Kia Sorento Complaints (2006)
242 consumer complaints on file.
- #10436703November 22, 2011AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE CONTACT NOTICED THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE AIR BAG SENSOR ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT HAD TO BE REPLACED. NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V473000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE) MAY BE RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE RECALL ONLY INCLUDED 2007 AND 2008 KIA SORENTOS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10436555November 21, 2011ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH WHEN THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE WARNING INDICATORS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO A DEFECTIVE CRANK SHAFT PULLEY BOLT AND THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,300.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10436583November 21, 2011ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL THE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AS THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS ADVISED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT WAS STRIPPED AND CAUSED THE POWER STEERING BELT TO SPIN ABNORMALLY. THE DEALER ALSO ADVISED THAT THE BOLT COULD NOT BE REPLACED AND THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NEED A REPLACEMENT ENGINE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,300.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10435357November 12, 2011ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, POWER TRAIN, STEERING
DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY 230 MILES FROM HOME, 150 MILES FROM MY DESTINATION BRAKE LIGHT AND BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON. PULLED OFF ROAD LOSS OF STEERING POWER. OPENED HOOD AND FOUND BELTS OFF. TOWED TO NEAREST TOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE AND MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE CRANKSHAFT (HARMONIC BALANCER) BOLT HAD SHEERED OFF AND BROKEN PIECE STILL IN CRANKSHAFT. TOWED TO NEAREST KIA DEALERSHIP 150 MILES AWAY AND WAS TOLD POSSIBLE CRANKSHAFT/ENGINE DAMAGE. COULD NOT DO FURTHER DIAGNOSIS DUE TO WEEKEND (SATURDAY) AND WILL NEED TO STAY IN TOWN UNTIL CAR IS REPAIRED (NO OTHER TRANSPORTATION). NO LOANER CAR OFFERED. THIS IS A DANGEROUS COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH KIA SORENTO OWNERS THAT THE COMPANY SEEMS TO KNOW ABOUT BUT DOES NOT WANT TO ADDRESS OR COVER COST OF REPAIRS. RECALL ON BOLT FOR 2003 MODELS DOES NOT COVER LATER MODELS BUT DANGEROUS SITUATION STILL EXISTS WITH THOSE LATER MODELS. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR AFTER IT IS REPAIRED KNOWING THAT OTHER OWNERS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM REOCCUR AND LOSS OF POWER STEERING AT HIGHWAY SPEED IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10434133November 3, 2011ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY 2006 KIA SORENTO HAS 96000 MILES ON IT AND IT SEEMS THAT THE HEAD LIGHT OR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAS A SHORT IN IT. THE HEAD LIGHT WILL GO OFF BUT YOU IF YOU TAP THE HEAD LIGHT ASSEMBLY IT WILL COME BACK ON AS IF THERE IS A SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. ALSO, THE DOME LIGHT WILL COME ON IF YOU TURN IT TO THE ON POSITION BUT IF YOU PUT IT ON THE DOOR POSITION IT DOES NOT COME ON WHEN THE DOOR IS OPEN. AGAIN THAT WOULD BE A FAILURE IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE KIA WILL NOT START AFTER REPLACING A HEADLIGHT BULB. I KNOW THAT SOUNDS LIKE THEY ARE NOT RELATED BUT THE HEAD LIGHT WENT OUT SO I REPLACED IT AND THEN I WOULDN'T START RIGHT AFTER CHANGING THE LIGHT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10428363October 3, 2011ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CRANKSHAFT HARMONIC BALANCE BOLT KEEPS BREAKING. BEEN REPLACED 2 TIMES NOW. SAW ON SOME OTHER WEBSITES WHERE OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. SOME OF THEM ARE GETTING LAWYERS BECAUSE KIA IS REFUSING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. MY WARRANTY RAN OUT SO THEY WON'T FIX . ALL OF MY REPAIRS HAVE BEEN AT MY OWN EXPENSE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10427834September 29, 2011ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
