLES. ADDITIONALLY, WHEN THE BOLT BREAKS, AND I HAVE FIRSTHAND KNOWLEDGE, THE BRAKE AND BATTERY LIGHTS APPEAR ON THE DASHBOARD AND LOSS OF POWER STEERING OCCURS. THE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING ALMOST CAUSED ME TO VEER INTO A CURB ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BUT COULD HAVE BEEN A LOT WORSE. I HAVE ADDED (BELOW) SOME OF THE MANY INTERNET POSTED COMPLAINTS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME NIGHTMARE. AND EVEN AFTER IT'S FIXED THERE IS NO GUARANTEE IT WON'T CONTINUE TO HAPPEN. HOW ABOUT SOME GOOD OLD FASHIONED OWNING UP TO THE RESPONSIBILITY OF PROVIDING SAFE AND RELIABLE CARS FOR PEOPLE WHO PAY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO PURCHASE ONE OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE THINGS WE WILL EVER OWN!!! NEEDLESS TO SAY, I AM QUITE FRUSTRATED AND WHEN I PICK UP THE CAR TOTALLY OUT OF MONEY. *TR

CAR POWER STEERING BEGAN TO FAIL. POWER STEERING FLUID WAS CHECKED BUT ADDING FLUID DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. VEHICLE FAILED TO START, NEEDED TO BE TOWED TO MECHANIC. AFTER INSPECTION BY MECHANIC, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT BOLT BROKE OFF FROM THE CAR. CONSEQUENTLY THIS BROKE THE TIMING BELT AND MAY HAVE BENT THE VALVE RODS (MECHANIC IS IN THE PROCESS OF TAKING THE VEHICLE APART AND ASSESSING ANY OTHER SUBSEQUENT DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE BROKEN CRANK SHAFT BOLT). THE VEHICLE NEEDS THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS OF REPAIRS (STILL BEING DETERMINED AS TO THE ENTIRE SCOPE). THE BOLT, TIMING BELT AND MOST LIKELY VALVE RODS WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED, ALONG WITH NUMEROUS HOURS OF LABOR DUE TO THE FACT THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE TAKEN APART AND PUT BACK TOGETHER. THE OLD CRANK SHAFT BOLT IS AVAILABLE. *TR

05 KIA SORENTO. THE HARMONIC BALANCER BOLT DOESN'T ADEQUATELY SECURE THE BALANCER OR PULLEY. THRU NORMAL USE, THE BOLT BECOMES LOOSE CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE BALANCER. THE DAMAGED BALANCER CAUSES THE PULLEY TO BECOME DAMAGED, AND ALL OF THE ACCESSORY BELTS RUN BY THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY ARE DAMAGED. THE "FIX" OFFERED BY KIA DOES NOTHING TO PERMANENTLY FIX THE PROBLEM. I HAVE NOW TAKEN MY VEHICLE TO AN ASE CERTIFIED MECHANIC TWICE IN THE LAST YEAR AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. COSTS HAVE NOW REACHED OVER $2100 AND COUNTING!!!!! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A BANGING NOISE IN THE ENGINE. WITHIN A FEW MINUTES, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT BOLT AND THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 69,000.

TIMING BELT SERVICE PERFORMED BY KIA DEALER ON 3/1/2010 @ 77105 MILES. ON 5/22/2010, NOTICED BRAKE WARNING AND BATTERY WARNING LIGHTS ON WHILE ON HIGHWAY. PULLED ONTO NEXT OFF-RAMP, AND NOTICED NO POWER STEERING. I THEN PULLED INTO A GAS STATION, OPENED THE HOOD, AND NOTICED THAT THE ALTERNATOR, A/C, AND MAIN DRIVE BELT APPEARED TO HAVE COME OFF OF THE PULLEYS. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME, AND CHECKED THE NEXT MORNING TO SEE IF I WAS ABLE TO REPLACE THE BELTS. I FOUND THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY LYING AT THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE BAY. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, I FOUND THAT THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT HAD SHEARED OFF AT THE THREADS INSIDE THE CRANKSHAFT SPROCKET. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE BOLT THAT CONNECTED THE PULLEY AND CRANKSHAFT SNAPPED CAUSING THE CONTACT TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE STEERING. THE ENGINE TURNED OFF AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND TOOK IT THE NEAREST REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE PULLEY FELL TO THE GROUND WHEN LIFTED FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE CONTACT CALLED BOTH THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MANUFACTURER BUT WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIR EXPENSES. THE VEHICLE WAS AWAITING REPAIR AT ANOTHER REPAIR SHOP AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 97,000.

