2004 Kia Sorento: loss of power steering

Filed May 7, 2019 · Steering · 120,000 miles · MO · crash

While driving my vehicle at 65mpg on the highway with my baby in the car, the steering jerked to the left. I almost crashed into a desiel truck !! I then correct it and pulled over. I dropped my son off at my mom's home and went to the garage to have it looked at. On the way, it lost all power steering and I could not turn correctly. Someone hit the back of my car and shoved it into another vehicle in the front. So now my back and fron in looks like crap and I have no power steering.. But my son and I are still alive.. When researching this issue, I found out it was not my fault or my car.. This is a faulty manufacture safty issue that has not even been researched yet !! There have been so many customer complaints about the danger of this vehicle and this issue I can not believe it's still on the road. Https://www.carcomplaints.com/kia/sorento/2004/steering/steering.shtml and to find out the state was aware of it and just never even looked into protecting us. This is a danger and needs to be recalled asap before someone looses their life and the life of their child like I almost did !!!!

Filed Sep 4, 2016 · Engine · 70 miles · NV

Harmonic balancer pulley bolt broke. Very bad design. Driving down the road it broke off causing loss of power steering. Bolt snapped off inside crankshaft.

Filed May 13, 2015 · Engine, Steering · 124,094 miles · NC

In this instance, the car failed to start. However, there were several more incidents concerning the same issues. In those instances, the car would suddenly lose power, stall out and if able to be restarted, could be driven with a lag in the engine a short distance before all the dash lights would turn on and the car would lose power steering. In two instances, the power steering was suddenly lost when making a left turn with a break across oncoming traffic.

Filed Mar 6, 2015 · Electrical, Transmission · 159,600 miles · MN

I was on my way to work on tuesday, march 3, 2015. It was about 7:30/7:40 a.m. I was driving my 2004 kia sorento ex. I had just driven through st. Peter, mn on hwy 169 south on my way to mankato and was starting to pick up my speed as the speed limit increases as you leave town. All of a sudden, without warning, my vehicle just shut down. The "dummy lights" all lit up. I had no power steering, no brakes, no accelerator - nothing was working. Thank goodness the vehicle, because there was no power, slowed to a stop within a short period of time. I was able to pull over without a collision and no one was hurt. I put it in park and turned the key to the off position. I tried to see if it would start again and absolutely nothing happened when I turned the key. I called aaa and the sorento was towed to the nearest mechanic shop. Without investing too much time in it because I didn't want a huge bill, the mechanic told me that it has electrical power - has good power to the starter, but the engine does not rotate. They could not even physically rotate the engine. He told me that regardless of what it was, it would be very expensive to repair it because, at this point, they have no idea what is wrong with it. That's when I got on facebook and started asking if anyone had any ideas of what could be wrong and a friend told me about the kia sorento engine defect class action lawsuit. I believe my 2004 kia sorento ex is affected by this engine defect. It was dangerous to be driving and I am thankful I was not on a busy freeway. As this just happened 3 days ago, I do not know what I am going to do with this sorento. I would like to have it fixed, but cannot afford to do it. It is still sitting in the parking lot at the mechanics in st. Peter where aaa towed it to.

Filed Dec 21, 2014 · Engine · 76,308 miles · PA

Loud crack was heard while driving. Lost power steering. Pin in the crank pulley snapped and belts stopped turning. Car was very difficult to steer and fortunately we were able to get it to the side of the road. This car has a 10 year, 100m mile warranty which expired in september of 2014. Dealer contended that this problem, although part of the engine was not covered.

Filed Sep 27, 2014 · Brakes, Steering · 102,000 miles · PA

While I was driving out of my complex my the lights on the dash came on and it seemed as if I lost my brakes (which I cost to the side road as well as no steering. I had the vehicle towed and I was told that the pulley mounting bolt had broken off inside the crankshaft.

