Bulletins


BulletinBulletin dateReplacement BulletinItem no.SummaryAdded
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE
TSB-06805/01/201010034246Kia: intermittent mil on with no fault code stored; information about dtc p1330. provides information relating to certain vehicles. in affected vehicles an intermittent short to ground in a circuit only intended for testing purposes may c10/29/2010
TSB-04411/01/200910033464Kia: ecm upgrade with tp sensor replacement-mil on with dtc p2135/p0638. information related to ecm software and tp sensor upgrade on some vehicles with 2.7l engines which may experience a malfunction indicator lamp (mil) illuminated with08/18/2010
07305/01/200810025153Sorento icv replacement. *nj07/14/2008
07207/01/200710022518Crankshaft bolt replacement. *kb08/17/2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM - EMISSION CONTROL - CRANKCASE (PCV)
9201/01/200610019926Crankshaft bolt torque. *tt05/16/2006

Consumer Complaints


Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
04/29/2012
 Driving to store and heard noise. several warning lights came on and i had no power steering. returned home and found crank pulley and broken crank pulley bolt laying in the skid plate.
03/13/200883000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2003 kia sorento. while driving 40 mph, the contact noticed that the front end of the vehicle began to vibrate. the vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the crank shaft pulley bolt was replaced. the failure continued. the failure mileage was 83,000 and the current mileage was 107,000. sm.
03/13/200883000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2003 kia sorento. while traveling 40 mph the contact noticed that the front end of the vehicle had began to vibrate. the vehicle was taken to the dealership where the crank shaft pulley bolt was replaced. however the failure is still occurring. the current mileage is 107000, and the failure mileage was 83000. bml
01/07/20121
 2003 kia sorento. consumer states bolt loosened while driving *tgw the consumer stated while driving, the brake and battery light illuminated. the consumers husband soon discovered it was difficult to turn the steering wheel. her husband was able to pull over to the side of the road. as he examined the vehicle, he touched a bolt, which was extremely hot, and it was the same bolt that was recalled, which had become loose again. the vehicle was towed to the dealer. the consumer was informed the vehicle needed a new engine at a cost of $6,000 even though there was no damage to the rest of the engine. the consumer wanted the bolt to be re-threaded. the dealer advised the consumer, they did not have the equipment, to perform the re-thread of the bolt, but instead of needing a new engine, they could replace the crankshaft at a cost of $3,500. *jb
10/16/200632500
 Tl* the contact owns a 2003 kia sorrento. the contact stated that after starting the vehicle, a long bang was heard from under the vehicle as it stalled. the vehicle was towed to the dealer where the dealer confirmed that the crank shaft pulley detached from the vehicle abnormally. the vehicle was repaired yet the failure recurred later while the contact was driving 40 mph.the vehicle was again towed to the dealer where the dealer confirmed that the crankshaft pulley had yet again, detached from the vehicle. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure and the vehicle was repaired a second time. the failure mileage was 32,500 and the current mileage was 76,000.
10/16/200632500
 Tl- the contact owns a 2003 kia sorrento. the contact stated that after starting the vehicle, a long bang was heard from under the vehicle as it stalled. the vehicle was towed to the dealer where the dealer confirmed that the crank shaft pulley detached from the vehicle abnormally. the vehicle was repaired yet the failure recurred later while the contact was driving 40 mph.the vehicle was again towed to the dealer where the dealer confirmed that the crankshaft pulley had yet again, detached from the vehicle. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure and the vehicle was repaired a second time. the failure mileage was 32,500 and the current mileage was 76,000. kmj
10/16/200632500
 Tl- the contact owns a 2003 kia sorrento. the contact stated after starting the vehicle a long bang noise emitted from under the vehicle and the vehicle shut down. the vehicle was towed to the dealer. and the dealer confirmed the crank shaft pulley detached. after repairs were made the failure repeated while driving 40 mph.the vehicle was again towed to the dealer. and the dealer confirmed the same diagnosis. the manufacturer was contacted. the vehicle was repaired. the failure mileage was 32,500 and the current mileage was 76,000. rds
07/15/2011140000
 Was driving approx 60 miles per hour and fuel pressure dropped; engine shut off. was able to restart and drive but for only a few miles at the time. this happened over course of couple of days. had fuel pumped replaced. after fuel pump was replaced i had problems fueling vehicle. gas would bubble up and spray out of gas tank. had to pump slowly. gas would get all over me, vehicle and ground. returned vehicle back to repair shop six times over the course of six weeks; had other part replaced. vehicle still losing fuel pressure, shuting off and not able to pump gas without it spurting out of tank. vehicle parked as i feel it is not safe to drive for me or daughter. out of 600 dollars and not vehicle to drive. something from manufacturer should be done. this is a dangerous situation. i am afraid of vehicle starting a fire with me in it.
05/17/2011
 Whenever i attempt to put gas in my truck, the gas always comes back out. i tried to have it fixed but no one ever heard of a gas tank doing this unless it's full all ready which i know. i mean the gas would just flow out really bad. some gas stations won't even allow me to use their station in fear of a fire.
08/30/2011120000
 Crankshaft bolt was replaced after recall in 2007. crankshaft sensor was replaced in april 2011 after malfunctioning and causing car to stall out at anytime, including while doing 65 on the freeway. while driving a few days back, sudden loss of power steering and brake and battery lights came on. had car towed to dealership where we were told that the bolt, which had been replaced per the recall, had broken, but the warranty on the replaced bolt is only 1 year. now repair on this will cost over $300 and new bolt will still only be warrantied for one year. so this same problem with this faulty part could continue, but the part is only under warranty for one year.
04/26/201179400
 Tl*the contact owns a 2003 kia sorento. the contact stated that while driving approximately 15 to 20 mph when the vehicle would suddenly stall. the vehicle was towed on a few occasions and other times he was able to restart it on its own. the vehicle was inspected by a independent mechanic and they advised him that it was the fuel pump. the vehicle was repaired for the fuel pump. on another occasion it was towed again and they advised him that they were unable to diagnose the failure. the vehicle has not been repaired again. the manufacturer was not notified. the failure mileage was approximately 79,400.