EARLIER RECALL DEFECTIVE!!! 2005 KIA SORENTO V6, HAD A RECALL OF BREAKAGE OF CRANKSHAFT ACCESSORY PULLEY BOLT. NEW BOLT FROM THE RECALL HAS ALSO FAILED. MY CRANKSHAFT PULLEY AND BOLT FELL OUT ON THE HIGHWAY WHILE IN OPERATION. KIA SERVICE REFUSES TO COVER THE NEW BOLT ON WARRANTY. HAD BOLT TIGHTENED AT LOCAL SHOP AND IT FAILED AGAIN IN 3 DAYS!!! KIA IS FAILING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM IN WHICH WILL RESULT IN FATALITY ACCIDENTS. *TR

MY 2005 KIA SORENTO CUT OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING, THROWING ME INTO A SPIN AND LEAVING ME FACING THE WRONG WAY INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. COULD HAVE KILLED ME AND MY KIDS. HAD IT TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. THEY JUMP STARTED IT AND SAID THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THEY DID NOTHING. IT SUBSEQUENTLY CUT OFF IN TRAFFIC 3 MORE TIMES. CALLED THE DEALERSHIP, THEY SAID IT WASN'T A WARRANTY ISSUE (THIS WAS THE MONTH OF THE WARRANTY EXPIRATION BUT IT HADN'T EXPIRED YET) AND SINCE THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM THERE WAS NOTHING TO FIX. KIA IS PARKED AND I WON'T DRIVE IT. THEY DON'T HONOR THEIR WARRANTY AND KNOW ABOUT THIS DEFECT AND WON'T TRY TO FIX IT DURING WARRANTY PERIOD. *TR

BALANCER BOLT HAS BROKEN OFF IN THE CRANK SHAFT PULLEY CAUSING THE ALTERNATOR NOT TO SPIN. REQUIRED TO DRILL OUT THE BOLT AND REPLACE THE BALANCER AND REMOVE AND REPLACE THE SPROCKET. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS MAKING A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE. WHEN SHE STARTED THE VEHICLE, IT BEGAN TO SHAKE SEVERELY AND MAKE A TICKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE DRIVEN AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN FOUND PARTICLES THAT RESEMBLED METAL FRAGMENTS IN THE ENGINE. THE ENTIRE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.

TURNING INTO THE DRIVEWAY FROM A SHORT TRIP TO THE CORNER GAS STATION, I HEARD A LOUD "CLUNK", LOST POWER STEERING AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. CONTACTED KIA ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. DEALER INDICATED THE CRANKSHAFT BOLT BROKE. DEALER REPLACED THE "SHORT BLOCK" UNDER WARRANTY. REPAIRS TOOK 5 DAYS AND NO ALTERNATE TRANSPORTATION WAS PROVIDED. *TR

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND ENGINE IDLED VERY ROUGH. FEARING REPEAT OF CYLINDER MISFIRE THAT OCCURRED IN SEPTEMBER 2006 TOOK VEHICLE STRAIGHT TO DEALER. CAUSE DETERMINED TO BE A FAULTY EVAP PRESSURE SENSOR. REPLACED SENSOR UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE TRAVELING WITH 100 MILES OF HOME ON 9/22/06. CALLED KIA ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE, THEY RECOMMENDED CONTACTING THE DEALER. TOOK TO DEALER SAME DAY, THEY RESET THE LIGHT AND RECOMMENDED USING A HIGHER OCTANE FUEL AND RETURN FOR SERVICE IF LIGHT RETURNS. RETURNED TO DEALER ON 9/26/06 WITH LIGHT ON AGAIN. TESTING SHOWED CYLINDER #3 MISFIRED AND CAUSED INTERNAL ENGINE DAMAGE. ENGINE REPLACED AT 12,149MILES UNDER WARRANTY AND 9/27/06. *TR

