2004 Kia Sorento Other Problems

Your Sorento caught fire and burned completely while parked and running in your driveway. The fire spread rapidly, requiring the fire department to extinguish it, resulting in a total loss of the vehicle. You believe this was caused by a mechanical malfunction rather than external factors. The underlying cause will likely require a detailed inspection of the engine, fuel system, and electrical components by investigators.

Your vehicle caught fire while parked, with the fire starting in the engine compartment near the fuse box. The fire caused total damage to the vehicle. This is a serious electrical fire hazard that requires immediate investigation of the electrical system and fuse box.

THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. WE ARE A FAMILY OF FOUR. ONE OF US OPEN ONE OF THE REAR DOORS AND THE HANDLE CAME OUT COMPLETELY. I DON'T KNOW IF IT CAN BE REPAIR OR NOT. I COVER THE HOLE WITH TAPE TO PROTECT THE INNER PARTS OF THE DOOR FROM THE WATER. THE SAME THING HAPPENS WITH THE HANDLE OF THE OTHER REAR DOOR. BUT IN THIS CASE IT DOES NOT COME OUT COMPLETELY AND I USE TAPE TO MAINTAIN IT IN POSITION. IF SOMETHING HAPPENS AND THE PERSONS IN THE BACK SITS ARE UNABLE TO OPEN THE REAR DOORS FROM THE INSIDE ONE OF THE PERSONS IN THE FRONT SITS HAVE TO GET OUT THE CAR AND OPEN THE DOOR THAT STILL HAVE THE TAPED HANDLE. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS SITUATION IS GOING TO AFFECT THE MECHANISM OF THE INTERIOR HANDLES OF THE REAR DOORS. I DON'T KNOW IF THE TAPED HANDLE IS GOING TO BRAKE OR WHEN IS GOING TO BRAKE. I READ IN THE INTERNET THAT THIS A PROBLEM OF THE SORENTOS OF SEVERAL YEARS. SOME OF THE PERSONS IN THE INTERNET ASK WHY KIA IS NOT MAKING A RECALL. I HAVE A DAUGHTER OF 16 YEARS AND A SON OF ALMOST 15 YEARS. MY SON DOES NOT HAVE MANY LIMITATIONS, BUT HE HAS A SYNDROME. I AM INCLUDING PHOTOS OF THE DOORS.

TOOK CAR TO MY MECHANIC FOR SMALL LEAK IN RADIATOR AND ASKED THAT HE CHECK THE BRAKES BECAUSE I HEARD A LOUD NOISE FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. UPON CHECKING THE BRAKES (WHICH WERE O.K.) HE FOUND THE REAR FRAME TO BE COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH. HE NOTED THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE AND DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AS THERE WAS A RISK OF REAR DRIVETRAIN DETACHING FROM VEHICLE. THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM KNOWN TO KIA -- AS THERE WAS A RECALL IN EUROPE FOR THIS PROBLEM-- BUT NOT THE US. I ALREADY CONTACTED KIA AND THE ONLY RESPONSE I RECEIVED WAS TO TAKE IT TO A KIA DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WHEN WE ALREADY KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. KIA DOES NOT GIVE ANY GUARANTEE THAT THEY WOULD REIMBURSE US FOR THE TEST OR ANYTHING ELSE. PLEASE LET US KNOW WHAT WE CAN DO. HOW CAN WE GET KIA TO ACT RESPONSIBLY? THERE ARE MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM

CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT_WHILE DECELERATING TO MAKE A TURN, I LOST MY POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. THE BRAKE AND BATTERY INDICATOR LIGHTS CAME ON. THANKFULLY, I WAS NOT INVOLVED IN A POTENTIALLY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I MANAGED TO MAKE IT HOME THE LAST TWO MILES USING BATTERY TO SUPPLY IGNITION. THE 2 OF THE 3 BELTS HAD DISLODGED AND THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY WAS LOSE TO THE POINT THAT IT NEARLY DETACHED FROM THE CRANKSHAFT END. I AM GREATLY DISTURBED THAT, AFTER SOME RESEARCH, DISCOVERED THAT THIS EXACT FAILURE HAS BEEN REGULARLY DOCUMENTED. I PURCHASED MY UNIT USED SO I AM UNAWARE IF A PREVIOUS REPAIR HAD BEEN MADE BY KIA. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY NOTIFICATION OF SUCH. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE. I AM THANKFUL THAT I WAS IN A RURAL AREA WHEN THIS FAILURE OCCURRED. BASED UPON SOME RESEARCH FINDINGS, I HOPE THAT I DO NOT EXPERIENCE BALKING WHILE ATTEMPTING TO HAVE THIS ISSUE REMEDIED, AS OTHERS HAVE. I HAVE REVIEWED SOME DISCUSSION REGARDING A SERVICE BULLETIN #018 (NHTSA ITEM NUMBER : 10009688 DATE OF BULLETIN : JUL 01, 2004 CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT) ISSUED BY KIA CONCERNING THIS FAILURE. I WILL BE ARRANGING FOR THE UNIT TO BE DELIVERED TO MY NEAREST KIA DEALER (45 MILES AWAY IN QUINCY, IL).