Kia’s Sorento SUV has officially found its way into the recall watch list after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration discovered that certain models of the 2011 Kia->ke41 SUV carried improperly machined rear brake calipers. As a result, 8,000 models of the Sorento that were manufactured from September 14, 2010 to October 4, 2010 are being subjected to the recall to avoid the risk of accidents happening on the road.

According to the NHTSA, the defective brake calipers will result in the brake fluid leaking, followed by illumination of the malfunction indicator light. That’s going to be followed by a soft or spongy brake pedal feel, which, if not taken care of quickly, will lead to a reduced braking power that will eventually lead to an increased risk of a crash occurring.

Owners of affected Sorento models are encouraged to head over to their Kia dealerships and have the brake calipers fixed. Repair and replacement of the rear brake calipers will come at no cost to the vehicle owner.

NHTSA statement after the jump.

KIA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 SORENTO VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 14, 2010, THROUGH OCTOBER 4, 2010. SOME OF THE REAR BRAKE CALIPERS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY MACHINED.

Consequence:

AS A RESULT, BRAKE FLUID WILL LEAK, FOLLOWED BY ILLUMINATION OF THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT INDICATING THE BRAKE FLUID LEVEL IS LOW AND SHOULD BE CHECKED, THEN A SOFT OR SPONGY BRAKE PEDAL FEEL, AND IF NOT SERVICED, REDUCED BRAKING POWER WHICH COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy:

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE REAR CALIPERS AND REPLACE IT IF NECESSARY FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING DECEMBER 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA CONSUMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-333-4542.

Notes:

KIA'S SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER IS SC087. OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .