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Comments
Another observation is battery saver feature on Sorento which supposed to shut off all exterior lights when you remove the key from the ignition switch or when driver door is opened. I set the parking light and foglights switches on when I exited my car. I opened the front passenger door and used key to roll up the passenger window. These lights were on again even after I closed the passenger door. I had to turn off these lights manually. And this is the only time I see the parking lights and foglight on at the same, not while you are driving.
when my sorento and others real do have valid problems
this increases short term profits, but i guess they think this "bad policy" will not catch up to them and hurt them in the long run
it's obvious they feel it is not a big deal either - we called our dealer last month after i got the notice and they told us they had to order that part and we still have not heard a thing from them yet! after being jerked around by them about the clock in my truck that i knew had to be replaced from reading this board i just don't have any patience with them at all anymore. i will call to find out today why it is taking so long for just a little piece of plastic to come in when they "say" they orderd it!
Unfortunately, I have contacted one of the most prestigious law firms in the area and unless I want to sink lots of my dollars and time into this, I don't have a case as long as they are willing to fix it. My problem is that I wanted to trade the car in for a new identical Kia Sorento and they would only give me trade in value for it (which is half the cost)! What kind of problems can I expect? The owner of the dealership says that there is only cosmetic damage to the body, I find that hard to believe. The car is scheduled to be finished by the end of the week. I've insisted on a test drive before I accept it and then I'm taking it to a front end specialist. Any comments, ideas?
Thanks
it consists of, couldn't feel it or hear it or can not duplacate problem
your problems may have just started
my sorento is the sorriest vehicle i have ever purchased
POW!!!
I have the same problem with my Kia. Other than that it's been a great car. The Dealership said that the bumping you hear and movement is caused from the drive shaft freezing up. They supposedly replaced the rear part, ordered a new and improved part for the front area, replaced it, 1 week later it started again, but in the rear. My husband is taking it back in next week. Altho, the respose was "well, I don't know what else we can do.."
Heh.. my husband told them that they could examine the rear area again, which is what they are going to do.
From what I understand, the drive shaft is vunerable to moisture (I hope I am using the right terminology, my husband told me what they said, not sure if I am remembering it right or not). Because it is get's wet, it rusts, thus causing it to "freeze". They have a new and improved part that protects the drive shaft. I am talking about the part that moves back and forth so please correct me if I am wrong. That is the part that they replaced in the front, but I don't think they really did anything to the back.
So, I will post an update next week.
Also on the brakes, have them check out your breaks. Mine squealed a bit and did the same thing you posted and they cleaned them off. I really haven't had a problem since then. I also wanted to mention, that I notice it more if I try to break over a manhole cover or something similar to that, so see what is going on when you notice the problem.
The dealership we purchased our Kia from seems to be pretty decent. They should be, we just purchased a used Dodge from them.
Keep us updated.
Diane
Exactly! Even tho we have had some problems, our dealer has been pretty good about addressing and fixing them. This is the first "new" vehicle we have had (OMG) in almost 13 years, so I am pretty satisfied.
If you don't like the dealer you have, see if there is another one around and take it to them.
My Kia is like a dream, especially since I live in the North and was involved in a bad accident due to snow last year. I was scared to drive again, however feel very safe in my KIA...
Diane
:lemon:
I have an 03 and this year had the radio replace because it was wonky and the driver door replace because of a kink in the panel and now this thump from the rear of the vehicle when I release the brake to take off from a stop.
Is there a site where these TSB's can be viewed?
The only recall is for some 2935 Sorentos in 2003 model year (manufactured between 6/7/02 and 8/14/02) about the fuel line leakage. Recall notices were send out to owners in October. Mine (2003) was build on 10/02.
Go to www.directed.com and ask them the re-programming thing. It is the company which made Viper, Clifford, Python, etc.
and it worked correctly till the next day then it started locking by itself again.Tomorrow I will make an appointment for the installer to check it out and replace/remove as needed.When you pay $500 for something
you shouldn't have to put up with this.My car is in a garage at night so I don't need an alarm besides who would steal a KIA?
Wow, this sounds almost like deja vue... my 2003 Sorento check engine light kept coming on and my fuel injection system had water in it. Within 3 months of purchase KIA replaced the fuel tank and injection system. My engine lights and or others have never came on since... My electrical system is now shot and now water has been found in the oil/ engine. The KIA dealership where I first received service closed and the alternative service location closed. My vehicle was towed to yet another dealership service place, and KIA say's "I have to pay $5,000 to replace the engine that is under the 100,000 miles warranty." Get rid of the car before it becomes a bigger problem...NSOtidester, host
I'd be interested in hearing what others are seeing with the new design.
It seems some 03 and 04 Sorentos have been plagued with some nagging electrical problems. Those problems include:
- failed low beam headlights
- failed brake lights
- failed licence plate lights
- failed dome light diode
- failed front blower relay
- resetting clock; and
- flickering climate control faceplate lighting.
I am beginning to suspect this problem is traceable to:
- one or more specific batches of 03 and 04 Sorentos;
- perhaps only EX and EX Luxe models.