04/26/201179400
 Tl-the contact owns a 2003 kia sorento. the contact stated that while driving approximately 15 to 20 mph when the vehicle would suddenly stall. the vehicle was towed on a few occasions and other times he was able to restart it on its own. the vehicle was inspected by a independent mechanic and they advised him that it was the fuel pump. the vehicle was repaired for the fuel pump. on another occasion it was towed again and they advised him that they were unable to diagnose the failure. the vehicle has not been repaired again. the manufacturer has not been contacted. the failure mileage was approximately 79,400. tb
03/31/201078000
 Tl* the contact owns a 2003 kia sorento. the contact stated that the bolt crankshaft sensor bolt failed and caused the belts to fracture and the power steering to malfunction. the vehicle was taken to a local repair shop where it was repaired yet the failure recurred shortly after. the vehicle was not further repaired. the contact called the manufacturer who offered no assistance. the current mileage was approximately 106,000 and the failure mileage was approximately 78,000.
03/31/201078000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2003 kia sorento. the contact stated that the bolt on the crankshaft sensor broke causing the belts to fall off and the power steering to malfunction. the vehicle was taken to a local repair shop where it was repaired. the failure occurred again. the vehicle had not been repaired. the contact called the manufacturer who offered no assistance. the current mileage was approximately 106,000. the failure mileage was approximately 78,000-bk
12/01/2010204/01/2003
 2003 kia sorento. consumer states several problems with vehicle *tgw the consumer stated on two occasions, the pin that held the crankshaft together broke loose. the crankshaft sensor located behind the timing belt failed. *jb
08/15/2010111404
 Tl-the contact owns a 2003 kia sorento. the engine crankshaft bolt failed in august of 2008. the dealer replaced the engine crankshaft bolt four times. the repairs didn't correct the failure. the manufacturer believes the continues failure was dealer error, and they will not assist with the repair. the vehicle had not been repaired. the failure mileage was 111,404 and the current mileage was 118,000. li
10/28/201036000
 I have had my 2003 kia sorento since march 2010. it was purchased with 32,000 miles on it, and as of the end of october 2010, it had 36,000 miles. so far, i have had to replace the coolant reservoir, because it was cracked. i was driving, and it overheated out of nowhere. it was in the shop for four days, because they could not find the problem even after doing several pressurized systems tests. at the end of october 2010, i had to replace the oil pump, because it had a crack in it. no one anywhere i called could believe i had to replace an oil pump. all the mechanics stated that's one of the few things they never have to replace on any vehicle, and certainly not at 36,000 miles. anyway, due to oil leaking onto the timing belt, that had to be replaced also. the timing belt was in fine condition otherwise. consequently, i now have engine problems. i'm sure the engine will have to be replaced from overheating and then having no oil. at high rpms, you can hear a slight tick, which i'm pretty sure is a lifter issue. headlights burn out quickly. i was driving one day, and both burnt out at the same time. i had to drive on high beams in the city. constant electrical problems with the dash. dash lights rarely work, and then all of a sudden all the lights will start flashing here and there - dash lights flash on/off, ceiling light flashes on/off, all back and forth while i'm driving in the dark. very distracting, especially in traffic. the truck itself (seats, comfort, etc.) is awesome, but it was definitely manufactured poorly. worst purchase ever. glad i bought the 5 star warranty or i'd be paying for a truck i can't drive.
09/13/201074000
 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 didnt replace crankshaft. on 9/13/10 the bolt failed again, independant repair shope, and a different dealer verified the need for crankshaft to be replace. contacted kia of america, and casey kia with no sign of resolutiuon.
11/16/2009790001
 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
09/12/20091050001
 2003 kia sorento harmonic balancer bolt broke off reported to kia they will not honor any recalls, they said it was a recall from several years ago . but if its a safety issue like this they should try harder to inform people of this before there is major accident . just wish they would honor a recall that they have had with this bolt. i never received a recall notice or it is not posted on any site that i could find, ,just want my car fixed without a $2900 bill at the end . *tr
08/25/20091033651
 Back in oct 2008 went to car at 5am to go to work started my 2003 kia sorento heard this noise got out to raise hood before i could saw coolant coming from under my car didn't have time to really investigate had my sister take me to work when i came home had car towed to kia dealer they advised me that my coolant reservoir had crack and i needed to have replaced at 250.xx at this point they did tell me there was a recall on my sorento made appt to take back to have part replaced never, before this so call recall part was replaced never had any warning lights come on after they say they replaced the part my engine light came on took my sorento back to the same dealer 5 times within a 2 month period they kept telling me nothing was wrong with my car so i let the light stay on, moved to a different city tired of seeing this light on took to another kia dealer they ran a diagnostic for 125.00 to tell me nothing was wrong with my car but i noticed when i was leaving the engine light was off when back in to find out why and how did the light go off he stated he turned it off now while sitting at a traffic light with no warning my car just shut off got started back but this time with a loud banging noise i was only about 3 blocks from my home so i drove about 5 miles per hr to get home to have to have a tow truck come get my car the dealer has yet to let me know what the problem is.... *tr
08/07/2009609801
