Kia Sorento Complaints

10,397 consumer complaints on file.

#10452185March 19, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I HAVE A 2008 KIA SORENTO I HAVE HAD 6 SERVICE ISSUES WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND ESC COMING ON. KIA DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED GAS PEDAL X2, THROTTLE SENSORY ASSY, TIGHTENED CONNECTIONS, CLEARED CODES, APPLIED STABULANT, TIGHTENED PINS, RESET CODES, CLEARED FAULTS, CLEANED GROUND STATION AND NUMEROUS OTHER THINGS. I ONLY HAVE THESE ISSUES WITH THE CAR IN THE WARMER MONTHS (MAY-AUGUST)? IT LOSES POWER AND WON'T ACCELERATE. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10452035March 16, 2012
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1ST PROBLEM: I BOUGHT THE CAR, DROVE IT OFF THE LOT, DEALERSHIP DID NOT GET IT INSPECTED SO I HAD TO TAKE IT AT 10 MILES TO GET AN INSPECTION STICKER ON IT! 2ND PROBLEM: IMMEDIATELY AFTER BUYING THE CAR, I NOTICED ALL THE WINDOWS AND DOORS RATTLED. TOOK IT TO KIA IN KINGWOOD 5 TIMES AND THEY COULD NEVER HEAR THE SOUND AND/OR FIXED OTHER THINGS ON THE CAR THAT DID NOT NEED TO BE FIXED. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. 3RD PROBLEM: ENGINE LIGHT KEPT COMING ON, 3 VISITS LATER, I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION, AT 13,000 MILES..SOMETHING WRONG WITH SENSOR THAT MEASURES FLUIDS?? 4TH PROBLEM: TAKING BACK AT 14,500 MILES ON MONDAY(3/18/12) TO GET DOORS CHECKED OUT NOW ELECTRONICS ARE MESSED UP AND LOUD NOISE EVERYTIME I LOCK OR ROLL DOWN WINDOWS. ALSO, CANT GET KEY TO TURN IN IGNITION ALOT!! WHAT A PIECE OF CRAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10451667March 14, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE THE CRANK SHAFT PULLEY BOLT WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 107,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10451371March 13, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PUSH START FEATURE DID NOT PROPERLY FUNCTION AND WOULD NOT TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER DISCONNECTED THE IGNITION FROM UNDER THE HOOD, BUT HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 38. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10450958March 9, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2003 KIA SORENTO. CONSUMER STATES BOLT LOOSENED WHILE DRIVING *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE BRAKE AND BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONSUMERS HUSBAND SOON DISCOVERED IT WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. HER HUSBAND WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AS HE EXAMINED THE VEHICLE, HE TOUCHED A BOLT, WHICH WAS EXTREMELY HOT, AND IT WAS THE SAME BOLT THAT WAS RECALLED, WHICH HAD BECOME LOOSE AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW ENGINE AT A COST OF $6,000 EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE REST OF THE ENGINE. THE CONSUMER WANTED THE BOLT TO BE RE-THREADED. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONSUMER, THEY DID NOT HAVE THE EQUIPMENT, TO PERFORM THE RE-THREAD OF THE BOLT, BUT INSTEAD OF NEEDING A NEW ENGINE, THEY COULD REPLACE THE CRANKSHAFT AT A COST OF $3,500. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10450837March 8, 2012
POWER TRAIN
SOMETIME IN OCT. 31, 2011, MY KIA SORENTO 2011 FAILED TO START UP. IT TOOK ME TO DIAL MY CELL AND CALL KIA ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TO DEAL WITH THIS PROBLEM. AND NOW, MARCH 6, 2012, ANOTHER PROBLEM, WORSE THAN THE FIRST, OCCURRED. IT WAS TUESDAY MORNING, WHILE I'M EXCITED TO REPORT TO WORK EARLY FOR A SCHEDULED POST CONFERENCE WITH THE ASST. PRINCIPAL, ONE OF MY EVALUATORS, I JUST CAN'T WORK AND GET THE POST CONFERENCE DONE DUE TO THE FAILURE OF MY KIA SORENTO 2011 TO MOVE VIA D SHIFT. I WENT OUTSIDE TO SEE WHAT HAPPEN BUT I DON'T SEE ANY OUTSIDE TROUBLE UNTIL ANOTHER DRIVER