Kia Sorento Complaints

10,397 consumer complaints on file.

#11578015March 18, 2024
ENGINE
On Wednesday, March 6, 2024, I was driving my vehicle to work. I have a 12 mile commute and take both highways and local roads. When I started driving, I noticed that the engine would make a knocking/rattling sound when I accelerated. While in the final mile of my commute, I stopped at a stoplight. When the light turned green and I applied my foot to the accelerator, the vehicle did not respond and dashboard lights for the oil, engine and battery all illuminated. These lights did not illuminate at anytime prior to this point. Being that I was on local roads, I was able to coast the vehicle to the side of the road. I turned off the engine and attempted to restart. The engine did not start but all other electric components in the vehicle appeared functional. Roadside assistance attempted asses whether the vehicle had a dead battery using a portable battery back but were also unable to start the vehicle. The vehicle had to be flatbed towed to the dealership. After a week, I was informed that the engine had seized and was non-responsive. As of this date (3/18/24), I am still waiting for backordered parts and do not have an ETA for the return of my vehicle. I also have not been provided a loaner.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11578111March 18, 2024
ENGINE
Oil was serviced mid-January, driven intermittently where oil level checked right after service before trip to college (it was full) and oil level checked again March 7 before a trip to Florida and it showed full. During trip (approx 590 miles after starting trip0, engine failed while driving on interstate causing a safety concern - driver was not able to steer or do any movement of vehicle causing a potential dangerous situation for driver, passengers and other vehicles on interstate. A tow truck was called and vehicle was towed to nearest auto mechanic shop, Will's Auto Mechanic Shop in Jasper, Florida. They indicated the engine was locked up and no longer functional with diagnosis of no oil in engine where dip stick was dry and they did not see any visible leaks. In addition, no check engine or oil light appeared throughout drive prior to engine stopping on interstate. Called insurance although doubtful anything will be covered. Will's Auto indicated will cost approx $3K for engine plus minimum $1,500 in labor to replace engine. If doesn't make sense to replace engine, car worth $150 in scrap as they do not purchase and re-sell vehicles at shop which is 14 hours away from our home. Researched and saw same engine for 2012 Kia Sorento was recalled for similar engine issues with no warning lamps.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11578170March 18, 2024
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Battery draining on new car after new battery replacement.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11577824March 17, 2024
ENGINE
Check engine light turned on. The crankshaft has given out and the mechanic confirmed it needs a new engine. Cylinders 2&4 are misfiring. It has a rough idle and does not accelerate. Many online forms confirm that this is a Kia problem and different years have had a recall. I can not drive my car due to the shaking of the car and the unknown of possible breaking down. It revs up high before it shifts gears and shakes.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11577856March 17, 2024
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The paint is coming off in chunks. We have a white 2016 kia sorento. We noticed a few areas shortly after bought it but now bigger pieces are missing. We did research and noticed other similar vehicles are having the same issue.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11577909March 17, 2024
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I'm filing this complaint about a Safety Recall letter, dated November 14, 2023, that I received from the KIA America Corporate Headquarters concerning a (NHTSA Recall Number: 23V652) defect which can result in an engine compartment fire, increasing the risk of injury. I have reached out to my local Balise KIA dealer, on two separate occasions to be told my information is in their system and they will contact me via email or by a phone when this part has been created to schedule my vehicle for repair. Within weeks after receiving my initial Safety Recall letter my Malfunction Indicator Lamp and ABS warning light, as well as, the complete anti-locking brake system lights suddenly illuminated on my front console. The Safety Recall letter I received indicates that when the ABS warning light illuminates I could experience an electrical short circuit, which can result in an engine compartment fire while driving or parked and could increase the risk of injury. When I recalled the KIA dealer on 1-19-24 for a second inquiry, I again explained the ongoing problem and the letter KIA Headquarters sent me in November, emphasizing and reading the letter stating if the ABS warning light is illuminated and I smell burning/melting smell, and/or smoke from the engine compartment to pull over to a safe location and contact KIA Roadside Assistance to have my vehicle towed. I was then told by an Advisor that the ABS warning light wasn't a safety issue? I again reiterated the letter's wording and was then told that I could bring it in and hook it up to their Diagnostic System but if they didn't find that was the problem they would charge me $150. Needless to say, I refused that offer, when currently there's no part available anyway. I'm hoping that this complaint can be put on record and if I could somehow get any information as to when this particular part has been created so that it can be replaced before a possible fire occurs would be greatly appreciated.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11577744March 16, 2024
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I bought this car in October of 2019 off of the show room floor and around July 15, of 2022 the paint on the hood of my car just started peeling for no reason. Over time the peeling has increased rapidly. I would like for this to be fixed. The color of my car is pearl white.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11577764March 16, 2024
ENGINE
