I AM A KIA TECH IN CT . THE 1998 AND 1999 SPORTAGE WAS RECALLED TO HAVE THE STEERING KNUCLES REPLACED.THE FOUR WHEELDRIVE VACUM HUBS WOULD SUCK WATER AND DIRT INTO THE WHEELBEARINGS CAUSING THEM TO FAIL.IN SOME CASES I HAVE SEEN THE BEARINGS WERE SO LOOSE THE VEHICLES WOULD LOSE THERE BRAKES. THE RECALL KITS WE HAVE INSTALLED ARE NOW FAILING IN GREAT NUMBERS AND ARE NOT JUST 98 AND 99 VEHICLS BUT 2000 AND 2001 VEHICLES.ALL OF THESE MODEL YEAR VEHICLES SHOULD BE RECALLED BEFORE PEOPLE GET HURT.*AK
2002
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WELL MAINTAINED, DAILY DRIVEN, VEHICLE WITH 145,000 MILES HAS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT PASSENGER SIDE RAIL OF FRAME. SUB STANDARD QUALITY OF STEEL MAKING VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE ( WITH ALL THE COMPLAINTS FOR THIS SAME ISSUE, HAS ANYONE PERFORMED A CHEMICAL ANALYSIS TO VERIFY THE MATERIAL PROPERTIES IN THESE SIDE RAILS MATCH THE MATERIAL SPECIFICATION REQUIREMENTS PER THE BLUE PRINT)? NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS FOR SAME ISSUE WITH LACK OF ATTENTION FROM THE GOVERNMENT FOR SUCH A CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUE. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED WITH THERE BEING SO MANY REPEAT COMPLAINTS OUT THERE BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED AS A RESULT OF DEGRADATION TO THE FRAME STRUCTURE. AMERICAN AUTO-MAKERS ARE HELD TO A MUCH HIGHER STANDARD AND ARE FORCED INTO RESOLVING THESE ISSUES WITH THE CONSUMER. HOWEVER, THE FOREIGN CARMAKERS APPEAR TO BE GETTING AWAY WITH "MURDER" BY PLACING THE AMERICAN WORKERS AT HIGH RISK FOR THEIR SAFETY AS WELL AS THE SAFETY OF EVERY OTHER DRIVER ON THE ROAD. I CAN PICTURES OF SUPPORT OR BETTER YET, LACK OF AS THERE IS VERY LITTLE STEEL LEFT AND BY NO MEANS, ANY STRUCTURAL SUPPORT TO THE FRAME ON THIS SIDE.