 My 2003 kia sorento kept losing antifreeze and to find out the reservoir had a crack in it. also, after i purchase bridgestone fire destination tires a year later they were worn after spending $600.00 i had to have two of them replaced within a year. p245/70r16. also 2 defects recalls when my car was put in the shop one from 2007 sc073 and sc072 when my check engine light came on. it was still on after the car was supposedly fixed by quirk kia in braintree. when i was driving out of the parking lot the check engine light was still on. i was told the car was fine and it was just a sensor and to fix it the cost would be over $200. a year later, i brought it to get a sticker, they rejected my for another recall that should have been fixed when i brought it in last year. the recall was from 2005. now i am trying to contact the dealership because of the inconvenience of me going to get this fixed when it should have been taken care of last year. i will never buy a kia again, the dealership does not care about their cars or customers. *tr
04/05/20091
 2003 kia sorento, purchased used with 11,000 miles on it. has been a nightmare since the day i bought it! head gaskets warped at 28,000 miles, overheated without warning, no spike in temp gauge, wham smoke from everywhere and even with proof of maintenance upkeep it took kia 2 months to decide to honor the warranty. this was after the check engine light would come on every two seconds and have to be in the shop for months for them to say nothing wrong with it, even when it was towed in every time because it would just shut off. then the headlight issues are insane. every other month and that is no exaggeration i have to replace either low beams, high beams, brake lights & tail lights. *tr
03/22/2009830001
 Kia informed me of a crank shaft bolt recall for my 2003 sorento lx. 3 days after having this repair performed, my car began to just die at high speeds on the freeway, but it was intermittent and the kia dealership told me they probably wouldn't be able to find the problem if they couldn't recreate it. an internet search on the issue reveals many consumers having this same problem which ultimately turns out to be a defective crank shaft sensor -- but kia service jerks people around and keeps their cars for days/weeks saying that they cannot recreate the problem. this is a huge safety issue when your vehicle just suddenly dies on the freeway with absolutely no warning... not even sputtering. i printed out several consumer accounts describing my exact problem--revealing it's ultimately the crank shaft sensor, and kia is refusing to acknowledge the relationship between their repair work and the likelihood that it's the crank shaft sensor -- admittedly holding my vehicle without even reviewing the basic diagnostics. *tr
01/30/2009780001
 My engine blew on the car it only has about 78,000 miles on it gets regular oil changes and no major problems. i have never had a warning light come on as to indicate i had some oil or engine problems. the car had just been involved in an auto accident and been sitting since 12/15 i just got it back on 01/23 and the engine blows on 01/30 and they want to charge me $5,000 to replace ......i have heard things about kia engines but my suv was in fine condition and all of a sudden my engines blows....sounds like a defect to me. *tr
01/15/20091050001
 The check engine light keeps coming on and it has been checked by a dealership and they don't know the problem, the front headlamps keep burning out. *tr
01/28/2009500001
 Check engine light will not shut off. vehicle has been to the dealer several times. dealership has at times been rude and the problem still exists. they do not know how to fix it. also have problems with headlights burning out very regularly and the back hatch will no longer open. *tr
09/10/2008100000
 Tl*the contact owns a 2003 kia sorento. while driving between 35-40 mph, the motor in the cooling fan failed. the motor was attempting to turn over; however, it could not because the fuse in the fuse box did not blow out as it should. the wire from the terminal blocker melted into the fuse box. this caused the wires to burn and the passenger compartment became engulfed in smoke. the vehicle was driven home and did not catch on fire. the vehicle has two safety features, one in the terminal block and the other in the fuse box, but they did not work. the contact called kia and was informed that the warranty ended at 60,000 miles. the vin was unknown. the failure mileage was 100,000.
02/01/2008410001
 Engine light came on back in february and had it to two different mechanic shops which replaced spark plugs and one coil pack. engine light still on so i took to kia dealer and they replaced spark plugs with platnium ones and replaced other 2 coil packs. vehicle has been back to dealer several times for the past several months for check engine light replacing intake manifold due to recall but light came back on and they have had my vehicle most recently for the past 4 weeks. i went to pick it up yesterday as they said they had to replace the cylinder heads with reconditioned ones and all gaskets and seals. as i started to leave the dealership light came back on and vehicle is there again. obviously mechanics at dealers don't know what's causing these problems and cannot fix them. i feel that kia should buy everyone out of their sorentos plus give them the value of the vehicle (without deducting for problems) plus a 15% compensation for putting the customers through this or maybe put a brand new engine in vehicle. a new engine or remanufactured engine was replaced in this vehicle back in august, 2006. i originally put my date down as march, but looking back, this has been going on since february!! this is the second complaint i am filing. *tr
02/01/200872000208/01/2005
 Tl*the contact owns a 2003 kia sorrento. while driving 45 mph, the vehicle began to overheat. the contact inspected the vehicle and notice the coolant was low. approximately a week later he inspected the vehicle again noticed that there was a crack in the reservoir tank. he replaced the reservoir tank. as of april 15, 2008, the dealer had not inspected the vehicle. in addition, the driver side headlights, tail lights and brake lights failed intermittently. as of april 15, 2008, the dealer had not inspected the vehicle for this failure. the contact felt that the electrical system caused the failure. the failure mileage was 72,000 and current mileage was 76,000.