Filed May 13, 2014 · Engine · FL · 1 injury

While driving there was a noise from the engine compartment,power steering failedby the grace of god was able to get the vehicle off of the interstate. Looked under the hood and seen the crank shaft pulley and bolt laying on the tie rod under close examination the spring pin was sheared off from the timing chain pulley. The first time took the vehicle to kia of brandon florida , inwhich they said other things were wrong with the vehicle as well, the total bill came to around 800.00 dollars. I think they just tightened down the bolts because the crank shaft pulley came off again, went back to kia of brandon and they would not repair it, stating that they were not going to repair the vehicle for free, they wanted to charge another 800.00 dollars...so vehicle was taken to a mechanic that reattached the pulley...and the pulley came off again this time the bolt broke off in the crank shaft,the timing chain sprocket also came off. Called the dealership and they are only repairing certain VIN numbers of that year.

Filed Apr 10, 2014 · Engine · 143,439 miles · MI

I was driving down the expressway when the car engine light came on, the power shut down and the power steering stopped working. I had trouble trying to merge over into a safe lane before the car stopped rolling. I did manage restarting the vehicle to move over to the side of the road before it cut off on me again. Once I was safe I restarted the vehicle and let it run a couple of minutes before I was safe to pull back out. This happen to me a couple of time before but this time it was so unsafe I almost was killed my a 18 wheeler truck. I contact many dealerships to see what code comes up and no code comes up.

Filed Apr 2, 2014 · Engine · 62,894 miles · FL

@ 62,894 miles: driving from gas station to home less than 1 mile away, engine made noise and started running rough. Parked car overnight, then drove about 3 miles to closest repair shop. Diagnosed as sheered off crankshaft pin/bolt. Repaired under extended warranty with new parts from kia, but one week later had to be towed in because it happened again. Crankshaft was warped so engine was rebuilt with used crankshaft and new parts from kia. @ 104,595 miles: driving on rural road in heavy traffic, lights on dashboard came on and lost power steering. Speed was 55 MPH. Managed to steer car off road without incident. Towed to repair shop. Crankshaft pin/bolt sheered off. Cost to repair $895.30. @ 109,885 miles: engine began making clicking noises and lost power steering, etc. Crankshaft pin/bolt sheered off. Repair not recommended. Replacement engine recommended. There is a class action lawsuit pending against kia for this problem. Please search online and you will find there are literally thousands of people who have had this issue with this same vehicle (2002-2009) and many had accidents because of it. Why is this not in the news? Kia knows this part is bad, they know this design is bad, and they continue to put band aids on engines rather than fixing them.

Filed Feb 23, 2014 · Engine · 155,000 miles · WI

My daughter was driving on highway @ 55 MPH with two children ages 2 and 1 year old in january 14. She heard a loud noise and power steering went out. Scared the[xxx] out of her. It took all of her strength to steer it to the side of the highway.the sorento was towed to repair shop and was told the crankshaft bolt (pulley) broke that drives all the other pulleys including the power steering. Half the bolt was still in the engine. It was repaired with a kia updated bolt and remember being told, "this is known to be a problem with this model" . Thank goodness nothing happened to her and my grandchildren. On 21 february, the power steering went out again caused by the same reason as before. What I do not understand is: 1. The bolt itself has been recalled but it is obviously not a bolt issue. It is a "design issue" that kia is well aware of and they are ignoring this issue. 2. A class action suit is in process against kia,"kia sorento engine defect class action lawsuit" case is robinson et al v. Kia motors america inc. Et al., case no. 13-cv-00006 u.s. District court for the district of new jersey. This is for kia sorento's 2002-2009. 3.a number of incidents have occurred and reported to the federal safety agency (safecar.gov). 4. Performing a fmeca (failure mode effect criticality analysis) it would show this failure could lead to engine failure, loss of power steering, hazard to other drivers due to engine parts breakage, injury and potential death. What does it take for an agency such as the federal safety agency to take action. The death of a child. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Nov 26, 2013 · Transmission · 100,300 miles · VA

Driving on interstate hwy, 70 MPH, the harmonic balance bolt and roll pin sheared off leaving broken off stubs in crankshaft. Causing loss of power steering, power brakes, I had dealer replace all fan belts because of squealing for the trip, 300 miles before the failure.

Filed Jun 25, 2013 · Engine · 154,000 miles · PA

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 kia sorento. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH, there was a loud noise as the power steering assist failed. The battery warning light and the parking brake light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic, who stated that the crankshaft detached from the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure was reported to the manufacturer. The failure and current mileage was 154,000.