Kia Sorento Complaints

10,397 consumer complaints on file.

#11702415December 2, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
When I purchased this car in 2020 it had approximately 30,000 miles on it and the paint was already flaking in one place. The paint is snow white pearl and it is now flaking in several places. I would like to request an investigation into this specific paint and flaking issues.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11702160December 1, 2025
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Car oil light doesnt come on , only when almost gone. Car stop and slugish on highways and automatic turns off , this issie since the update
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11702272December 1, 2025
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Beginning at approximately 750 miles on a brand-new 2025 Kia Sorento Hybrid EX, the vehicle experienced a flashing Check Engine Light accompanied by severe shaking while driving, rough idling, loss of power, and loud engine/exhaust noise. The vehicle became difficult and unsafe to operate due to the vibration and reduced drivability. These symptoms appeared suddenly on November 22, less than three weeks after purchase. The vehicle was taken to the dealership on November 24. Their technician retrieved diagnostic codes P0300 (Random Misfire) and P0304 (Cylinder #4 Misfire) and identified a failed ignition coil on Cylinder #4. The coil was replaced, and the dealership reported the issue resolved. However, less than 24 hours later, with the vehicle still under 800 miles, the exact same symptoms reoccurred: heavy shaking while driving, vibration while idling, loss of power, and unstable engine operation. This indicates the underlying issue may be more serious than a single coil failure. The problem has been reproduced and confirmed by the dealership, and the vehicle is currently back in their possession for further inspection. A loaner vehicle was issued because the vehicle was not safe to drive. The sudden shaking, engine misfire, and loss of power created a significant safety risk, especially if this failure were to occur at highway speeds or while turning across traffic. Given the extremely low mileage and recurrence immediately after repair, this may indicate a broader defect affecting engine performance or ignition components in this model. The vehicle remains available for inspection by NHTSA, the manufacturer, or investigators.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11702273December 1, 2025
ENGINE
My 2017 Kia Sorento is experiencing significant engine issues, including excessive oil consumption and ongoing oil leaks. The Kia dealership initially told me I qualified for an oil-consumption test that could result in a free engine replacement if the results met the criteria. After inspecting the vehicle, they refused to perform the test because they said it was ‘leaking too much oil,’ charged me $600 for a gasket, but the vehicle still leaks and burns oil. Now the dealership claims the engine is not covered and wants $5,000 for a replacement, despite previously stating testing could qualify me for a free engine. This appears to be a common issue with Kia GDI engines and a safety concern due to risk of engine failure and fire. I believe Kia is improperly denying required testing and coverage, and I request NHTSA review this pattern. I included the invoice fr the gasket repair and pictures from the oil change I got last week showing pictures of it still leaking oil despite the repair at Kia.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11702334December 1, 2025
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2017 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic every 3,000 miles for an oil change, and there was no oil in the engine. Additionally, the contact stated that he was adding a gallon of engine oil every month in between oil changes. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that later, while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended, and the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to Auto Zone, where the contact retrieved Diagnostic Trouble Code: P1326; for the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS). The vehicle was then towed to the dealer, who informed the contact that he had to pay for a diagnostic test. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 63,666.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11702339December 1, 2025
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, ENGINE
I am reporting a safety defect on my 2013 Kia Sorento (VIN: [XXX] ). Before the failure, the vehicle began experiencing sluggish starting, sputtering during acceleration, stalling when stopped at traffic lights or stop signs, a noticeable fuel odor, and eventually a check engine light. These symptoms increased over several days, and once the check engine light illuminated, we had the vehicle towed to a Kia dealership for diagnosis. At the dealership, the problem was confirmed and reproduced by their technicians. They diagnosed: •Fuel leakage from the high-pressure fuel pressure regulator •Fuel contamination in the engine oil These components and diagnostic findings are available for inspection upon request. This issue poses a significant safety risk. Fuel leakage and fuel-in-oil contamination increase the potential for an engine fire, and the hesitation, sputtering, and stalling at intersections present a risk of unexpected loss of power in traffic, which could result in a collision. The vehicle previously had its engine replaced under a Kia recall in 2020, and the current symptoms are consistent with known Kia engine and fuel system defects addressed in past recalls and technical service bulletins. The vehicle has been inspected only by the dealership so far; it has not yet been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives. Kia Consumer Affairs has been contacted and is reviewing the case. I am requesting that NHTSA review this issue as a potential defect trend involving the high-pressure fuel system on this model, especially in vehicles with prior recall-related engine replacements. Documentation from the dealership, including the diagnostic report and repair estimate, is available upon request. 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
#11702388December 1, 2025