The problems appears to be caused either because of:
- defective components, specifically the generator, voltage regulator or the ETACS; or
- a manufacturing process failure, probably surrounding the installation of the electrical grounding straps.
I would like to mobilize all affected Kia owners to get our collective minds and know-how together and get this problem nailed. My dealership has been particularly sympathizing and cooperative and I believe I can enlist them to work with us on this issue. I also have access the Electrical Engineering department at a local university and could mobilize some students in the Winter semester on this problem as a good real-world case study.
If you care to get on the bandwagon, I would like you to provide me with the following information:
- Kia model and manufacturing date (I have a 03 Sorento EX Luxe built in January 2003)
- the mileage on your Sorento (93,000 km on mine)
-your geographical location (Montreal, Canada)
- the list of problems you have encountered so far (count me in for all the problems listed above) and when the problems have occured
- Any useful additional information you may have
I think we can put this world-wide web thingy to good use for once and show how owners can work together to help Kia diagnose and fix a nagging problem.
I will post this message on a number of other Kia Sorento forums. Please answer only once, so as not to skew the data and overwhelm my mail box.
Cheers,
Ron in Montreal, Canada
:sick:
* Fuzzy image on the automatic climate control LCD screen, especially during cold weather. Dealer replaced it under warranty.
* Faulty digital clock - Keep showing 1:00 everytime reset it to the right time and each time I start the car. Dear replaced it only once. Works fine ever since.
I believe these two problems are parts related. It has nothing to do with the wiring.
There are some issues about the dome and cargo lights. They didn't turn on when it supposed to like doors were opened or UNLOCK button was pressed. Then it works fine again.
I have no problem with the headlight. Bulbs were changed few times due to the life span of the aftermarket xenon bulbs.
I'm hoping that someone might have had a similar experience and remembers the outcome. The technicians are driving the vehicle every day to try to get it to duplicate the problem. Anyone seen this before?
Thanks,
Doug
Thanks, Don Spruill, Birmingham, AL
I have limited automotive skills.
Thanks
I had to pay for the tranny flush since "human error" is not covered by KIA. I would just like to know for sure that having the "Snow Mode" turned on actually caused the problem. The transmission shifted just fine right on through the gears and the only difference was starting in 2nd gear instead of 1st. All the driving to and from Disney World was on the Florida Turnpike averaging 75 MPH.
The dealer explained that the "Snow Mode" allowed the transmission to slip and that's what caused the overheating. Neither the dealer nor the person at KIA Consumer Affairs Department could tell me where there was a warning or even a caution about driving continually in the Snow Mode.
Is there any way for me to verify that the Snow Mode being in the "ON" position caused the problem?
if it were constant it should have been easly traced to the alt/reg
it could be erratic also an alt/reg problem, but since the battery acts as a very big capsitor it should absorbe an insntanious voltage spike
but if there is a bad or high resistance ground circut the voltage can go wild at times and spike very high quickly
where i would look first is at the battery ground next to the power distribution box at the left fender mine was very questionable (paint covered poor connection) and i had to take care of it
Thanks
does anyone else have keys to your vehicle ?
other question: do you have a teenager with access to the keys?
I have an 05 Sorento with 3000 mi on it-ran great until yesterday.
Sitting in the driveway, it was humming, and the lights were on. I opened up the car, and tried to turn them off--they were off. I then turned on the car, when I removed the key, the car was still running-I had to remove the fuel relay to make it stop and the battery connection to stop the high pitched hum.
Any ideas??
NOTE !! your type of driving requires you to service you vehicle according to the "severe schedule" PROTECT YOUR WARRANTY don't give KIA an oportuinity to deny a warranty claim on your vehicle
please READ and UNDERSTAND everything that is in your owners manuel
I had an opportunity to have Kia Canada’s District Service Manager test drive the Sorento. I expected that I would get a response resembling “I can’t hear anything.”, but to my surprise, he did hear/feel the noise/vibration at around 120 km/h. What’s more is that the look on his face suggested that this wasn’t the first time he’d heard it!
He also felt the “bump” after pulling away from a stop again he didn’t seem surprised.
So now, there is a plan. He commented that they will likely change the driveshaft, u-joints and rear differential, but didn’t commit to these. He’s asked that the truck be dropped off at the dealer next Monday night and left with them. He will personally come to the dealership during the diagnosis and repair procedures and they will provide a loaner.
It looks like this may finally get resolved I can only hope that the fix is permanent. If this gets resolved, then I have no other issues with this truck.
I’ll post after it’s returned to me next week.
Trade the darn thing in!
Flipped the ’04 Sorento for an ’04 Explorer XLT picked it up yesterday. I never had a single issue with my ’98 Explorer over the 4 years I owned it.
Good luck to all in resolving your individual problems and thank you for your input and suggestions.
Any resolution yet to your vibration issue? My 03 LX 4x4 (about 20,000 miles) has recently starting exhibiting a vibration at 2500rpm, regardless of road speed.