01/28/200866400210/18/2006
 Tl*the contact owns a 2003 kia sorento. while driving 60 mph, the vehicle failed without warning. the vehicle was towed to the dealer and they stated that they would have to disassemble the engine at the cost of $861. the dealer replaced the head gaskets, water pump assembly, and the coolant tank reservoir. the total repair cost was $1,691. after returning home, the contact had to take the vehicle to his local dealer two weeks later and they stated that they would have to disassemble the engine in order to locate the failure. the dealer identified warped cylinders as being the failure component, and the head gaskets, pump assembly, and the coolant tank reservoir were replaced again. the vehicle is currently at the dealer being repaired. the failure mileage was 66,400 and current mileage is 66,800. the coolant reservoir leaked which caused the vehicle to overheat. updated 05/13/08. *jb
03/01/20071
 Like many 2003 kia sorento owners the overflow tank in mine developed a crack in the bottom that is only visible when it is pressurized. although kia knows there is a problem with the overflow tank in most if not all 2003 kia sorento's and has sent out a tsb to their mechanics over how to replace it. as soon as my car had overheated due to the leak, i had to pay around $100 to buy a new tank from the nearest dealership but alas after over heating my car developed more problems and engine having to be thrown out. this has cost me over $4300 in repairs so far, and have not been able to drive the car i am still making monthly payments on in nine months. none of which are covered to the warranty due to their 10 year 100,000 mile powertrain warranty not being transferable to those who buy the car used. *tr
08/31/200786000207/01/2003
 Coolant spilling from the reservoir (which was replaced in december 2006, the part was on national back order. i waited 5 weeks for the part to arrive). the car stalled several times and steam came from the right side of the hood. today is 8/31/07, similar incident happened with the car. the dealer said that the hose from the coolant reservoir was cracked. i asked since the part was related to the reservoir why did i have to pay additional for the hose repair ($193.30). the dealer said the hose was a separate part. i don't understand why kia doesn't recall the reservoir and any associated parts. *tr
07/20/200768000110/22/2005
 On july 20, 2007 driving home from work in the rain, on the highway my car made a loud noise and i lost steering and did everything i could to not hit cars beside of me and the poor guy behind me from crashing in to me. called my husband who came and picked up the harmonic balance off the highway, lifted the hood to find a large bolt (now i know crankshaft bolt) broken. which i have. i searched and found where there were several complaints and that kia was going to recall. i called kia on the 1st of aug. (car has been sitting in my driveway because it has 68000 miles and i am the second owner), who had my car towed to the rusty wallace kia in louisville, tn. (checked the mail when i came home and there was a recall on crankshaft bolts) imagine that. it is still sitting there at the dealership. they keep telling me the district manager is trying to decide whether or not to fix it. i had spoken to a couple of tech's. and they told me my motor was gone. the bolt broke off inside the motor. kia is now jerking me around. i have had to put off vacation and my husband and i are sharing a vehicle which is costing me a fortune in gas because we work in opposite directions and i work about 30 miles from my home. can not get any help. i have researched and found huge complaints about this. kia has known about this. *jb
06/25/200763000205/01/2003
 I was dropping off someone at work when the car made a thump and all the dash warning lights came on. i drove it home about two miles away, and took it to a automobile service center the next day. they told me that the crankshaft pulley was ready to fall off. the next day i had it towed from the service center to the dealer. the dealer said the same thing as the service center, and that it was under warranty. also, it a needed a 60000 mile service for which i paid extra. when i went to pick the car 5 days later the car was making a belt noise, it was slow in starting, the dash light wouldn't come on, and the airbag light was on. when i took it back to the dealer, they tightened the belts and checked the other problems at a cost of $150, and that these other problems were not under warranty, and would cost $1400 to fix them. i have never had a problem with this car until the crankshaft pulley failed, and could not see why if a warranty failure caused something else to fail, why wasn't it fixed under warranty? also, the person who worked on the ca rcomplained about the oil pan with the sealer that was used to seal the engine.*ak
05/23/200761000202/24/2005
 No warning of failure. happened at 61000 miles 1000 over warranty. crankshaft bolt broke , and the mechanic sad he never saw something like this. so i think kia should be responsible ..he got the parts from kia, and on 7/15/07 the bolt came off again while car was in parking lot of wife's work place. kia should fix it . i was planning on getting a mini van, and it won't be a kia, depending on what they do about my serento. *ak
05/18/200733000104/17/2003
 Crankshsft pulley bolt broke on 2003 kia sorento v6 model. this caused loss of power steering in vehicle. *ak
04/30/200764000107/16/2003
 As i was driving down the freeway, the engine stalled and all lights on the dash came on. i was able to pull to safety (just by sheer luck) and called kia 1-800 for towing service. the vehicle was towed to an authorized dealership. i was initially told that the timing belt was malfunctioning. supposedly the analyzer showed that there were multiple misfires. i was asked if the car was missing prior to the stall. i told them it ran as smooth as silk. i authorized them to replace the timing belt despite the fact that it had been replaced as part of scheduled maintenance two months earlier. the dealership then called and told me they had good news and bad news. the timing belt was repaired but it appeared the head was blown and that kia refused to pay for repairs because the overflow bottle was cracked. they stated that the head blew because the engine overheated and was caused by my negligence. the gauges never indicated that the car overheated. they are unable to tell me how much the repairs will cost because there may be further damage once they tear it down. the estimate is between $2500 and wore case scenario $4700 i am furious. the car is not yet four years old and still has 36,000 miles left on the warranty. *jb
02/10/2007306/30/2003
 I have now had the crank shaft pulley break 3 times, the engine and other parts have had to be replaced due to this. it makes the vehicle suddenly inoperable and unsafe.*ak
12/17/200667290103/18/2003
 A screw that hold the crank shaft & the tamper get broken while i was driving to my house. the dealer in puerto rico said that i have to pay$2,521.00 to fix it. but i heard from an insurance agent that kia was told by some government agency, i think that agency is nhtsa; to modify the screw involved in my incident, causing the lost control of my sorento. the steering get hard to move.
12/13/200645000108/05/2003
 Dt*: the contact stated while attempting to turn on the defogger/defrost system, the heater failed to operate, and no heat was present. the vehicle was inspected by a dealer, who determined antifreeze fluid leaked out of the reservoir tank because it was fractured and needed to be replaced. the replacement parts were not available at the dealer, and the manufacturer was alerted, who confirmed the parts were not available. the dealer instructed the contact to monitor the level of antifreeze fluid daily and add more antifreeze if needed.
