2005 Kia Sorento suspension problems

“MY WIFE DRIVES THIS CAR PRIMARILY. SHE ASKED ME LAST WEEK TO SEE WHAT I THOUGHT ABOUT WEIRD NOISES FROM THE REAR BRAKES WHEN APPLYING. I COULD NOT RECOGNIZE THE NOISES, SO I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL SHOP. THE TECHNICIAN HAS FOUND EXTREME RUST ISSUES WITH THE REAR AXLE LINK BRACKETS ON THE AXLE HOUSING BEING RUSTED OUT AND NO LONGER CONNECTED. I HAVE DEALT WITH VEHICLE REPAIR MOST OF MY LIFE, AND KNOW THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CONDITION. MY WIFE CARRIES HER 83 YEAR OLD MOTHER, AND OUR 3 YEAR OLD GRAND DAUGHTER. I WILL NOT ALLOW HER TO DRIVE IT UNTIL I AM ABLE TO GET IT ON A LIFT AND INVESTIGATE FOR MYSELF. I DO NOT HAVE A SPARE VEHICLE AT THIS TIME I HAVE FOUND THIS TO BE A VERY WIDESPREAD PROBLEM ON THESE AUTOS, AND AM INQUIRING IF THERE IS ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THERE BEING A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE.”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRACKETS ON THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE WERE CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS CORRODED UNDER THE REAR AXLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR AXLE WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.”

“I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE FOR A COOLANT LEAK. MY MECHANIC ASKED THAT I COME OVER TO LOOK AT UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE CONTROL ARM WAS NO LONGER ATTACHED TO THE REAR AXLE. HE EXPLAINED THAT THE UPPER CONTROL ARM BRACKET WELDED TO THE REAR AXLE ON DRIVER SIDE ROTTED RIGHT THROUGH, CAUSING THE CONTROL ARM TO COME OFF. I CALLED KIA AND THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING TO HELP. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN ADDRESSED IN THE UK AND DOMESTICALLY FOR HYUNDIA SANTA FE. SO BASICLY I HAVE A 2005 KIA WITH 93,000 MILES ON IT THAT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO A DESIGN DEFECT. BOTH KIA AND DEALER SAID THEY WOULD DO NOTHING.”

“THIS IS A FOLLOW UP TO NHTSA ID NUMBERS, 10819147,10824199,10838525 AND 10838531. I FURTHER RESEARCHED THE CROSSMEMBER CORROSION MAY CAUSE LOOSE CONTROL ARM IN THE KIA SORENTO'S AND FOUND THAT IN EUROPE KIA ISSUED THE ATTACHED SERVICE BULLETIN TO ATTEMPT TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE BEFORE THE BRACKETS RUSTED OUT. BASED ON KIA SORENTO VEHICLE SALES IN THE US FROM 2002 TO 2008 (THE PRODUCTION RANGE NOTED ON THE ATTACHED SERVICE BULLETIN) THIS ISSUE COULD POSSIBLY AFFECT UP TO APPROX. 266,000 VEHICLES.”

“THIS IS A FOLLOW UP TO NHTSA ID NUMBER'S 10819147 & 10824199. AFTER FILING VSC 10824199, I WAS CONTACTED BY A KIA AMERICA REPRESENTATIVE FROM CALIFORNIA. SHE REQUESTED A COPY OF MY ORIGINAL BILL OF SALE, THE VEHICLE REGISTRATION AND THE REPAIR ESTIMATE FROM THE DEALER TO REPAIR THE REPAIR UPPER CONTROL ARM BRACKETS. SHE DID NOT REQUEST ANY OTHER DOCUMENTATION OR PICTURES. SHE SAID SHE WOULD REVIEW THE CASE AND SPEAL TO THE DEALER AND DEPENDING ON THE COST WOULD EITHER HAVE THE REPAIR COMPLETED OR PURCHASE THE CAR TO BE SCRAPPED FOR KBV. I RECEIVED A CALL TODAY AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE REPAIR WOULD COST AT LEAST $3,000 AND BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS 10 YEARS OLD AND NOT IN THE REPAIR PROGRAM ( I ASSUME THAT WAS BEING DONE IN THE UK) KIA WOULD OFFER ME $1,500 FOR THE CAR. I ASKED IF THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE IN IT'S PRESENT CONDITION AND WAS TOLD I SHOULD CONTACT THE DEALER. I TOLD THE REPRESENTATIVE THAT THE DEALER DID NOT GIVE ME ANY WARNINGS WHEN THE ESTIMATE WAS COMPLETED. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT "AT LEAST I HAD GOTTEN 10 YEARS OF USE OUT OF THE VEHICLE". SEEING AS THERE IS STILL A REPAIR PROGRAM IN EFFECT IN THE UNITED KINGDOM FOR THIS DEFECT IS THE NTSB…”