Kia Sorento Complaints (2011)

1,520 consumer complaints on file.

#10779462October 3, 2015
POWER TRAIN
WE PURCHASED A USED 2011 KIA SORENTO FROM AN INDIVIDUAL. THE VEHICLE HAD ROUGHLY 19,000 MILES. THE CAR WAS FINE UNTIL APPROXIMATELY 35,000 MILES. WHILE LEAVING FROM A STATIONARY POSITION, ON THE INTERSTATE OR JUST MAIN ROADS, THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING, LURCHING, AND AT TIMES WOULD NOT ENGAGE. WE TOOK THE CAR TO OUR LOACAL KIA DEALER AND WERE TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. AT ROUGHLY 45,000 WE AGAIN TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND GOT THE SAME RESPONSE. AT 58,000 THE CAR WOULD HARDLY DRIVE SO WE TOOK IT BACK IN. THE DEALER TOLD US THAT THE COMPUTER WASN'T GIVING THEM ANY CODES BUT COULD TELL THERE WAS A PROBLEM. AFTER GOING BACK AND FORTH, KIA REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. NOW AT 78,000 MILES, WE'RE HAVING A O TAKE IT IN FOR TRANSMISSION ISSUES AND THE CAR IS MAKING TERRIBLE NOISES. WE TOOK IT OUT O THE DEALER AND WERE TOLD AT FIRST THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. LATER IN THE AFTERNOON THEY CAME BACK AND SAID OUR INTERMEDIATE DRIVE SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. COST $598. AFTER SOME RESEARCH, I SAW YOU THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY MODEL YEAR CARS, BUT MY VIN NUMBER DID NOT FALL INTO THE RECALL. HOW CAN THEY TELL ME THAT THESE ISSUES HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE RECALL FOR THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT!?!? THESE FAILURES FIT THE RECALL DETAILS EXACTLY. WHY WEREN'T THE BAD SHAFTS CAUGHT AND REPLACED WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED? I ASKED THE DEALER ABOUT THE RECALL AND WAS TOLD MY VIN DID NOT FIT THE RECALL. I CALLED KIA AND WAS TOLD THAT MY VIN HAS NO OPEN RECALLS. BASICALLY AGAIN MY "VIN" WAS NOT IN THE RECALL. ALL THE EXACT SAME ISSUES, BUT THE PROBLEMS HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE ORIGINAL 2011 RECALL. KIA/HYUNDAI ARE THE ONLY CAR MANUFACTURERS THAT DO NOT TRANSFER THEIR 100,000 MILE 10 YEAR POWER TRAIN WARRANTY TO A 2ND OWNER UNLESS IT'S PURCHASED THROUGH A DEALERSHIP. IT'S FRUSTRATING THAT A LARGE CAR MANUFACTURER WILL NOT JUST DO THE RIGHT THING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10766555September 21, 2015
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. UPON SWITCHING GEARS FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE, THERE WAS HESITATION FROM THE DRIVESHAFT BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD MOVE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,430.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10766220September 20, 2015
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS KEEP BURNING OUT.IT IN STARTED AUG OF 2014. FRIST ONE HEADLIGHT THAN A MONTH LATER THE OTHER SIDE WOULD GO OUT. CHANGING THE BULB SEAMED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THEN THE LEFT HEADLIGHT WOULD TURN OFF AND THAN BACK ON WHILE DRIVING. THEN LEFT LIGHT QUIT WORKING ALL TOGETHER SIX MONTHS AGO. RIGHT SIDE BULB BURNS OUT EVERY TWO MONTH. TODAY NO LIGHTS AND WHEN I WENT TO CHANGE THE BULB ON THE RIGHT SIDE, THE PIGTAIL/ LIGHT SOCKET WAS HALF MELTED. THIS SEAMS TO BE A ON GOING PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. THERE IS FIVE OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THE SAFERCAR.GOV SITE ABOUT THIS. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND FIXED BEFORE SOMEONE LOSES THIER LIGHT AT NIGHT AND ARE HURT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10763578September 14, 2015
SEATS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE SEAT ADJUSTER WAS STUCK PAST THE UPRIGHT POSITION AND FAILED TO ADJUST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10762800September 10, 2015
WHEELS, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
VIBRATION, KNOCKING AND THUMBING NOISE IN THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE AND BOTH FRONT WHEELS. DEALER VERIFIED THUMBING NOISE AS LEFT LOWER BALL JOINT WAS LOOSE,REPLACED BOTH BALL JOINT. VIBRATION, KNOCKING AND THUMBING NOISE CONTINUES. RETURNED TO DEALER. DEALER REPLACED REAR MOTOR MOUNT. PROBLEMS STILL REMAINS. I PHONED DEALER, STATING VIBRATION, KNOCKING AND THUMBING STILL REMAINS INCLUDING ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS. IN ADDITION TO THE VIBRATION, KNOCKING AND THUMBING NOISES... INSIDE THE CAR, UNDERNEATH DASHBOARD (GLOVE COMPARTMENT) CAUSING HUGE AMOUNT OF WATER ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE FLOOR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10762687September 9, 2015