11/06/200671000107/01/2003
 First incident - car stalled and fluid steamed from the hood. it had to be towed after several restarts to drive to the dealer. the coolant reservoir was cracked. this part is on national backorder and i have so far been waiting approx. four weeks for the part. the dealer said kia has halted manufacturing/distributing the part just for new cars and requested that the parts be shipped to the dealers for repair installations. the dealer customer service is great and i have no complaint about the dealer. *nm
10/31/200640000212/21/2002
 Where do i start?....well not long after we got the piece of junk we had to take it to the kia dealer because the engine light kept coming on, they said it was because the gas cap wasn't being twisted enough and air got in. well for about 2 weeks the engine light stayed off, we took it back numerous times but it kept coming back on. then on one occasion i was stranded about 40 miles from home...the car was dead, we had it towed to the dealer, all the belts had come off, they tried to make excuses why kia wouldn't fix it under the warranty, thank god we won that battle...keep in mind, the engine light is still on at this point. now this year the heater won't stay hot after about 30 seconds it turns cold, as cold as the air. then with no warning the car over heats and dies on me. we have it towed to the dealer they say it is my fault because when i seen the light come on i should have pulled over, the light never goes off kia won't fix it unless we pay for it, and the cost is $10,000. we have one year left and it would be paid off...less than $7,000 and now this. i am so angry, this is not right. i think the kia company needs to be investigated. something needs to be done they are ripping everyone off. taking money from working people and scamming them. they are no better than thieves and liars. they are selling a product along with a promise to service it should something go wrong but not honoring that promise. oh and did i mention the head lights are always going out? *jb
07/21/200673000108/28/2003
 The reservoir on my 2003 kia sorento ruptured and all the coolant leaked out while i was driving. i pulled off the highway and into a gas station and the let the car cool. i then added in anti- freeze and filled it with water and drove another 10 miles and dropped the car at a repair shop. the next day the car would not start. the kia dealership is saying it is not covered under warranty. *jb
11/07/20052802/22/2003
 Electrical failure,cooling system failure,rough running-engine misfire purchased car 2-22-2003 brand new this car has spent a lot of time on the dealers lift. also has seen its share of tow trucks. in the past 1 1/2 years i have replaced 18 left side headlights,23 right side head light ,16 fog lights,8 license plate lights and 6 tail lights the truck has been to 3 dealers and they all say its either normal or it's only because i did not buy the bulbs from kia well some i did and they do not last either. the last time it was in they had the truck for 9 1/2 minutes and told us there is nothing wrong and for $149.00 they will put in a new bulb. no warranty on how long it will last..... the truck also misfires and the dealer also cannot fix it they say the computer says its good so it must be good. well you can feel the misfire even the dealers mechanic stated it is misfiring but he cannot fix it maybe after the warranty is over we will be able to find the problem..... another problem is the cooling system in the past 3 years it has had the recovery tank replaced 2 times the radiator replaced the connecting y behind the motor replaced ... i have spent over $200.00 on rent a cars with no help from kia each time my car is towed in this car is still under warranty so why cant they fix it o yeah the last thing is the fog lights are melting or shall i say its the inside chrome coating is burning and i was told its not warranty and there about $85.00 each why wont kia meet with me ?????????????? can anyone please help me. *nm
12/26/2005250001502/22/2003
 Electrical failure,cooling system failure,rough running-engine misfire purchased car 2-22-2003 brand new this car has spent a lot of time on the dealers lift. also has seen its share of tow trucks. in the past 1 1/2 years i have replaced 18 left side headlights,23 right side headlights ,16 fog lights,8 license plate lights and 6 tail lights the truck has been to 3 dealers and they all say its either normal or it's only because i did not buy the bulbs from kia well some i did and they do not last either. the last time it was in they had the truck for 9 1/2 minutes and told us there is nothing wrong and for $149.00 they will put in a new bulb. no warranty on how long it will last..... the truck also misfires and the dealer also cannot fix it they say the computer says its good so it must be good. well you can feel the misfire even the dealers mechanic stated it is misfiring but he cannot fix it maybe after the warranty is over we will be able to find the problem..... another problem is the cooling system in the past 3 years it has had the recovery tank replaced 2 times the radiator replaced the connecting y behind the motor replaced ... i have spent over $200.00 on rent a cars with no help from kia each time my car is towed in this car is still under warranty so why cant they fix it o yeah the last thing is the fog lights are melting or shall i say its the inside chrome coating is burning and i was told its not warranty and there about $85.00 each why wont kia meet with me ?????????????? can anyone please help me. *nm
06/18/200525000111/15/2003
 Harmonic balancer bolt broke. traveling less than 5mph. vehicle started to vibrate. upon investigation, found that the main bolt holding the harmonic balancer in had sheared off. there were some rust deposits at the breakage point. this occured while on an offroad trip. the vehicle was left in the backcountry. i will have to attempt to make repairs in the field in order to get it to the dealer. there is no way to tow the vehicle out of its current position.
10/04/2004589473
 While driving, the engine blew out the first time on 10-04-04. it was replaced and it blew again on 01-21-05. the vehicle is on its third engine. *ak the key became stuck in the ignition, the vehicle shifted out of park. the consumer stated he has had transmissions and engine problems since he purchased the vehicle. the front wheel bearings were damaged. the fog light was inoperative. *jb
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - COOLING SYSTEM
12/22/2009450001
 I purchased my 03 kia sorento in 2004 and have had many issues since then. i have had to replace lights from the front to the back numerous times. i've been driving down our remote country road at night and had my headlights go out. my coolant tank cracked and left me stranded on another country road in the snow last year. i later found out it was recalled for that particular defect; after i had it replaced. the lighting issue is my biggest concern right now because of where i live (remote country roads, deer at night, etc) i have to have properly functioning headlights at all times. now, i am having problems concerning the bearings on it. it makes a horrible screeching noise that is now; almost continuous. it doesn't matter the temperature outside, driving conditions, etc. it has become harder to steer and the power steering fluid is fine. i don't feel safe in this vehicle anymore, and i cannot afford to just go out and buy something new. i just ask that if fault lies with kia; then they should fix it at their expense....not mine! i have invested way too much time, money and patience thus far and feel it's kia's responsibility to make sure they create a vehicle that functions properly. and when they don't...fix it!!! as for the questions below; was there a fire?...not yet!!! was there property damage?....there probably will be when my bearings go out and the wheels fall off! where there any deaths or injuries?....dear lord, i pray every time i get in my truck that nothing like that ever happens to me or my son....but; with an unreliable vehicle that has constant electrical and mechanical problem; then who knows.... *tr
10/02/2007673751
 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
07/15/2008730001
 Overheating , the overflow and filler tank cracking open on the bottom out of sight . caused me to replace the waterpump and thermostat before being able to find the problem and left myself and family stranded. took to dealer who found the crack after checking and stated they nationwide they had to replace over a half a million tanks on these vehicles at $200.plus per job not to mention the cost of created problems from the overheat they are talking about multi millions of loss to consumers . *tr
07/14/1977660001
 Engine coolant leaking. car parked in garage at 66,000 miles. won't hold coolant is leaking at heated coil. i have taken this kia to the dealership and have not received the source of the problem yet. i saw and read the many complaints and similar problem with the kia sorento cooling system. that is why i am entering another complaint to help get something done. with every vehicle there will be problems. however, this sorento seems to have a ton of engine coolant problems. the only recall i have on this 2003 kia sorento is a fuel assembly issue. i would love to receive a list of any and all recalls. hopefully add the engine cooling system to it. *tr
07/14/2008670001
 While driving the sorento to his girlfriends house my son noticed that the temperature gage was higher than normal. he wasn't to far from town so he called and i told him to get some 50/50 antifreeze to put in the reservoir. he did this and had no more problems until the next day on his way home. his girl lives about 20 miles from us. about halfway home the vehicle just died. had the vehicle towed to kia dealership and was told that the engine needed to be replaced. no warning lights or gauges identified anything wrong. was also told that engine was driven while excessively hot. not because a warning light or gauge told us so! if all of this cost to us is due to a small piece of plastic someone needs to take kia out to the woodshed. the contact stated that the coolant tank was cracked and all of the coolant leaks out the vehicle. when this occurs, the temperature sensor stops working. while driving 65 mph, the vehicle overheats without the contacts knowledge; therefore, he continues to drive until it fails. the dealer did not want to repair the vehicle because of the engine failure and no recording of prior maintenance. the failure mileage was 67,000. *tr
06/07/200871000
 Tl*the contact owns a 2003 kia sorento. the contact stated that the coolant tank was cracked and all of the coolant leaks out the vehicle. when this occurs, the temperature sensor stops working. while driving 65 mph, the vehicle overheats without the contact's knowledge; therefore, he continues to drive until it fails. the dealer did not want to repair the vehicle because of the engine failure. the failure mileage was 71,000.
