Another Problem

I dropped the bottom panel today to see if I could see what happened. Found the sensor and it is just attached to the bumper with glue. I could not get it reattached as the clearance is too small to get a hand in. The dealer said when I inquired about it that they have to remove the bumper. The sensor looked good just came loose. I suspect they did not use enough adhesive to attach the bracket to the bumper. Hitting everyday bumps over 2,300 miles must have been enough to have it detach. What happens if a big bug hits a sensor as you drive 70 mph on the highway?

Can’t wait to hear how the dealer wants to explain this one. There are so many sensors on the front bumper which one is next? And you can’t turn off the warning tone. Every stop or going less than 10 mpg and the front console shows a front camera shot with the right side sensor view in red and an annoying tone that can’t be turned off.

I will read the manual and see if there is a fuse I can remove.

Watched a YouTube video where they removed the front bumper. Looks pretty easy and will give me access to the sensor. Tried another dealer and they suggested I take it to a body shop, really? There is no damage the sensor just detached. Will give removing the bumper and report back.

where's the warranty?

Maybe someone in a parking lot "nudged" that spot on your bumper and loosened the sensor? I've never seen anyone mention this issue on any of the Sportage forums, so don't think its a systemic manufacturing issue.

It would have been a pinpoint nudge as there is no scratch or anything indicating there was a nudge. Could be a quality issue with not enough adhesive to hold the sensor in place. I will know more when I remove the bumper on that side to give me access to the sensor.

Brubaker said:

It would have been a pinpoint nudge as there is no scratch or anything indicating there was a nudge. Could be a quality issue with not enough adhesive to hold the sensor in place. I will know more when I remove the bumper on that side to give me access to the sensor.

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Were you able to remove your front bumper and reattach the sensor?

I went to a new dealer and they currently have the car. The service mgr said he had seen it happen before and it will be covered under warranty. It looks like a fairly easy job to remove the bumper but was lucky to find a dealer that would take care of it so I don’t have to. I’ll post the result.

Brubaker said:

I went to a new dealer and they currently have the car. The service mgr said he had seen it happen before and it will be covered under warranty. It looks like a fairly easy job to remove the bumper but was lucky to find a dealer that would take care of it so I don’t have to. I’ll post the result.

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happy to see the "new " dealer providing a warranty for Kia, surely you will go back in the future and tell the other one to shove off no?

Bad outcome with the dealer. After having the car 4 days which was 3 more than they said, they told us the bracket was broken and it would not be covered under warranty. It would cost us $700 to repair. If we didn’t have them repair it they were going to charge $179 for removing the bumper to inspect. The bracket being broken sounded like bs as I saw the sensor and bracket when I lowered the engine shield. You can’t get to it to repair but can see it.

I was t paying any $700 so went to pick up the car. I told them what I had seen and the service guy counseled with the service mgr who held to their broken bracket story. The story of how they checked it changed from they took down the bumper to they slid a scope to take a picture. Still holding firm to their story. They didn’t charge us anything for using the scope.

Went home, looked up how to remove bumper and there was a great you tube video on how to do it. Thirty minutes later I had the front bumper off. I am attaching pictures of the sensor. As I kept saying the bracket detached from the bumper, nothing hit it. I called the dealer and now they want to make it right. Would I bring back the vehicle and they’ll replace the sensor and file a warranty claim. Yeah right, I will glue/epoxy the sensor bracket back to the bumper and reinstall the bumper. Why after doing all this would I possibly bring them the car.

I suspect this will be a problem for the Sportage Hybrid so be aware.