Kia Sorento Complaints (2016)
1,262 consumer complaints on file.
- #11491683October 31, 2022ENGINE
One afternoon when I started my Sorento (with Lambda Engine around 85,000 miles) I heard a loud tapping sound in the engine and saw the check engine light on. I took it in for an oil change and to get an opinion on the tapping sound at Jiffy lube. They told me I had no oil in the vehicle. They also noted no oil leaks and sludge in the engine. I took it in to the kia dealership the next day and they told me my timing chain was damaged and that I would need a new engine. I thought I was covered under the "special" 20 year warranty I had on the vehicle. My warranty claim was DENIED due to "improper maintenance"; not having sufficient oil change records and sludge being found under the valve cover. During my previous oil change 6 months & 8700 miles ago there were no issues with the engine. I also use premium synthetic oil. No oil lights had ever gone off, only the check engine light prior to taking it to a mechanic. I have also had safety issues over the last 5 months where my vehicle failed to accelerate while on the highway. The car would function as normal after stopping and cutting the car off and back on.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11491477October 30, 2022UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Sunscreen spontaneously exploded. Open highway, no surrounding debris, no trees, etc.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11491039October 26, 2022ENGINE
We were driving down the road and a rod went through my engine. We have always kept our oil changes up to date and maintenanced our car as soon as it’s needed it. We called Kia to ask them if we could get this fixed and Kia of Cookeville let us know it was under recall for an engine issue but because our software wasn’t updated it wouldn’t be covered. We then called Kia of Knoxville and they said it was covered under the recall but we would need to call a corporation number to see if the cost were covered. The corporation number wasn’t willing to corporate at all. He preceded to tell us because it wasn’t brought in there was nothing they could do. We have never received a letter saying we were under a recall. We had no idea. Please help I have 4 kids and no way of transportation for them. My husband just lost his job and I need this fixed free of charge ):
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11490576October 24, 2022ENGINE
The vehicle has been consuming excessive amounts of oil resulting in the recommendation from the Ourisman Kia Dealership in Chantilly, Virginia that the engine be replaced. The only warning I had that there could be an issue was the oil light occasionally coming on for 3-5 seconds when turning off a highway exit or braking hard, etc. The car has been taken to the dealership 3 times in order to figure out what was going on for this specific issue, but it has been indirectly addressed prior to that. The first time the car was taken it was still under warranty, but the result that the engine needed replacement was not given until after the car was out of warranty. The dealership first performed an oil change and consumption test. I returned after 1000 miles for the results of the consumption test and was told my car was consuming oil and would need a Combustion Chamber cleaning. Once that was completed, I was told it should be fine. The dealership did not communicate to me that I needed to return the car after 1000 miles, but I brought it back after I noticed the oil light was coming on again and it had only been a few weeks since the oil change. I was told that the car was consuming excessive amounts of oil and it would need an engine replacement. The car has also occasionally struggled to accelerate, but I had the Knock Sensor replaced under warranty so it is likely related to the lack of oil. The car is now unsafe to drive as it could have "catastrophic engine failure" according to the dealership service manager. There is no extended warranty or recall, so I have no choice but to spend the quoted $9-10k for an engine replacement or sell the car for next to nothing and start over.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11490447October 23, 2022ENGINE
While driving engine completely stopped with myself driving and my 2 year old in the car. No warning lights lit up beforehand until after the failure and after coming to a complete stop smoke could be seen coming from the engine bay underneath the hood. Now the car is disabled and unable to start. Vehicle has not been inspected yet as we are scheduled two weeks out for an appointment with the dealer shop.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11490402October 22, 2022ENGINE
The vehicle was running great then without any warning it stalled. I started it back up and the engine began knocking horribly. I got a diagnostic test done at Auto Zone and was told that I had a bad sensor in my engine. I took it in to the dealership and I was told that it had no oil, metal in the engine, and I had to replace it. I checked the oil the previous week and it had oil then.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11490245October 21, 2022EXTERIOR LIGHTING, VISIBILITY/WIPER
There was an instance where I was driving in heavy rain and the windshield wipers just stopped working. I had to drive about 5 more miles without them working. They worked the next time it rained a couple of days later. There has been 2 instances in the last week where I have had my car parked in my driveway off and locked. In the middle of the night, the headlights and taillights come on on there own. The headlights setting has been set to auto. I end up having to go out and start and turn off my car, then when I lock it back the lights go off.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11489711October 18, 2022ENGINE
Engine failed on the highway. Regular maintenance performed on vehicle. No warning lights came on before engine failure.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11489818October 18, 2022STRUCTURE:BODY
PAINT IS PEELING OFF
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11489542October 17, 2022ENGINE
The engine in burning oil at a fast rate, also no check engine lights appear to inform you of an engine issue.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11489390October 15, 2022ENGINE
