Kia Sorento Complaints

10,397 consumer complaints on file.

#10425220September 13, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
DURING ACCELERATION, THE "ESC OFF" LIGHT COMES ON, THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT COMES ON, AND I LOSE POWER SIMULTANEOUSLY. WHEN I TURN THE CAR OFF AND RESTART IT, THE ESC OFF LIGHT DOES NOT COME BACK BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON. THIS HAPPENED 3 TIMES ON DURING MY HOUR COMMUTE TO WORK. IF I WAS IN A PASSING SITUATION OR WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF CROSSING TRAFFIC, THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10424660September 11, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE AT LEAST A HEAD LIGHT AND/OR TAIL LIGHT ABOUT ONCE EVERY THREE MONTHS SINCE I BOUGHT MY VEHICLE. IT SEEMS LIKE THERE IS A SHORT SOMEWHERE BUT NONE TO BE FOUND; PLEASE HELP! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10424669September 11, 2011
POWER TRAIN
DELAY IN ACCELERATION AFTER APPLYING BRAKES. THIS HAPPENS FROM A DEAD START AND ALSO WHILE MOVING. ESPECIALLY BAD WHEN TRYING TO BACK UP A GRADE. (EX.) WHILE BACKING UP A GRADE SUCH AS A DRIVEWAY TO THE GARAGE I BACK UP AND THEN HIT MY BRAKE TO STOP. I THEN REALIZE I NEED TO BACK UP A LITTLE FARTHER. I TAKE MY FOOT OFF OF THE BRAKE AND PUSH THE ACCELERATOR. INSTEAD OF GOING BACKWARDS I DRIFT FORWARD. IN MY MIND I AM THINKING I DON'T HAVE THE ACCELERATOR PUSHED DOWN SO I PUSH HARDER AND ABOUT THAT TIME THE ACCELERATOR KICKS IN AND I GO FLYING BACKWARDS TOWARD THE GARAGE DOOR. (EX.2) I AM TRYING TO BACK A BOAT INTO THE RIVER. I BACK UP AND HOLD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. I NEED TO PULL BACK OUT OF THE WATER SOME SO I QUICKLY RELEASE MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE AND PUSH THE ACCELERATOR. NOW INSTEAD OF GOING FORWARD THERE IS A DELAY IN ACCELERATION AND I DRIFT FURTHER INTO THE RIVER. (SOMEONE IS GOING TO HAVE A VERY BAD ACCIDENT) MULTIPLY THIS OCCURRENCE AT EVERY STOP SIGN. ESPECIALLY WHERE THERE IS A GRADE INVOLVED. IN MY OPINION I BELIEVE THIS IS A DESIGN IN THE COMPUTER FOR WHAT EVER REASON AND IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS ONE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10424505September 9, 2011
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
I WAS IN A THREE CAR ACCIDENT IN WHICH I REAR ENDED A STOPPED VEHICLE AT 40MPH. UPON LOOKING AT KIA'S OWN WEBSITE AND THE OWNER'S MANUAL FOR THE 2011 KIA SORENTO, I CAN SEE THAT THE IMPACT TOOK PLACE ON THE AIRBAG SENSOR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY & THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT & FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO 'LOCK'. THIS RESULTED IN MY 92 YEAR OLD GRANDMOTHER HITTING THE DASH WITH HER FACE, AND I AS THE DRIVER, HIT MY HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL SUSTAINING A CONCUSSION & WHIPLASH. I AM STILL SUFFERING SEVERE PAIN THAT I HAVE TO BE MEDICATED FOR WITH NARCOTICS, AND SHORT TERM MEMORY LOSS. MY GRANDMOTHER, LUCKILY ONLY SUSTAINED FACIAL BRUISING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10424514September 9, 2011
POWER TRAIN
WHILE DECENDING A MOUNTIAN PASS IN COLORADO WITH THE VEHICLE IN 4WD-LOW RANGE AND THE SHIFT SELECTOR IN THE SPORT MODE THE TRANSMISSION WOULD UP-SHIFT AT ABOUT 3200 RPM CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO GAIN SPEED VERY QUICKLY AND REQUIRING THE CONSTANT APPLICATION OF BRAKES WHICH CAUSES THE BRAKES TO OVER HEAT. THE OWNERS MANUAL CLEARLY STATES THAT THIS IS AN APPROVED USE OF THE VEHICLE AND THAT THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD NOT SHIFT UNTIL THE RED-ZONE (APPROX 6000 RPM). I CONTACTED KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE IN NOVEMBER OF 2009 AND HAVE HAD SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS WITH KIA'S CUSTOMER SERVICE AND MR RICHARD PULRIDIA WHITH KIA SERVICE HAS EVALUATED THE VEHICLE AND FILED A REPORT WITH KIA ENGINEERING IN MAY 2011. I TALKED TO MR PULRIDA THIS WEEK AND HE HAS NOT RECEIVED ANY INFORMATION TO DATE AND HAS NO IDEA WHEN OR IF ANY ACTION WILL BE TAKEN TO CORRECT THIS UNSAFE CONDITION. I BELIEVE THIS OPERATION IS UNSAVE BECAUSE IT CAUSES QUICK ACCELLERATION TO UNSAFE SPEEDS WHIN IN A STEEP DECENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10424035September 7, 2011
