Kia Sorento Complaints

10,397 consumer complaints on file.

#10406878June 14, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I WAS BACKING UP OUT OF A PARKING SPOT WHEN THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING, I COULDN'T REACT FAST ENOUGH AND ENDED UP HITTING A CEMENT POLE. WHEN I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY MECHANIC I WAS INFORMED THAT THE BOLT FOR THE CRANKSHAFT HAD BROKEN. ( THE CAR HAS ONLY 43,500 MILES ON IT) WHEN TALKING WITH KIA DEALER AND DOING SOME ONLINE RESEARCH I LEARNED THAT THIS IS A PRETTY COMMON FAILURE. I WAS TOLD THAT KIA WAS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT LEFT THE DEALERS TO FEND FOR THEMSELVES. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL, DO THEY NEED SOMEONE TO BE KILLED IN AN ACCIDENT BEFORE THEY CONSIDER IT A PROBLEM? THE NHTSA HAS THE POWER TO INTERVENE AND I URGE YOU STEP UP AND ADDRESS THIS ONGOING PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10406887June 14, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2009 KIA SORENTO WITH TRANSMISSION/DRIVELINE ISSUES. DEALERSHIP HAS HAD NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO CORRECT AND STATES "NORMAL FOR THIS VEHICLE." VEHICLE CLUNKS, POPS, JOLTS, AND JERKS WHEN IN OPERATION REGARDLESS OF TIME OF DAY, TEMP, ETC. STARTED IN MAY 2010 AND CONTINUES PRESENTLY WHICH IS JUNE 2011. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10406898June 14, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
PURCHASED A NEW SORENTO LX ON 5-2011, 4CYL, FWD, AUTOMATIC. ON THREE OCCASIONS DURING THE FIRST MONTH I OWNED THE VEHICLE, I HAVE EXPERIENCED UNCOMMANDED DOWNSHIFT FROM 6TH GEAR TO 4TH GEAR AT SPEED. TRANSMISSION THEN LOCKS IN 4TH GEAR UNTIL SHUT DOWN AND RESTARTED. VERY VIOLENT EVENT WHEN IT OCCURS, WITH AN INSTANTANEOUS BANG AND CORRESPONDING IMMEDIATE LOSS OF SPEED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10406249June 14, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL FOR NO APPARENT REASON EVEN THOUGH THE DOWNHILL ASSIST SWITCH IS TURNED OFF, THE CAR STARTS BRAKING BY ITSELF AS IF THE HILL BRAKE ASSIST SWITCH WAS TURNED ON. THIS HAPPENS MOST OF THE TIME AND ALMOST CAUSED A CRASH FROM SOMEONE HITTING MY REAR END SINCE THE BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT COME ON. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10406016June 12, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
GOING DOWNHILL IN OUR NEWLY PURCHASED 2011 KIA SORENTO EX V6, REACHING A 4 WAY STOP, OUR ENGINE QUIT. VEHICLE HAD ONLY 175 MILES ON IT AS IT IS BRAND NEW. CAR RESTARTED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. TOOK IT TO DEALER, THEY FOUND NO PROBLEM OR FAULTS REGISTERED ON THE ONBOARD COMPUTER. I HAVE READ OF SIMILAR OCCURRENCES WITH OTHER 2011 KIA SORENTO EX V6. I WILL FILE ANOTHER REPORT IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10406469June 9, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
WHILE COMING TO A STOP, THE VEHICLE DOWN-SHIFTED HARD AND THE ENGINE STARTED TO SPUTTER LIKE IT WAS GOING TO CUT OFF. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY FOUND P0748- PRESSURE CONTROL SOLENOID "A" ELECTRICAL FAULT. THEY PERFORMED A REPROGRAM OF TSM PER TSB# TRA038. DROVE OFF LOT AND IT SHIFTED HARD THREE TIMES ON WAY HOME. DEALER SAID IT WOULD TAKE 100 MILES FOR THE COMPUTER TO RE-LEARN MY DRIVING FOR BEST FUEL MILEAGE. DROVE TO WORK (SHIFTED HARD 5 TIMES) AND DROVE TO RUN ERRANDS. WHILE ON ERRANDS THE VEHICLE SHIFTED DOWN HARD AND ENGINE SPUTTERED WHILE SLOWING DOWN IN TRAFFIC. THEN, WHEN RELEASING THE BRAKE AND PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR, THE VEHICLE RPM/ TACH WENT UP BUT THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T GO. AFTER STEPPING BACK ON THE BRAKE AND WAITING 2-3 SECONDS I TRIED TO MOVE AGAIN AND IT DID. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO DEALER DIRECTLY AND WHILE STOPPING TO TURN INTO DEALER IT SHIFTED HARD, ENGINE SPUTTERED AND IT AGAIN WOULD NOT MOVE ( ONLY ENGINE RPM'S TURNED UP). IT DID FINALLY MOVE AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO THE PARKING LOT. NOW THE MANUFACTURER IS REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION BECAUSE TO THEIR ADMISSION THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. NEARLY STRANDED ON A FIVE LANE 35 MPH ROAD COULD BE PHYSICALLY DANGEROUS BUT A HIGHWAY COULD BE FATAL. AN EVASIVE MANEUVER WITH THIS VEHICLE, REQUIRING STOPPING AND STARTING QUICKLY IS NOT AN OPTION IF YOU CAN'T DRIVE DURING NORMAL CONDITIONS STOPPING AND STARTING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10405547June 8, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL
SHORTLY AFTER I HAD SOME BELTS REPLACED ON MY 2004 KIA SORENTO, THE CRANKSHAFT BOLT BROKE (AROUND 90,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE). I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS PART, BUT NOT FOR MY VIN NUMBER. I HAD TO PAY OVER $700 TO GET THE PROBLEM FIXED AND MY MECHANIC HAD TO BUY THE PART FROM KIA TO FINALLY GET IT FROM CONTINUALLY BREAKING. NOW, ALMOST TWO YEARS LATER, IT HAS HAPPENED AGAIN (AROUND 130,000 MILES). I CALLED KIA TO SEE IF THEY EXTENDED THE RECALL TO COVER MY VEHICLE, BUT THEY DID NOT AND REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. ONCE AGAIN, IT IS COMING OUT OF MY POCKET TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH VEHICLES OTHER THAN THE ONES THAT WERE ORIGINALLY COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10406399June 8, 2011
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I WAS SITTING AT A DRUG STORE DRIVE THRU WHEN A LOUD SCREECHING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR. I PULLED OUT OF LINE AND INTO A PARKING SPACE. THE CAR WAS TOWED AND THE MECHANIC REPORTED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT HAD SHEARED OFF IN THE ENGINE. UPON RESEARCHING MY OPTIONS (THE REPAIR COST IS ENORMOUS, AND THE VEHICLE MAY BE JUNKED DUE TO DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE) I HAVE LEARNED THAT THIS IS A CONTINUING PROBLEM WITH SORENTOS, (EARLIER MODELS HAVE BEEN RECALLED DUE TO THIS PROBLEM) BUT KIA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE OR FIX THIS PROBLEM FOR THE 2005 MODELS. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE IN MY OPINION DUE TO THE FACT THAT IF THE BOLT BREAKS OR SHEARS WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, YOU LOSE THE ABILITY TO STEER OR CONTROL THE CAR. A CALL TO OUR LOCAL DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THEY HAD HAD SEVERAL COME IN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, AND AT THIS TIME KIA IS DOING NOTHING. IF THIS PROBLEM EXISTED IN EARLIER MODELS, I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THIS HAS NOT BEEN FIXED BY KIA.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10405490June 7, 2011
