When driving there was a clunking noise and then the steering was hard to steer and the battery light came on & had to have it towed to find out that the harmonic balancer bolt broke. There are hundreds of complaints online about this same issue happening with these engines as this is a poor design. This is a safety hazard and very dangerous since you loose the steering and should be recalled.

- East Bridgewater, MA, USA

The contact owns a 2005 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while turning left, the steering wheel was very difficult to turn. The contact mentioned that all her strength was needed to turn the steering wheel. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the crankshaft bolt needed to be replace. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.

- Virginia Beach, VA, USA

The harmonic balancer mounting bolt sheared and stripped the threads in the crankshaft of my 2005 Kia serento. The mechanic had my car for 3 months trying to fix this problem. This is evidently a design issue and should have a recall issued. This problem cost me a lot of money to fix. (the car was in motion when the harmonic balancer fell off) my wife struggle to get the car home due to lost of belts.

- Chester, SC, USA

Kia had a lawsuit involving the crankshaft bolt. The lawsuit is yvonne robinson vs Kia. I bought the vehicle from someone with only 25,000 miles last year 2017. My children were driving back to college on 11 August 2018. The crankshaft bolt broke which causes the vehicle to lose steering. My children were almost in a terrible accident which could have cost them their lives. My sons go to school in atlanta and the crankshaft broke in North Carolina. I had my children call our insurance company for roadside assistance and they couldn't fix it obviously because it was the crankshaft bolt. He got them safely to pepboys and they had to spend the night in North Carolina and the next day pepboys confirmed it was the crankshaft bolt. I found out there was a lawsuit concerning the crankshaft bolt. Pepboys said it would be $2000 to fix. I called Kia on 13 August 18 and they told me they would take care of it and would call in a couple days. They are still giving me the run around. This was something that was involved in a lawsuit and it concerns safety. Please help me hold Kia accountable. They know this is a defective product. The vehicle is still in North Carolina because I'm waiting to hear back from Kia. I'm a retired navy veteran who deserves to be treated fair and not have my loved ones life at risk because of their defective products

- Virginia Beach, VA, USA

The contact owns a 2005 Kia Sorento. While driving 10 mph, the crankshaft detached from the vehicle, causing the vehicle to come to a compete stop. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who confirmed the failure. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer (Kia store clarksville, 826 E lewis and clark pkwy, clarksville, in 47129, (866) 545-2429) where the crankshaft was replaced, but oil started leaking from the camshaft seal after the repairs. The manufacturer was called and stated that further repairs were not covered under the warranty. The failure mileage was 123,000.

- Georgetown, IN, USA

While driving down the interstate the car's engine caught fire. Melted everything in engine. When told I needed a new engine, I sold the car to a junk yard for parts. Now, I hear this recall. So pissed@

- New Port Richey, FL, USA

Have experienced repeated failure of cam sensor, cam shaft pulley bolt, failure of engine cooling system, failure of clutch assembly and transmission, failure of air conditioning, failure of electrical system for exterior lights.. all issues are as documented by the hundreds and hundreds of complaints by other owners who are waiting for an investigation, a recall, or enough deaths and injuries to receive any assistance of any kind from this organization or the manufacturer. I can not justify spending one more dollar ( $16,000 in the 3 years since purchased for $4,000).to repair this vehicle and it is once again inoperable for the same issues.. no car dealer wants it as a trade in, the standard offer is $300. I cannot sell it to anyone and then face myself in mirror. Perhaps a public sake... $1 per minute to anyone who wants to bash a Kia (sledgehammer provided). Proceeds will be applied to purchase of replacement vehicle, which will not be a Kia.

- Acworth, GA, USA

Harmonic balancer is falling off. Have read many reviews where others with the same vehicle and theirs are actually falling off. As well as a lawsuit in February

- Dittmer, MO, USA

The engine caught on fire on Sunday February 26 and today March 1st

- Bloomington, IN, USA

My vehicle was in motion on a highway driving 60 miles per hr to work (30 miles from home) in pouring rain when engine, brake and battery light came on. Thank god that I made it to work safely but then only to realize that power steering had locked up. Looked under the hood, power steering fluid and brake fluid fine but one belt had came off and the other belt just barely hanging on from the alternator and pulley. Thought pulley had locked up but took to a mechanic just 1/2 mile down from my job and he said that my problem is that the crankshaft bolt had broken off inside of the crankshaft. I go online and find that there were a lot more complaints of the same issue with my make and year as well as others. The previous recall by Kia was only for 2003-2004 (certain models) not including mine but this seems to be a definite issue so the recall should be extended to other years and models such as mine. Thank god that I made it to work safely and now have to find another means to get around since this is my only transportation.

- Easton, MD, USA

Driving on highway rte 24 when crankshaft pulley broke off causing engine and brake lights to come on. It was impossible to control and to steer the vehicle causing me to nearly get into an accident. Subsequently, my vehicle got towed from the highway to a mechanic shop who informed me that my 2005 Kia Sorento's crankshaft pulley bolt broke off - therefore to buy an engine or junk it. Unfortunately, I owned this vehicle for only 1 year 3 months and with these problems. I don't have any money to replace it right now and I don't know what to do to get to work going forward.

