Kia Sorento Complaints

654 consumer complaints on file.

#11638631January 26, 2025
ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The vehicle experienced multiple critical mechanical failures, including defective injectors, transmission issues, and a malfunctioning differential. The dealer repaired some of the previous issues, such as the differential in August 2024 and the transmission in October 2024 (which required three weeks of repair). However, they refused to repair the defective injectors, even after the NHTSA issued an alert on September 1, 2024, regarding injector problems. I was never notified of this alert. On January 8, 2025, while driving with my family, the vehicle suddenly stalled without any warning, creating a dangerous situation on the road and putting our safety at significant risk. This resulted in additional expenses, including towing costs ($300) and alternative transportation by taxi ($150). I had to pay $1,851.98 out of pocket to repair the injectors with an independent mechanic after the dealer refused to cover it. There were no warning lights or messages before the sudden stalling incident. These issues have been partially inspected and addressed by the dealer and independent service centers, but the recurring failures persist, posing ongoing safety risks.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11638602January 26, 2025
POWER TRAIN
Vehicle jerks and goes into a neutral mode while driving. Vehicle shifter still shows it's in "Drive", but vehicle stops moving. Once I drift over to the shoulder of the road, I can shut the engine off and restart. Then it moves. Twice this has happened now. Once on December 13, 2024 and again on January 24, 2025. I reported this to my dealership, Gurley Leep Kia with the first incident and they said it was just a fluke. They did not pursue inspecting anything on the vehicle, knowing some 2022 Sorento's were involved in a transmission recall. In both incidents I was driving on an incline. My VIN currently doesn't have a recall on it, but should. This could result in a crash.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11636639January 17, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The day after I purchased the brand new vehicle the infotainment screen began displaying “No Camera Signal Received. Please try again later “. This would occur about 50% of the time I put it in reverse. I returned to the dealership I purchased from and showed a photo of the message. The technician was unable to duplicate the issue and I was told I could leave the vehicle for a few days for a diagnostic but I was not able to leave it that day so I left. I contacted the dealership closest to my home and scheduled an appointment. Before the appointment date the instrument panel began malfunctioning going from a red screen to green then black then normal. During those times it could not display the speed or any warnings. Also by this time I received a diagnostic warning from my Kia Connect app regarding the front camera system issue FRCMR C2A2397. At the closer dealer I showed a photo and video of the malfunctions and the No Camera signal was displaying when the worker took in the vehicle. As of now the vehicle is still in the shop on day 12. The technician was able to duplicate the problem and a part has been ordered and received and may be installed next week. I have attached below a photo of the camera signal screen and only screenshots of the instrument panel video since the video was too large to send.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11635995January 14, 2025
VISIBILITY/WIPER
My wife was driving down the highway (XXX) after dropping our daughter off at school. The closest car was approximately 10 cars ahead of her and there were no vehicles behind her. The outside temperature was about 48 degrees, the A/C was set to about 70 degrees. She was driving about 70mph. My wife described the sound to be what she thought was a shotgun blast above her head followed by wind noise like if the sunroof had opened. She looked in the rear-view mirror and observed glass flying behind the car, and what sounded like glass continuously falling on to the cloth for the retractable headliner. When she arrived home I took pictures of the sun roof and noticed that the glass appeared to be pushed upwards (away from the car) as if the glass had been over-pressurized and "popped". By the looks of the glass it appeared as though something massive had been thrown from the inside of the car through the sun roof (although not possible as my wife is small and the retractable headliner was closed). My two youngest kids were in the car with my wife and if the headliner would have been retracted they 100%, without a doubt in my mind, would have been injured by the blow back of the glass "exploding". For context I am an Aviation Electricians mate in the Navy and it looked the exact same as when we have had windows on our Aircraft fail and they have blown outwards. 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
#11634405January 6, 2025
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
The contact owns a 2025 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while his wife was driving approximately 25 MPH in the snow with the windshield wipers activated, the windshield wipers became stuck in the middle of the windshield due to snow accumulation in the area between the windshield and the hood. The contact's wife pulled over to the side of the road and noticed that the accumulated snow had turned into built-up ice, which obstructed the windshield wipers functionality. The contact's wife removed the ice in the area between the windshield and the hood and continued driving. The contact stated that the failure recurred while driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the windshield wiper gear shaft was damaged and the arm that originated from the windshield wiper motor was bent due to the built-up ice. The dealer determined that the windshield wipers motor assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 1,600.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11633311December 31, 2024
ENGINE
Engine consuming excessive oil between oil changes.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11632160December 23, 2024
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ENGINE