11/23/20071120001
 Same thing engine light comes on i pull over tank cracked , engine ruined, kia told me they don't care and won't help. engine failure due to manufacturer defect car had 110 k on it, but they knew about the tank and the engine concerns, kia should not be allowed to get away with this, $4,000 later i have a car that should never had broken. *tr
10/17/200762787101/13/2003
 Engine coolant overflow container is cracked. *tr
07/10/200754700206/01/2005
 Last feb. the coolant reservoir cracked, lost all coolant. towed to dealer. they fixed it and told me that i needed a new belt. i didn't want anything more to happen as i take my 90 year old mom around, they replaced one belt for $120. never ran right after that, with screeching noises and no more a/c. today, just as i was driving onto the highway-i started losing my steering and i immediately pulled over off the ramp, then it stalled as i was pulling over. i have read about this happening to a lot of people and was just waiting for it to happen. well it did and thank god i wasn't going 70 on the highway yet. it has been towed to dealer and they said it was the bolt on the drive shaft that broke. then he said that since i'm only 8000 miles away from 60k, then i should just do the timing belt service now because if i don't and it goes, then my engine will blow. so i guess this is what i have to wait to happen next and i'm sure it will. thousands of people can't be wrong. don't buy a kia!!!!!!!!!!!!! *tr
01/14/20071
 Coolant tank cracked. called kia and they said that it was not covered by warranty but that the part had been re designed. so i guess there was a problem with the tanks. but kia would not cover the replacement of the defective tank.*ak
10/31/200640000212/23/2002
 Engine and cooling system. *jb
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - COOLING SYSTEM - RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
10/08/2007108000105/11/2007
 2003 kia part # 25430-3e201 tsb # kt2007073101 driving down road coolant over flow tank splits leaks fluid out, ruins engine, find out kia had a tsb out to replace tank with stronger re-engineered tank. never notified public, bad design costs me thousands of dollars because not covered under warranty. i am left stranded 10 pm at night on side of interstate in pouring rain. *tr
07/01/200533520111/15/2002
 When i stopped at 12,000 ft mt pass summit in remote area i noticed fluid draining from my kia sorento. i limped into small town -had the radiator checked and refilled-temperature gauge did not register hot- i was sent on my way but then became stranded in middle park area of colorado (kremmling) with what was discovered to be cracked, leaking resevoir. no authorized repair shop in area and kia wanted me to cross mt pass to get into denver 100 miles away!--kia refuses to honor warranty as i was not at authorized service shop-it took me days to locate the needed parts and have the replacement done. upon returning home to authorized kia dealer for a general inspection of the problem i was told there were 3 other vehicles with same incident--now there are 2-3 more cracked and leaking resevoirs plus mine -(told to me by the kia service department)--kia sorento 2003; mileage 33,500--old part is available for inspection--interesting to note-new resevoir is of different design, so kia knew there was a problem!*jb
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE
08/08/201186152
 While driving our 2003 kia sorento we heard a loud clunk and bang. pulled the vehicle over and found the crankshaft pulley laying at the bottom of the engine compartment. this is the second time this has happened. the first was in june of 2010 with 78,560 miles. the dealer replaced the broken bolt. (part number 23127 39801qqk) this is what caused the failure. when the bolt failed it caused the following additional damage, timing belt, sensor crank angle, blade sensing crank. the total bill came to 1197 for a bolt failing. the bolt failed again 14 months later on august 8th 2011. same exact problem that occurred the first time. the car is currently in the shop and i'm fighting with the dealer now to repair it under warranty. i've done some research on this and this is becoming a growing issue with the sorentos. if you own one have the bolt on inspected during every oil change. if the bolt seems loose have it checked out immediately. it could save you thousands.
10/28/201036000
 I have had my 2003 kia sorento since march 2010. it was purchased with 32,000 miles on it, and as of the end of october 2010, it had 36,000 miles. so far, i have had to replace the coolant reservoir, because it was cracked. i was driving, and it overheated out of nowhere. it was in the shop for four days, because they could not find the problem even after doing several pressurized systems tests. at the end of october 2010, i had to replace the oil pump, because it had a crack in it. no one anywhere i called could believe i had to replace an oil pump. all the mechanics stated that's one of the few things they never have to replace on any vehicle, and certainly not at 36,000 miles. anyway, due to oil leaking onto the timing belt, that had to be replaced also. the timing belt was in fine condition otherwise. consequently, i now have engine problems. i'm sure the engine will have to be replaced from overheating and then having no oil. at high rpms, you can hear a slight tick, which i'm pretty sure is a lifter issue. headlights burn out quickly. i was driving one day, and both burnt out at the same time. i had to drive on high beams in the city. constant electrical problems with the dash. dash lights rarely work, and then all of a sudden all the lights will start flashing here and there - dash lights flash on/off, ceiling light flashes on/off, all back and forth while i'm driving in the dark. very distracting, especially in traffic. the truck itself (seats, comfort, etc.) is awesome, but it was definitely manufactured poorly. worst purchase ever. glad i bought the 5 star warranty or i'd be paying for a truck i can't drive.