SEATS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUSE BOX PANEL UNDER THE DRIVER SEAT DETACHED COMPLETELY, EXPOSING THE WIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER THREE DIFFERENT TIMES FOR THE SAME FAILURE AND THE FUSE BOX PANEL WAS REPLACED EACH TIME. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE DEFECT WAS A MANUFACTURING FLAW. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10423970September 6, 2011
POWER TRAIN
VEHICLE SUDDENLY DOWN SHIFTS USUALLY AT APPROX. 65 MPH. TIRES SQUEAL SENDING ME LURCHING FORWARD. WHIPLASH! RPM SHOOTS UP TO 6000 AND STAYS THERE UNTIL I EXIT THE HIGHWAY AND SLOW DOWN BELOW 40MPH. THIS HAS HAPPENED 5 TIMES IN THE 4 MONTHS I'VE OWNED THE VEHICLE. ONCE I WAS PULLING INTO TRAFFIC AND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE! I HAD RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC COMING AT ME FROM BOTH DIRECTIONS. DEALER KEEPS SAYING THEY CAN'T REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. MY FAMILY IS GOING TO BE VERY WEALTHY WHEN I DIE IN THIS DEATH TRAP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10423771September 5, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AIR BAGS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
ALL MY LIGHTS BOTH INTERNAL & EXTERNAL ARE BURNING OUT EVERY FEW MONTHS. AND I'VE HAD TO REPLACE MY BATTERY TIMES ALSO. MY HEADLIGHTS ARE REPLACED EVERY 4-5 MONTHS NOW, FIRST STARTING OUT EVERY YEAR HAS NOW DROPPED TO MONTHS. THE BATTERY LASTS FROM 10-13 MONTHS BEFORE HAVING TO BE REPLACED. NOW PARKING & BRAKE LIGHTS ARE BURNING OUT AT A RATE OF ABOUT EVERY 6 MONTHS. CALLED MY LOCAL KIA SERVICE REP AND HE SAYS MY DASH AND CONSOLE WOULD HAVE TO BE RIPPED OUT TO REPAIR, AND OF COURSE IT IS NO LONGER COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.ALSO MY INTERIOR LIGHTS ON DASH,CONSOLE AND INSIDE ON THE HEADER NO LONGER WORK. HAVE CHECKED ALL FUSES AND CAN FIND NOTHING UNUSUAL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10423101September 2, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CRANKSHAFT BOLT WAS REPLACED AFTER RECALL IN 2007. CRANKSHAFT SENSOR WAS REPLACED IN APRIL 2011 AFTER MALFUNCTIONING AND CAUSING CAR TO STALL OUT AT ANYTIME, INCLUDING WHILE DOING 65 ON THE FREEWAY. WHILE DRIVING A FEW DAYS BACK, SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKE AND BATTERY LIGHTS CAME ON. HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP WHERE WE WERE TOLD THAT THE BOLT, WHICH HAD BEEN REPLACED PER THE RECALL, HAD BROKEN, BUT THE WARRANTY ON THE REPLACED BOLT IS ONLY 1 YEAR. NOW REPAIR ON THIS WILL COST OVER $300 AND NEW BOLT WILL STILL ONLY BE WARRANTIED FOR ONE YEAR. SO THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS FAULTY PART COULD CONTINUE, BUT THE PART IS ONLY UNDER WARRANTY FOR ONE YEAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10422885September 1, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
HARMONIC BALANCER BOLT BROKE CAUSING FAILURE OF ALL BELT DRIVEN COMPONENTS. LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS BEING THE WORST OF WHICH. IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT FOR A SMALL FRAMED OLDER WOMAN TO CONTROL WHILE PULLING OVER. HARMONIC BALANCER FELL FROM VEHICLE REPRESENTING SUBSTANTIAL RISK TO OTHER VEHICLES ON ROADWAY. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO DEALERSHIP FOR PREVIOUS REPAIRS BUT THEY NEGLECTED TO ADHERE TO THE MANUFACTURERS TSB AND REPLACE THE BOLT. I HAVE SINCE FOUND THAT MANY MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE SPANNING MANY MODEL YEARS. I DON'T BELIEVE THE DEFECT TO BE IN THE BOLT BUT RATHER IN THE DESIGN OF THE HARMONIC BALANCER, THE CRANK SHAFT AND THE MATING OF THE TWO. WHEN THIS FAILURE OCCURS THE VEHICLE BECOMES INOPERABLE AND LEAVES IT OCCUPANTS STRANDED. LOSS OF POWER ASSISTED CONTROL AND THE HIGH PROBABILITY OF A LARGE AND HEAVY PIECE OF STEEL BEING DROPPED IN THE MIDST OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC REPRESENT A SUBSTANTIAL RISK TO THE PUBLIC. THIS ISSUE HAS NOT BEEN PROPERLY ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER AS NO NOTICE THAT THIS BOLT SHOULD BE REPLACED HAS BEEN GIVEN TO CONSUMERS. KIA MOTORS IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND SENT A TSB TO DEALERS DIRECTING THEM TO CHANGE THE BOLT IN QUESTION UPON THE VEHICLES NEXT DEALER SERVICE. HOWEVER THIS PRACTICE IS NOT PROPERLY ADHERED TO AND WITH THE CUSTOMER BEING UNAWARE OF ANY POSSIBLE PROBLEM IT BECOMES EASILY OVERLOOKED. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE MORE FREQUENT FAILURES AFTER THE BOLT HAS BEEN REPLACED. AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE TOWED TO KIA I WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AND THAT KIA WOULD NOT COVER THIS UNDER IT'S POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10422390August 29, 2011
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE
I WAS STARTING OFF FROM STOP SIGN AND FELT AND HEARD A LOUD THUD FROM THE ENGINE AREA. IMMEDIATELY THE 2012 SORENTO LOST POWER AND WOULD NOT SHIFT. IT WOULD CONTINUE TO MOVE AT ABOUT 5 MPH. THE ENGINE DID NOT STOP. I STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND RESTARTED BUT WITH THE SAME SYMPTOMS. BEING VERY CLOSE TO THE DEALER, I TOOK IT IN. THE SALES DEPT HAS AGREED TO FIND ANOTHER VEHICLE AND REPLACE THIS ONE. I'M NOT SO SURE... *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10422302August 28, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2011 KIA SORENTO FROM KIA. I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY FAMILY AND SUDDENLY I FELT LIKE I HIT A BRICK WALL AND A MY SORENTO RPM GUAGE JUMPED TO 6000 RPM. I PULLED OVER AND LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD FOR ANY VISUAL DAMAGE WHICH I COULD NOT FIND, I THEN PROCEEDED TO PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE AND I NOTICED THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT FROM 1ST GEAR. AGAIN I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY I YEAR OLD. I CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANT FOR THE 1ST TIME IN MY LIFE AFTER OWNING OVER 20 NEW CARS. MY CAR WAS TOWED AND MY FAMILY WAS STUCK OUT OF TOWN WITH NO VEHICLE FOR TWO DAYS. THE DEALER LOOKED AT MY CAR AND SAID THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. OF COURSE NOT! I CALL KIA CORP AND THE JUST TOOK MY NAME AND PROVIDED ME WITH A CASE #. WHAT ABOUT BEING STRAINDED WITHOUT A CAR FOR 2 DAY AND LUCKLY I HAD FAMILY NEAR BY FOR A PLACE TO STAY. I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE DEALERSHIP INFORMING ME THAT KIA HAD ISSUED A TRANSMISSION SOFTWARE UPGRADE, SO AFTER THE UPDATE MY CAR WAS DRIVING LIKE NEW AGAIN. THAT'S WHEN I NOTICED ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER ON MY WAY TO WORK I FELT THAT SAME FEELING LIKE HITTING A BRICK WALL. THE DEALER STILL HAS NOT ADDRESSED THE CONCERN AND THEIR ONLY SOLUTION IS A SOFTWARE UPDATE. THIS WILL BE MY SECOND KIA THAT I HAVE OWNED AND THE LAST!!!! 6YR 100,000WARRANTY IS NOT WORTH THE DRAMA. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10423309August 28, 2011
AIR BAGS
WHILE APPROACHING TO AN INTERSECTION THE KIA CRASH THE FRONT LEFT SIDE TO THE BACK OF A LAND ROVER, AND DESPITE THE BIG IMPACT AND DAMAGES THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T OPENED ENDANGERED THE LIFE OF MY DAUGHTER. I HAVE PHOTOS OF THE BIG IMPACT AS OF THE FACT THAT THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T OPENED.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10421492August 25, 2011