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Engine failed. Took car to Johnson City Kia dealership as advised by Kia of north America. The dealership said the engine failed due to carbon build up which is a problem with the engines, that it was not covered under warranty. I paid over $6,400 to have the engine replaced. When I was driving the car home the engine light came on and I lost power on the interstate causing me to almost get hit by a semi-truck. I took the car back to Kia of Johnson City Tn. the next day. Kia stated that the high-pressure fuel pump had went bad from the time I left the dealership and got home. I paid over $1,350 to replace a High-Pressure Fuel Pump. On the way home engine light and loss of power. I returned to Kia. They stated that gas had gotten into my oil. They changed the oil and I headed home, same issue engine light and loss of power. I told Kia of Johnson City I wanted a refund, and they could put the old part back on. Kia of Johnson City told me to take the car to another dealership that I was not getting a refund, and they would not fix my car. The engine codes and problems were the same as when I picked the car up from Kia. I have tried twice to have Kia of North America buy the car back due to it not being fixed and I do not feel safe in the car. I have taken the car to a Hyundai dealership in Johnson City Tn. and asked them to check the engine code and loss of power. Another $223.05. They stated the high-pressure fuel pump was defective. Fixing same issue multiple times.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11702340December 1, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, POWER TRAIN
Vehicle: 2025 Kia Sorento (leased) VIN: [XXX] Mileage at failure: 11,345 Incident dates: March 23, April 27, November 28–December 1 Type: Loss of power / electrical failure / safety hazard Complaint Description: I am reporting repeated electrical failures and complete loss of power in my 2025 Kia Sorento that created unsafe situations for myself and my children. The first failure occurred on March 23, approximately 2½ weeks after leasing the vehicle. The vehicle died without warning and had to be jumped. I brought it to the Kia dealership, but service would not perform a diagnostic without an appointment and sent me home with no repair. The second failure occurred on April 27. This time the vehicle was completely dead again. Kia’s service manager retrieved the vehicle from my home, diagnosed a failed battery cell, and replaced the battery. The third failure occurred between November 28 and December 1. The vehicle was again completely inoperable. I attempted to jump the vehicle on multiple days, but it would not hold a charge. I was stranded without transportation. The interior doors and trunk would not unlock because the power locks failed, and my belongings and large business related were inaccessible. Headlights flickered like a strobe light before the vehicle lost power entirely. Kia towed the vehicle from my home on December 1. These repeated electrical failures have resulted in multiple incidents of being stranded, including with my children, and have caused loss of use of the vehicle for several days. The defect is unpredictable and creates a serious safety concern, especially because the vehicle can lose power without warning and i am unable to unlock the doors. This raises a SERIOUS safety concern when transporting children. I am requesting that NHTSA document this as a potential electrical system safety defect. 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
#11702214December 1, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
My vehicle has been slow to start and I have had all other issues come on on my vehicle as far as lights as far as the forward collision warning light has came on and the check driver attention warning light has come on as well while I’m running my HVAC past the level 2. I have also had my battery tested and that has tested fine. I have had my alternator tested and the first time it came back good the second time it came back failed and the third time it came back good.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11702057November 30, 2025
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
2019 Kia sorento with the 2.4 is consuming so much oil and is very noisy. I just changed the oil 4k miles ago and the dipstick doesn’t show any oil. Dealer says it’s normal. There is clearly a problem with these motors. The Kia dealership doesn’t want to figure it out unless they’re getting paid a ridiculous amount of money. Kia should take care of this and pay the bill. They basically said to drive it until it dies and maybe the motor will get replaced. So basically my family and I have to drive this thing and hopefully we don’t get hurt if it seizes up. They want to charge me for an oil change, oil consumption test and an $800 cleaner for a maybe temporary fix. I don’t have a date when this started because it’s been so long with getting the run around. Kia is avoiding our problems when we spend so much money.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11702095November 30, 2025
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
My vehicle has an ongoing acceleration problem that feels like the engine and transmission are not communicating correctly. There are times when the vehicle will not accelerate even though the RPMs increase. Instead of picking up speed, it feels like the engine is pulling the vehicle back. This creates hesitation and uncertainty about whether the car will respond when I press the accelerator. This happens most noticeably at lower speeds (around 30–40 mph, often near 30 mph), where the RPMs may rise on their own even if I am maintaining steady pressure on the gas pedal. It also occurs when I need to accelerate quickly — such as merging onto the freeway or joining the flow of traffic — and the vehicle feels like it resists gaining speed. Even when I press the pedal gradually and correctly, the vehicle struggles to accelerate and the engine revs without the car moving forward as it should. I reported this to the dealership. They ran diagnostics and told me no issues were detected. They also stated they cannot take action unless they can re-create the problem themselves. Because this does not happen every time, recreating it on command is very unlikely, leaving me without a solution. This is a safety concern because hesitation or failure to accelerate properly during merging or crossing traffic increases the risk of collisions. The problem remains unresolved.