Differential Unit problems of the 2004 Kia Motor Sorento

Rusted brackets posing a dangerous safety risk, 2004 kia Sorento with 162,000 miles. The entire bracket holding the differential rusted through. The frame rear cross member also rusted through causing the control arms is detached from the rear end also creating a safety hazard. There is a design flaw that allows water to stay inside the hollow cross member that caused the corrosion. Drain or weep holes in the cross member and an anti-corrosion coating would have prevented this. When the bracket(s) breaks the rear axle is no longer held in place there are reports on NHTSA where these brackets have rotted away and failed causing loss of control of the vehicle. This is a known design flaw that has been appearing on the older cars where the entire frame and rear end would have to be replaced. There will eventually be more of these failures and there is a potential for fatal accidents from loss of vehicle control. I am aware that in europe kia has been repairing Sorentos.

Rusted brackets recalled in europe, refused by kia to replace even tho they were rusted under warranty, pose a dangerous safety risk to unsuspecting owners. The entire bracket holding the differential rusted through creating a safety hazard. Presented with a small squeak in rear. I asked kia to send people letters warning and they would not address the request. How kia is getting away with severe rust, causing safety hazards in all vehicles, is beyond me. I know they are less expensive, is it worth it? can someone please address the issue and at least let the public know it is happening before someone gets severely injured or god forbid dies. There are thousands still on the road. I paid for their diagnostic worthlessness to make sure it was documented.

Corrosion of rear differential, both left and right arm completely broke off axle assy, unsafe to drive. Repair shop I've used for the last 4 years gave estimate of $1,300. 00 with possible additional cost of up to $500. 00. They suggested I call kia regarding my 10 yr. 100,000 mile warranty. Called kia corporate headquarters for 10 yr. 100,000 mile warranty. Was told I needed to tow it from my repair shop to the nearest kia dealer which was 48 miles away. Service manager after looking at defect told me warranty denied would cost $2,700. 00 (approximate) and could count on an additional $500. 00 to $1,000. 00 when taken apart. Placed another call to kia corp. Headquarters for warranty and was told there is no defect. Damage as a result of salt out of their control, and the service manager had the final say.

The contact owns a 2004 kia sorrento. The contact stated that the vehicle exhibited an abnormally loud noise when driving various speeds. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic and the failure was located at the muffler tail pipe hanger and the rear differential. The mechanic advised that both components were corroded. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and denied assistance due to the mileage on the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and the current mileage was 128,000.

1st- manual transmission, hesitiation of take off. . O-ring replaced. 2nd-clinking noise when shifting gears. . Bearings failing in rear differential was replaced 3rd-felt looseness in emergency brake. . I was told no trouble found 4th-rust on metal parts of headrest. . Dealer to replace. . 5th-metal attachments in trunk area also rusted . . Were not replaced. . 6th-the back defrost plastic protectors were never removed when vehicle was delivered, so when back defrost was used the heat melted the strips which caused condensation build up causing the rust. Gardendale kia of al had my car for five days and I had to find a way to work on my own. I was told they didn't give loaner cars. . Very poor customer service. I believed in the company/product and purchased brand new off the lot with a full warranty and because of bad kia products, I should have been able to get a loaner car. I still have to pay full monthly car note. Customer service is very important to me and I don't feel that I got it. I had to call back to the service to get a status of where they were repairing my vehicle. . I was told it would be 09-01-04 and I did not get a response, so I called on 09-02-04 and was told the part came in but all parts were not included so I had to wait another day 09-03-04. I called at 4:30pm cst to get a status, I was told they were working on it & it would be later that afternoon. This was afternoon, they close at 6:00pm cst. . Needless to say, I got my car at 5:45pm. . I guess it really did not matter to them since they were not getting any money out of me.

1st- manual transmission, hesitiation of take off. . O-ring replaced. 2nd-clinking noise when shifting gears. . Bearings failing in rear differential was replaced 3rd-felt looseness in emergency brake. . I was told no trouble found 4th-rust on metal parts of headrest. . Dealer to replace. . 5th-metal attachments in trunk area also rusted . . Were not replaced. . 6th-the back defrost plastic protectors were never removed when vehicle was delivered, so when back defrost was used the heat melted the strips which caused condensation build up causing the rust. Gardendale kia of al had my car for five days and I had to find a way to work on my own. I was told they didn't give loaner cars. . Very poor customer service. I believed in the company/product and purchased brand new off the lot with a full warranty and because of bad kia products, I should have been able to get a loaner car. I still have to pay full monthly car note. Customer service is very important to me and I don't feel that I got it. I had to call back to the service to get a status of where they were repairing my vehicle. . I was told it would be 09-01-04 and I did not get a response, so I called on 09-02-04 and was told the part came in but all parts were not included so I had to wait another day 09-03-04. I called at 4:30pm cst to get a status, I was told they were working on it & it would be later that afternoon. This was afternoon, they close at 6:00pm cst. . Needless to say, I got my car at 5:45pm. . I guess it really did not matter to them since they were not getting any money out of me.