Kia Sorento Complaints (2003)

305 consumer complaints on file.

#10782188October 14, 2015
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
FULE IS SHOOTING BACK OF GAS TANK WHILE PUTTING IN GAS.THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. PLEAS TELL ME A FIX FOR THIS. CAR IS STATIONARY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10777780September 25, 2015
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I ATTEMPTED TO FILL MY 2003 KIA SOENTO EX AND AFTER PUMPMING ABOUT $2.75 WORTH OF GAS, THE FUEL BEGAN TO SPIT BACK UP THROUGH THE FILLER HOSE AND SPURTED/ GUSH BACK OUT ON TO ME. IT GIVES YOU A FALSE SENSE THAT THE TANK IS FULL BUT IT'S NOT. I ATTEMPTED TO RE-FUEL AND AGAIN, THE GAS SPURT/ GUSH BACK OUT. I COULD GET NO MORE THAN $5.00 DOLLARS IN THE CAR. I SPOKE WITH THE KIA DEALERSHIP IN LITHONIA, GEORGIA AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A MATTER. I WAS INSTRUCTED TO BRING THE VEHICLE BACK. HOWEVER, I BEGAN TO RESEARCH THIS MATTER AND IT WAS INVESTIGATED BY YOU ALL. KIA DID STATE THAT THEY WOULD LOOK INTO THE MATTER. I'M NOT CONFIDENT THAT WILL HAPPEN. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS OUT THERE AMONG CONSUMERS ABOUT THIS SAME VEHICLE BETWEEN THE 2003 THROUGH 2006. PLEASE INVESTIGATE! I DO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A RECALL ITEM. THE 2003 KIA SORENTO WAS THE FIRST VEHICLE MADE BY KIA CORPORATION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10766537September 21, 2015
ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY APPROX 55MPH THE CAR JUST POWER. DEAD GAS PEDAL. HAD TO GET OVER TO SHOULDER BUT COULD NOT DUE TO THE STEERING LOCKING UP AND THE CAR SHUTTING DOWN. I GOT ASSISTANCE FROM PASSERBY WHO GO ME OVER TO SHOULDER. I STARTED UP THE CAR AND IT STARTED UP AND RAN WITH NO ISSUE. SUDDEN SHUT DOWM OF ENGINE IS VERY DANGEROUS. ONCE I GOT HOME AND HAD THE CAR CHECKED THE MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE INCIDENT IN ORDER TO MAKE REPAIRS. THIS HAPPENED 2 MORE TIMES AND ONLY HAPPENS TO ME ON HIGHWAY DRIVING. NEVER IN CITY DRIVING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10760603August 31, 2015
AIR BAGS
AIRBAG INDICATOR TURNED ON AND HAS BEEN ON SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR. I HAVE NOT BEEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE SINCE THE INDICATOR LIGHT TURNED ON IN FEAR OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYING ON THEIR OWN WHILE I'M DRIVING OR NOT DEPLOYING IF AN ACCIDENT OCCURS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10749594August 18, 2015
ENGINE
THE CAR STARTED MAKING A SCRUBBING SOUND AND THE BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK. THE NEXT DAY THE BRAKES WORKED SCRUBBING SOUND CONTINUED AND WE WERE TOLD BY THE MECHANIC THAT THE ENGINE NEEDS REPLACING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10748133August 12, 2015
STRUCTURE:BODY, SUSPENSION, STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO TURN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE HARMONICA BALANCE IN THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE HARMONICA BALANCE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE REAR AXLE CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE WELDED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, WHILE AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR ROUTINE SERVICE, THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS CORRODED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10735552July 21, 2015
AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