08/27/20091220001
 2003/04 kia sorento crank shaft pulley bolt is failing. there was a notice sent by kia in july 2007 to notify the owners of the issue and to have it fixed. the replacement bolts are failing. when the replacement bolts fail it is causing the vehicle to stop no matter what speed the driver is traveling and the steering is locking up. the manufacturer will not address this. this is a an extreme safety issue. some owners have reported this part failing up to 4 times in less then 24 months. the first incident was june 27, 2007 and the second incident was 8/27/2009. *tr
05/16/200748438101/31/2003
 Tl*the contact owns a 2003 kia sorento. while driving 45 mph, the crank shaft failed and the vehicle was towed. the total cost of the rental expense was $600. the contact stated that when the crankshaft failed, he was stranded. the kia dealer claimed to have repaired the vehicle. there are no warning indicators present when the failure occurs. the manufacturer stated that they could not be of assistance. the vehicle was repaired under warranty. the current mileage is 48,000 and failure mileage was 40,000. the consumer stated the repair was covered under recall, since a recall was issued, however he is requesting reimbursement for the rental car. the radiator assembly was replaced due to a leak at the lower seam. updated
03/25/200797000112/20/2006
 Crankshaft pulley broke off. kia dealer recommends engine replacement. cost would be $7000. researching this topic find others with same situation. this is a serious safety problem. the power steering becomes inoperable and the power shuts off while driving. *jb
04/22/2003300104/14/2003
 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
07/06/2005311/28/2003
 I have consistently had problems with my car from the 1st month of purchase. the major problems have been: check engine light kept coming on and a problem with the drive shaft. the check engine light problem was resolved approximately 2 attempts after it first appeared. it was diagnosed as a problem with the tsp. the problem with the drive shaft has not yet been resolved as it still continue to vibrate at speeds higher than 65 mph. these problems concern me as it may interfere or hinder with my driving abilities and cause an accident. *jb
05/26/200431500112/15/2002
 I was driving my vehicle to work. for the past 2 to 3 days, i noticed some noise from my engine that sounded like a loose belt. no problem, i could replace it on the weekend. on the way to work, my power steering went and the engine light flickered on and off. i didn't want to be stuck on a backroad in maine with no cell service so i continued, slowly, to work. after reaching work, i had the 24 hour service tow my kia sorento to the nearest dealer. this vehicle is 18 months old and they tell me the bolt holding the crankshaft to the pulley has sheared off. they cannot remove the bolt pieces from the crankshaft and have to replace it. to top it off, the airbag light was on, for the second time, and the radio has been replace twice. *la
04/16/2003230003/07/2003
 Vehicle would not start/has been in shop 4 times in last week/1st trip replace throttle body 2nd recalibrate engine 3rd trip egi unit faulty engine light on /replace egi unit 4th trip replaced throttle body(again) calibrated. checked idle set ..vehicle was kept for 2 days on 2 of the visits. *nlm
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE - GASOLINE
02/18/2007101/26/2006
 I have heard about the crankshaft bolts breaking off in the kia sorento's. that is a major safety problem, and i am scared to drive my 2003 over 45 miles an hour. my service dept, dick edwards kia, informed me to have them check the torque on the bolt everytime i go in for service. kia should own up to this problem and not have its owners scared to drive it. *jb
07/08/2003900406/12/2003
 The sorento suv was bought in june 2003. with less than 1000 miles in june 2003 the sorento was brought to the dealer's service to check an oil leak on the front axle. the dealer cited an overfilled gear oil and the gear oil level was corrected. after few weeks, in july 2003, the sorento was brought back again to the same dealer because the gear oil leak was still there. the dealer kept the sorento, cited non-drivable and have to order the part. the gasket was replaced and sorento was test driven. the gear oil leak still showed up. now the dealer said that they got hold of kia and cited that they have to replace the bleeder tube. the bleeder tube was replaced and the gear oil leak did not go away. at this time, the whole unit of the front drive axle was ordered and replaced the originally installed unit of the sorento. after the dealer test drove the newly installed front axle, the gear oil was still leaking. at this time, for almost a month, the sorento is still in the repair bay of the dealer awaiting direction from kia. *ak
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE - GASOLINE - BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
03/22/200873001310/20/2002
 Second occurrence in less than 900 miles, third occurrence overall, of the crankshaft pulley bolt coming loose. lose of power steering occurs when belts come loose. *tr
08/15/2007203/07/2007
 While driving my 2003 kia sorento on august 14, 2007, the engine began to make noises, loose power and slow down rapidly. two belts popped completely off and the car lost all its power and shut down completely. i towed the car to the kia dealer at arbor place in douglasville, georgia for repairs. the dealer informed me that the crankshaft bolt was broken and did damage the crankshaft pulley and sprocket. the dealer made the repairs but after driving the car a few days later on august 22, 2007 it began loosing power again. i turned off the vehicle for approximately 10 minutes and tried to start it up again but it would not start at all. i again towed it to the kia dealership at arbor place. in short, they said that the car was dumping gasoline into the cylinders and that when they test drove it, the car looses gasoline rapidly. the car clearly has major manufacturer defects that should be fixed by kia at no cost to me. *tr
07/10/200754700206/01/2005
 Last feb. the coolant reservoir cracked, lost all coolant. towed to dealer. they fixed it and told me that i needed a new belt. i didn't want anything more to happen as i take my 90 year old mom around, they replaced one belt for $120. never ran right after that, with screeching noises and no more a/c. today, just as i was driving onto the highway-i started losing my steering and i immediately pulled over off the ramp, then it stalled as i was pulling over. i have read about this happening to a lot of people and was just waiting for it to happen. well it did and thank god i wasn't going 70 on the highway yet. it has been towed to dealer and they said it was the bolt on the drive shaft that broke. then he said that since i'm only 8000 miles away from 60k, then i should just do the timing belt service now because if i don't and it goes, then my engine will blow. so i guess this is what i have to wait to happen next and i'm sure it will. thousands of people can't be wrong. don't buy a kia!!!!!!!!!!!!! *tr