DRIVING OUT OF MY OFFICE PARK AT LUNCH TIME, HEARD FAN NOISE LIKE LOOSE BELT, THEN WHEN TURNING WHEEL TO EXIT LOT, HEARD A LOUD "CLUNK" AND LOST POWER STEERING. ENGINE SITTING LOOSE IN COMPARTMENT LAND LOOSE BELTS EVERYWHERE. CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. TOLD 2.5 HOURS LATE, WHEN I CALLED TO THE DEALER, THAT THE CRANKSHAFT BOLT WAS BROKEN AGAIN. CONTACTED KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND FOUND ALTHOUGH THERE IS AN ACTIVE CAMPAIGN TO RECALL THIS BOLT, MY VIN IS NOT ON THE LIST (THIS IS THE SECOND FAILURE). ALTHOUGH "SHORT BLOCK" WAS REPLACED AT LAST FAILURE (IN 4/07 AT 20,200 MI) THIS FAILURE REQUIRED MACHINING THE BOLT OUT AND ONLY REPLACING THE CRANKSHAFT SPROCKET, CRANK PULLEY AND CRANKSHAFT BOLT, THEN REINSTALLING OTHER COMPONENTS. CONTACTED KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS 6/18/08 AND REQUESTED DIST SERVICE MGR APPROVAL SHORT BLOCK REPLACEMENT. NO RETURN PHONE CALLS ALTHOUGH MESSAGES WERE LEFT FOR AGENT ON 6/19 AND 6/20. AGENT CALLED ON 6/25/08 TO ASK "HOW IS THE VEHICLE RIDING?", BUT WE HAD NOT PICKED UP THE VEHICLE FROM THE DEALER, SINCE YET AGAIN NO ALTERNATE TRANSPORTATION WAS PROVIDED. SAFETY IS NOW A MAJOR CONCERN WITH THIS VEHICLE. NO CONFIDENCE IN REPLACEMENT PARTS TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. RESEARCH SHOWS MANY OTHER OWNERS REPORTING MULTIPLE FAILURES OF THE CRANKSHAFT BOLT. REPAIR TOOK 6 BUSINESS DAYS (8 CALENDAR DAYS) AND AGAIN NO ALTERNATE TRANSPORTATION WAS OFFERED OR PROVIDED. WWW.KIA-FORUMS.COM HAS INFORMATION FROM A KIA TECHNICIAN THAT THE CRANKSHAFT PROBLEM IS DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW THAT CANNOT BE FIXED BY REPLACING A BOLT EVERY 10,000 TO 20,000 MILES OR EACH FAILURE. NO OWNER SHOULD BE EXPECTED TO WAIT FOR ANOTHER FAILURE THAT DROPS THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE ENGINE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. I HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE THAT THE FAILURES HAVE BEEN OUT OF TRAFFIC AND NOT ON THE INTERSTATES. LIVING IN METRO ATLANTA, GA MEANS I A FAR GREATER CHANCE OF THE NEXT FAILURE CAUSING INJURY TO ME OR OTHERS. *TR

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE MOTOR STARTED KNOCKING EXTREMELY LOUD. DID NOT OVERHEAT AND OIL LEVEL WAS FINE. ON JULY 31 I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM MS STEVENS (CENTRAL KIA) TO AUTHORIZE FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF THE VEHICLE. THE COST TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM WILL BE $80.00 IF NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. ON AUGUST 1ST I RECEIVED A CALL FROM MS. STEVENS STATING THE TECHNICIAN SAW SIGNS OF ?SLUDGE? WHEN HE REMOVED THE OIL CAP. MS. STEVEN QUESTIONED IF THERE WAS KNOCKING NOISE PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. I EXPLAINED THERE WAS NO NOISE PRESENT AND THE LAST OIL CHANGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 3,800 MILES AGO. MS. STEVENS SAID SHE HAD TO GET AUTHORIZATION TO PROCEED TO GO ANY FURTHER BECAUSE OF THE EVIDENCE OF ?SLUDGE?. IF THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO ?OIL STARVATION? IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND THE FURTHER DIAGNOSIS WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $500.00. I QUICKLY DISMISSED THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE ENGINE HAD BEEN ?OIL STARVED?. IF THE ENGINE WAS OIL STARVED THE FAILURE WOULD MOST LIKELY HAPPEN OVER TIME. THIS FAILURE WAS IMMEDIATE. MS. STEVENS AGREED AND EVEN MENTION THAT SHE HAS SEEN AND THE TECHNICIAN AS EXPERIENCED A MALFUNCTION WITH A WING NUT AND BOLT BREAKING AND FALLING INTO THE LOWER PART OF THE MOTOR. SHE BELIEVED THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED IN THIS CASE WHICH WOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE 100,000 MILE WARRANTY. ON THURSDAY AUGUST 2ND AT APPROXIMATELY 11:00AM I WENT TO CENTRAL KIA IN PLANO AND MET WITH MS. STEVENS. MS STEVENS TOLD ME THE WORK ON MY VEHICLE HAD NOT BEGUN. AT APPROXIMATELY 1:30 PM I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM MS. STEVENS STATING A MALFUNCTION IN THE MOTOR OCCURRED INVOLVING A FAILED PART (BOLT). MS. STEVENS NOW IS REQUESTED FOR ME TO PRODUCE MAINTENANCE RECORDS OR THE DEFECTIVE ENGINE WILL NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. IT IS VERY FRUSTRATING TO ME TO KNOW THAT KIA KNEW OF THE FAULTY PART PRIOR TO THE DIAGNOSIS, THEN FINDING THE PROBLEM THEN PLACING THE MONKEY ON THE CONSUMERS BACK BEFORE THEY WILL COVER IT UNDER WARRANTY. *JB

