Kia Sorento Complaints

10,397 consumer complaints on file.

#11509800March 2, 2023
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I bought this car used and never thought to check any problems associated with headlights. The first time I drove it at night, I stopped to see if the lights were even working. I took it to my local garage who has taken care of all my vehicles from Chevrolet S10 to BMW X5. They changed out the bulbs and made no difference. He then contacted various auto parts companies to order the housing for both headlights. The part is priced approximately $600 to $700 each plus his labor. I don’t take this car on the road at night unless absolute necessity. I planned to drive this car for a short period and then give to my grandson. Now, not a chance. He would be safer on the road with a skateboard and a flashlight and he lives in the city of Atlanta. Never have I driven a vehicle that felt more unsafe than this car. In the past, I had a commercial drivers license so I am capable of driving day, night, rain, and shine. Not in this car! This is a problem identified and reported for many years and appears no action has been taken to require Kia to make the cars safe for drivers of their cars as well as the risk to other vehicles and drivers on the road.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11509863March 2, 2023
ENGINE
The car has 107,000 miles on it, and has recently started making a strange noise and it died on 2 separate occasions. I took it to a mechanic, who thought it might need a new engine. I did a little online research and all of these engine problems for Kia Sorento's popped up. I took it to a Kia dealership, to get their view on it. They confirmed it needs a new engine, but that they don't know why. I have changed the oil regularly, and maintained the vehicle properly and I don't know how a car with that few of miles on it can need a new engine, without having an underlying issue.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11509649March 1, 2023
ENGINE
The contact’s wife owns a 2013 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact’s wife was able to restart the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the failure could not be duplicated; however, after the vehicle was retrieved, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer however, the failure could not be duplicated. Upon research, the contact associated the failure with Technical Service Bulletin Number: SC106. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 131,178.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11509695March 1, 2023
TRAILER HITCHES
The contact owns a 2022 Kia Sorento. The contact received notification of the NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V703000 (Trailer Hitches) 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 local dealer was notified of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the part was not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11509445February 28, 2023
ENGINE
DRIVING HOME FROM DINNER WITH A FRIEND, WE PROCEED ON TO INTERSECTION. WE HEAR A LOUD SOUND, WE FIND OUT ONCE CAR HAS STOPPED WE NOTICE THAT THERE NO LONGER ANY OIL IN ENGINE. CALL FOR A TOW, AND FIND OUT THAT OUR ENGINE HAD BLOWN A ROD. NOTICED THAT ARE OTHER OWNERS WITH SAME ISSUE. CAR IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING TOWED FROM MY MECHANIC TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11509559February 28, 2023
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
No remedy to fix in over three months. Told not to drive car if installed
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11509579February 28, 2023
BACK OVER PREVENTION
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the back over prevention camera failed to produce an image while in use. The vehicle was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the back over prevention camera needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11509330February 27, 2023
ENGINE
My car has 65,000.00. I keep the oil and filter maintained every 7,500 miles. I was driving the other day and went to exhilarate and my car starting shacking and made a loud bang, smoke came out everywhere. I was able to make it to the side of the road before it died. No check engine light, no oil heat indicator came on. I looked under the hood and there was oil everywhere. I have now been told by a Kia dealership where I had the car towed that I had a catastrophic engine failure.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11509385February 27, 2023
POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the all-wheel drive (AWD) warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed, and the dealer stated that the all-wheel drive (AWD) switch was faulty. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 160,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11509391February 27, 2023
ENGINE
I was driving down the freeway and my engine seized and I lost power to the engine. My safety was put at risk because I was on a busy freeway and it happened on a bridge and I had nowhere to go. Someone could have rear ended me very easily. My car is available for inspection at the dealer now, who says it needs a complete engine replacement. Prior to the engine failing there were no lights on my dashboard. After the engine failed all the lights were on.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11509410February 27, 2023
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, STRUCTURE:BODY
Paint is delaminated and pealing off. Paint type Pearl Snow White. After researching online it seems this is happening to hundreds of 2014 Kia Sorentos.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11509414February 27, 2023
ENGINE
Catastrophic engine failure with no signal or warning from the car after being well maintained for 5 years. This occurred while driving 60 mph on a desolate stretch of VT highway while on a trip from our home in NJ. Engine died with no warning and we coasted to a dangerous narrow shoulder of RT 9 and were almost killed by a truck. We also had no cell reception to even call for help. The engine then started to smoke and burn and I was forced to put my two children out on a snowy embankment for 30 minutes risking hypothermia. We bought this 2018 Sorento new and only discovered the vast extent of Kia’s engine defect after this experience on 2/22/23. I am in complete awe and shock that your agency has allowed them to continue putting people in grave danger. I want to understand how Kia is not applying a more exhaustive effort to notify customers and rectify a deadly product defect that they are well aware of. I would like to direct your agency to a very active Facebook page called “Engine Failure - Kia” that contains a plethora of stories just like ours. This company does not care about the safety of families, nor do they have any interest in making this right. In an effort to reduce the expense of their deadly mistake, they choose to victimize their customers again by declining valid claims for an engine replacement if all service documentation is not available. They are fully aware of their responsibility and choose to act like corporate criminals. It is up to agencies like the NHTSA to address this behavior and prevent further injury and death.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11509180February 26, 2023
