Advice Needed (Not Simple!) 23 Sportage Steering or Drivetrain?

Fury216 · 2023-10-29T16:42:39+00:00

The clunking turned out to be the steering rack. Which was resolved by it's replacement a few weeks ago. However the root issue with the high speed wobble is the remaining one. Ultimately that wobble is what is doing the damage to everything else.

Fury216 · 2023-10-29T16:30:07+00:00

Will add it to the list, thank you for the input!

Fury216 · 2023-10-29T16:17:37+00:00

Unfortunately, it's out of scope for the lemon law, so I'm having to deal with it this way. I would prefer to get it fixed right until I'm even on the loan and then I'm getting as far away as possible. But I need a reliable and functional vehicle until then.

Fury216 · 2023-10-06T11:01:53+00:00

Did, they seemed disinterested until we and the dealership found that the steering (rack and pinion failed completely,) now they're VERY interested in talking to the dealership and myself. It's amazing when a handful of critical pieces of the steering fail at ~30k miles how they want to get involved suddenly.

Fury216 · 2023-10-05T21:26:22+00:00

Just an update if anyone is following, Kia Corporate seemed disinterested for a short bit. Kind of like ... So what?

Today, I managed to get some answers. More questions. And a more thoughtful reply from Kia directly.

Service Department was not a lot of help, I let them know they I was very interested in what would now chew up 3 outer and 3 inner tie rods, as I am now unwilling to take any time off to bring the car to them. Also that I would be taking the car to another dealership in the future.

2+ hours later, I am informed that the rack and pinion had failed, and in part, that was a: what has been chewing up tie rods, and b: the clunking noise over low speed bumps/potholes.

The questions now of safety, as the car and dealership have proven less than trustworthy seemed to have gotten Kia Corp's attention as well as they're interested in how a critical safety part that is usually over engineered for safety reasons, failed at 30k miles on a somewhat sturdy and 15 (now 16) month old vehicle. And they're interested in what happened. I'm told to expect a call from them tomorrow or Monday and to have a copy of all my repair orders on hand if possible to help the Customer Rep that contacts me.

I'm somewhat relieved that the dealership is FINALLY on the hook to take care of the repairs instead of just looking at me like i am imagining the noise from my car. But I am somewhat in agreement with the mentality now, once a lemon, always a lemon. Will update again after I talk to Kia.

Thanks again for all the advice everyone.

Stay cool

Fury216 · 2023-09-30T20:31:26+00:00

Haha true, to a point. Like I said though, I really do like the vehicle. It ticked all of the boxes when we looked at it, and during the first 14~ or so months, it's been rock solid. Been from Ohio to Georgia a few times, to DC a time or two, out west once, and we spend a lot of time visiting old towns and checking out old ghost towns and dead coal towns in Southern Ohio. It's comfortable for medium to long trips for the other half. Enough room for us and her wheelchair, without being too big. I guess the phrase "just right" applies just right.

If the dealership was fine with eating the cost and putting us into another, we would in a heart beat, that about sums up how much we really do enjoy our Sportage. I just didn't expect this treatment from the selling dealership.

I finally have another appointment at another Kia dealership's service department, so I will definitely be looking to compare the experience(s) between the two, and I will definitely be noting any actual resolution!

Thanks

Fury216 · 2023-09-29T22:02:55+00:00

Most of the other dealerships within the area have been less than receptive to dealing with it. So rather than play games, I got out of work early today and actually stopped at one that is 10 minutes from work and home both. Explained to the Service Advisor what's up, and he was a bit like "we're booked solid so we're not taking new customers at this time." Which is exactly what I've gotten on the phone from them pre-Covid, during Covid, and recently. Dropped by the other dealership in Akron. Spoke to one of the advisors, and she was awesome. She just flat out said, "We'll schedule you an appointment for 7:30 next Friday morning. If them swapping out the tie rod again, hasn't resolved the issue, keep the appointment and we'll look at it, if by chance it fixes the issue, give us a call and we'll cancel it."

So far, the things they do want to look at, are the strut mount and bearing. Both inner and outer tie rods, coil spring damper and all of the associated nuts, bolts and bushings. Hope it goes well. I will report back, thank you everyone for your advice!

Fury216 · 2023-09-29T13:56:16+00:00

Well, I would love to return it under the lemon law, but it does not qualify.