ALL LIGHTS COME ON, HORN BLOWS, BUT WILL NOT START AT ALL, THIS KIA SORENTO IS JUNK, ITS FALLING APART, I GOT A DISABLE MOTHER, NOW CAN'T TAKE HER TO HER DOCTOR APPOINTMENTS, EVERY SINCE I HAD IT, ITS BEEN NOTHING BUT JUNK, WE LIVE ON FIXED INCOME, CAN'T AFFORD TO GET ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND THIS 2003 KIA SORENTO SHOULD NOT BE ON THE ROAD, ALL KIA SORENTO VEHICLES ARE JUNK, CLOCK IS MESSED UP, COMES OFF AND ON, AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON, NOW WON'T EVEN START AT ALL, SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT KIA DEALERSHIPS SELLING JUNK VEHICLES, WILL COMPLAIN AGAIN AND AGAIN, THEY ARE JUNK!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10735581July 21, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AIR BAGS, ENGINE
ENGINE LIGHT IS ON, AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON, CLOCK CAN'T KEEP RIGHT TIME, NOW WON'T START AT ALL, I WISHED I NEVER BOUGHT THIS 2003 KIA SORENTO, THEY ARE NOTHING BUT JUNK. PLEASE ANYBODY WHO READS THIS DO NOT BUY A KIA VEHICLE. I HATE KIA VEHICLES, I WILL NEVER OWN ONE AGAIN, I WOULD NOT TAKE A KIA VEHICLE, EVEN IF THEY GIVE ME ONE. TO MANY PROBLEMS, SINCE I BOUGHT IT, HAVEN'T BEEN ANYWHERE IN TWO WEEKS, BECAUSE KIA VEHICLE IS JUNK.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10735597July 21, 2015
ENGINE
THE BOLT HOLDING THE HARMONIC BALANCER PULLEY TO THE CRANKSHAFT FELL OUT AND ALL THE ENGINE BELTS AND PULLEYS STOPPED TURNING RESULTING IN A LOSS OF POWER STEERING, AND MAKING THE VEHICLE VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. THIS HAPPENED AT A LOW SPEED AND THE DRIVER WAS BARELY ABLE TO TURN OFF THE ROAD WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT. AT A HIGHER SPEED, IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, OR ON MOUNTAIN ROADS, THE RESULT WOULD LIKELY HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A KIA DEALER AND REPAIRED FOR APPROXIMATELY $1,500.00, REPLACING THE FAILED PARTS WITH NEW PARTS AND WITH A WARRANTY OF 12 MONTHS/10 THOUSAND MILES. PREVIOUSLY, AT 70 THOUSAND MILES AS PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE, THE TIMING BELT WAS REPLACED BY A KIA DEALER. KIA MOTORS, HAVING KNOWN OF MANY FAILURES OF THE BOLT, SPROCKET, AND PULLEY, SHOULD HAVE UPGRADED THESE PARTS YEARS AGO AND ISSUED A RECALL OR AT LEAST A SERVICE BULLETIN TO AVOID SUCH DANGEROUS FAILURES. AFTER OUR EXPERIENCE, WE DID NOT TRUST THIS CAR AND TRADED IT IN FOR A NEW CAR FROM HOPEFULLY A MORE RESPONSIBLE MANUFACTURER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10732070July 6, 2015
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL WAS NOT GOING INTO THE FUEL TANK PROPERLY UPON REFUELING THE VEHICLE AND THERE WAS A CLICKING NOISE AS IF IT WERE FULL. THE CONTACT HAD TO TAKE AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME TO ENSURE THE FUEL TANK WAS ACTUALLY FULL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY DID NOT DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TO BE TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V353000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10715387May 8, 2015
ENGINE
I PURCHASED THIS CAR BRAND NEW FROM STEVENS KIA IN PATCHOGUE, NY AND HAD THEM REPLACE THE TIMING BELT @ 58K MILES AS PER THEIR GUIDE LINES. WHILE DRIVING THE CAR I LOST MY POWER STEERING AND ELECTRICAL CHARGING SYSTEM, I WAS GOING AROUND 45MPH, I LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AND WAS ABLE TO GET IT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT ANY DAMAGE TO THE CAR OR ANYTHING ELSE. I CALLED CORPORATE KIA AND EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY.(IT HAS 123K MILES ON IT). THEY TOLD ME IF I WANTED I COULD HAVE IT TOWED TO A KIA DEALER AND THEY WOULD LOOK AT IT FOR A DIAGNOSIS FEE, BUT IT WAS STILL OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEY ALSO TOLD ME MY VIN# DIDN'T FALL INTO THE RECALL THEY HAD CONCERNING THAT ISSUE. I HAD MY MECHANIC LOOK AT IT AND HE TOLD ME THE CRANKSHAFT DOWEL PIN SNAPPED ON THE TIMING GEAR CAUSING THE HARMONIC BALANCER TO FALL OFF THUS TAKING ALL THE BELTS WITH IT. IT COSTED ME OVER $2,000 TO HAVE THE CAR REPAIRED. AFTER DOING A GOGGLE SEARCH IT SEEMS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS AND IS BEING IGNORED BY CORPORATE KIA. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10690328February 24, 2015
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND WITH THE FUEL TANK GAUGE AT 3/4 OR BELOW, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SPUTTER AND VIBRATE BEFORE STALLING. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE AT LEAST 75 PERCENT FULL TO PREVENT THE FAILURE FROM OCCURRING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 209,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10680375February 1, 2015
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE CRANK BOLT BROKE JULY 23, 2013. THE SECOND TIME WAS, THE CRANK BOLT AGAIN AND IT BROKE DECEMBER 19, 2014. THE ODOMETER WAS AT 133181 FOR THE SECOND BOLT BREAK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10672207January 13, 2015
ENGINE, STEERING, POWER TRAIN
I HAVE SERVICE RECORDS SHOWING I HAD THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY REPLACED AT 55,000 MILES UNDER WARRANTY BY KIA. THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BROKE OFF AT 105,000 MILES. I WAS ABLE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED COST $1500 OUT OF MY POCKET. ON 1/11/2015 THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BROKE OFF FOR A 3RD TIME, SHEARING THE THREADS TO THE ENGINE, AND CAUSING THE ENGINE TO NO LONGER WORK. ALL 3 EVENTS CAUSED LOSS OF POWER AND ABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10669823January 3, 2015
ENGINE
DRIVING VEHICLE AT ABOUT 45MPH, ENGINE STARTED MAKING A SCREECHING NOISE AND GOT LOUDER WHEN ACCELERATING. THERE WAS A LOUD BANG FROM ENGINE AREA AND IMMEDIATELY LOST ALL POWER AND ABILITY TO STEER AND BRAKE. WE WERE APPROACHING A BUSY INTERSECTION AND HAD TO PULL THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO AVOID RUNNING A RED LIGHT INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO OUR DEALERSHIP. THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT SNAPPED OFF AND THE BELT AND PULLEY FELL OFF. THE BOLT DID NOT BREAK FAR ENOUGH INTO THE ENGINE BLOCK SO REPAIR WAS ABLE TO REPLACE IT. AFTER THIS HAPPENED WE LEARNED OF THE SAFETY CONCERN WITH SAID VEHICLE AND KIA DENIES ANYTHING WRONG WITH THEIR SORENTOS. THERE IS A PENDING LAWSUIT AGAINST KIA FOR THIS KNOWN PROBLEM. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND WE ADVISED THE DEALER THAT WE WANT TO TRADE THE VEHICLE AS IT POSES A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM. KIA SHOULD PROVIDE A MAJOR RECALL. NOW GETTING A HARD TIME FROM DEALER. WE ARE STUCK IN THE MIDDLE AND STILL OWE A LOT ON THIS HAZARDOUS VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10668196December 24, 2014
STRUCTURE:BODY