04/28/2007633331
 The battery and brake lights were on the dashboard. also, the vehicle lost power steering. opened the hood and the engine area and found the alternator belt fell off its pulley. the power steering belt ran off the alternator belt. this was why the vehicle had no power steering. checked the crank shaft pulley, and found the crank shaft pulley had play, and the crankshaft bolt backed out of place. kia has a pit stop highlight , stating that the crank shaft bolt backed out of place due to improper torque settings on the crank shaft bolt. highlight kt2006042501. removed the radiator to gain access to the crank shaft pulley. removed the crank shaft pulley and inspected. found the crank shaft sprocket pin sheared off due to the crank shaft pulley backing out place. the crankshaft sprocket holds the pulley in place. the crank shaft pulley, sprocket, and bolt will have to be replaced. removed the timing belt and to replace the sprocket. installed everything back in place and started the vehicle. oil was now leaking from behind the timing cover. removed all parts again to gain access to the timing belt. found oil was leaking from behind the timing sprocket. removed the sprocket, and found the crank shaft rubber seal had signs of wear and was slightly bent. replaced the crank shaft rubber seal, and reinstalled sprocket and timing belt. started vehicle, and no signs of leaks were noticed. road tested vehicle , and vehicle drove properly. the owner complained and questioned the result of the loss of power steering due to the improper torque setting on the crank shaft bolt as suggested by the narrative of the mechanic's report and as stated above. if it was so does the owner have remedy in contacting kia or the dealership )for possible reimbursement for the parts and labor associated with this part of mechanical performance. *ak ivoq n 20061104 n y n 6 4wd fi gs auto 30 kia of westchester 6104293500 west chester pa 19382 v
08/12/200627903105/08/2003
 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
06/08/200680670111/15/2002
 Dt*: the contact stated while driving 65 mph there was a screeching noise that came from the engine. the dealer determined that the bolt on the drive shaft pulley had sheared off and that the crank shaft needed to be replaced. the manufacturer has been alerted. updated 7/13/2006 - *nm
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM
03/19/2008441001
 Check engine light keeps coming on. had intake manifold valve replaced per kia, new spark plugs, core covers and new valves plus heads were sent out. vehicle has been back and forth to dealer for past month and a half but has been there entirely for the past 2 weeks. very frustrating as kia will not provide a rental but after some discussion with service at dealer, they have put me in a rental. dealer has been on phone with kia and still cannot come up with a solution. *tr
07/15/200311207/15/2003
 1) upon purchase, exhaust smell was strong inside suv, leading to headaches and queasiness. 2) took it in within weeks (?) 3) a correction was made, part replaced. since then, the exhaust smell is intermittent, and not as strong. service does not see further issue. *jb
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM - EMISSION CONTROL - CRANKCASE (PCV)
09/08/200749978102/23/2004
 My vehicle started acting up whenever i turned on the air condition i would lose power. the engine light would come on and the steering wheel would get real tight and i would not be able to turn it. the vehicle is currently at a kia dealership where it has been for 3 weeks now waiting on parts. not to mention i called kia roadside assistance for 4 days straight before a tow company finally came and towed my car to the dealership. i was told i needed a crank shaft, timing belt, and a engine which is all covered under warranty, but they have not received any of the parts needed for my car. i am still without a vehicle kia says they do not do loaner cars or rentals so i am just frustrated with the whole ordeal. *jb
09/25/200767000112/04/2004
 Tl*the contact owns a 2003 kia sorento. the contact received a recall notice in july of 2007 regarding the crank shaft boat. he took his vehicle to the dealer and they stated that the parts for the repair were unavailable. while driving 25 mph, the check engine light illuminated on the instrument control panel and the engine failed simultaneously. he took his vehicle to the local kia dealer and they stated that the timing belt caused the failure. an inspector from carfax stated that the engine failed because of the crank boat shaft. the manufacturer refused to repair the vehicle without a service charge. the recall number was unknown. the current and failure mileages were 67,000.
02/26/200772000112/20/2004
 I would like to make a complaint about my 03 kia sorento. i bought this car used in 2004. my husband called kia to check to see if the warranties where transferable and the representative told him they were. since i have had this vehicle, i have had to replace the rear tail/brake lights 3 times, i have had to replace the coolant bottle, my rotors were vibrating when i braked so i had them surfaced and now they vibrate again. my blower fan has gone out and now my crankshaft bolt has broke last week. the vehicle is currently at the dealer. i didn't buy an extended warrant because i was under the impression that the engine, transmission ect was covered up to 100,000 or 5 years, which i was informed that it was only for the original owner. at first, i was just thinking that it was just my bad luck, until i started researching it on the internet and discovered that many people seem to be having the same problems as i am and that is only the those of use who actual post it on the internet, i am sure that there are probably many more that are not reported. at this time, i don't even know how much this is going to cost me at first the deal told me $765.00, then they said may be $3700.00. i think it is ridicules that so many people are having a problem with the crankshaft bolt braking off and ruining the motor of a vehicle that is 3 years old and kia has not done anything about it. i also have seen that many people have had there coolant bottle leaking, again like mine, but they have blown their engines. again why is it that kia is not recall this vehicles for these problems. if my crankshaft bolt had broke while i was driving down the interstate, it chills me to think of what might have happened. someone really needs to help all of us kia owners who are all having the same problem. *jb
10/23/200642000212/01/2003
 Dt*: the contact stated while traveling 35 mph, without warning there was a loss of power. the vehicle was pulled over and then towed to the dealership, who replaced the crankshaft. the problem recurred five weeks later and the vehicle was towed a second time. the dealership put lock spray in to keep the pin on the crankshaft from falling out.