While driving car, a burning oil smell came thru car and I heard a bubbling noise under the hood. No indicator light came on. I immediately looked at the temp gauge to see it was sitting on hot. I pulled over and looked under the hood to find out that coolant was spitting out. After 45 mins of letting it cool down I checked the engine oil to find none, and the radiator had oil in it. My car is currently at the shop being taken apart.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11489297October 14, 2022ENGINE
Car started to overheat and no warning light came on. Found out there was no oil - oil light had not come on either. My car didn’t notify me that it was overheating and could have blown my engine.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11489061October 13, 2022ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Desconocido
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11489090October 13, 2022ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at less than 10 MPH, the vehicle accelerated unintendedly without warning. The contact was able to shift into neutral (N), which stopped the unintended acceleration and caused the vehicle to operate as needed. The vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer who informed the contact that they could not duplicate the failure as the vehicle had operated as designed. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH, the failure reoccurred without warning. The contact stated that the vehicle accelerated unintendedly at a higher speed. The contact depressed the brake pedal and pressed the ON/OFF button, however, the vehicle failed to respond. The contact then drove into a vacant parking lot and shifted into neutral (N), which stopped the acceleration. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred while taking the vehicle back to the unknown dealer. Upon arriving at the dealer, the contact informed the dealer that he no longer wanted possession of the vehicle as it was unsafe to drive. The dealer provided the contact with a rental vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact sent a letter to the manufacturer informing them of the failure, but the contact had not yet received a response. The contact stated that the whereabouts of the vehicle were unknown. The failure mileage was 27,093. Manufacturer Safety Recall Campaign issued. NHTSA #22V703 Recall #SC249B SC249B TOW HITCH (REMEDY NOT AVAILABLE) Status: Remedy Not Yet Available
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11488970October 12, 2022ENGINE
Low oil light NEVER came on. Went in for a check and they said it was bone dry but the indicator light never came on.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11488717October 11, 2022ENGINE
I'VE HAD MY ENGINE REPLACED A MONTH AFTER HAVING MY CAR WHEN I FIRST GOT IT ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO. I RECIEVED THE LETTER FOR THE CURRENT ENGINE RECALL ABOUT FEBURARY OF THIS YEAR. MY HUSBAND AND I WAS O THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE END OF MARCH 2022 WHEN MY ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING AND THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON. I HAD THE CAR TAKEN TO A KIA DEALSHIP THE NEXT DAY (WHICH WAS A SATURDAY) AND THE GOT BACK IN TOUCH WITH ME THAT FOLLOWING MONDAY STATING IT WAS MY ENGINE BUT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET. I HAVE TO PAY FOR BECAUSE IT WAS AT THIS TIME I LEARNED I NO LONGER HAD A WARRANTY ON MY CAR. PRIOR TO MY HUSBAND AND I TAKING THIS TRIP I JUST HAD MY CAR AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR AN OIL CHANGE. AFTER THEY CHANGED MY OIL THE TECH STATED TO ME THAT MY CAR WAS LEAKING OIL AND THAT I HAD TO SETUP AN APPT TO HAVE IT FIXED. HE DIDNT OFFER ME THE CHANCE TO GET IT FIXED RIGHT THEN. ABOUT FIVE MINS AFTER I LEFT I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND ASKED THEM IF I MY WARRANTY WOULD COVER THE COST AND THAT TECH STATED THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO CONTACT THEM FIRST AND GET BACK IN TOUCH WITH ME. A WEEK LATER IS WHEN I LEFT TO GO OUT OF TOWN DUE TO A DEATH IN THE FAMILY. I'VE ALSO ASKED THEM FOR A LOANER CAR BUT THEY DIDNT HAVE ANY TO LEND ME AND SAID THAT MY WARRANTY WOULD REMIBURSE ME FOR A RENTAL. IM UPSET BECAUSE IM STILL PAYING ON A CAR THAT I CANT DRIVE AND IVE GOTTEN THIS CAR FROM A WELL KNOWN DEALERSHIP WHOM I THOUGHT WAS GENUINE TO THEIR CUSTOMERS.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11488653October 10, 2022ENGINE
2016 Kia Sorento with 123K miles with all recall completed and maintained. We were driving on backroad where all traffic were diverted because of highway 101 closure when the car suddenly have the MIL blinks then stalls and would not start back up again.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11488188October 6, 2022SEAT BELTS, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
This morning while driving on the highway I was unable to accelerate. It triggered an engine light & then went off. I have taken my car in for paid services a few months back just to be told to wait until my car knocks in order for them to replace the engine. This is unsafe and an terrifying option on the highway with my Children.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11488195October 6, 2022ENGINE
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle lost power and stalled. The contact was able to maneuver the vehicle off the road when the check engine warning light, the oil pressure warning light, and an unknown warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was notified of the failure and the contact was awaiting a call back. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was approximately 87,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11488261October 6, 2022ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I was driving the car at approximately 40 mph. The engine light flashed on briefly. I immediately lost power and had no acceleration. The light went off but the car stopped. The incident put myself and others at risk as I lost power and was in an area where I shouldn't have stopped and it became a traffic hazard. The car is currently at the KIA dealership. There were not prior lights, messages or symptoms prior to the failure. I am the first and only owner with approx 55 k miles. Never had an issue before. Dealership conducted all oil changes and maintenance.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0