Kia Sorento Complaints
10,397 consumer complaints on file.
- #10637156September 18, 2014FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES, POWER TRAIN
I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH MY 2008 KIA, FIRST IT WAS THE FRONT ROTORS REPLACED THREE TIMES WITHIN 3 MOS. AFTER MULTIPLE DIAGNOSES TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD ACCELERATION PROBLEMS, I JUST PUT 800.00 IN NEW ROTORS AND TIRES AND FUEL/AIR INDUCTION SERVICES. THEN THE OTHER DAY DRIVING 45 MPH THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE, MAKING A THUD THUD THUD NOISE IN THE FRONT END, FELT LIKE I HAD A FLAT TIRE, I PULLED OVER, NO FLAT TIRES. I STARTED DRIVING AGAIN AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN, WORSE THAN THE FIRST TIME IT SOUNDED LIKE A HELICOPTER IN MY VEHICLE AND IT VIBRATED AND WHILE SLOWLY DRIVING IT FELT LIKE IT WAS GLIDING. I WAS AFRAID THE WHEELS WERE GOING TO FALL OFF, I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER IMMEDIATELY AND THEY CALLED ME LATER WITH THE DIAGNOSES OF A CARRIER BEARING COMING APART, THE CARRIER BEARINGS ARE NOT ABLE TO BE REPLACED ALONE, THE WHOLE DRIVE SHAFT HAS TO BE REPLACED AS IN THIS MODEL IT IS ALL ONE PIECE. TO REPLACE THE DRIVE SHAFT IT WILL COST $1100.00 TO REPLACE. I DECLINED THE REPAIRS I CAN NOT AFFORD THAT, ESPECIALLY AFTER ALL THE MONEY I HAVE HAD TO INVEST IN THIS VEHICLE JUST TO KEEP IT RUNNING. I FEEL KIA SHOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCTS, I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER KIA. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME IN THIS MATTER. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10636936September 17, 2014SEAT BELTS
I BUCKLED IN MY SEAT BELT AS USUAL ONLY TO FIND WHEN SHIFTING TO DRIVE THE SEAT BELT INDICATOR LIGHT CONTINUED TO FLASH. I CHECKED THE CHILDREN'S SEAT BELT TO MAKE SURE THEY WERE BUCKLED IN AND THEY WERE. I DISCONNECTED MY SEAT BELT AND TRIED TO RECONNECT AND IT WOULD NOT RECONNECT. I VISITED THE DEALERSHIP AS THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED ROUGHLY 3 MONTHS AGO AND WAS INFORMED BY THE GENERAL SALES MANAGER THIS WAS NOT THEIR PROBLEM AND A LOANER COULD NOT BE PROVIDED UNTIL THE PART COMES IN. I ASKED IF I WOULD BE SAFE AND HE REITERATED AGAIN THIS WAS NOT THEIR PROBLEM. I ASKED FOR THE GENERAL MANAGER AND WAS DENIED THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH HIM. I BUCKLED INTO THE PASSENGER BUCKLE AND WAS LATER INFORMED THIS WAS UNSAFE, IF I WERE TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT, I WOULD NOT BE PROTECTED. I HAVE RECEIVED NO ASSISTANCE. THIS HAS YET TO BE FIXED. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10633672September 16, 2014ENGINE, STEERING
IN SEPTEMBER 2012, TRAVELING AT 35MPH MY KIA CAME TO A STOP. AT FIRST GLANCE IT WAS DETERMINED THE DRIVE BELTS HAD UNFASTENED AND THE CAM SHAFT BOLT WAS LAYING ON THE ENGINE PAN. AFTER INSPECTION AT KIA SERVICE SHOP THE SPECIALIST IDENTIFIED THAT THE CAM SHAFT BOLT HAD SHEERED OFF DUE TO THE DEFECTIVE PART: CAM SHAFT SPROCKET-C, PART # 23120-35701 COST $60.00. THE FINAL SUGGESTION WAS TO REPLACE THE BOLT SET, SPROCKET, CRANK ANGLE SENSOR, DAMPER PULLEY, AUTO TENSIONER AND ALL DRIVE BELTS A TOTAL OF $2,000 REPAIR COST. IN 2014, THE COST REPAIR IS NOW 4,000 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE BECAUSE OF THE SAME EXACT ISSUE BUT TRAVELING OVER 40MPG CAUSING MORE DAMAGE. THE MAIN CAUSE OF THIS DEFECT DERIVES FROM THE SMALL PIN ATTACHED TO THE SPROCKET THAT TURNS THE HARMONIC BALANCER AND GRINDS THE STEEL WITH THE FORCE OF THE ENGINE INTO NOTHING. THE RESULT OF THIS DEFECT CAUSES THE HARMONIC BALANCER TO COME LOSE, SHEARING OFF THE CRANK BOLT FIRST, THEN IF TRAVELING AT LOW SPEED WILL FOLLOW WITH THE REPAIR ABOVE, HOWEVER IF AT HIGH SPEED WILL RESULT IN ENGINE DAMAGE IN THE VALVES MAKING IT NECESSARY TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AT A COST OF $4,000. YOU MAY REFER TO THE FOLLOWING RESOURCES FOR MORE INFORMATION: THE KIA SORENTO ENGINE DEFECT CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT CASE IS ROBINSON EL AL V. KIA MOTORS AMERICA INC. CASE NO. 13-CV00006 US DISTRICT COURT OF NEW JERSEY. FOR A VIDEO VISUAL OF THE EXACT DEFECT YOU MAY REFER TO YOUTUBE: HTTP://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=QHLL55FV2Z0. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10633447September 15, 2014ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ON TWO OCCASIONS ONE MONTH A PART, WHILE DRIVING MY 2013 KIA SORENTO LX3 THE ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON AND THE CAR WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT RPM'S AND COULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 15/20 MPH. THE CAR WENT INTO "LIMP HOME" OR SAFETY MODE WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE AND MERGE ONTO A 40MPH AND 50 MPH HIGHWAY. THE CAR COULD NOT SPEED UP TO FLOW OF TRAFFIC AND WAS NEARLY REAR ENDED BY RUSH HOUR COMMUTER BUS WITH TWO SMALL CHILDREN IN THE BACK SEAT IN CHICAGO, IL. KIA SERVICE SAID CAR "FIXED" TWICE. CONCERNED ABOUT REPEAT PROBLEMS AND POTENTIAL FATAL ACCIDENTS AS RESULT OF SOME MALFUNCTION. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10632641September 12, 2014AIR BAGS
