2003 Kia Sorento Engine

DRIVING MY 2003 KIA SORENTO IN TOWN WHEN THE BRAKE, OIL AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS COME ON AND LOST MY POWER STEERING. AFTER ALMOST HITTING A COUPLE CARS GOT IT TO MY IN LAWS HOUSE TO FIND THAT THE CRANKSHAFT BOLT HAD BACKED OUT OF THE HARMONIC BALANCER AND CAUSED ALL THE BELTS TO STOP. CALLED MY MECHANIC AND HE SAID IT IS A COMMON THING FOR KIA'S. TOLD ME TO TAKE THE BOLT OUT AND INSPECT IT TO SEE IF THE THREADS ARE STRETCHED IF SO TO GET A NEW BOLT. AFTER TRYING TO GET THE BOLT LOOSE IT WILL NOT BUDGE. NOW ITS ON A TRAILER ON ITS WAY TO THE MECHANICS HOUSE. JUST PAID MY FIRST PAYMENT ON IT LAST MONTH. BOUGHT IT USED BECAUSE MY WIFE LIKED THE VEHICLE AND HAD A THIRTY DAY WARRANTY AND WOULDN'T YOU KNOW IT 36 DAYS AFTER I PURCHASED IT SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENS. *TR

DRIVING TO STORE AND HEARD NOISE. SEVERAL WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND I HAD NO POWER STEERING. RETURNED HOME AND FOUND CRANK PULLEY AND BROKEN CRANK PULLEY BOLT LAYING IN THE SKID PLATE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE THE CRANK SHAFT PULLEY BOLT WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 107,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA SORRENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, A LONG BANG WAS HEARD FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE AS IT STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT PULLEY DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED YET THE FAILURE RECURRED LATER WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 40 MPH.THE VEHICLE WAS AGAIN TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY HAD YET AGAIN, DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED A SECOND TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA SERENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BOLT TO THE HARMONIC BALANCER WOULD FRACTURE AT ANYTIME. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE DEALER REPAIRED THE FAILURE ONCE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DENIED ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 84,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

WHILE DRIVING OUR 2003 KIA SORENTO WE HEARD A LOUD CLUNK AND BANG. PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND FOUND THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY LAYING AT THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. THE FIRST WAS IN JUNE OF 2010 WITH 78,560 MILES. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BROKEN BOLT. (PART NUMBER 23127 39801QQK) THIS IS WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE. WHEN THE BOLT FAILED IT CAUSED THE FOLLOWING ADDITIONAL DAMAGE, TIMING BELT, SENSOR CRANK ANGLE, BLADE SENSING CRANK. THE TOTAL BILL CAME TO 1197 FOR A BOLT FAILING. THE BOLT FAILED AGAIN 14 MONTHS LATER ON AUGUST 8TH 2011. SAME EXACT PROBLEM THAT OCCURRED THE FIRST TIME. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP AND I'M FIGHTING WITH THE DEALER NOW TO REPAIR IT UNDER WARRANTY. I'VE DONE SOME RESEARCH ON THIS AND THIS IS BECOMING A GROWING ISSUE WITH THE SORENTOS. IF YOU OWN ONE HAVE THE BOLT ON INSPECTED DURING EVERY OIL CHANGE. IF THE BOLT SEEMS LOOSE HAVE IT CHECKED OUT IMMEDIATELY. IT COULD SAVE YOU THOUSANDS. *TR