ASKED ME WHAT'S WRONG AND HEARD SOMETHING UNDERNEATH FROM MY KIA SORENTO 2011 THEN HE SAID --- TRANSMISSION. I CALLED KIA ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND WAITED FOR ALMOST THREE HOURS UNTIL WE GET THERE AT ORR KIA-MITSUBISHI DEALER SHREVEPORT (SAME DEALER WHERE I GOT MY KIA SORENTO 2011). I WAS TOLD TO RENT A CAR FOR 2 - 3 DAYS SINCE THEY CAN'T PROVIDE ME A DEALER'S TEMPORARY CAR TO KEEP ME GOING AND DO WHAT I'M SUPPOSED TO DO. AFTER 2 DAYS, I CALLED AND WAS TOLD THAT INDEED TRANSMISSION IS THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10450578March 7, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
HEADLIGHTS BLOWING ON A REGULAR BASIS. REPLACE HEADLIGHTS FOUR TO FIVE TIMES A YEAR POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10450911March 6, 2012
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
2003 KIA SORENTO. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO GASOLINE TANK DEFECT. CONSUMER REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED SHE RECEIVED A VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN LETTER FROM KIA MOTORS REGARDING THE REPLACEMENT OF THE FUEL TANK AI FILTER. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE IN SEPTEMBER 2011. HOWEVER, WHEN SHE CONTACTED KIA REGARDING REIMBURSEMENT, SHE WAS INFORMED THERE WAS NO RECALL OF THAT NATURE. KIA INFORMED THE CONSUMER SHE WOULD NOT BE REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE DEFECT. THE CONSUMER STATED HER VEHICLE WAS NOT OPERABLE, DUE TO THE FACT, SHE COULD NOT GET MORE THAN ONE GALLON OF GASOLINE INTO THE TANK WITHOUT IT SPRAYING BACK OUT OF THE TANK. THE MECHANIC FOUND THE CHARCOAL CANISTER FALLING APART AND BLOCKING THE AIR FLOW IN CLOSE VALVE, VENT FILTER AND ROLL OVER VALVE. THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY WAS REMOVED AND THE CHARCOAL CLEANED OUT OF THE FUEL TANK AND ROLL OVER VALVE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10450326March 5, 2012
POWER TRAIN
ON 3 OCCASIONS MY CAR HAS SLIPPED OUT OF PARK AFTER STOPPING & REMOVING MY KEY... IT IS POSSIBLE THAT MY KIA HAS ALLOWED ME TO REMOVE THE KEY WHEN IT IS NOT IN PARK, BUT I THINK IT IS THE FORMER.. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10450197March 4, 2012
STEERING
VEHICLE HAS A CONSTANT PULL TO RIGHT,EVEN AFTER ALIGNMENT.RUINED A SET OF MICHELIN RADIALS IN 6K MILES. ALSO, RELATED OR NOT, VEHICLE HAS A VERY HARD RIDE FOR IT'S TYPE-HAVE EXPERIENCED REAR WHEEL HOP WHEN EXITING HIGHWAY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10449621February 28, 2012
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ELECTRONIC DOOR LOCKS WOULD NOT OPEN ELECTRONICALLY, ONLY MANUALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10449404February 27, 2012
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE FROM STOPS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10449316February 25, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, POWER TRAIN, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE 2012 KIA SORENTO LX AWD WAS PURCHASED NEW WITH 233 MILES ON IT. THE VEHICLE'S AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION REGULARLY HESITATES TO UP-SHIFT DURING SMOOTH ACCELERATION WHILE UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS (FLAT ROADS, CRUISING SPEEDS), CAUSING THE ENGINE TO HANG IN THE 3500+ RPM RANGE. WHEN THE CAR HAS FINISHED ACCELERATING AND HAS REACHED CRUISING SPEED, MY FOOT BACKS OFF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND IT STILL DOES NOT UP-SHIFT OR EVEN COAST. INSTEAD, THE VEHICLE DRASTICALLY DECELERATES AS THE ENGINE RPMS DROP BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION REMAINS IN THE SAME GEAR WHEN MY FOOT LEAVES THE ACCELERATOR, RATHER THAN UP-SHIFTING TO THE NEXT GEAR. I HAVE DRIVEN COUNTLESS AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION VEHICLES OVER THE YEARS AND HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS PHENOMENON PRIOR TO OWNING THIS VEHICLE. I DON?T NORMALLY MAKE USE OF THE "SPORTMATIC SHIFT" FEATURE OF THE VEHICLE'S AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. HOWEVER, SOMETIMES "MANUALLY" UP-SHIFTING WITH THE SPORTMATIC SHIFT IS THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE CAR TO UP-SHIFT PROPERLY TO 5TH OR 6TH GEAR ONCE ACCELERATION IS COMPLETE AND CRUISING SPEED HAS BEEN REACHED. IT SEEMS AS IF EITHER THE TRANSMISSION OR THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE IS ILL-INFORMED OR JUST POORLY PROGRAMMED. ASIDE FROM THE SHEER ANNOYANCE OF THIS DEFECT FROM A DRIVER'S PERSPECTIVE, IT ALSO IS RUINING THE FUEL ECONOMY OF THE VEHICLE. FOR A VEHICLE WITH AN EPA MILES-PER-GALLON RATING OF 21 CITY/28 HIGHWAY/23 COMBINED, I HAVE NEVER ONCE ACHIEVED TRUE CALCULATED FUEL ECONOMY OF OVER 20 MPG SINCE OWNING THIS VEHICLE. MY DRIVING PATTERNS ARE APPROXIMATELY 40% CITY AND 60% HIGHWAY DRIVING. THE CAR IS DRIVEN IN A FAIRLY RURAL AREA WITH HARDLY ANY STOP-AND-GO TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE IS NOT CARRYING EXCESS WEIGHT AND ALL 4 TIRES ARE INFLATED TO THE MANUFACTURER?S SPECIFICATION. I'VE SEEN ONLINE THAT SEVERAL OTHER 2012 SORENTO DRIVERS ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10448928February 22, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, POWER TRAIN, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I BOUGHT MY SARENTO IN 2004, NEW. I REPLACED THE COOLANT RESERVOR AT 61000 MILES DUE TO OVERHEATING, REPLACED THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT BULBS ON 4 OCASIONS, TAIL LIGHTS ON 2 OCASIONS. MY VEHICLE, 5 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION, STARTED TO HAVE A ROARING NOISE APPROX. 6 MONTHS AGO AND THE U-JOINTS WERE REPLACED. IT STILL ROARS. IT QUIT RUNNING ON 2-16-12 WHILE I WAS DRIVING, BUT RESTARTED. IT FINALLY QUIT AGAIN AND WOULD NOT RESTART ON 2-17-12. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT INDICATE A FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR PROBLEM, BUT MECHANIC SAYS THIS SHOULD NOT CAUSE THE PROBLEM I PRESENTLY HAVE. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP SINCE 2-18-12. THE MECHANIC SAID IT STARTED FOR HIM. I INSISTED HE LET IT RUN FOR A WHILE AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS. SURE ENOUGH, IT QUIT. KIA MECHANIC TOLD ME IT MAY BE A CRANK OR CAM SENSOR ISSUE. OTHER PROBLEMS--FRONT DOME LIGHT OFF AND ON AT WILL, REAR ONE WORKS, CLOCK ON AND OFF AT WILL, VEHICLE HUMS LOUDLY WHEN DRIVING FOR A WHILE. IT HAS BEEN A RELIABLE VEHICLE FOR THE MOST PART, BUT WHEN THERE IS AN ISSUE, IT IS HARD TO DETECT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10448472February 19, 2012
AIR BAGS
THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SENSOR IN MY 2007 KIA SORENTO HAS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY EVER SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 2009. IT FAILS AT LEAST 50% OF THE TIME WHEN A PASSENGER IS IN THE SEAT (SOMETIMES >200 LBS.) UPON COMPLAINING TO THE DEALER, THEY CONTINUED TO INSIST THAT THE PASSENGER WAS NOT SITTING PROPERLY IN THE SEAT. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. I KNOW OF NO OTHER CARS WHERE THAT IS AN ISSUE. THE DEALER SAYS TO GET OUT AND BACK IN AGAIN, BUT THAT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN YOU ARE ON A BUSY HIGHWAY GOING 65 MPH AND REALIZE THE AIRBAG IS NOT ON. SO, THEN THEY SAY TO LIFT YOUR BUTT UP FOR 10 SECONDS AND THEN SIT BACK DOWN. IT SOMETIMES WORKS, BUT TAKES A FEW TRIES. AND, DO YOU KNOW HOW EMBARRASSING THAT IS TO ASK A GUEST (PARTICULARLY IF A BUSINESS GUEST) TO DO THAT? AGAIN, IT IS JUST SO RIDICULOUS THAT I FEAR OWNERS WILL IGNORE IT THUS PUTTING THEIR PASSENGERS AT RISK. SO, I WAS THRILLED TO SEE THAT THERE WAS FINALLY A RECALL OF THE 2007 SORENTO PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR IN THE FALL OF 2011. FINALLY, THEY ADMIT THERE IS A PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THEN THE DEALER SAYS THAT MY VIN IS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL. REALLY??? THIS RECALL NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED. I AM TAKING MY CAR BACK AGAIN NEXT WEEK AND IF IT IS NOT REPLACED BY KIA, I WILL BE CALLING THE KIA HEADQUARTERS LEGAL DEPARTMENT TO COMPLAIN. IF YOU CAN HELP GET THIS RECALL EXPANDED SO THAT I AND OTHERS DO NOT HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS, I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10448308February 17, 2012
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25-35 MPH WHEN HE HEARD A LOUD, WINING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CONTINUE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND IF THE NOISE BECAME MORE PROMINENT, THEN THEY WOULD BUY BACK THE VEHICLE AT FULL COST. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 14,500.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10448167February 16, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS AND REAR LIGHTS HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A MINIMUM OF ONE TIME PER YEAR. THE CONTACT HAD TO CONSTANTLY REPLACE THE BULBS FOR THE LIGHTS BUT THE VEHICLE HAD NOT YET BEEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OF THE RECURRING FAILURE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL SPORADICALLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED TO THE CONTACT THAT THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 71,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10447991February 14, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
DURING SLOWING, AT LOW SPEEDS, WITH THE FOOT ON THE BRAKES, THIS VEHICLE MAKES LOUD NOISES WHICH GO AWAY IF THE FOOT IS TAKEN OFF THE BRAKES. THE NOISE EVENTUALLY STOPS AS THE VEHICLE COMES TO A STOP. THIS KIA SORENTO APPEARS TO STOP NORMALLY, BUT THE NOISE DOES NOT INSTILL CONFIDENCE, NOR DOES THE NOISE SOUND NORMAL FOR A VEHICLE WITH 6,615 MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10447988February 14, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
AFTER PARKING THE CAR FOR 72 HOURS AT AN AIRPORT, UPON RETURN THE CAR STARTED NORMALLY, BUT THE WARNING LIGHT SHOWING A BATTERY APPEARED. WHILE DRIVING HOME, APPROX 8 MILES, THE CAR'S DASH FLASHED MORE WARNING SYMBOLS... ANTIBRAKES, AIRBAG, ETC AND THE WIPERS BEGAN TO SLOW. I PULLED OVER AS THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND STALLED. I USED KIA'S ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TO GET A TOW TO THE DEALERSHIP. ON 2/13/2012 THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR AT NO CHARGE. THIS REPAIR, NECESSARY ON THIS 2012 KIA SORENTO, OCCURRED AT 6,607 MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10447250February 9, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
02/23/2011 VEHICLE WOULD NOT START; DEALER REPLACED BRAKE SWITCH. 10/14/2011 VEHICLE WOULD NOT START; DEALER REPLACED BATTERY. 11/14/2011 VEHICLE WOULD NOT START; DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION SHIFTER. 01/05/2012 VEHICLE WOULD NOT START; DEALER COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM, STARTED AFTER BATTERY JUMP. 01/29/2012 VEHICLE WOULD NOT START; CALLED FOR TOW; VEHICLE STARTED AFTER 40 MINUTES OF NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. 02/07/2012 VEHICLE WOULD NOT START; VEHICLE STARTED AFTER 30 MINUTES OF NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. 02/09/2012 VEHICLE WOULD NOT START; TOWED TO DEALER. SOMETHING IS OBVIOUSLY WRONG WITH THESE PUSH-BUTTON STARTERS! 5 TOWS WITHIN ONE YEAR PLUS OTHER NON-START TIMES?! KIA NEEDS TO RECOGNIZE THEY HAVE A PROBLEM! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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