UNDER NORMAL OPERATION AT HIGHWAY SPEED, THE CRANKSHAFT BOLT BROKE AND ALLOWED THE HARMONIC BALANCER/CRANKSHAFT PULLEY ASSEMBLY TO COME FREE OF THE CRANKSHAFT. THIS RESULTED IN A BROKEN CRANKSHAFT SPROCKET, CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR AND TIMING BELT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTEE BECAUSE IT IS NOT CONSIDERED PART OF KIA'S DRIVETRAIN BECAUSE IT IS NOT A LUBRICATED PART. THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF SERVICE FOR 14 DAYS. ON SEPTEMBER 22, 2011 THE SAME BOLT CAME LOOSE AND SNAPPED THE SPRING PIN ALIGNING THE BALANCER WITH THE CRANKSHAFT SPROCKET. THIS RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND CHARGING SYSTEM WHILE MY WIFE AND DAUGHTERS WERE TRAVELING IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UP TO SPEED YET SO THE DAMAGE WAS MINIMAL. THE BOLT HAD TO BE REMOVED AS WELL AS THE BALANCER. THE SPRING PIN HAD TO BE DRILLED OUT OF THE CRANK SPROCKET AND REPLACED.THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF SERVICE FOR 7 DAYS. *TT
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10425987September 19, 2011STEERING, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WAS TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY 65MPH TRIED TO CHANGE LANES BUT THE STEERING HAD GONE OUT, HAD TO TURN STEERING WHEEL VERY HARD TO GET IT TO TURN, ONCE I PULLED OVER AND LOOKED BENEATH HOOD THE BELTS WERE NO LONGER TURNING AND COULD SEE WHAT LOOK LIKE A PULLEY LAYING AT BOTTOM OF ENGINE. MATT CASTRUCCI KIA IN DAYTON, OHIO STATED THAT MY BOLT HAD BROKEN OFF AND CAUSED MY PULLEY TO BREAK. HAVE READ A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS HAPPENING ON KIA'S SORENTO, ENOUGH THAT A INVESTIGATION SHOULD HAVE TAKEN PLACE BY NOW. WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN BEFORE THIS IS INVESTIGATED. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE FIRST? *KB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10424660September 11, 2011EXTERIOR 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
- #10423771September 5, 2011ELECTRICAL 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
- #10420727August 19, 2011ELECTRICAL 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
- #10419896August 17, 2011EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE HEAD AND TAIL LIGHTS HAVE TO BE REPLACED ON A REGULAR BASIS. I HAVE REPLACED ALL 4 LIGHTS AT LEAST 6 - 10 TIMES EACH, SINCE BUYING THE 2006 SORENTO BRAND NEW. AND IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING FROM NUMEROUS OTHERS THAT THIS IS A NORM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL CAR. YOU CAN REPLACE ONE LIGHT AND IT WILL BE OKAY FOR AWHILE, BUT THEN ANOTHER ONE WILL GO OUT, I HAVE ASKED THE MECHANIC IF THIS IS NORMAL, SEEING I HAVE NOT REPLACED THE LIGHTS IN MY 1996 CHEVY A FRACTION OF THE TIMES I HAVE THE SORENTO. THE REPLAY WAS, NO THIS IS NOT NORMAL THAT THEIR MUST BE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM SOMEWHERE IN THE SYSTEM. I ALSO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL FEATURE. IT WILL NOT RESUME, OR ACCELERATE. THE OTHER TWO BUTTONS WORK AS DESIGNED. *KB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10419574August 15, 2011ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
AFTER HEARING A LOUD SCREECHING NOISE FROM MY ENGINE I CALLED THE DEALER & TOLD THEM I WAS COMING IN, MY CAR STALLED ON THE WAY IN. THE DEALER SAID MY CRANK SHAFT PULLEY BOLT BROKE, CAUSING DAMAGE TO MY CRANK SHAFT SENSOR & MY TIMING BELT WHICH I HAD REPLACED A FEW MONTHS BACK. I AM JUST LEARNING THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND THAT KIA IS AWARE OF THIS DEFECTIVE BOLT AND REFUSES TO COVER THE DAMAGE CAUSED TO THE ENGINES WHEN IT BREAKS. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10418610August 11, 2011EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD FLICKER AND HE CONSTANTLY HAD TO REPLACE THE LIGHT BULBS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO DID NOT PROVIDE AN ACTUAL DIAGNOSIS AS TO WHAT WAS CAUSING THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO ONLY USE THE LIGHT BULBS SOLD BY THE MANUFACTURER, NOT AFTERMARKET PRODUCTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10418282August 9, 2011POWER TRAIN, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CRANKSHAFT BOLT SHEARED OFF IN MAY 2010 AT 63,000 MILES CAUSING $1200 IN DAMAGE AND TOWING. AFTER HAVING A KIA DEALER FIX THE ISSUE OUT OF MY POCKET BECAUSE I'M A "SECOND OWNER", THE ISSUE HAPPENED AGAIN IN JULY 2011 AT 101,000 MILES. THE DEALER AGAIN HAS TO REPAIR WITH SIMILAR COSTS OUT OF MY POCKET. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS THE BELT CONNECTING TO THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY IS ALSO ATTACHED TO THE ALTERNATOR WHICH, WHEN BROKE, CAUSES A LOSS OF ALL POWER, EVEN WHILE THE CAR IS AT FULL DRIVING SPEED. THIS IS ALSO AN EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE ISSUE WHICH AFTER SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS WITH KIA, THEY HAVE YET TO ACKNOWLEDGE IS A PROBLEM. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10418088August 8, 2011POWER TRAIN
THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT SHEARED OFF ON MY 2006 KIA SORENTO AT 70,000 MILES. THIS CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE THE HARMONIC BALANCER WHICH CAUSED MY BELT TO FALL OFF ITS TRACK. KIA HAS PREVIOUSLY ISSUED A RECALL ON OLDER MODELS FOR THIS EXACT SAME PART DUE TO A MANUFACTURE DEFECT. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE SINCE THIS HAS ALSO CAUSED THE STEERING TO LOCK AND DRIVERS CAN LOOSE CONTROL. THEIR ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS SIMILAR TO THIS ISSUE ON THE SAME YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL. I AM CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF COMPLAINING TO KIA & THE BBB REGARDING THE REPAIR SINCE THEY DON'T FEEL RESPONSIBLE. THE REPAIR WOULD CONSIST OF A NEW ENGINE ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO DETERMINE OR EXPLAIN THE CAUSE. IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT THIS DEFECT BE INVESTIGATED SINCE IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE FOR SEVERAL KIA MODELS AND YEARS. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10416947August 3, 2011VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 KIA SORENTO (N/A). WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED BACKWARDS ON ITS OWN. THE CONTACT PLACED THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF IN ORDER FOR IT TO STOP MOVING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10415545July 28, 2011ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE OWNED MY 2006 KIA SORENTO FOR 4 YEARS AND HAVE CONSTANTLY HAD TO REPLACE HEADLIGHTS. I WAS JUST AT THE DEALER LAST WEEK AND HAD TO HAVE A HEADLIGHT AND 2 OTHER EXTERIOR LIGHTS REPLACED. I HAVE MADE COMMENTS TO THE DEALER TO INQUIRE WHY THEY THINK THESE BULBS ARE CONSTANTLY BLOWING AND THEY DON'T SEEM TO CARE. THIS MORNING, MY INTERIOR MAP AND DOME LIGHTS CAME ON ALL BY THEMSELVES AND WOULD NOT TURN OFF, NO MATTER WHAT BUTTONS I PRESSED. THEY DID NOT GO OFF WHEN I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND LEFT. WHEN I RETURNED TO MY CAR, IT SMELLED LIKE MAGIC MARKERS WHICH QUICKLY TURNED INTO A BURNING ELECTRICAL SMELL AS I PROCEEDED TO EXIT A MULTI-LEVEL PARKING STRUCTURE. I WAS TERRIFIED BY THIS!!. I GOT OUT OF THAT GARAGE, GOT OUT OF THAT CAR, AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO WILL "LOOK AT IT TOMORROW". THIS INCIDENT HAS PROMPTED ME TO RESEARCH THE INTERNET FOR OTHER COMPLAINTS LIKE MINE, AND THERE ARE TONS FOR THIS MODEL YEAR. WILL YOU PLEASE DO SOMETHING??!! I DON'T WANT TO DRIVE THAT CAR ANYMORE - I HAVE LITTLE KIDS!! THIS IS NOT SAFE!!! WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE - A NUMBER UNDER "DEATHS"?! MY GUESS FROM THE OTHER CONSUMER COMMENTS I HAVE SEEN POSTED AND FROM MY OWN EXPERIENCE WITH THE KIA DEALER ON OTHER ISSUES WITH MY CAR IS THAT THEY WILL FIND NOTHING WRONG. PLEASE HELP!!!!! *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10411691July 10, 2011POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
IN APRIL 2010 THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT AND PIN SHEARED OFF. I LOST ALL POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING 70 ON THE HIGHWAY. TOWED IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET TO FIX THE PROBLEM. NOW IN JULY 2011 THE SAME THING HAD HAPPENED. THE PIN IS SHEARED ALLOWING THE PULLEY TO DROP THE BELT, RENDERING MY CAR INOPERABLE. KIA DEALERSHIP SAYS IT IS STILL NOT COVERED BY KIA AND WILL COST ME AGAIN TO FIX IT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10411561July 8, 2011SEATS
I HYDROPLANED AND SWERVED ACROSS THE STREET IN THE ONCOMING LANE AND SPUN OUT AND WENT UP A DITCH AND HIT A TREE. I WAS EJECTED FROM THE CAR (I WAS WEARING MY SEAT BELT) AND MY SEAT BACK BROKE AND I WAS EJECTED OUT OF THE CAR THROUGH THE PASSENGER'S BACK SEAT DOOR - I BROKE THE DOOR WITH MY BACK GOING THROUGH IT. I FRACTURED A VERTEBRAE IN MY BACK AND HAD EXTENSIVE BRUISES EVERYWHERE AND A HAIRLINE FRACTURE IN MY LEFT ARM. I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SO SEVERELY HURT HAD MY SEAT NOT BROKE AND I WAS EJECTED. THE SIDE PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED BUT NOT THE DRIVER'S SIDE. I WAS TOLD I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN HURT AS SEVERELY HAD I NOT BEEN EJECTED. I MISSED ALMOST 3 WEEKS OF WORK AND NOW WEAR A BACK BRACE AND AM IN CONSTANT PAIN. *TR
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0