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHROME ON THE DOOR HANDLE WAS PEELING AND CAUSED A PASSENGER TO SUSTAIN CUTS TO THE HAND WHEN ATTEMPTING TO OPEN THE DOOR. IT WAS UNKNOWN WHICH DOOR HANDLE EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,200. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEFECTIVE DOOR HANDLE, WAS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR PASSENGER DOOR. UPDATED 11/05/15.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10762041September 8, 2015
AIR BAGS
I TURNED ON MY CAR AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERS A WEEK LATER AND WAS TOLD THE CLOCK SPRING IN THE STEERING WHEEL HAS A SHORTAGE AND IT WILL COST APPROX. $450 TO HAVE IT REPLACED. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THIS SERVICE IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10762334September 8, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING FAILED AND CAUSED THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,800.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10761244September 3, 2015
SEATS
THE PASSENGER SIDE RETRACTABLE REAR SEAT BECAME MORE DIFFICULT TO OPERATE SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE NEW. FINALLY IT BECAME STUCK TO THE EXTENT THAT IT COULD NOT BE MOVED IN EITHER DIRECTION. THIS OCCURRED ONE MONTH AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10760921September 2, 2015
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THIS ISSUE IS ONGOING AND LOOKING AT THE REPORTS ON THIS SITE, NEEDS IMMEDIATE RECALL CONSIDERING THE DEALERSHIPS WANTS TO CHARGE OVER 500.00 TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. I HAVE HAD MY PASSENGER LOW BEAM BULB REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES BY THE DEALERSHIP. THE WIRE CONNECTION IS OVER HEATING. NOW THE PASSENGER SIDE IS OUT. I CAN NOT AFFORD THESE 1000.00 ISSUE THAT APPARENTLY IS WIDE SPREAD. KIA NEEDS TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND RECALL THIS ASAP. I AM ONLY DRIVING DURING THE DAY. IMMEDIATE ATTENTION IS NEEDED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10760670September 1, 2015
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL THE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLES FAILED TO OPEN THE VEHICLE FROM THE OUTSIDE. VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS AT THE TIME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10760867September 1, 2015
AIR BAGS
MY AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AND ACCORDING TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP THERE IS A MALFUNCTION THAT NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED. THEY TOLD ME THAT MY CAR WENT OUR OF WARRANTY IN EARLY JUNE 2015 AND THAT I HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR(APPROX $500.00). THIS STRIKES ME AS WRONG SINCE THERE HAS NEVER BEEN AN ACCIDENT WITH MY VEHICLE AND THUS THE AIRBAG HAS NEVER DEPLOYED. HOW CAN THEY CLAIM THAT MY AIRBAG IS BROKEN SINCE IT HAS NEVER BEEN USED/ACTIVATED? HOW CAN IT NOT BE THE MANUFACTURER"S/DEALER RESPONSIBILITY TO CORRECT THE DEFECT. COULD YOU PLEASE HELP ME WITH THIS SITUATION. CONSUMER EMAIL UPDATE ON SEPT 3, 2015: "THEY HAVE GIVEN US THE INFO TODAY REGARDING WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE AIRBAG: IT NEEDS A CLOCK-SPRING FOR THE AIRBAG THAT IS LOCATED SOMEWHERE IN THE STEERING COLUMN. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY HORN OR CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONS, BUT THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON ALL THE TIME." UPDATED 9/15/15*CW......UPDATED 12/10/15 *BF THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE CLOCK SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 12/17/15. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10759704August 27, 2015
AIR BAGS
