Kia Sorento Complaints

10,397 consumer complaints on file.

#11566027January 17, 2024
ENGINE
My car was overheating and no coolant was leaking. Took it to a Kia dealership and they said that it was due to failed head bolts warping the heads and damaging the block. They said they need to replace the engine and that this is an issue with 2016-2017 Kia Sorento.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11566152January 17, 2024
ENGINE
When I was driving my SUV engine light came and there was some noise then engine stopped working. Then didn't turn on. It was very bad.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11566141January 17, 2024
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
[XXX] was shopping for new vehicle and compared advertised window sticker safety rating to NHTSA rating. The rating on the window sticker was incorrect (stated 5 stars when NHTSA confirms 4 stars). Concerned that this is false advertising and misleading for consumers. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11565678January 16, 2024
STRUCTURE:BODY
Snow White Pearl paint bubbles and has peeled away from body of SUV around window shield. 2014 Kia Sorento with 60,000 miles on it.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11565680January 16, 2024
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I was driving my car on a major highway and my check engine light came on. Luckily i was close to an exit so i pulled off and my car shut down. I had someone to come and check it and found out that it was my knock sensor and it gave a code#p1326. With further investigation, i see that this was on a recall. I haven't driven my car since 12/13/23 due to black smoke comes from my tail pipe and i don't think that's safe but Kia telling me i can still drive it.I contacted Kia and they tells me campaign#18V907000 isn't for my model car. When i check on KBB.com and enter my vin#, i see my year/make/model is part of this campaign.I'm just looking for some help with resolving this.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11565771January 16, 2024
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, FIRERELATED
On 12/31/23 my vehicle caught on fire while in my driveway and ignition was off. The fire started in the rear/at the hatch. Fire Department was called and extinguished. Arson investigator was called to the scene and found no fowl play. I did receive multiple recall letters for the tow hitch, which could catch fire due to corossion/electrical issues, but was told by a local dealership that I brought the vehicle to, my vehicle was not involved. Based on events, I disagree.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11565772January 16, 2024
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING, WHEELS
The component that malfunctioned was the dashboard. The dashboard began flashing and caused the wheels on the KIA Sorento to lock while on the highway. The car also had a burn smell. The car was turned off and then I was able to drive normally. A couple of weeks later the Malfunction Indicator Light has turned of intermittently. The electrical issues are causing the cars blind spot warning system to not work properly and as well as seats to stop moving in the car. I have reached out to KIA Customer care line so that they could tow the vehicle once the MIL came on and they said they I would have to pay out of pocket since the recall is in the "interim" phase. I called Southern KIA in Chesapeake, VA and they stated the car would have to be evaluated but that they do not have appointments any time soon.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11565775January 16, 2024
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the malfunction indicator light (MIL) was illuminated. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the wheels locked up. There was an abnormal plastic burning odor. The contact called the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and informed to take the vehicle to the dealer for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 226,983.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11565789January 16, 2024
STRUCTURE:BODY
Paint falling off like paper. Kia used defective paint and knows it. Whole car needs to be repainted with different non defective paint!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11565841January 16, 2024
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Kia smelled of electrical burning/fire after driving. burning smell permeated into dwelling. Notified KIA Customer Care Center at 1 (800) 333 4542. Case [XXX] initiated day of engine burning/fire [XXX]. No response from Kia. Called to inquire on update January 16th, 2024. Spoke with Mary. Mary had no update. Asked to speak with her manager, She transferred me and call dropped. Unprofessional conduct with life-threatening Kia engine bomb sitting in my driveway. Initiated complaint on Kia's website and another case number was generated - [XXX]. Tried calling back to no avail. Call dropped five times. Initiated this NHTSA complaint immediately after last call dropped by Kia. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11565839January 16, 2024
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
The heater does not work when the vehicle is running, it only works when parked. I have done research & I am not the only one experiencing the same issue. There was another Sorento owner that was at the same car shop that I went to with the exact same issue. No one is diagnosing it including the dealership, I’ve taken the car to two different once’s & other shops as well.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11565586January 15, 2024
ENGINE