The contact owns a 2021 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost drive power temporarily. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with loss of transmission oil pump pressure. The dealer updated the transmission control unit software under NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V760000 (Power Train); however, the failure persisted. The dealer informed the contact that the failure was not related to the recall. The contact stated that the recall remedy also involved the transmission replacement. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11630660December 13, 2024
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
Engine light came on while driving . Solid light. Car started to vibrate and felt like it would stall. Engine has only 38,000 miles. Kia Greenway Certified Technicians at Hickory. They charged me $200 for the diagnosis. They later said the check engine code was due to bad fuel injectors, I paid $950 for that service. That day I took the car out and after 5 minutes of driving it I had to go back to Kia to tell them my check engine light was on again. Now they said they had to drain the gas because the tank was damaged, They charged me $900 and $350 for the spark plug replacement, but none of that worked. The car continues to have problems and they don't know what it is. There is some defect in this car model that should be investigated because I have read on internet forums and I am not the only one with this complaint.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11629744December 9, 2024
ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I've taken my vehicle to the dealership and explained what issues I'm having. I was told that the TEC experienced the same issues. When I asked for a loaner car until they make the repairs needed I was told that they don't give loaners out unless I call customer relations which I did and filed a complaint. My complaint was escalated to corporate and the person that was handling my complaint told me due to the regulations in my state they're not able to assist me with my concerns. I explained to her that I could not go over 5miles, the truck would and has shut down on me and my family while driving on the interstate. I've had my truck towed three times. Then the transmission light comes on the dealership stated they can't find anything wrong with the truck. At this point I don't even want the truck anymore I don't feel safe driving the vehicle anymore. I explained my concerns to the dealership and corporate office customer escalated Case Representative (Tiffany) and still no one CARES is it going to take for myself or my kids to lose their life in order for them to take this seriously!!!!! Case # [XXX] is my case number.... Please assist me with this matter as I'm currently deployed. 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
#11629574December 9, 2024
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, SERVICE BRAKES
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? I was driving and the car completely shut down- I could not use my brakes or accelerate. I had to pull along the road in ongoing traffic to coast to a stop. I lost all control. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? I was in traffic and the cars behind me had to slow down immediately, I could not speed up or even brake to come to a stop. Others around me as well as myself were in danger. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? They reviewed and said they scanned it and did a drive test and could not find the cause. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Yes, It was seen at the Kia dealer I bought it from. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? As soon as the vehicle lost power there was a warning sign on the dash that showed "limit" with a half circle emblem.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11629564December 9, 2024
POWER TRAIN
When I start driving, there’s a lot of hesitation like it’s going to stall and it also does this going up hills or mountains? I was on the interstate and there was a line of cars behind me and my car started to hesitate and almost stall, causing all cars behind me to break to not cause a domino effect accident I have reported this to the Kia dealer and knowing that there’s a lot of DCT problems that are posted all over the Internet they are saying there is no problem with the car upon doing research again there is a lot of DCT reporting of Kia’s not just my Sorrento please do some research on this and help me. We just bought this car. There is 13,000 miles on it. It should not be doing this and again I’m going to a different Kia to see if they say the same thing. Below you ask for a date that this happened there is too many dates to enter, but I will try to enter the very first one that we experienced.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11626976November 23, 2024
POWER TRAIN
I have had this happen 4 times now with my Sorento hybrid where the gas engine does engage with the drivetrain, leaving only the electric motor providing power. All incidents have occurred where I was sitting idle with the vehicle on. All incidents occurred when I had the vehicle in ECO mode. 2 of the 4 incidents have warnings about pulling over immediately because the hybrid battery was nearly depleted. The only resolution I've had is to pull over or come to a complete stop on the highway and restart my vehicle. Afterwards, the vehicle runs normally. I have not brought this up with a Kia dealer due to others I've discussed with saying Kia does not know what is happening. The circumstances that replicate this problem are probably difficult to recreate.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11626826November 22, 2024
SERVICE BRAKES, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
The contact leased a 2025 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving, the vehicle failed to increase over 20 MPH. The 20 MPH limited message was displayed. The brake pedal was hard to depress. The driver pulled over and called the salesman at the dealer, who discussed red flags. The contact turned the vehicle off and restarted. While driving 45 MPH, turning left, the brake pedal was applied, but the brakes violently pumped upwards for about nine car lengths. The vehicle eventually slowed down. The speed decreased from 40 MPH to 20 MPH, and he crashed into a Toyota Corolla stopped at the light. There was an unknown abnormal warning sound detected. There were no reported injuries, airbags, fire, or police report filed. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the bumper was cracked and two unknown sensors were damaged. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, who investigated the failure and determined that the brakes and smart cruise control were working as designed. Additionally, informed him not to utilize the cruise control in the city, read the manual, and learn the vehicle. The approximate failure mileage was 65.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11625065November 13, 2024
