Front Suspension Lower Ball Joint problems of the 2004 Kia Motor Optima

As described by others driver side lower ball joint on '04 kia Optima broke with 1 sheared bolt and 1 bolt just falling out (rusted with no clean areas) the ball joint had 1 part of the sheared bolt remaining and 1 rusted threaded hole. Dealer offered no help other than to indicate that this was not related to the subframe recall of last August ('09).

The contact owns a 2004 kia Optima. While driving 20 mph out of a parking lot, the front passenger side lower ball joint and axle detached from the vehicle. The contact controlled the vehicle until it came to a stop twelve feet from the incident. Her insurance company provided roadside assistance and the vehicle was towed to a collision shop. Prior to the failure, the contact informed the dealer of a grinding noise she heard. They stated that they were too busy to check the vehicle, but three hours later the axle and lower ball joints failed. The failure mileage was 68,954.

Vehicle was involved in a single car accident impacting a fixed median curb. The car was towed to a repair shop identified by my insurance company. The tow truck driver remarked that the front suspension appeared to have bolts missing. This was independently verified by the body shop. In their damage assessment, they found that the lower control arm to ball joint bolts were missing and the 2 holes were rounded out in a way that would be consistent with the bolts falling out. The bolts falling out caused the left front suspension to collapse thereby causing the accident. A complaint was filed with Kia Motors America. They required the insurance company or myself to provide all of the evidence to show that their car was at fault. After submitting the repair estimate and pictures from both the scene and from the repair shop, Kia Motors America and their legal department determined that they are not at fault. The repair shop manager could not believe that they would make a determination without ever looking at the car. According to jennifer at kia, the complaint is closed and I have no further recourse other that to contact a lawyer. The vehicle has not been repaired as it will be shown as a claim against my insurance policy and then cause my rates to increase. I fear that this problem may be present on other 2004 kia Optimas or other models that both kia and Hyundai makes. Updated 01/11/06.