# 2001 KIA SPORTAGE — POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)
> NHTSA complaint `515922` · 2005-01-07 · Kia America, Inc.
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 0
- **Fire:** No
- **Crash:** Yes
- **Police report:** No
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** KIA
- **Model:** SPORTAGE
- **Year:** 2001
- **Manufacturer:** Kia America, Inc.
- **Component:** POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)
## Narrative
MY 2001 KIA SPORTAGE HAS A DEFECT IN ITS DESIGN. THE SOLENOID, & HOSES THAT CONNECT TO IT ARE PLACED IN AN AREA ON THE VEHICLE WHERE THEY ARE SUBJECTED TO THE ELEMENTS-&-IN HARMS WAY OF BEING DAMAGED FROM NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. I DO NOT HAVE THE SERVICE PAPER WORK ON ME, AT THE MOMENT (I AM AT THE PUBLIC LIBRARY-DOING RESEARCH ON KIA'S MANY SAFETY ISSUES)-IF YOU NEED COPIES OF MY SERVICE RECORDS, OR ANY FURTHER INFO-PLEASE CONTACT ME BY MAIL.  WHEN SOLENOID/HOSES FAILED - I WAS UNAWARE THAT MY 4 WHEEL DRIVE WAS INOPERABLE. THERE WERE MANY TIMES, IN THE WINTER MONTHS- WHERE MY KIA WOULD SLIP/SLIDE-HANDLE ERRATICALLY IN THE SNOW/RAIN. I HAVE LOST TRACK OF THE TIMES I LOST CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE DURING THIS TIME FRAME (2001-2004). NOW I REALIZE THAT IT WAS DUE TO THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE MALFUNCTIONING. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE JUST SPUN OUT-WITH NO ONE ELSE HITTING ME; THANK GOD FOR THAT. THE SPORTAGE IS VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE-WHEN IT IS RAINING/SNOWING-IT'S WHEEL BASE MAKES IT DANGEROUS.  THE FIRST SERVICE MANAGER REFUSED TO FIX IT UNDER KIA'S 10 YEAR/ 100,000 COVERAGE-SO I HAD TO PAY $85 TO FIX IT. IT WORKED TWO MORE TIMES, AND NOW THE HUBS ARE SHOT (AFTER A MERE 29,000 MILES). I WAS NAIVE ABOUT KIA'S RECORD AT THE TIME. I HAVE SEEN THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT KIA NOW- AND I WANT THE TRUTH ABOUT THEM TO COME OUT.  I HAVE CONTACED KIA ABOUT MY PROBLEM(S) MANY TIMES. THEY ARE VERY SMUG, AND KNOWLEGEABLE ABOUT WHAT THEY DO NOT HAVE TO DO FOR YOU. IF THEY SPENT 1/2 
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*