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11702092November 30, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My vehicle repeatedly fails to recognize the key fob even when it is in my hand or inside the vehicle. Because it is a push-button start system, proper fob communication is required for unlocking and driving. When recognition fails, the vehicle will not start and I have been stranded. During the first of these failures, I called the dealership because I was stranded and needed immediate assistance. They instructed me to remove all passengers, close the doors, and then hold the unlock button on the key fob for 10 seconds and press lock/unlock six times in sequence. They also advised me not to use the door-handle lock/unlock button and to use only the fob buttons. This temporarily restored function, but a new vehicle should not require a manual reset procedure to start and operate normally. On two separate occasions, this problem also triggered the vehicle alarm, which was extremely difficult to silence. This does not happen every time, making the vehicle unreliable. One incident occurred while transporting special-needs children and an elderly passenger, and removing them from the vehicle to perform the reset was difficult and unsafe. The dealership later ran diagnostics and found no fault codes. I also replaced the key fob battery, but the issue continues. I have seen other owners online describing the same key-recognition failures, indicating that I may not be the only person experiencing this. This is a safety concern because the vehicle can fail to start without warning, and the alarm activation increases confusion and stress. The issue remains unresolved.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11702059November 30, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
Check engine light on. Rear defrost doesn't work. Auto stop/start not working. Cruise control not working. Vehicle shuts off sometimes at stand still and have to put in neutral or park and push Start button. Engine looses power while driving. Check rear cross traffic, check tire pressure monitoring system, check lane departure warning system, check speed limit system, check lane keeping assist, check forward safety system lights are cycling on the front screen and warning ⚠️ signs pinging. Vehicle has been inspected 3 times at a local KIA DEALERSHIP. 1st in 4/2025, 2nd 6/2025 3rd time 10/2025. Module was replaced and 2 days later same issue so Vehicle will be going back a 4th time. No warnings before issues started. Sometimes it does it for hours and sometimes it's back to normal.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11701987November 29, 2025
ENGINE
Lost motor power while driving. No warning light before engine failure.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11701997November 29, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Sunroof randomly shattered with no vehicles in front of me while driving.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11701896November 28, 2025
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE
I am reporting a serious defect involving my 2017 Kia Sorento 2.4 Liter GDI engine (VIN [XXX] ) At approximately 84000 miles, while still under the powertrain warranty, I brought the vehicle to the dealership from which I purchased it (Hutchinson Kia in Macon GA) due to engine hesitation and abnormal performance. I was initially told the engine might need replacement, but the dealer later claimed the issue was only a relay/software problem and performed a software update (likely the KSDS knock sensor update) At approximately 94000 miles, the engine suffered a SUDDEN CATASTROPHIC FAILURE while driving on the interstate, The failure was abrupt and created a dangerous situation in traffic. The Vehicle is now inoperable. The engine is equipped with the THETA II GDI engine, which has a documented history of bearing and connecting -rod failures, fires and sudden engine seizure. KIA is refusing to cover the failure, even though the symptoms began during warrantly and the KSDS update was reportedly completed. This appears to be consistent with the widespread THETA II engine safety defect previously investigated by NHTSA. The sudden failure of the engine posed a significant safety risk to myself, passengers and other motorists. I am requesting the NHTSA review the incident and evaluate whether KIA is properly honoring required safety-related engine replacements for Thet II GDI equipped vehicles. 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
#11701495November 25, 2025
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
The contact owns a 2017 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at an independent mechanic for a scheduled oil change, the contact was informed that the fuel pump was leaking on top of the fuel tank, and the fuel tank was leaking from the bottom. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact was informed that the fuel tank and the fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 38,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11701605November 25, 2025
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
While driving down the road at night, the headlights turn off automatically, by themselves. This caused serious distress for not only myself, but also for my children in the car at the time, as we have had instances where driving around curves at dark, the lights go out, or while on the highway at night during deer season, the lights go out. We live out in the country, so city lights are not abundant. Found on multiple sites once looked up after experiencing it: "100% of the recalled vehicles experience the issue where a software error in the Body Domain Control Unit (BDC) causes the headlights and taillights to momentarily lose power while driving. Kia is now recalling nearly 74,500 Sorento vehicles, including Sorento Hybrid and Sorento Plug-in Hybrid models from the 2024-2025 model years. This issue arises from a logic flaw in the BDC, resulting in the temporary failure of the low-beam headlights and taillights, which poses a significant safety risk for drivers. Kia will provide a free software update to fix the issue" There were no warnings, warning signs, or dashboard lights, so it was very alarming.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11701210November 24, 2025
ENGINE, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I am reporting a serious engine defect in my 2017 Kia Sorento. The has failed and presents an ongoing safety concern. The issue is while driving on the interstate, the vehicle began shaking violently, started making a knocking noise and the check engine illuminated. The RPMs also began spiking so I slowed down and got off at the next exit. Now every time I start the vehicle it continues to shake, knock and cannot accelerate properly -- the RPMs climb as high as 5000 with very little power. This is a clear safety hazard and makes the vehicle unsafe to operate on public roads.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11701287November 24, 2025
ENGINE
Started the car and heard a knocking sound. No check engine or low oil light on the dash. Dealership said the bearing clearance test was too great, causing the connecting rod to knock inside the engine. Dealership said I need an engine replacement. Engine is 3.3L Lambda II engine which has been reported to have this issue.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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