2005 Kia Sorento Engine

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

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

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

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

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.

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

STRIPPED CRANK SHAFT. *TR

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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