Engine has seized. Mechanic at local automotive shop stated that the engine seizure is due to engine burning oil internally. Told me to call KIA because they were aware of this problem due to safety recall. I reported problem to KIA dealership but was told there was no safety recalls relating to my vehicle. Check engine light has been coming on sporadically since 2018 along with my vehicle randomly stalling while idling in traffic. KIA was made aware of these problems and did a diagnostic, stating that the light wasn't on during inspection. And there was no reason for stalling. Also reported smell of chemical and fumes several times but nothing was found. When my vehicle reached 100k miles I was told by KIA dealer that it is normal for the check engine light to stay on due to wear and tear/high mileage. Engine seized while driving.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11577776March 16, 2024
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
Family and i were driving home from soccer and car violently stuttered felt like we hit a deer. This has happened three times now and has caused solenoid a in transmission to fail which i fixed . My wife smells a burning smell also randomly.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11577790March 16, 2024
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
I’ve gotten approved to buy another car and was going to trade my 2011 Kia sorento but still has open recall and Kia dealership has no answers when they can fix. What do i do. Thank you for your help!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11577801March 16, 2024
ENGINE
While driving on the highway, I noticed my temperature gauge went all the way to hot, but then it went back to the middle. It did this 2 or 3 times before I reached my destination. On the way home, it did this, again. Except, the gauge went up to hot and stayed there when I was about 3 miles from home. Once the engine cooked, I checked for coolant and realized it was empty - as was my oil (even though I had an oil change in October). I refilled the oil and coolant only to have the coolant run out from the bottom of the engine. I took the car to a radiator repair shop and was told the from head gasket had blown. He said I would need a new engine. A second opinion yielded the same answer. The engine light never came on and the car never overheated. The car has approximately 116,000 miles.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11577535March 15, 2024
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
The passenger side headlight has been reinstalled 8 times. The dealership has replaced it and we have replaced it several times. The light goes out constantly and is costing me a fortune to replace as well as possible traffic tickets. The headlights turn off also when in automatic mode. Please recall this vehicle and have this safety and expensive issue fixed. This issue has been going on several months now. The dealership does not provide a permanent solution. This is a defect.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11577620March 15, 2024
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sorento. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11577670March 15, 2024
ENGINE
car codes say vehicle has suspension with engine.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11577301March 14, 2024
ENGINE
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact received notification NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V877000 (Engine) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the vehicle went into LIMP Mode and failed to properly accelerate. The contact stated that the vehicle was restarted and drove as intended. The LIMP Mode message was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the fuse box needed to be replaced; and the dealer stated that the contact had to pay out of pocket for the repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 180,000. The VIN was not available.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11577302March 14, 2024
ENGINE
In December 2022 while driving at various speeds, the vehicle began to overheat. No warning lights illuminated. I pulled over and let the engine cool down. Then coolant was added to the reservoir. I waited before restarting the vehicle. I took the vehicle to an independent mechanic the next day and was informed that the head gasket was blown, and the engine would likely need to be replaced. Kia dealership was contacted and notified. The vehicle was not repaired.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11577310March 14, 2024
ENGINE
The contact’s girlfriend owns a 2014 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the engine overheated. The contact pulled over and checked the vehicle. The coolant reservoir was low on coolant, the engine oil level was low, and there were metal shavings in the oil. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 77,842.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11577382March 14, 2024
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Sorento. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. While the contact's wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel independently turned to the left. The brakes failed to operate as needed. The vehicle slowly stalled and rolled to the shoulder of the road. The message that no key fob was detected was displayed, and the engine seized. The contact replaced the battery in the key fob. The contact started the vehicle. However, when the contact shifted the gear shifter into drive, the steering wheel independently turned to the left again with unknown warning light illuminated. The engine seized again. The vehicle was towed to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The dealer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that parts were not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11577409March 14, 2024
SERVICE BRAKES, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
On March 14, 2024 at approximately 11:40, while driving on a private driveway, which had no other cars or pedestrians on or near it, my vehicle performed its own emergeny braking effort to bring the car to a stop. The standard KIA Emergency Braking warking text displayed on the dashboard declaring the incident. However, no other vehicles or pedestrians were in hundreds of feet of the vehicle or presented a potential obstical that may be crossing in front of the vehcile.The car was traveling approximately 25 MPH and came to a complete stop. It felt as though the engine had frozen and all the wheels locked.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11577457March 14, 2024
STEERING
When driving my Kia the steering wheel is sticking. At first it was just ever now and then. But now it it’s happening everyday. There is a recall for 2018 models doing the same thing. I pretty sure this is the same part and should be covered under the recall.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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