MY CAR BROKE DOWN WHILE DRIVING.....MY MECHANIC ADVISED ME THAT THE PULLEY BROKE OFF & I NEEDED TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER... THE DEALER ADVISED, IT WILL COST ME ALMOST $5000...I CALLED KIA CORPORATE & WITH MY VIN#, THEY FOUND THAT IT WAS RECALLED IN 2007 & FIXED IT & CAN NOT BE FIXED AGAIN.... MY QUESTION HERE IS, IF IT WAS DEFECTIVE PART & BROKE AGAIN, HOW CAN THIS BE MY FAULT? I HAVE NO CAR NOW TO USE, I CAN NOT AFFORD TO GET IT FIXED, I STILL OWE MORE THAN $5000 ON THE CAR....THE CAR IS NOT WORTH $5000.. I TRIED TO RENT A CAR FOR A WEEK TO SEE WHAT COULD BE DONE, THAT WILL COST OVER $400.... I AM DESPERATE FOR YOUR HELP!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!! *KB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BOLT CRANKSHAFT SENSOR BOLT FAILED AND CAUSED THE BELTS TO FRACTURE AND THE POWER STEERING TO MALFUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED YET THE FAILURE RECURRED SHORTLY AFTER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 106,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 78,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 TO 20 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED ON A FEW OCCASIONS AND OTHER TIMES HE WAS ABLE TO RESTART IT ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE FUEL PUMP. ON ANOTHER OCCASION IT WAS TOWED AGAIN AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 79,400.

CRANKSHAFT BOLT WAS REPLACED AFTER RECALL IN 2007. CRANKSHAFT SENSOR WAS REPLACED IN APRIL 2011 AFTER MALFUNCTIONING AND CAUSING CAR TO STALL OUT AT ANYTIME, INCLUDING WHILE DOING 65 ON THE FREEWAY. WHILE DRIVING A FEW DAYS BACK, SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKE AND BATTERY LIGHTS CAME ON. HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP WHERE WE WERE TOLD THAT THE BOLT, WHICH HAD BEEN REPLACED PER THE RECALL, HAD BROKEN, BUT THE WARRANTY ON THE REPLACED BOLT IS ONLY 1 YEAR. NOW REPAIR ON THIS WILL COST OVER $300 AND NEW BOLT WILL STILL ONLY BE WARRANTIED FOR ONE YEAR. SO THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS FAULTY PART COULD CONTINUE, BUT THE PART IS ONLY UNDER WARRANTY FOR ONE YEAR. *TR

2003 KIA SORENTO. CONSUMER STATES SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED ON TWO OCCASIONS, THE PIN THAT HELD THE CRANKSHAFT TOGETHER BROKE LOOSE. THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR LOCATED BEHIND THE TIMING BELT FAILED. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA SORENTO. THE ENGINE CRANKSHAFT BOLT FAILED IN AUGUST OF 2008. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ENGINE CRANKSHAFT BOLT FOUR TIMES. THE REPAIRS DIDN'T CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE CONTINUOUS FAILURES WERE DEALER ERROR, AND THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,404 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 118,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN 2007. THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD THE CRANK SHAFT PULLEY BOLT RECALL REPAIR PERFORMED. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE CRANK SHAFT PULLEY BOLT SNAPPED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN 1 MILE TO HER DESTINATION AND THEN TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CRANK SHAFT PULLEY BOLT IN MAY 2010. THE FAILURE HAPPENED AGAIN ON JULY 22, 2010. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE DEALERS POSSESSION WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A VIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,779. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 84,000.

MY ENGINE BLEW ON THE CAR IT ONLY HAS ABOUT 78,000 MILES ON IT GETS REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND NO MAJOR PROBLEMS. I HAVE NEVER HAD A WARNING LIGHT COME ON AS TO INDICATE I HAD SOME OIL OR ENGINE PROBLEMS. THE CAR HAD JUST BEEN INVOLVED IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT AND BEEN SITTING SINCE 12/15 I JUST GOT IT BACK ON 01/23 AND THE ENGINE BLOWS ON 01/30 AND THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME $5,000 TO REPLACE ......I HAVE HEARD THINGS ABOUT KIA ENGINES BUT MY SUV WAS IN FINE CONDITION AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY ENGINES BLOWS....SOUNDS LIKE A DEFECT TO ME. *TR