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE CRANKSHAFT BOLT BROKE ON MY 2005 KIA SORENTO. I HAVE FOUND A SITE WHERE SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED OF THIS HAPPENING. IT ALSO SAYS THAT A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM WAS DONE ON THE 2003 SORENTOS, BUT NOT THE 2005. LISTED BELOW IS WHERE I FOUND THE OTHER COMPLAINTS. HTTP://REPAIRPAL.COM/REVISED-CRANKSHAFT-PULLEY-BOLT-422. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10405311June 6, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2005 KIA SORENTO EX WITH 80,000 MILES; CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT FAILED MAY OF 2011, RESULTING IN BEING STRANDED. TOWED TO NEAREST REPAIR FACILITY, COST APPROX. $1200.00 FOR REPAIR. THE 2003 AND 2004 KIA MODELS HAD A RECALL FOR THIS VERY PROBLEM, BUT KIA REFUSES TO EXTEND THE RECALL TO 2005, EVEN THOUGH MANY KIA OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. SOME HAVE HAD THEIR CRANKSHAFT BOLTS FAIL MULTIPLE TIMES. I HAVE CONTACTED KIA SEVERAL TIMES TO TRY TO GET THEM TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR BUT THEY HAVE REFUSED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10405316June 6, 2011
POWER TRAIN
2008 KIA SORENTO ESC LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND VEHICLE LOST POWER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10404524June 5, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
2004 KIA SORENTO. THE REAR TAIL LIGHTS AND FRONT FOG LIGHTS BURN OUT FREQUENTLY. THIS LEAVES ME UNKNOWINGLY DRIVING AT NIGHT WITHOUT PROPER LIGHTING. I USUALLY FIND OUT WHEN OTHER DRIVERS TELL ME MY LIGHTS ARE OUT. THERE IS EITHER AN ELECTRICAL OR FUZEBOX PROBLEM WITH THE KIA SORENTO FROM 2003-06. SO FAR, KIA HAS REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. I FOUND MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ONLINE SUCH AS HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/DIRECT/VIEW/.F14D197/. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10404426June 4, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I PURCHASED A 2006 KIA SORENTO BACK IN FEBRUARY 2011. SINCE I HAVE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE I HAVE REPLACED THE HEADLIGHTS. 3 TIMES. EVERY FAILURE OCCURRED ON INTERSTATE 64. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO HAVE THEM CHANGED WHERE THEY HAVE NOT TOUCHED THE LAMPS AND HAVE COMPLETED A PROPER INSTALL. IT APPEARS THAT FOR A SECOND THE VEHICLE HAS NO POWER AND THE HEADLIGHTS FLASH OFF THEN ON. THE HEADLIGHTS GOING ON THEN BACK ON IS A REGULAR OCCURRENCE. THE LAST OCCURRENCE YESTERDAY 6/3/2011 HAPPENED ABOUT 2 AM WHILE DRIVING THROUGH DANIEL BOONE NATIONAL FOREST AND MADE THE VEHICLE UN-DRIVABLE UNTIL DAYTIME HOURS WHEN IT COULD BE SAFELY DRIVEN TO A SHOP FOR THE HEADLIGHTS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN AND LEFT MY FAMILY STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD UNABLE TO SEE TO DRIVE HOME FOR APPROXIMATELY SOME 45 MILES FROM OUR HOME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10404123June 2, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
FITTING THAT CONNECTS HOSE TO RADIATOR SNAPPED IN HALF CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK AND ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. INFORMED BY REPAIR SHOP THAT THIS CAN BE TEMPORARILY FIXED BY INSTALLING A BRASS FITTING USING EPOXY BUT THAT THE ONLY PERMANENT REPAIR IS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE RADIATOR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10404011June 1, 2011
STEERING
ON TUESDAY MAY 24, 2011 AS I WAS ABOUT TO MAKE A TURN IN MY 2005 KIA SORENTO THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND THE BRAKE LIGHT TURNED ON. I WAS ABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT SLIGHTLY AND DRIVE DIAGONAL TO THE SIDEWALK AND PARK THE VEHICLE. UPON TOWING THE VEHICLE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE BOLT THAT HOLDS THE DAMPER, CONTROLLING THE STEERING HAD BROKEN. I AM CURRENTLY RESEARCHING HOW THIS BOLT COULD HAVE BROKEN. MY VEHICLE HAS 111,025 MILES AND I AM THE FIRST OWNER. THE VEHICLE IS UNDRIVEABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10402833May 26, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING DIFFERENT SPEEDS THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK FORWARD AND LOSE POWER. THE TRANSMISSION LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIANS STATED THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V258000 (POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT) BUT THE DEALER STATED THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,820.