UPON STARTING VEHICLE THE AIRBAG LIGHT STAYED ILLUMINATED. TAKEN TO MECHANIC THAT STATES IT'S A MALFUNCTION IN THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. I'VE NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT OR DEPLOYED THE AIRBAGS. IT IS SCARY TO KNOW THAT IF I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT I WOULDN'T HAVE THE SAFETY OF AIRBAGS DESIGNED TO SAVE LIVES. I'VE TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY WANT 2000 TO FIX. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER A RECALL. I HAVE DONE A LOT OF RESEARCH AND IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM AFFECTING MANY SORENTO OWNERS. PLEASE INVESTIGATE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10759273August 25, 2015
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. THERE IS NO DAMAGE TO THE HANDLE, AND THERE WAS NO INCIDENT TO CAUSE IT TO BREAK AND NOT OPEN. APPARENTLY THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR (INSIDE THE DOOR COMPARTMENT) IS BROKEN. SOUNDS LIKE A COMMON COMPLAINT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10749622August 18, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT THE HEADLIGHTS WILL GO OFF THEN COME BACK ON AFTER BEING OFF FOR APPROX 2 SECONDS. IT ALSO OCCURS SOMETIMES WHEN CHANGING LANES AND USING THE TURN SIGNALS. I FEEL THAT IT MAY BE A DEFECT IN THE TURN SIGNAL HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY SWITCH ON THE STEERING COLUMN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10747488August 10, 2015
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER FRONT AND PASSENGER FRONT SIDE DOORS FAILED TO OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE LATCH ASSEMBLY KIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10746743August 6, 2015
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, MAKING A LEFT TURNED AND DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, A RIDDLING NOISE EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO GO FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,700. MA 10/2 *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10745237July 31, 2015
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING 60-70 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO SWITCH LANES DUE TO CONSTRUCTION ON THE HIGHWAY AND CRASHED INTO THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED FRACTURES ON HER RIBS, NOSE, CERVIX, AND PELVIC BONE. THE REAR PASSENGER SUSTAINED RIGHT OPTICAL BONE AND SINUS BONE FRACTURES. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A RIGHT LEG INJURY, HIP FRACTURE, AND SPINAL INJURIES. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED FOR THE CONTACT AND THE TWO PASSENGERS. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 79,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
3
Deaths:
0
#10744950July 30, 2015
POWER TRAIN
MY 2011 SORENTO LOST ALL POWER AFTER A HIGH PITCHED WHIRLING NOISE WHILE DRIVING ON A 55 MPH HIGHWAY. WE HAD IT TOWED AND LEARNED THE TRANSMISSION WAS GONE. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN APART, THE INTERMEDIATE DRIVE SHAFT WAS EXCESSIVELY WORN, WARPED AND OBVIOUSLY IN NEED OF REPAIR. QUICK RESEARCH ON YOUR SITE AND KIA'S SITE SHOWED THE RECALL CONCERNING RIGHT SIDED DRIVE SHAFT LEADING TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE IF NOT TAKEN CARE OF AND THE MADE ON DATES WHICH INCLUDED MY CAR'S DATE (MARCH 16, 2010). MY CALLS TO KIA MOTORS, MY LOCAL DEALER, AND THE SERVICE MANAGER ONLY UNCOVERED THAT MY WARRANTY WAS NO LONGER VALID. I HAVE EXPLAINED TO EVERYONE I AM WELL AWARE OF THIS BUT WOULD LIKE AN EXPLANATION AS TO WHY MY VEHICLE WITH A MARCH 16, 2010, BORN ON DATE, WITH EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE DRIVE SHAFT THAT LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING ON A 55 MPH HIGHWAY JUST AS THE RECALL STATES (ALMOST TO A T) WAS NOT COVERED. NO ONE AND I MEAN ABSOLUTELY NO ONE CAN EXPLAIN TO ME WHY IT IS NOT COVERED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10744790July 29, 2015
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT ON PASSENGER SIDE WENT OUT. REPAIRED. ONE MONTH LATER DRIVER SIDE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT WENT OUT. REPAIRED. TWO WEEKS LATER PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM LIGHT WENT OUT. THIS TIME I EXAMINED THE LIGHT, REINSTALLED SAME LIGHT, AND IT WORKED. SHORTLY AFTER THESE INCIDENTS I STOPPED DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR THE SUMMER, BUT IT IS CLEAR THAT A PROBLEM EXISTS. I DOUBT THAT THE FIRST TWO BULBS WERE ACTUALLY BURNED OUT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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