UPON STARTUP OF VEHICLE OR SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE S IRISH WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND HAS REMAINED ON SINCE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10632804September 12, 2014VISIBILITY/WIPER, VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING ON I-85 NORTH OUTSIDE OF DURHAM, NC. THERE WERE NO CARS AROUND OR IN FRONT OF US FOR AT LEAST 1/4 MILE. THERE WAS A LOUD BANG AND THEN WIND NOISE. THE SUNROOF HAD EXPLODED FOR NO REASON. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10632817September 12, 2014ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CAR STALLS INTERMITTENTLY. I GOT THE KIA SORENTO 7/6/12. I STALLS THREE TIMES WITHOUT WARNING BUT WILL RESTART AFTER PLACING TO NEUTRAL AND RESTARTING THE ENGINE. TWICE WHILE GOING DOWNHILL. CARMD CODE READER INDICATES NO PROBLEM FOUND. JUST WANTED TO ADD INTO THE NUMEROUS SAME ISSUE COMPLAINTS. 08/30/13 9682 MILES 05/06/14 16717 MILES 09/12/14 20052 MILES. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10632129September 10, 2014ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), POWER TRAIN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I OWN A 2007 KIA SORENTO LX WITH 47,760 MILES ON IT CURRENTLY (TODAY'S DATE 09/10/2014). THE FIRST SYMPTOMS HAPPENED A FEW MONTHS AGO WHERE MY CAR WOULD HESITATE UPON ACCELERATION AND/OR I WOULD BE TRAVELING BETWEEN 30-45 MPH AND THE CAR WOULD BEGIN BUCKING/JERKING FOR A FEW SECONDS. THIS WAS VERY INTERMITTENT AND RANDOM. IF I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL, THEN REAPPLIED THE GAS THE CAR WOULD BE FINE. THEN THAT SYMPTOM WENT AWAY AND I GAINED A NEW SYMPTOM. I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN MY ECS OFF LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON SIMULTANEOUSLY, AND I INSTANTLY LOST POWER/ACCELERATION. IT APPEARS THAT WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE CAR GOES INTO "LIMP HOME" MODE? IT HAS HAPPENED TWICE TO ME IN THE PAST 3 DAYS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE LOSS OF POWER/ACCELERATION IS INSTANT, IT HAPPENS WITHOUT WARNING, AND IT DOES NOT MATTER HOW FAST YOU ARE GOING. THIS COULD CAUSE LOSS OF LIFE IF IT HAPPENS ON A HIGHWAY AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. ALL OF THESE SYMPTOMS BEGAN TO APPEAR RIGHT AFTER I HAD THE RECALLS DONE ON MY VEHICLE (I.E. BRAKE SWITCH AND ECM UPGRADE). MY CAR WAS FINE BEFORE I HAD THE RECALLS DONE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10632241September 10, 2014VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON THREE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LINKAGE NEEDED TO BE ADJUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000. UPDATED 10/24/14*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS THE DRIVING WITH BOTH FEET. THE FAILURE HAD NOT RECURRED. UPDATED 4/16/2015 *JS
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10631788September 9, 2014SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE DRIVER SIDE BRAKES LOCKED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SWERVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10631847September 9, 2014VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,806.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10631315September 7, 2014STEERING
WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH THE POWER STEERING FAILED ON MY 2005 KIA SORENTO MAKING IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. WHEN I FINALLY PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY. WHEN I TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE THE BATTERY APPEARED TO BE DEAD. I FINALLY HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED AROUND 11 P.M. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION BY A MECHANIC IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE CAM SHAFT BOLD BROKE OFF.CAUSING THE PULLEYS TO STOP WHICH AFFECTED EVERYTHING THAT WAS DRIVEN BY THE PULLEYS. THERE WAS ALSO DAMAGE TO THE RADIATOR THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. INITIAL ESTIMATE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS $1550. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10631021September 5, 2014SUSPENSION, STRUCTURE:BODY