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10402859May 26, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HAD THE CAR 2 YEARS AND HAVE TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT BULBS 3 TIMES. REPLACED WITHIN LAST 5 MONTHS AND NOW ARE OUT AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10403443May 25, 2011
STRUCTURE:BODY, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
ON THE ABOVE MENTIONED DATE THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NTB FOR A 90,000 MILE CHECK AND TO REPLACE A BOLT THAT HAD BROKEN LOOSE IT WAS LOCATED NEAR THE REAR AXLE WHEN PUT UP ON THE LIFT A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WAS REVEALED. THE FRAME ABOVE THE REAR AXLE HAD COMPLETELY ROTTED WHICH CAUSED THE BOLT TO BREAK AND THE RESULTING LOSS OF INTEGRITY CAUSED WEAKENING AND AND BOUNCING CAUSING THE GAS TANK TO BE PUNCTURED. THE CAR WAS DEEMED UNDRIVABLE. I HAVE WRITTEN TO KIA WITH NO RESPONSE THE CAR HAD BEEN RELIABLE AND WAS TAKEN CARE OF THIS PUT US IN A TOUGH FINANCIAL SITUATION HAVING TO BUY ANOTHER CAR IN OUR AREA ALONE THERE ARE TWO KIA,S THAT HAD ROTTING FRAMES ONE THE SAME YEAR AND MAKE AS OURS HIS HAD 106,000 MILES THE ROTTING WAS NOT NEAR AS BAD AS OURS BUT THE SAME BOLT BROKE OFF ANOTHER WAS A DIFFERENT MODEL BUT HE HAD TO GET THE FRONT AXLE REPLACED BECAUSE OF ROTTING OUR FAMILY WAS PUT IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED THE FRAME OF THE CAR IS ABOUT THE LAST THING YOU WOULD EXPECT TO FAIL KIA IS SAYING THAT IT IS ANTIPERFORATION AND NOT COVERED ANTIPERFORATION HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE FRAME ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO HELPWOULD BE APPRECIATED I AM FILING THIS ON BEHALF OF MY DAUGHTER
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10402755May 25, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEADLIGHTS (LOW BEAM), TAIL LIGHTS KEEP BURNING OUT EVERY TWO TO THREE MONTHS CONSISTENTLY. ALWAYS HAVE TO REPLACE WHICH IS NOT ONLY EXPENSIVE BUT A DANGER TO MYSELF AND OTHER DRIVERS. CAR IS A 2006 KIA SORENTO EX. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10402333May 22, 2011
POWER TRAIN
BOUGHT MY KIA APPROXIMATELY 1 YEAR AGO ON 05/31/2010 IT IS A 2011 4CYL. WHILE DRIVING (SPEED DOESN'T MATTER) (THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES)THE VEHICLE WILL LOOSE POWER AND ALL GAUGES WILL GO UNFUNCTIONAL, PUSHING ON THE ACCELERATOR WILL NOT PROVIDE RESPONSE, VEHICLE WILL NOT DRIVE BUT ENGINE IS RUNNING. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP ON 05/12/2011 AND DEALERSHIP SAID THEY FIXED IT. HAD VEHICLE HOME FOR LESS THAN 1 WEEK WHEN WE WERE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 75 (ON 05/22/2011) AND VEHICLE AGAIN LOST POWER AND ALL CONTROLS. HAD TO FIGHT VEHICLE WITH NO POWER AND CONTROLS AND ROLLED TO A STOP.....ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING BUT NO CONTROLS OR POWER WORKING....HAD MY 3 KIDS AND MY WIFE....VERY SCARY....VEHICLE HAS A PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE SERIOUSLY ADDRESSED....KIA DOESN'T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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