Kia Sorento Complaints

654 consumer complaints on file.

#11718287February 16, 2026
ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
While driving the engine stops running and only runs on battery power. The only remedy that is partially successful is to stop and restart the vehicle. Problem often repeats itself and makes driving unsafe as the battery cannot fully power the engine. Upon restart the check engine light will be on and report this error: "Powertrain P112000 A possible condition with your Engine Control System has been detected. A full system check is recommended to be done when convenient. Please contact your local dealership to schedule an appointment." This is the 3rd time this has happened since December. Has been at dealership twice and they essentially just reset the error condition, only for it to happen again after a couple weeks of driving. Most recent occurrence was yesterday morning.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11718150February 15, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The car has completely shutdown and nothing works while parked and has not started until the next day. This has happened 3 times in 5 months.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11717804February 13, 2026
VISIBILITY/WIPER
Was merging onto the San Tan L202 Freeway from the SR24 On Ramp. While accelerating to up to roughly 65mph, what sounded like a gunshot went off and it became very loud in the cabin of my car. I then noticed glass flying around the outside of my car, so I immediately pulled over onto the shoulder to see what happened. When I got out and looked up I noticed that the sunroof had completely exploded out in the center and that the glass was facing upwards. My husband came to help me take the vehicle to Horne Kia Dealership and we left it with them that day. There was no any indication of anything hitting or striking the vehicle, anything falling down onto it, or any external factors that could have contributed to the sunroof exploding.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11717627February 12, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
My wife was slowly pulling into a parking spot at kohls and the car lunged like the gas pedal was pressed all the way down and hit parking pole in spot . I googled to see if this was an issue reports and found information on this not actual recall but reports on this issue . Kia has done nothing with this case
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11717619February 12, 2026
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
The contact owned a 2021 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the passenger’s side taillight became inoperable. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the wiring harness for the passenger’s side taillight had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer informed the contact that the failure was related to the tow hitch recall repair. The dealer also informed the contact that the vehicle could not be repaired because it had an aftermarket tow hitch part. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 111,178.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11717389February 11, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Vehicle purchased August 2022. July 13, 2023: Vehicle experienced sudden loss of acceleration while driving. The vehicle would not properly accelerate with traffic flow and another vehicle nearly struck me due to the unexpected loss of propulsion. Vehicle was towed to Kia dealership in Duluth, GA. I was told the issue was repaired and an electrical recall was completed. December 8, 2025: Acceleration failure reoccurred while driving. Vehicle drifted and would not accelerate. A vehicle behind me nearly collided with my car because I could not accelerate normally. After restarting the vehicle multiple times, I was able to reach home. December 11, 2025: Vehicle again failed to accelerate while stopped on an incline. The vehicle would not move forward properly and created a rollback hazard. A vehicle approached from behind and I was placed in a dangerous position due to inability to accelerate. Vehicle was towed by insurance. Dealership diagnostics reportedly cannot detect an issue. I have been instructed to operate the vehicle with a monitoring device installed to capture driving data. Repeated loss of acceleration and multiple near-collision events present a significant safety hazard and risk of serious accident. The issue remains unresolved.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11717191February 11, 2026
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2023 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH, the "Low Oil" message was displayed on the instrument panel. The contact immediately pulled over and called for assistance. A service technician arrived at the scene and added engine oil, and the vehicle was driven to an independent mechanic to be inspected. The vehicle was inspected, and the contact was informed that the bolts on the oil pan were loose, causing oil to leak from the engine. The bolts were tightened. The mechanic then informed the contact that certain Kia vehicles were under investigation for failures with the oil pan and that the vehicle was possibly affected. The contact stated that approximately 4 hours after the oil service, the "Low Oil" message returned. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to a dealer for inspection. The dealer was unaware of any investigations regarding the engine oil pan, and the vehicle remained with the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 62,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11716781February 9, 2026
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL, SUSPENSION
The contact owns a 2022 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70 MPH, the contact experienced the death wobble. There was no warning light illuminated. Additionally, the vehicle unexpectedly accelerated. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer informed the contact that the failure could not be duplicated. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 78,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11716773February 9, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
There is a safety recall concerning fire hazard during normal operation. Kia is refusing to buyback the inoperable vehicle
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11715949February 5, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Vehicle only has 5839 miles and this is the 2nd time the battery has been dead. First time was Dec 18th 2025. Vehicle purchased 7/5/25. 2nd time 2/5/26. First time the outside lights flickered for a long time before finally going off. 2nd time the outside lights didnt flicker and key fob wont even lock the car. We took the vehicle in for service after 1st dead battery instance and they told us we must've not closed a door or left a light on which drained the battery. Will be scheduling another service so they can fix the issue. There were no messages or symptoms of the problem prior to the failures. I am requesting that NHTSA document this as a potential electrical system safety defect.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11715558February 4, 2026
POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2021 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while stopped at a traffic light or a stop sign, the vehicle rolled backwards and stalled. The contact was able to coast to the side of the road. The ignition key was cycled several times before the vehicle restarted. The failure was intermittent, with the check engine light illuminating intermittently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The failure persisted. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V760000 (POWER TRAIN); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 62,500.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11714643January 31, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Screen not responding properly
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11714485January 30, 2026
POWER TRAIN
The engine pump went in my vehicle (21 Kia Sorrento) and is giving a code of P193B79. There was a recall that the dealership said they completed in 2023 to fix this. When I asked the dealership what they did to fix this in 2023, they said they checked for the code and it didn't have the code. Since they closed the recall, because it didn't currently have the code, they marked it complete and won't fix the issue with the transmission now. This was the information I got from the dealership. Then they proceded to tell me that SC250 is for code P1C2D03 and my car is giving code P193B79. I explained when I search online the two issues are very closely related and the kmsister company of Hyundai includes both coves in their recall. I have loss of power, as stated in the recall. I explained to the dealership that when I pulled out of my road, I tried to cross and I pressed the gas. The car would not got above 15 mph and the rpms went very high. The dealership called it a "limp motor" when I described it to them. After calling Kia customer service they told me that the dealership makes the call if it is under warranty. I called the dealership back and they told me again that because it was marked completed in 2023, it can't be under that recall. I easked because I didn't have the code in 2023, what was done to prevent this issue from happening on my car. They explained again they closed the ticket in 2023, so it can't be under that recall. I am having the loss of power, explained in SC250 and the dealership told me it is the engine pump fail. They explained it is the same part but a different code. I explained again how those 2 codes are very similar issues and their sister company agrees. I also explained an article I found online for Kia, where those 2 codes are very related. The article explained if the dealership did not cover it, call Kia. If still not resolved, file a complaint with NHTSA. That brings me here. Thank you!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11712134January 20, 2026
AIR BAGS
Vehicle: 2022 Kia Sorento EX VIN: [XXX] Date Defects Discovered:[XXX} A Kia dealership confirmed multiple instances of airbag tampering in this vehicle: • Driver knee airbag missing • Driver A‑pillar airbag missing • Wiring harnesses cut • Electrical resistors spliced into the circuits to bypass SRS fault detection • Technician warned there may be additional missing airbags pending further disassembly • Estimate for known SRS repair is $11,294.30 Carfax shows this vehicle was involved in an airbag‑deploying crash on [XXX] prior to my purchase. No airbags were replaced before resale. This is a serious safety hazard. The airbag indicator light was prevented from illuminating due to the resistor splice, masking critical SRS faults. Additional mechanical tampering was found: • Stop-leak blocking heater core • Improper coolant bypass fitting This complaint is being filed to report the airbag safety violation and request investigation. Attachments: Exhibits A, B, D, G. 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
#11712105January 20, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
My reverse camera bracket broke off leading to the camera dangling on the license plate and unusable for rear backup safety.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11712048January 20, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
Car has sensor issues. It ran into pole and median after defective collision assist said sensor was blocked. Has emission leak. Second vehicle i had with that and they wont cover under warranty. Kia refuses to by back a car do not feel safe driving. They refuse to fix things under warranty. The refuse to do anything about sensors, says its the safety features and they cannot remove them. Only offered me 19k for car. Why would I be upside down for a car that was sold to me with safety features issues..
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11711697January 18, 2026
AIR BAGS, SERVICE BRAKES, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
1. **Component or System Failure:** - The malfunction occurred in the **automatic braking system** while the vehicle was in **snow mode**. The brakes engaged and locked the wheels, resulting in a loss of traction. - This system is available for inspection upon request to assess the failure, where the car was towed to. 2. **Safety Risk:** - The automatic brakes locking the wheels put the driver at risk by causing the vehicle to slide uncontrollably. - The situation was further exacerbated by the fact that the vehicle collided with a tree, indicating a significant safety concern. 3. **Reproduction of the Problem:** - It is unclear if the issue has been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center, but given the nature of the malfunction, it would be advisable to have it inspected by a professional to verify the problem. 4. **Inspection by Authorities:** -the vehicle was inspected by police and the towing coming stating the car was a total loss because of the damages . 5. **Warnings or Symptoms:** - There were no indications of a problem prior to the failure, such as warning lamps or messages. The incident occurred suddenly when the brakes engaged, leading to the vehicle losing traction and ultimately colliding with a tree. - The failure of the airbags to deploy on the passenger side is also a critical point that needs further investigation. ### Key Takeaways - The automatic braking system malfunctioned in snow mode, leading to a loss of traction and a collision. - Safety was jeopardized due to the vehicle's sliding and the failure of the airbags to deploy. - Further inspection by qualified professionals is necessary to confirm and address the issues.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11711535January 16, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VISIBILITY
The contact owns a 2021 Kia Sorento. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V649000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VISIBILITY); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, with the A/C activated, there was an abnormal burning odor entering the vehicle through the vents. The burning odor was coming from the vehicle whether the A/C was in use or turned off. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The contact was informed that the VIN was not under recall. The vehicle was not repaired. On a separate occasion, while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle jerked and failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact stated that the failure was more evident while the vehicle was driven uphill. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. However, the vehicle was not repaired. Most recently, the battery was replaced, and the contact stated that there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11711028January 14, 2026
LANE DEPARTURE: WARNING
Driver attention warning light coming on frequently for no reason, is distracting for driver and will cause and accident, today we almost hit a horse and buggy
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11710858January 14, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Radiator has had a leak twice in the past three months. This has cause me to have to get it fully replaced at my own cost. This is a design flaw and is at no part my fault.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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