2003 KIA SORENTO HARMONIC BALANCER BOLT BROKE OFF REPORTED TO KIA THEY WILL NOT HONOR ANY RECALLS, THEY SAID IT WAS A RECALL FROM SEVERAL YEARS AGO . BUT IF ITS A SAFETY ISSUE LIKE THIS THEY SHOULD TRY HARDER TO INFORM PEOPLE OF THIS BEFORE THERE IS MAJOR ACCIDENT . JUST WISH THEY WOULD HONOR A RECALL THAT THEY HAVE HAD WITH THIS BOLT. I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE OR IT IS NOT POSTED ON ANY SITE THAT I COULD FIND, ,JUST WANT MY CAR FIXED WITHOUT A $2900 BILL AT THE END . *TR

2003/04 KIA SORENTO CRANK SHAFT PULLEY BOLT IS FAILING. THERE WAS A NOTICE SENT BY KIA IN JULY 2007 TO NOTIFY THE OWNERS OF THE ISSUE AND TO HAVE IT FIXED. THE REPLACEMENT BOLTS ARE FAILING. WHEN THE REPLACEMENT BOLTS FAIL IT IS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STOP NO MATTER WHAT SPEED THE DRIVER IS TRAVELING AND THE STEERING IS LOCKING UP. THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT ADDRESS THIS. THIS IS A AN EXTREME SAFETY ISSUE. SOME OWNERS HAVE REPORTED THIS PART FAILING UP TO 4 TIMES IN LESS THEN 24 MONTHS. THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS JUNE 27, 2007 AND THE SECOND INCIDENT WAS 8/27/2009. *TR

BACK IN OCT 2008 WENT TO CAR AT 5AM TO GO TO WORK STARTED MY 2003 KIA SORENTO HEARD THIS NOISE GOT OUT TO RAISE HOOD BEFORE I COULD SAW COOLANT COMING FROM UNDER MY CAR DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO REALLY INVESTIGATE HAD MY SISTER TAKE ME TO WORK WHEN I CAME HOME HAD CAR TOWED TO KIA DEALER THEY ADVISED ME THAT MY COOLANT RESERVOIR HAD CRACK AND I NEEDED TO HAVE REPLACED AT 250.XX AT THIS POINT THEY DID TELL ME THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY SORENTO MADE APPT TO TAKE BACK TO HAVE PART REPLACED NEVER, BEFORE THIS SO CALL RECALL PART WAS REPLACED NEVER HAD ANY WARNING LIGHTS COME ON AFTER THEY SAY THEY REPLACED THE PART MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON TOOK MY SORENTO BACK TO THE SAME DEALER 5 TIMES WITHIN A 2 MONTH PERIOD THEY KEPT TELLING ME NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH MY CAR SO I LET THE LIGHT STAY ON, MOVED TO A DIFFERENT CITY TIRED OF SEEING THIS LIGHT ON TOOK TO ANOTHER KIA DEALER THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTIC FOR 125.00 TO TELL ME NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH MY CAR BUT I NOTICED WHEN I WAS LEAVING THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS OFF WHEN BACK IN TO FIND OUT WHY AND HOW DID THE LIGHT GO OFF HE STATED HE TURNED IT OFF NOW WHILE SITTING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WITH NO WARNING MY CAR JUST SHUT OFF GOT STARTED BACK BUT THIS TIME WITH A LOUD BANGING NOISE I WAS ONLY ABOUT 3 BLOCKS FROM MY HOME SO I DROVE ABOUT 5 MILES PER HR TO GET HOME TO HAVE TO HAVE A TOW TRUCK COME GET MY CAR THE DEALER HAS YET TO LET ME KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS.... *TR