- Brockton, MA, USA

On 07/14/16 I tried to start my vehicle. It did not start so I called a tow truck to give me kick start. The engine started and the battery light came on, this is the first time it had. Two driver told me to take it and get the battery checked out it just didn't seem right to him. So I did and that is when I found out the I had a blown head gasket and upon further investigation they found that the coolant got into the engine and two of the pistons were gone and the interior wall of the engine was scorched badly. This vehicle has been taken care of I loved it and made sure I followed all the requirements bu Kia to keep this car running. With such little miles this should of never happened. In my investigation, I found similar reports regarding Kia Sorento's and engine problems. I have been in contact with Kia but they have not made any gestures to help me. I do not have money to get a new car and this was my transportation to drive about 2hrs to help my 93 1/2 yr old mother. Now I can't do that. I loved this car and can not believe that Kia will not help. I have had to rent a car for 2 days, take a taxi and depend on others in my time of need.

- Timonium, MD, USA

Driving across a 4 lane expressway, barely made it across, the vehicle sputters and comes to a stop after fighting with the power steering losing all control. Crankshaft pulley has damaged the engine so severe, that a new engine was put in at our expense ($5,000), gas tank was discovered to have a hole and leaking gas. Air bag light comes on and off just depends on it's mood, the display on the radio, etc. Goes away in cold weather, and now have a constant thump thump when driving as if the tire is flat. Driving for 5 months with new engine, I pressed on the accelerator quickly to pass a truck when a loud noise (sounding like the engine blew) from the engine was heard then something comes loose and hits the undercarriage so hard I can feel it through the floorboard. No smoke, no elevation in temperature. Pull over, there is now a vibration when idling but cannot see anything obvious missing. Whatever it was took chunks out of the right front tire. Brakes seemed to lock up at times and you could feel something like a pump losing air and the car slides just before the complete stop with a low groaning noise. Haven't took to the mechanic yet, but will be soon.

- Ellijay, GA, USA

In November of 2015, I was on my way home from work and just picking my one year old up from daycare, when I heard a loud screeching noise from a belt. My gauges went wild and I my power steering was in and out. By the time I hit the main highway to get home as I was exiting my power steering went completely out and the car could not be driven any further, so I had to coast to the side of the road. This was during rush hour traffic, I am soooo lucky that I hadn't quiet entered the highway yet. Had to get towed home. Got home and noticed the crankshaft bold was broken and the belts were thrown. We fixed it and now it has just done it again on July 1st as I was backing out of the driveway to go out of town. I didn't drive it because I knew the bolt was about to break because the harmonic balancer pulley was wobbling really bad, the air wouldn't work and the gauges started going crazy. Also the pulley's were struggling to spin. Is it going to take someone to loose their life before something is done about it?

- Florence, MS, USA

While driving a noise comes from engine compartment. Battery and brake warning light come on. Power steering goes out. Have to man ahndle SUV to a safe spot. Crankshaft bolt that hold harmonic balancer broke. Common problem known to Kia engines they offer to fix it for $1300 plus more.

- Rural Hall, NC, USA

I purchased a 2005 Kia Sorento in November 2013 from dealership. In June 2014 I had the first incident. While driving on a highway, suddenly all warning lights came on, power steering was lost. I was able to pull over without incident. Had to be towed. Had the problem fixed: Crankshaft sensor, warped pulley, sheered bolt on said pulley, resulting in more damage, including water pump and timing belts. Two weeks later the same thing occurred, again while I was driving in town. My mechanic said it is a defect in the Kia design. Two weeks later got it fixed. Now ten months later the same problem occurs, again while driving. Each time this has cost me $2,000 to fix. I still owe $4,500 on the vehicle! since repairing with Kia parts and the problem is never solved due to poor design, Kia really needs to step up and issue recall. Same problem 3 times in less than a year! please help!

- Brooklyn, WI, USA

The contact owns a 2005 Kia Sorento. While driving 50 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact was able to restart the vehicle; however, it was not able to fully accelerate. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the harmonic balancer pulley bolt fractured from the crankshaft. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 105,000.

- Newport Richey, FL, USA

The contact owns a 2005 Kia Sorento. While driving approximately 60 mph, the crank pulley bolt fractured without warning. The failure disabled the steering wheel, which made it difficult to control the vehicle. The contact coasted the vehicle to a stop. A certified mechanic stated that the crank pulley bolt fractured and detached from the vehicle. The contact had the vehicle towed to the dealer for repairs. After the repair, the vehicle stalled without warning and lost all steering power. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the engine failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer informed the contact that the vehicle was no longer under warranty for repair. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000. Updated 10/13/16

- Georgetown, IN, USA

The contact owns a 2005 Kia Sorento. While driving approximately 35 mph, the vehicle stopped and shut down without warning. The vehicle did not restart and was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the crankshaft bolt detached and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, but did not respond to the reimbursement request. The failure mileage was 82,310.

- Lawton, MI, USA

The contact owns a 2005 Kia Sorento. While driving approximately 25 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle failed to restart and was towed to the dealer. The vehicle remained at the dealer for three consecutive months to locate the failure. The cam sensor, crank sensor, and timing belt were replaced. In addition, the ECM computer was replaced. One month later, after the repair was performed, the failure recurred. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,300...updated 02/23/16....updated 03/16/16

- Alpine, TX, USA