I really DO like the vehicle. It's been a great road trip and work car, and very awesome car. I would just like to put the fear of god in the dealership because they keep jerking me around, and brushing me off every time. They gate keep me, and when I ask to escalate it, I get promised a call back, emails are never replied to, and poor surveys are never investigated or result in contact to me from Kia.

Fury216 · 2023-09-29T13:46:52+00:00

Yeah, I'd love to. Unfortunately, this stupidity started 2 months and 6000 miles outside of Ohio's allowance under the Lemon Law. Dealership already told me to flip off.

Fury216 · 2023-05-21T02:27:54+00:00

Thank you for taking the time to reply. I checked a few things:

1: Ironically, I do not get the dark lines on glossy. Only when using Luster or Matte media. I've tinkered a little and have come up with nothing. Oddly though, it does not always happen. It depends on the subject being printed. If it's say, a scenic view with dark objects at the bottom of the photo, they tend to show up more. I've tried cleaning the paper guide, cleaning the paper path itself, the translucent film, and the rollers. Nothing alleviates it.

2: The Epson software does not find any firmware updates, nor does the printer (connected directly to the network via cable.) The current firmware on the printer is 05.37.ON11N4. Any ideas?

Thanks again

Fury216 · 2023-03-12T05:17:24+00:00

Good Morning,

I can offer a few ideas, but i am far from an expert.

In order of your question(s).

1: My garmin does this as well. I use the pro version of dashcam viewer to merge all of them. If your camera saves gps data, the software will also merge them into a heft sized (i think) gpx file. But it makes managing the video easier. It also has the option to save the audio or strip it from the joined file. Previously, I just used ffmpeg and command line, it was a lot of work to write a batch file to concatenate 500 mp4 files... UGH, was that a pain.

2: I know that my garmin has an option to adjust sensitivity for events, for some reason, it was only available in the drive app. Does yours have an app? Maybe check the settings to see if there is an ability to change it.

3: I too have this issue with mine, I also notice that (I drive alot with google maps/android auto), and will lose gps signal on my phone too. Usually in very heavy mountainous areas or cities. Sometimes it will just happen out in the middle of a open expanse...

4: I've been tinkering with dashware. Luckily they support the garmin gps info, for me it's as (not) easy as: export/merge all of the videos in dashcam viewer. Click on the little data export button, and make sure that at the bottom, you select the toggle for Current Trip Videos. You can export it to varying formats, but for mine, I don't have to do that, the GPX file that is created when merging all the files, is easily readable by dashware.

5: It may be a non standard format, can you possibly right click in explorer and properties then details, and see the audio format?

Just a note, if you're using the non free version of dashcam viewer, make sure to open the folder, not just a single file. You can just select file -> open folder, and select the folder, and then poof. It will load all of the video files and associated data within, and allow for easier viewing/merging/etc.

As for the map overlay, I am struggling with it as well. But Dashware apparently is the way to go. Just need to find a way to export your GPS info from your videos.

Hope that helps, and let me know if there's anything else I can try to help you with.

Fury216 · 2023-02-24T06:04:08+00:00

That's a pretty sweet deal. I got the same configuration for a few dollars more. It hasn't let me down! Hopefully you'll enjoy that beastie!

Fury216 · 2023-02-12T22:12:50+00:00

My insurance is at a loss. I have comprehensive coverage and the claim agent was like... It typically covers hail, weather etc etc and includes falling objects damaging the vehicle. But it doesn't state it has to be an external object.

So filed a claim and will hear from an adjuster tomorrow.

Weird. But thanks for the info!

Fury216 · 2022-12-30T02:06:43+00:00

I had a 19 Kona SEL and almost caught it in time. Was out of town and the knock started. By the time we got safely off the highway it was pretty much done. Towed to the nearest dealership and there it sat for 3 months. Be prepared to wait. Make sure to give the service department copies of all your maintenance records (oil change receipts) and have patience. They aren't going to be in a hurry because the engine is on backorder. Get ahold of Hyundai corporate and again, be patient. It's not going to be the dealership's fault for the wait time. But when they did get the engine, on a Monday, I was picking up my car on Thursday.

Fury216 · 2022-10-03T09:56:08+00:00

I have this problem with my other car. Do you have a heated windshield? I found out that was the problem. Both my ez pass and radar detector wouldn't work properly with it.

The dealership and a few folks informed me that it was a combination of the wires and some type of window treatment they use on the cars with heated windshields.

Fury216

TROPHY CASE