Kia Sorento Complaints

10,397 consumer complaints on file.

#11608377August 13, 2024
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
My 2017 Sorento has been having issues with the headlights for the past 6 months. I keep them on auto mode and half of the time they don't turn on until I click them to "on" and switch them back to auto. There have also been a handful of times where my headlights turn off while driving. This is absolutely unacceptable and extremely unsafe. This needs to become a recall before someone is seriously injured, or dies.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11608162August 13, 2024
SEATS, STEERING, SUSPENSION
My front driver seat slips out of recline position to another position on its own Had engine replaced, got car back, made humming noise, took back to dealer, could not find noise, car still makes noise and now there’s seems to be louder noise coming from steering or front suspension while car is driven, dealer claims with no extension of warranty and over 60,000 miles, any work for this issue with steering/suspension is not covered, this was not an issue before engine was replaced under the engine recall
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11608191August 13, 2024
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
TRUNK OPEN SIGNAL NOT TURNING OFF AND TRUNK WON’T CLOSE. DEALER SAID ITS THE TRUNK LATCH THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11607808August 11, 2024
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I own a 2016 Sorento SXL AWD and this issue just started. I work evening shift and get off at 11pm. I always have the lights set to "auto", while driving home on a rural road at night and the headlights switch off on their own. I have to manually switch the lights off and back to auto for them to come back on. Potentially dangerous situation and Kia should issue a recall. Can find any recall but have done research and find it is an on going issue seems be be a multi function switch.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11607486August 9, 2024
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Oil leak was diagnosed as bad oil pressure switch that is under extended warranty for certain Kia Sorento models with GDI system, but not my car.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11607587August 9, 2024
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Car turned off when making a full and complete stop. Would burn oil faster than usual. Car does not stay on.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11607363August 8, 2024
ENGINE
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that after the vehicle was started, the check engine warning light illuminated, with an abnormal sound coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced due to a lack of engine oil. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact stated that the previous oil change was approximately three weeks before the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 117,990.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11607391August 8, 2024
SERVICE BRAKES
To Whom It May Concern, I hope this message reaches someone who values the sanctity of human life. Today, while driving home, my husband experienced a terrifying incident: the brakes on our car completely failed. Thanks to my husband’s quick thinking and driving skills, he narrowly avoided a potentially catastrophic accident. We immediately took the car to a local mechanic, who informed us that the issue was due to a BRAKE BOOSTER failure. This was the first time we had ever heard of such a part, and the mechanic explained that it was highly unusual for this component to fail, indicating that it may be defective. Although this car is a 2018, it only has 50K miles on it. My husband is retired, and I work from home, so this is very unusual. Upon further research, I discovered that the Kia Sportage had a recall for this very issue. Additionally, I found numerous complaints dating back to 2005 concerning the sudden loss of brakes in Kia Sorentos, specifically due to defective brake boosters. It is deeply concerning that this issue was not addressed with a recall for Sorentos as well. This defect poses a serious risk to drivers, and I fear it’s only a matter of time before someone loses their life because of it. We contacted Kia’s Customer Service to report the issue and expressed our concern that lives are at stake due to this defect. However, instead of addressing our concerns, we were told the part wasn’t covered under warranty, and two customer service agents even hung up on us when we persisted. This is a grave and dangerous defect that demands immediate attention. Numerous complaints about this issue exist, and it’s clear that the brake booster in Kia Sorentos needs to be recalled before it causes a tragedy. Please take this matter seriously and help ensure that this issue is addressed to prevent any further risks to drivers. Thank you, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11607414August 8, 2024
STRUCTURE:BODY
Body paint has started peeling. Local Kia dealership acknowledged frequency of defect however corporate denied claim due to being outside of original warranty. Advised to pay for new paint with possibility of reimbursement.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11606942August 7, 2024
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
My left headlamp always goes off. The lights go off all the time. I changed the bulb but its Not it. It the faulty light cable connections. I replace higher lights 12000k and the left light cable never stays on. Cause the left light cable is crap and never probably done. So i bought a lemon new off the lot
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11606961August 7, 2024
SERVICE BRAKES
The contact owns a 2019 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started, the ABS and the stabili-trak warning lights were illuminated but eventually turned off. The contact stated that the warning lights illuminated intermittently but had gradually illuminated more frequently. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the driver's side rear wheel ABS sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 13,040.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11606749August 6, 2024
SERVICE BRAKES, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
See attached document for complaint
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11606796August 6, 2024
POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started, the vehicle failed to shift into an intended gear, and was stuck in park(P). The contact placed a screwdriver in the shifter to manually shift into the intended gear to drive the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 81,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11606914August 6, 2024
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The component failure appears to be a latent defect in the painting process. The color is Snow White Pearl. It is bubbling up and delaminating in two places. It was first noticed at about 6 months and about 6000 miles after purchase. The dealer was contacted, and they said they had never heard of any paint problems on my type of vehicle. This was unbelievable because of the numerous complaints i have read about. They offered no other information other than to contact KIA customer-care, which I did. KIA customer care said there is nothing they can do because it is out of warranty, but they will report the issue to KIA corporate. Lots of Complaints on the internet, and a class action suit in CA. The case is US District Court for the Central District of California Case number 8:16-CV-00593-BRO-PJW. Hopeful that you will hold KIA accountable.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11606393August 5, 2024
ENGINE
Cylinder #1 exhaust valve burnt
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11606402August 5, 2024
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I keep having problems with the brake lights and all of the back lights, have fixed or replaced them 7 to 8 times in the last 2 years, and my passenger door will not lock, know another person that has a Kia that has the same problem
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11606481August 5, 2024
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
The contact owns a 2017 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH at night, the headlights briefly became inoperable. After several attempts at turning the switch off and on, the vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 96,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11606325August 4, 2024
ENGINE
We were driving on the highway and the engine started to shudder and the check engine light came on. We pulled off and had the car towed to a Kia dealership. Their report indicated that cylinder #3 had a burnt valve caused by excessive heat and there was scoring on the cylinder wall. They deemed it a total engine failure and quoted us a new engine for $9800!!!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11606328August 4, 2024
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Driving 70mph, driving lights completely shut off. I was going straight with a car in the distance nobody behind. If my wife and kids were driving that would have been scary.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11606357August 4, 2024
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The headlight setting randomly changes from “Auto” to “Off” without any operator input. This happens roughly every fourth drive.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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