โUPDATEโ.
KIA Sportage Roof leakage
Few days ago in two different video clips , similar issue was experienced by the owners of the two different KIA Sportage. In both those clips, there was leakage from the area around the panoramic roof and along the A-Pillar.
On first instance, everyone would think that the leakage is from the seals around the roof assembly because of the nature of the leakage as observed in the video clips. When video went viral, there were few people who thoughts itโs all fake and it is to malign the credibility of the KIA sportage. Some even said that other car brands currently in the country actually made this video and itโs all propaganda. Some KIA Sportage owners , started sharing videos of their vehicle in heavy rain and showing NO leakage at all and made a judgment that because as THEIR vehicle donโt leak, therefore itโs all baseless story.
Well, I was chasing this case and fortunately I was able to locate the owners of the vehicle through my sources. I feel that itโs my utmost responsibility that I update everyone who was following this story . I also wrote a post on this issue and its further important for me to post development on this case. I could not locate the second owner of the Sportage BUT itโs understood that the other owner will have same updates.
The vehicle as pictured here [ one of the vehicle from the video clips ] was brought to a KIA dealership at Township in Lahore for the leakage problem and it was found that the leakage was actually NOT from the panoramic roof assembly BUT the windshield. The sealant used to hold the windshield in place was defective and the water was going inside the cabin with the swipe of the wiper blade. The windshield was removed from the vehicle along with the sealant , a new bead of sealant was applied and the windshield was installed back on to the vehicle.
The work order is attached for the reference. Work was performed under warranty. The cost shown on the work order is normal and it is done to track the cost of warranty coverage, inventory record keeping. You can see the checkbox checked for WARRANTY on 6th row from top.
So, how come a brand new vehicle got this problem?
Well problem can happen on any assembly line anywhere in the world and with any brand. Any defective part can go onto production line and then become part of the vehicle which later get sold. The impact of that defective part is sometime known only when the vehicle is in the hands of the owner. Also, not all vehicles can get effected with same issue because NOT necessarily all vehicles used a certain same defective part/s. In other words if someone else is facing a problem in his vehicle and you own the same vehicle, it does not mean you will & should have same problem. It also does not means that if you donโt have problem you donโt have that defective part. Maybe you have that too but the problem has not yet arrived in your case, as timeline can be different.
This is why if a same certain problem is reported by multiple car owners, the car companies investigate and find out the reasons and then RECALL vehicle which they think might have that defective part. Sometime a recall is for the entire batch, it can be certain number of vehicles from within the batch/ lot and in some cases the entire production spread over multiple years can be problematic.
In case of KIA Sportage, an expired sealant was used and that sealant didnโt perform its function properly and eventually failed. I was told that although only two individuals came to limelight because of their social media video clip, in reality there are many more Sportage unit out there with the same defective sealant. Itโs just matter of time when that sealant will fail and let the water inside the cabin.
I appreciate KIA dealer for stepping up and quickly fixing the issue BUT it is also important that KIA track down all those Sportage unit which might have the expired sealant installed from factory regardless of even no issue reported by the owners of those vehicles at this time. It is better to fix these now with new sealant rather waiting for leakage to happen which can further damage the reputation of the brand.
I also suggest that KIA must give an extended warranty on the headliner which got soaking wet because of leaking windshield . KIA dealership didnโt replace it and just cleaned the stains / wet marks. Headliners have special backing/ foam and insulation and once it get wet, overtime it can get sag as moisture is now entrapped inside.
My advice to all Sportage owners, if you are not facing this particular problem, GOOD FOR YOU , but it does not mean the problem is not there. Documentary evidence attached for your soul searching.
So, my message for those people who were calling this issue โFAKE, PROPEGANDAโ or were calling me an agent and paid mafia to defame the KIA, please understand that issues can happen and reporting them and discussing them is not propaganda.
If you donโt discuss, you will not know the reality and it will be difficult to improve things. When I post something here, I do all my homework with all the backup documentary evidence in place.
Previous post on this issue here > https://www.facebook.com/groups/309434242505239?view=permalink&id=3220078654774102
Please don't confuse the matter here in this post with another Viral video on which a Sportage was flooded. Read about it here > https://www.facebook.com/groups/309434242505239?view=permalink&id=3223976057717695
[Fazal wahab]