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I AM WRITING THIS COMPLAINT AGAINST KIA MOTORS WHO WILLINGLY KNOWS OF ISSUES WITH ITS FUEL SYSTEMS IN ALL 2004 KIA SORENTOS. EVEN LOOKING ONLINE YOU SEE THOUSANDS OF KIA OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THE SENSOR GO OUT ON THIS MODEL CAR AFTER THE CARS 100000 WARRANTY, AND THEN KIA CLAIMS IT IS PAST THE WARRANTY THEY HAVE AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. THIS CAUSES THE GAS TO ALWAYS READ INCORRECTLY EVEN WITH A FULL TANK THE CAR READS "E" AND CONTINUOUSLY EVERY DAY HAVE TO PLACE MORE GAS IN CAR FOR FEAR THAT THE "E" MAY COME ON AND LIKE SEVERAL DAYS AGO I WAS LEFT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FROM THIS. WHEN YOU REACH OUT TO KIA THEY OFFER NO HELP STATING THERE ARE NO DOCUMENTED CASES AND WHEN YOU TELL THEM TO LOOK ONLINE, THEY CLAIM THOSE COULD JUST BE ANGRY CUSTOMERS PLACING FALSE INFORMATION. THEN THEY WANT TO HANG BEHIND THE "AS IS" CLAUSE STATING THAT I SHOULD HAVE HAD A MECHANIC CHECK THE CAR OUT, WHICH UNLESS THEY ARE A KIA DEALER AND ARE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE WHICH DID NOT SHOW UP TO SEVERAL DAYS LATER AFTER THE CAR WAS PURCHASED. THIS IS KNOWN DEFECT IN MANUFACTURING AS EVIDENCED ONLINE AND FEEL THAT SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE TO MAKE KIA FIX THESE PROBLEMS WITHOUT CUSTOMERS HAVING TO FORK OVER MORE AND MORE MONEY OVER SOMETHING KIA ITSELF IS RESPONSIBLE FOR AND WILL NOT RECTIFY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10420967August 22, 2011
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 5 MPH AND ATTEMPTING A TURN WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED AND WOULD NOT RESPOND TO THE DIRECTION IT WAS TURNED. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD ONLY SPIN IN A CIRCLE DURING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN REVERSE AND ALLOWED TO DRIFT INTO THE PREFERRED PARKING SPACE. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THAT THE U JOINT WAS LOOSE ON THE STEERING SHAFT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 93,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10421020August 22, 2011
STEERING
2011 KIA SORENTO SX STEERING CONSTANTLY WANDERS YOU THE RIGHT, NO REPAIR. WANDERS OFF ROAD IF I DON'T CATCH IT WANDERING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10421063August 22, 2011
EQUIPMENT
I HAVE A 2003 KIA SORENTO..CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT BROKE, STEERING WENT OUT, BELTS AND BOLT FELL OFF AND AIR STOPPED WORKING. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME IN THE PAST 6 MONTHS. THE RESULT OF THIS PROBLEMS CAUSED ME TO BUY A NEW SENOR THAT WAS $400. AFTER LOOKING ON THE INTERNET, IT SEEMS AS THOUGH HUNDREDS AND MAYBE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THIS AND IT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. I WAS ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY WHEN MY STEERING WENT OUT AND I COULD BARELY TURN THE CAR BECAUSE THE STEERING HAD LOCKED. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND COULD POTENTIALLY INJURE SOMEONE OR OTHERS AROUND THEM..PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS CASE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10420851August 21, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
JUST NORMAL DRIVING THE RESERVE RADIATOR TANK SPLIT AT THE SEEM. THE CAR HAS 60,000 MILES ON IT. IT LEAKED ALL OVER IN MY GARAGE AND MY TWO PUPPIES ALMOST LICKED UP THE COOLANT FROM THE FLOOR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10420887August 21, 2011
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
2008 KIA SORENTO TPS PROBLEM CAUSING MY VEHICLE TO HAVE NO ACCELERATION VERY DANGEROUS WHILE DRIVING ESC AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON WHEN PROBLEM OCCURS. TOOK TO LOCAL AUTO ZONE TO SEE WHY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THERE CODE READER SAID I HAD 3 DIFFERENT CODES WRONG WITH THE CAR WHICH ALL WERE RELATED TO THE TPS SENSOR. THIS NEEDS TO BE A SAFETY RECALL ASAP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10420727August 19, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
BRAKE LIGHTS BURN OUT PREMATURE AND BOTH AUX. POWER OUTLETS BLOW OUT FUSE WHEN PLUGGING IN XM RADIO. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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