Mysterious Radiator and Fan

The broken radiator fan

The spoilt radiator

December, 2007, I drove my Kia Sportage to my usual tyre shop in Maluri. I have the 2 front tyres changed. At the same time, to have the balancing and alignment checked.

When all the jobs were finally completed, the technician drove my Sportage out for a test drive.

Few minutes later, he returned with a very unpleasant facial expression. He told me that something had happened to my Sportage.

I rushed to my Sportage, and noticed that there was water dripping out below the engine compartment. I open the bonnet. On inspection, I was shocked to see that all the 8 leaves of the radiator fan were broken, and the radiator was thus punctured with a big hole. Water started pouring out from there.

I queried the Technician who test-drove my Sportage. He told me that this thing happened while he was driving. He denied any mishap had happened while on the road. I wondered if he had told me the truth.

For my past thirty years of driving experience, I’ve not heard or experienced such incidence.

The technician who repaired my Sportage later also confirmed that he had not encounter such matter before.

Till today, I'm still puzzle with what had actually caused the damage.

The replacement of the fan and radiator cost me more than RM1,000.00. What a bad day.

Kia Sportage Almost Caused My Life

I bought the KIA Sportage in Kuala Lumpur, registered on the 2 January 2003. First service was done at 5,000Km at the KIA Service Station in Setapak by their highly qualified KIA vehicle service personnel. I was not told of any defect found, and happily received back and drove off the car.

It happened on the 12 April 2003. I was on my way from Kuala Lumpur to Ipoh using PLUS highway. Passengers in the car included my wife and my 7 years-old son.

At about 5:30pm, just before reaching Gua Tempurong, traveling at a speed of 100km/hr., I wanted to overtake a lorry. But when I steered my wheel to the right towards the fast lane, I realized that the steering was just loose and not responding.

The shock I received was unimaginable. At that speed, going down the slope; immediately after a bend, with the car beyond control, the first thing that came to my mind was: “That's it. We are all going to die.”

The next thought that came to my mind was to turn on the hazard flasher to warn other drivers that came by. But where was the switch? It took me some time to locate it as it was blocked by the steering wheel.

Can you see where the hazard light switch is located?

Yes, it is hidden well behind the steering wheel. Very bad design.

With the hazard lights on; applying brake slowly, as I was afraid that the vehicle might swing if I gave the brake a hard press. The car slipped towards the center divider at the fast lane, I have no choice but to apply a hard brake to stop the vehicle from hitting the divider. It worked and missed the divider by just half a foot.

Stopped just a foot away from the highway divider. My family members still inside the car.

See the traffic congestion started building up?

I could not recall how the hi-speed vehicles from the back overtook and missed me, but I constantly heard angry and continuous horn from them. Thanks to their expert driving skills and alertness.

When the vehicle halted, I shouted to my wife to remain in the car and have the safety belt secured, I jumped out of the car, rushed to the back of the car, waved and warned on-coming vehicles to keep to the left. I was lucky that there were no reckless drivers or sleepy drivers at that time, but the thought of death still tingling in my mind. I kept waving my hands even though I felt the stiffness of my deltoid muscles right down to the phalanges. I tried to call for help but both my phone and my wife's phone had no reception.

About 10 minutes later, I felt much relieved when I finally saw the PLUS truck approaching from the back. Only then the symptoms of fear aroused. My body began to shiver and my legs were unstable.

The arrival of toll truck. Praised to their efficiency.

PLUS staffs did not come to rescue on receiving information. Coincidently, they were actually on their way back to their office. Very soon later, the Police petrol car came too. All of them were very efficient and friendly.

Police petrol car arrived too. The 2 policemen were quite friendly

After calming myself down, I decided to open up the bonnet to check on what actually went wrong. To my horror, I noticed that the intermediate shaft had dislodged from the joint. Apparently the screw that was supposed to tighten the shaft to the joint had gone missing.

What puzzled me then was:

How could this defect happen to a brand new (less than 4 months old) vehicle?

Where is the quality control?

Do the manufacturer and distributor know that the negligence had put my whole family into a stage of horror, shock and life threatening?

How about other Kia Sportage vehicles of the same batch, do they have this problem too? Are these drivers' lives being threatened too?

The big joke was, just before leaving Kuala Lumpur, I told my wife that even though it consumed more fuel, I would rather drive the Kia Sportage instead of our another car TOYOTA COROLLA SEG1.6 with ABS, because I felt that Kia Sportage was a safer car. If that TOYOTA has brain and sense, he should be laughing till now.

After the incident, I have lodged a complaint to the local distributor, i.e.

General Manager
NAZA KIA SDN. BHD.
12, 4thFloor, Wisma Naza
Jalan Sungai Besi
57100 Kuala Lumpur


As usual, it had fallen into deaf ears.

PLUS staffs helped me to push the vehicle to the road shoulder.

'Gua Tempurong' was right at the back

Tow truck was called

The Kia Sportage was towed to a workshop in Gopeng town.

I continued my journey after the repair.