APPROX. A WEEK PRIOR HEARD A NOISE LIKE SOMETHING WAS LOOSE AND BEATING UNDERNEATH THE CAR ONLY AT TIMES. TOOK IT TO LOCAL GARAGE AND PUT IT ON RACK AND THE MECHANIC HAD ME TO COME LOOK FOR MYSELF. MY HEART DROPPED. THE FRAME IS SHOT. IT'S EAT UP. HE ASKED ME IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS CAR? AND AS FAR AS I KNOW THERE ISN'T, BUT FOR SURE, SHOULD BE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. ONE BIG BUMP AND THE WHOLE THING IS GONE. YOU CAN TOUCH IT AND THE METAL FLAKES OFF. THIS CAR RUNS SO GOOD AND STILL IS A GOOD LOOKING CAR. HAS ALWAYS BEEN IN A GARAGE NEVER LEFT OUT IN THE WEATHER. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THEY DON'T MAKE CARS LIKE THEY USED TOO. MY ANSWER WAS MAYBE SO, BUT THIS IS WHAT GETS PEOPLE KILLED, I AM A PERSON THAT WHEN SOMETHING I KNOW IS NOT RIGHT OR HEAR A NOISE I KNOW THAT SHOULDN'T BE THAT WAY!! I GET IT CHECKED OUT. NOW SOME PEOPLE DON'T THAT'S WHY THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE KILLED ON THE ROADS DUE TO DEFECTS ON CARS THEY PAID THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR. I NEED HELP!! WHAT DO I DO NOW? I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE IT TO MAILBOX AND BACK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10663495December 10, 2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I BOUGHT MY KIA SORENTO 2003 IN NOVEMBER 2013. IN JANUARY OF THE FOLLOWING YEAR I NOTICED A GAS SMELL. I LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND FOUND A FEW DRIPS ON THE GROUND UNDERNEATH, WHICH WAS GAS. I HAD THE LINE UNDER THE CAB ALONG SIDE DOOR REPLACED. I AM NOTICING A STRONG GAS SMELL COMING FROM THE SIDE TOWARD FRONT AND CAN'T SEE ANYTHING LEAKING. I SAW THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS YEAR AND MAKE SO I CALLED KIA AND ASKED THEM IS MY VEHICLE COVERED UNDER THE RECALL AND THEY SAID NO AFTER GIVING THEM MY VIN NUMBER. I SEE THAT ITS NOT JUST THE 2003 VEHICLES WITH THIS ISSUE. JUST BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT VIN NUMBER THEY SHOULD STILL HONOR MY COMPLAINT. REGARDLESS I'M STILL HAVING THE SAME FUEL ISSUES AS THE ONES ON RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10659047November 18, 2014
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS, SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA SORENTO. WHILE EXITING THE DRIVEWAY WITH THE BRAKES ENGAGED, THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS EXCESSIVE CORROSION THAT FRACTURED THE SUBFRAME AND DAMAGED THE BRAKE LINES. AS A RESULT, THE BRAKE LINES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE CENTER SECTION OF THE FRAME NEEDED TO BE CUT AND REPLACED. THE SUBFRAME WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10648589October 18, 2014
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS, SERVICE BRAKES
WHILE THE CAR WAS IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE THE TECH NOTICED A COUPLE OF BRAKE LINES LOOKED WET, WHEN THEY WHERE CHECKING THE LINES THEY NOTICED THE REAR SUB-FRAME WHICH THE LINES WERE CONNECTED TOO WAS TOTALLY RUSTED OUT. THE CAR IS NO LONGER DRIVABLE DUE TO THE FACT THAT THIS SUB-FRAME HOLDS THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL IN PLACE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10641275October 3, 2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
WHEN FUELING THE VEHICLE THE GAS PUMP AUTOMATICALLY SHUTS OFF CONSTANTLY. THE TANK CAN BE EMPTY AND THE PUMP WILL SHUT OFF AS SOON AS YOU START FILLING IT AND CONTINUE TO DO SO AS YOU FILL IT. IT WILL ALSO SPIT GAS OUT OF THE TANK WHILE YOU ARE FILLING IT. THERE SHOULD BE PLENTY OF ROOM FOR GAS AS THE GAS INDICATOR SHOWS EMPTY BUT EVEN AFTER PUTTING ONE GALLON IN THE TANK, THE PUMP WILL SHUT OFF AND/OR GAS WILL SPILL/SPLASH OUT. I HAVE TO STAND BACK WHEN FILLING THE TANK SO THAT I DON'T GET IT ALL OVER ME. THE DATE LISTED FOR INCIDENT IS WHEN IT FIRST STARTED HAPPENING BUT IT CONTINUES TO DO SO EVERY TIME I PUT GAS IN THE VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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