MY DAUGHTER OWNS A 2002 KIA SPORTAGE THAT RECENTLY BROKE DOWN DUE TO A FUEL LEAK ON TOP OF THE GASTANK. CAR WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST REPAIR FACILITY. TURNS OUT A PLASTIC NOZZLE HAD CRACKED OFF THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL SUPPLY LINE COMING OUT OF THE GASTANK ITSELF RESULTING IN PUMPING FUEL EVERYWHERE! LUCKILY,VEHICLE DIDN'T CATCH ON FIRE! PART WAS FINALLY REPLACED 4TH TIME BACK TO REPAIR FACILITY, BUT WAS REPLACED WITH THE SAME PLASTIC NOZZLE INSTEAD OF A METAL NOZZLE?THIS IS MY SAFETY CONCERN WITH THIS VEHICLE, AFRAID THE SAMETHING WILL EVENTUALLY HAPPEN AGAIN. HAD THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, MY 17YR OLD DAUGHTER WOULD PROBABLY NOT HAD ENOUGH TIME TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF FUEL UNDERNEATH IT? NOT SURE IF THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE, BUT I FEEL THIS SITUATION SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AS A SAFETY CONCERN. *TR
2009
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 6 MPH HE EXPERIENCED DIFFICULT STEERING. ALSO THE VEHICLE FAILED TO CONVEY TO THE FUEL ECONOMY RECOMMENDED STANDARDS OF 16 TO 24 MPG FOR IN THE CITY DRIVING. THE VEHICLE MAINTAINED A FUEL ECONOMY OF 12 MPG. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NEW, AND MUST ATTAIN 4,000 MILEAGE FOR RESOLUTION TO THE MALFUNCTIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON FIVE SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR THE IDENTICAL FAILURES IN WHICH THERE WERE NO RESOLUTIONS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 779. UPDATED 11/10/09 *BF UPDATED 11/13/09.*JB