KIA INFORMED ME OF A "CRANK SHAFT BOLT" RECALL FOR MY 2003 SORENTO LX. 3 DAYS AFTER HAVING THIS REPAIR PERFORMED, MY CAR BEGAN TO JUST "DIE" AT HIGH SPEEDS ON THE FREEWAY, BUT IT WAS INTERMITTENT AND THE KIA DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THEY PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM IF THEY COULDN'T RECREATE IT. AN INTERNET SEARCH ON THE ISSUE REVEALS MANY CONSUMERS HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM WHICH ULTIMATELY TURNS OUT TO BE A DEFECTIVE "CRANK SHAFT SENSOR" -- BUT KIA SERVICE JERKS PEOPLE AROUND AND KEEPS THEIR CARS FOR DAYS/WEEKS SAYING THAT THEY "CANNOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM". THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE WHEN YOUR VEHICLE JUST SUDDENLY DIES ON THE FREEWAY WITH ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING... NOT EVEN SPUTTERING. I PRINTED OUT SEVERAL CONSUMER ACCOUNTS DESCRIBING MY EXACT PROBLEM--REVEALING IT'S ULTIMATELY THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR, AND KIA IS REFUSING TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THEIR REPAIR WORK AND THE LIKELIHOOD THAT IT'S THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR -- ADMITTEDLY HOLDING MY VEHICLE WITHOUT EVEN REVIEWING THE BASIC DIAGNOSTICS. *TR

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL NOT SHUT OFF. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. DEALERSHIP HAS AT TIMES BEEN RUDE AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. THEY DO NOT KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. ALSO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH HEADLIGHTS BURNING OUT VERY REGULARLY AND THE BACK HATCH WILL NO LONGER OPEN. *TR

OVERHEATING , THE OVERFLOW AND FILLER TANK CRACKING OPEN ON THE BOTTOM OUT OF SIGHT . CAUSED ME TO REPLACE THE WATERPUMP AND THERMOSTAT BEFORE BEING ABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM AND LEFT MYSELF AND FAMILY STRANDED. TOOK TO DEALER WHO FOUND THE CRACK AFTER CHECKING AND STATED THEY NATIONWIDE THEY HAD TO REPLACE OVER A HALF A MILLION TANKS ON THESE VEHICLES AT $200.PLUS PER JOB NOT TO MENTION THE COST OF CREATED PROBLEMS FROM THE OVERHEAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT MULTI MILLIONS OF LOSS TO CONSUMERS . *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 35-40 MPH, THE MOTOR IN THE COOLING FAN FAILED. THE MOTOR WAS ATTEMPTING TO TURN OVER; HOWEVER, IT COULD NOT BECAUSE THE FUSE IN THE FUSE BOX DID NOT BLOW OUT AS IT SHOULD. THE WIRE FROM THE TERMINAL BLOCKER MELTED INTO THE FUSE BOX. THIS CAUSED THE WIRES TO BURN AND THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT BECAME ENGULFED IN SMOKE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME AND DID NOT CATCH ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE HAS TWO SAFETY FEATURES, ONE IN THE TERMINAL BLOCK AND THE OTHER IN THE FUSE BOX, BUT THEY DID NOT WORK. THE CONTACT CALLED KIA AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE WARRANTY ENDED AT 60,000 MILES. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

ENGINE COOLANT LEAKING. CAR PARKED IN GARAGE AT 66,000 MILES. WON'T HOLD COOLANT IS LEAKING AT HEATED COIL. I HAVE TAKEN THIS KIA TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM YET. I SAW AND READ THE MANY COMPLAINTS AND SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH THE KIA SORENTO COOLING SYSTEM. THAT IS WHY I AM ENTERING ANOTHER COMPLAINT TO HELP GET SOMETHING DONE. WITH EVERY VEHICLE THERE WILL BE PROBLEMS. HOWEVER, THIS SORENTO SEEMS TO HAVE A TON OF ENGINE COOLANT PROBLEMS. THE ONLY RECALL I HAVE ON THIS 2003 KIA SORENTO IS A FUEL ASSEMBLY ISSUE. I WOULD LOVE TO RECEIVE A LIST OF ANY AND ALL RECALLS. HOPEFULLY ADD THE ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM TO IT. *TR

ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON BACK IN FEBRUARY AND HAD IT TO TWO DIFFERENT MECHANIC SHOPS WHICH REPLACED SPARK PLUGS AND ONE COIL PACK. ENGINE LIGHT STILL ON SO I TOOK TO KIA DEALER AND THEY REPLACED SPARK PLUGS WITH PLATNIUM ONES AND REPLACED OTHER 2 COIL PACKS. VEHICLE HAS BEEN BACK TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS FOR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REPLACING INTAKE MANIFOLD DUE TO RECALL BUT LIGHT CAME BACK ON AND THEY HAVE HAD MY VEHICLE MOST RECENTLY FOR THE PAST 4 WEEKS. I WENT TO PICK IT UP YESTERDAY AS THEY SAID THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE CYLINDER HEADS WITH RECONDITIONED ONES AND ALL GASKETS AND SEALS. AS I STARTED TO LEAVE THE DEALERSHIP LIGHT CAME BACK ON AND VEHICLE IS THERE AGAIN. OBVIOUSLY MECHANICS AT DEALERS DON'T KNOW WHAT'S CAUSING THESE PROBLEMS AND CANNOT FIX THEM. I FEEL THAT KIA SHOULD BUY EVERYONE OUT OF THEIR SORENTOS PLUS GIVE THEM THE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE (WITHOUT DEDUCTING FOR PROBLEMS) PLUS A 15% COMPENSATION FOR PUTTING THE CUSTOMERS THROUGH THIS OR MAYBE PUT A BRAND NEW ENGINE IN VEHICLE. A NEW ENGINE OR REMANUFACTURED ENGINE WAS REPLACED IN THIS VEHICLE BACK IN AUGUST, 2006. I ORIGINALLY PUT MY DATE DOWN AS MARCH, BUT LOOKING BACK, THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE FEBRUARY!! THIS IS THE SECOND COMPLAINT I AM FILING. *TR

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. HAD INTAKE MANIFOLD VALVE REPLACED PER KIA, NEW SPARK PLUGS, CORE COVERS AND NEW VALVES PLUS HEADS WERE SENT OUT. VEHICLE HAS BEEN BACK AND FORTH TO DEALER FOR PAST MONTH AND A HALF BUT HAS BEEN THERE ENTIRELY FOR THE PAST 2 WEEKS. VERY FRUSTRATING AS KIA WILL NOT PROVIDE A RENTAL BUT AFTER SOME DISCUSSION WITH SERVICE AT DEALER, THEY HAVE PUT ME IN A RENTAL. DEALER HAS BEEN ON PHONE WITH KIA AND STILL CANNOT COME UP WITH A SOLUTION. *TR

WHILE DRIVING THE SORENTO TO HIS GIRLFRIENDS HOUSE MY SON NOTICED THAT THE TEMPERATURE GAGE WAS HIGHER THAN NORMAL. HE WASN'T TO FAR FROM TOWN SO HE CALLED AND I TOLD HIM TO GET SOME 50/50 ANTIFREEZE TO PUT IN THE RESERVOIR. HE DID THIS AND HAD NO MORE PROBLEMS UNTIL THE NEXT DAY ON HIS WAY HOME. HIS GIRL LIVES ABOUT 20 MILES FROM US. ABOUT HALFWAY HOME THE VEHICLE JUST DIED. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO KIA DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NO WARNING LIGHTS OR GAUGES IDENTIFIED ANYTHING WRONG. WAS ALSO TOLD THAT ENGINE WAS DRIVEN WHILE EXCESSIVELY HOT. NOT BECAUSE A WARNING LIGHT OR GAUGE TOLD US SO! IF ALL OF THIS COST TO US IS DUE TO A SMALL PIECE OF PLASTIC SOMEONE NEEDS TO TAKE KIA OUT TO THE WOODSHED. "THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE COOLANT TANK WAS CRACKED AND ALL OF THE COOLANT LEAKS OUT THE VEHICLE. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE TEMPERATURE SENSOR STOPS WORKING. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATS WITHOUT THE CONTACTS KNOWLEDGE; THEREFORE, HE CONTINUES TO DRIVE UNTIL IT FAILS. THE DEALER DID NOT WANT TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE ENGINE FAILURE AND NO RECORDING OF PRIOR MAINTENANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000. *TR