Consumer Complaint Detail

KIA / SPORTAGE / 1999

Recalls
0 Injured
Investigations
0 Death
Complaints
No Fire
Components - Details
NHTSA Complaint Number: 005036526 Incident Date: Aug, 23 2005
Consumer's City: DUMONT Consumer's State: NJ
Vehicle Transmission Type: AUTO Manufacturers Name: Kia Motors America
Model Name: SPORTAGE Model Year: 1999
Vehicle Involved in a Crash: No Component's Description: Engine and engine cooling
Vehicle Involved in a Fire: No Persons Injured: 0
Vehicle's VIN#: KNDJA7237X5 Date added to File: May, 23 2021
Date Complaint Received: Aug, 29 2005 Complaint Type: IVOQ
Incident Reported To Police: No Purchase Date: Feb, 17 1999
Was Original Owner: Yes Anti-lock Brakes: No
Number of Cylinders: 4 Date of Manufacturer: -
Was Vehicle Towed: - Description of the Complaints: 1999 kia sportage has had timing belt replaced three times since i bought car new in 1999. while traveling on nj turnpike, what we believed was the timing belt yet again was the crank shaft at the harmonic balance (which holds the timing belt in place) completely snapped into two pieces inside the engine. i spoke to several different kia service departments who advised me that this was not a normal thing and was in no way due to something we could have done. i was told by my kia dealer that the manufacturers warranty had expired last year and that i was responsible for the defect in the kia. the first three times that the timing belt was replaced the warranty covered. now i am told i must pay for a new engine. be advised that every time this happened the car was going 55 m.p.h. or over. it is my belief that was caused by a manufacturing defect and that kia should be held accountable. there has never been any collision or any other event that has taken place for this to occur. we are just lucky that we have never been hurt or killed in this car!*jb