POWER TRAIN
I experienced a loss of drive power while on a busy street. Often while shifting into gear, the transmission will not engage. Luckily, this hasn't happened on a freeway. I have brought the vehicle into my dealership, however they can't replicate the issue, therefore, I feel unsafe continuing to drive. There was a recall on this issue, but I've been told my VIN is not effected by this recall. I understand that, however I am experiencing the issue of losing drive power, which can cause a serious incident.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11624472November 11, 2024
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I unable to accelerate to merge on to the highway. This is the second time that my car was unable to accelerate and kick into gear. The first time was in 2021/2022 a few months after getting the car.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11623632November 5, 2024
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I was driving on a busy road when the computer system completely stopped the engine from running and gave a message/notice appear, accompanied with an alarm stating "engine failure." I had to put the car in neutral and try to pull over to safety. This is the third time this has happened. The second time, the dealer repair shop ran a diagnostic test and told me that they reset the computer, and nothing was wrong mechanically. This time, it is sitting at the dealership waiting to have a diagnostic test done, but I was told it was likely just a computer issue. Prior to the engine being completely stopped, the car will jump gears while driving [i.e., from 1st to 5th while going 25 miles an hour and not accelerating], and the car feels like it is misfiring. The car is two years old and has 50,000 miles. It should not have any of these issues. A car should not be putting my life in danger while driving for no reason and without any effort to fix it.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11623403November 4, 2024
POWER TRAIN
Transmission Warning Indicator appears on Dashboard Cluster and vehicle bucks and stalls and won't shift properly. Dealership found Transmission was never filled properly and below specifications according to Kia Service and was verified the fluid level was extremely low and not filled to specification from factory. The dealership filled transmission to proper level and test drove vehicle. Issue seamed to be fixed. But now a month later same transmission is is happening with Transmission warning Indicator and vehicle bucking and not shifting properly causing erratic vehicle behavior and safety issues.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11623298November 2, 2024
ENGINE
Subject: Urgent Safety Concern with Kia Sorento Transmission Recall (SC250) Dear NHTSA, On [XXX], my 2021 Kia Sorento began exhibiting multiple mechanical issues detailed in Kia’s SC250 campaign [XXX] ). While driving, the check engine light came on with a “low transmission fluid pressure” warning, followed by power loss and gear disengagement. Kia (Russ Darrow Kia Waukesha, WI) advised a software update for the transmission’s electric oil pump as a likely fix, but even after the update, I continued experiencing power loss and disengagement. I brought up the similarities between my vehicle’s issues and the SC250 campaign, but Kia said my warranty was void due to the car’s rebuilt title (which I knew), despite it being only three years old with 30,000 miles. I informed Kia that federal law under the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act requires car manufacturers to repair safety-related recalls at no charge to the owner. Kia stated the recall had been “closed” by a 2022 software update, releasing them from further responsibility. I then asked if Kia would have covered repairs if I hadn’t installed the software update in 2022 when the recall was issued. Kia suggested it might have, but since the recall is now closed, I would need to cover the repairs myself. This stance feels misleading, as it suggests no real incentive to comply with recalls until a problem physically manifests. I also took the vehicle to a transmission shop, where they confirmed that the issues matched those in the SC250 campaign. I am reaching out to NHTSA for assistance, as this situation raises significant concerns about the recall’s effectiveness in ensuring safety and addressing the actual defect. I appreciate any guidance or help NHTSA can offer in resolving this issue. Thank you for your attention. Sincerely, [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
#11623217November 1, 2024
ENGINE
Spark plug housing- causes vehicle to misfire. Which caused me to be stranded on side of the interstate. A valve burning the oil out of the engine that has caused issues numerous times. The dealership has tried repairing the vehicle numerous times but the issue persists.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11621882October 25, 2024
POWER TRAIN, SEAT BELTS, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
The contact owns a 2022 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the forward camera was obstructed. The steering over corrected while turned off. The vehicle was accelerating and decelerating independently. The Forward Collision Avoidance system engaged without an object being nearby. Additionally, the driver’s side seat belt randomly unlatched. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was taken back to the local dealer, who diagnosed and determined that the transmission and seat belt needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was contacted, who opened a case but declined to buy back the vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 28,660.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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