WENT TO GET THE KIA CHECKED OUT FOR A PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION AT THE KIA DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THE BACK FRAME AND SUSPENSION WERE SO ROTTED OUT THEY COULD NOT PUT ON A LIFT TO SEE THE TRANSMISSION. IN MY FINDING THERE ARE TONS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10630884September 4, 2014ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), EXTERIOR LIGHTING
BEGINNING IN EARLY AUGUST 2014, THE ESC AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATOR STOPS WORKING AND THE VEHICLE GOES INTO LIMP MODE. WE ARE UNABLE TO GET MORE THAN 40 MPH OUT OF IT AND ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WHEN OTHER VEHICLES WOULD COME UP FROM BEHIND VERY SUDDENLY. WE WERE FORTUNATE THAT WE WERE IN AN AREA WHERE WE COULD GET OFF THE ROAD QUICKLY. ONCE WE HAVE COME TO A STOP, IF WE TURN THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTART, THE LIGHTS RESET THEMSELVES AND THE VEHICLE FUNCTIONS NORMALLY UNTIL THE NEXT TIME IT HAPPENS. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED WAS SHORTLY AFTER WE BOUGHT THE CAR NEW AND THE KIA DEALERSHIP REPLACED A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH UNDER RECALL #09V130000. THIS HELPED UNTIL RECENTLY. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED A THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR AT THE COST OF $395.00. IT HELPED FOR TWO WEEKS AND THE PROBLEM RETURNED EXACTLY THE SAME. THIS TIME THE DEALER INFORMED US THAT IT WAS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ASSY - ENGINE CONTROL SYSTEM AT THE TUNE OF $250.00 ALL THESE ITEMS ARE PART OF THE ESC SYSTEM AND CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO GO TO LIMP MODE. I'M CONCERNED THAT THERE MAY BE OTHER SUB-ASSEMBLIES ASSOCIATED WITH IT AND EVERY TIME ONE GOES BAD, WE'LL END UP IN LIMP MODE AND/OR A HOOD ORNAMENT ON A KENWORTH. THIS IS RIDICULOUS AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY KIA AT NO COST TO CONSUMERS. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10630291September 3, 2014AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED INDICATING THAT THE AIR BAG SYSTEM WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT NO REMEDY WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10630055September 2, 2014ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CRANKCASE (PCV), STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND EXCESSIVE FORCED WAS REQUIRED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BOLTS. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BOLTS FRACTURED FROM THE HARMONIC BALANCER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO INDICATED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT AND ENGINE MIGHT NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10630157September 2, 2014STEERING, ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE VEHICLE BECAME INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CAMSHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10630171September 2, 2014EXTERIOR LIGHTING
FROM ABOUT A COUPLE OF MONTHS AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, I HAVE HAD CONTINUOUS HEADLIGHT ISSUES. IT STARTED WITH MY DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT, SO I REPLACED THE BULB. WITHIN 2 WEEKS MY PASSENGER LIGHT WENT OUT, SO I REPLACE THAT BULB AS WELL. SINCE THEN THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE GONE OUT 5 TIMES ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND 4 TIMES ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. I HAVE REPLACED BULBS, WIRING HARNESSES, AND COMPLETE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES. AS OF RIGHT NOW, I AM WITHOUT DIM LIGHTS. I AM FORCED TO DRIVE AROUND WITH MY BRIGHT LIGHTS ON. I HAVE RECEIVED MULTIPLE WARNING CITATIONS FOR DRIVING AROUND WITH MY BRIGHT LIGHTS ON. AFTER SPEAKING WITH MY MECHANIC TODAY HE WARNED ME THAT THE HEADLIGHT WIRING HARNESSES ARE COMPLETELY BURNED THROUGH. WITH SMALL CHILDREN, I AM CONSTANTLY WORRIED AND AFRAID OF A FIRE. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH KIA MULTIPLE TIMES AND THEY AREN'T WILLING TO DO ANYTHING TO HELP ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10629792August 31, 2014VISIBILITY/WIPER
THE WIPER MOTOR STRIPS OUT EASILY. TOOK IT IN TO HAVE IT FIXED AND IT STILL SLAMS DOWN INTO THE CAR. I WENT BACK IN AND IT STILL DOESN'T WORK. NOW IT COMPLETELY QUIT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10629793August 31, 2014ENGINE
THE OVERFLOW BOTTLE FOR THE RADIATOR HAS BEEN LEAKING AGAIN. THE FIRST ONE THAT CAME WITH THE CAR WAS REPLACED IN 2011 AND NOW WE ARE HAVING TO REPLACE THE RADIATOR RESERVOIR AGAIN. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0