Engine replacement needed due to faulty engine. Dealer confirmed faulty bolts in head gasket causing leaks. No signs of critical issue. The vehicle was taken in for a regularly scheduled oil change when the dealership discovered the leak and subsequent issue with the head gasket threads being striped requiring a full engine replacement. The manufacturer(KIA/Hyundai) should in good faith provide restitution for this issue as it has devalued the vehicle in the public market and is a public safety issue to have the potential for engines to fail without warning. The manufacturer, should also extend and fully cover future engine issues, not just the boilerplate 12k mile warranty on "new" engine replacements. Replacing one faulty engine with another does not negate the root issue and does not provide a good faith solution. The contact stated after being assured by the service department that the new engine would be free of defects the vehicle was driven roughly 300 miles when the warning lights for electronic steering, ABS, and traction control which was immediately followed by a burning smell in the cabin. When safely pulled over there was smoke coming from under the hood. Upon inspection there was almost no coolant left.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11565604January 15, 2024
ENGINE
My 2021 KIA Sorento, has literally cut off on me several times in the last 3 three months, when I am at a stop ight/sign the vehicle will just shut off, it will not turn back on, after 3-4 attempts of trying to get the vehicle to start it would, but later on the same day it would do the same thing. On the third incident I took the vehicle to the Kia dealership in Victorville, Ca. After keeping the vehicle for several days, they said they could not find anything wrong and that i should replace the battery because it had a low cell. So I bought the battery and paid for the diagnostic. the same day I picked of the vehicle drove to Las Vegas , Nevada, the vehicle did the same thing it would not start, we had to get a jump to get it started, was terrified to drive the vehicle back to California. Call the dealership about the issue but never received a call back. Now here it [XXX], the vehicle cuts off at a 4 way stop light, we were in the turning lane!!!! the vehicle would not start, there virtually no power, had to move the vehicle to a parking lot around the corner, called a tow truck and had the vehicle towed to the Kia dealership. They are saying it will take 3-5 days before they can get a diagnosis done. There is something going on with this vehicle, and I do not feel safe driving it even a short distance. This problem needs to be investigated before some get hurt/accident. I have not a seen a recall on my VIN number but there is something on wrong very similar to the transmission problems the Kia is having. I would like to have this issued looked at immediately to find out the root cause of this problem with a resolution. Will be awaiting a response, my vehicle is still at Valley Hi Kia, Victorville, Ca INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11565432January 14, 2024
ENGINE, SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Check engine light started coming on at about 39,000. miles took to local mechanic who preformed lots of repairs and called Kia for information concerning engine issue. Received notice of recall from Kia on the HECU -instructing me to park truck away from home due to fire. Check engine light back on again at 41,000 miles, took to dealership where they replaced the HECU and fuel pump and fuel lines. Picked up truck and noticed when braking the truck shook all over and seem to almost stall when taking off. Check engine was back on and the alert of the system telling me I had an engine failure. Took truck back next day, again repairs of the PVB valve was done. Someone drove the truck of 180 miles on a check engine light and unplugged the battery. Got truck back and within 10 minutes the check engine light was back on and the system telling me engine failure and truck was unsafe to drive. Truck now at another Kia dealership, after many conversation with Kia the representative instructed me to tell the dealership where the truck was that the truck had a recall (supposedly) fixed. Called the dealership now tells me there is no fix for the HECU issue and they can not tell me the truck is safe to drive. I have not had the truck for now 4 months and Kia doesn't know how to fix it. I have filed 4 cases against Kia, they have not offered me a rental car or loaner and they do not have any expected date for me to get the truck back. I have files but it won't let me upload them for the receipts/ information from Kia
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11565445January 14, 2024
STRUCTURE:BODY
Paint on ridge above driver side window began delaminating and completely eroded over a day. This happened while the car was parked without any rain or other impact.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11565459January 14, 2024
ENGINE
i was driving home from work on 12/22/23 when all of my dashboard lights came on and my engine died. I was in motion when this happened. I put the hazards on and put the car in park and tried to restart it. As I was doing that I was hit from behind by another vehicle. I suffered a concussion that lasted almost 2 weeks. My car being totaled not due to the damage from the accident but the diagnosis that the engine "blew". My insurance company had it towed from a body shop to a salvage yard. I have kept the maintenance completely up to date and put close to $4000 into it last year for normal use items. There was an oil leak that ruined my starter - that was repaired. I am now without a vehicle.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11565469January 14, 2024
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
My vehicle died inThe middle of an extremely busy four lane road. A light came on That said to turn the car off immediately. The engine light and battery light flashed on. It sounds like the engine recall for the 22 and 21 hybrid sorento’s. I had to have the vehicle towed to the dealership, it is only 7 mos old.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11565293January 13, 2024
STRUCTURE:BODY
Delamination -peeling paint
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11565352January 13, 2024
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
My engine blew with no light to indicate there was even a problem with the engine.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11565368January 13, 2024
STRUCTURE:BODY
White paint is peeling rapidly and exposing the primer
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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