AT UNDER 20,000 MILES I WAS TOLD I NEED A NEW ENGINE. THEY HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR TWO WEEKS AND WON'T GIVE ME A RENTAL IN THE MEANTIME.*AK

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT,NEEDED CANISTER CLOSE V CANISTER ASS/CHECK ENGINE INSTALL CCV FILTER AND SPLASH SHIELDS/CHECK ENGINE SENSOR FUEL TANK/ STILL WAITING FOR SENSOR. NOW CANNOT PUT GAS IN VEHICLE, KEEPS BACK SPLASHING OUT, ON 1/4 TANK AND CANNOT PUT GAS IN,STILL WAITING FOR PART. *NM

DT: 2005 KIA SORENTO. THE AIRBAG LIGHT STAYED ON. THEY HAVE REPLACED THE SEAT, T AND SENT THE SEAT OFF TO HAVE THE SENSOR REPLACED. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE THEY COULD DO. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THIS HAPPENED TWICE IN ONE DAY. THE VEHICLE WILL RESTART AFTER WAITING A WHILE. ALSO, THE CLOCK HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE. *AK

1) SLOWED CAR TO PUT INTO PARK & CAR LUNGED FORWARDED, BACKED OFF, LUNGED FORWARD, BACKED OFF, ETC. TAPPING SOUND CAME FROM ENGINE. 2) CAR ENGINE STOPPED AND WOULD NOT RESTART (STALLED ON ROADWAY) 3) IT IS CURRENTLY IN THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS, AFTER THEY TOLD ME THEY COULDN'T GET IT TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM (ALTHOUGH THE 1ST DAY IT WAS IN THE DEALERSHIP, THEY ANKNOWLEDGED IT WAS "MISFIRING".) THEY HAVE NOW STATED THAT A CLIP ON THE INTAKE MANIFOLD COMES DISLODGED AND END UP IN THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, AND THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED THE PROBLEM. MY CAR HAS BEEN OUT OF SERVICE FOR 3 DAYS, AS OF THIS WRITING, AS THEY HAVE ORDERED A NEW INTAKE MANIFOLD.

WHILE DRIVING A LIGHT ON THE DASH ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER. *NM THE VEHICLE HAD A SENSOR ISSUE WHICH CAUSED THE PANEL LIGHT TO FLASH AND THE POWER TO BE LOST. THE PANEL LIGHT FLASHED TWICE AND STAYED ON THE SECOND TIME. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD IT WAS AN EMISSION LIGHT AND THERE WAS NO OTHER EXPLANATION. THE CONSUMER TRIED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE JUMP STARTED BUT IT DID NOT START THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS GIVEN A CHOICE TO TAKE ANOTHER VEHICLE SAME MAKE AND MODEL AS AN EXCHANGE FOR HER PURCHASED VEHICLE THAT FAILED. THE CLOCK DID NOT KEEP TIME AND THE LIGHT SWITCH DID NOT TURN ON THE INTERIOR LIGHTS. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE CLOCK FOR THE SECOND VEHICLE WAS ON BACK ORDER. THE CLOCK HAS TO BE RESET EVERY TIME THE CONSUMER GETS IN THE VEHICLE. *TC *JB