ENGINE
My husband was driving and said he heard a knocking noise. We pulled over and had no oil. We put 5 quarts in and drove to the Kia dealership in Huntsville AL. We kept losing power and stalling while we drove. They said we needed a new engine. It was a known issue but not under warranty or recall. They quoted us over 14k to fix it. We trailered it home and have been praying for a recall since it is a known issue. I saw people on a facebook group say to report the problem to you. They have had luck getting help from your department. I originally leased the vehicle and the bought it after lease was up. I still owe on the vehicle and have kept up on maintenance. Thank you for your time, [XXX] 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
#11509187February 26, 2023
STRUCTURE:BODY
PAINT IS PEELING OFF THE HOOD AND WINDSHELD AREAS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11509223February 26, 2023
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Engine seized while I was driving
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11509058February 25, 2023
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
Engine locked up while driving. It just stalled when in motion. Now the engine will not turn over. Mechanic says it has to be replaced.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11509059February 25, 2023
ENGINE
Engine stalling. While driving to work about 45 minutes away my 2014 Kia Sorento stalled at a light. I put it in park, and it started right up. Coming home from work it stalled again after coming off the bridge in my town along with the check engine light on. Tried to start it and it would start and then stall and was idling really rough. Had it towed to my mechanic he said it was the VVT sensor according to the codes and that I had very little oil. My oil light would also come on way before the time to have the oil changed. He did an oil change and fixed the sensor $140.00 later after picking it up it stalled again on me 6 times. Left it at the mechanic again. $191.00 same codes told me the sensors in the engine had a lot of metal on them. They cleaned the sensors the drove my car for 20 miles no issues. Took my car to work the next day again 45 minutes away from home and it stalled again in the middle of the highway. Had it towed back to the mechanic which cost me $245.00 because with AAA I was already over the allowed miles and tows. If this car needs a new engine, I am not replacing it. Never again buying a Kia!! When I first bought the car a few years later I had received a recall notice about the engine and supposedly the dealership fixed the issue. I really don't think they did anything. Needless to say, I have already spent $450.00 on this car in a matter of 2 weeks. Let's see how much this last repair will be because it will be the last time I fix it. I will not be replacing the engine on this car. I can't afford that or to buy a new car at this time.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11509132February 25, 2023
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ENGINE
I have owned my 2012 KIA Sorento since 2014 and thoroughly enjoy my car. After 9 years of satisfactory ownership which include dealer servicing, my car scared me and now I question my safety. On Friday 24th, 2023, I pulled into my driveway and the car suddenly accelerated out of control. The brakes did nothing to slow its acceleration. By the time I reached the key and turned the car off it had accelerated thru 130 feet of a very muddy back yard. (The all-wheel drive is very effective) Fortunately, I just missed a huge 100-year-old pecan tree and stopped just short of the tree line in the back. This ripped the tire off one of my rims and I had a mechanic change the spare so we could retrieve the car. I am taking the car to the KIA dealer on Monday morning 27th. to find out what happened!!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11509140February 25, 2023
STRUCTURE:BODY
Paint on the vehicle is delaminating. Starting on the hood an "A" pillars. It is the snow pearl color and is a wide spread problem.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11508727February 23, 2023
ENGINE
I have maintained my 2016 Kia Sorento EX with oil changes, spark plugs and fluid changes regularly. Within the past year or so I have noticed that shortly after oil changes my oil levels would drop significantly. There were no signs of leaks (no oil on the ground and inspected to see where it could be possibly going.) Nothing was found as to where the oil was going. This has happened more frequently than not. Recently after an oil change, my family and I took the car on a small road trip (Mass to Rhode Island.) The engine failed without warning. Took the SUV to a mechanic. My SUV was diagnosed as having no compression and now I need a new engine. After research of my hefty bill I have found that this is a very dangerous and frequent issue that a lot of consumers have faced with the same make and model of my SUV. I have read numerous of threads, news articles and reviews of the 2016 KIA Sorento EX and all have exact issue. Excessive oil consumption, no warnings and same/similar repair costs. I have looked into recalls and surprisingly this is not one of them. This is clearly a defective part(s) on Kia and should not be a cost to the consumer. This is not something that is normal wear and tear. This is a huge concern. I got my car second hand at 61k in 2018. Now I have 124k on the engine and its completely failed. Please look into this. With inflation, still making monthly payments on this vehicle, pandemic who can really afford throwing 6,500.00 towards a new engine. Now I face losing my job because of an unreliable car.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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