Kia Sorento Complaints

10,397 consumer complaints on file.

#11574724February 29, 2024
AIR BAGS
The passenger airbag light remains on even when someone is sitting in it. Also the airbag on the front passenger side has made my dashboard split open. Which if it fully comes open can make the airbag full explode causing harm to the person in the front seat and potentially causing an accident due to a premature expulsion of the airbag.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11574775February 29, 2024
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sorento. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11574616February 29, 2024
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
While driving the auto lights shut off and I must turn on lights. This has happened a few times
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11574675February 29, 2024
ENGINE
Vehicle has 108k miles. While driving the vehicle, a knocking noise from the engine began and I immediately pulled over. Vehicle was found to be low on oil and required 3 quarts of oil to get it to acceptable level on dipstick. Knocking noise continued after adding oil. Called dealership and they stated that it could be driven in since there had not been any check engine lights or low oil pressure lights on. Dealership investigated the problem and told me that a new motor was needed, it had broken a rod. Car was 1 month and 3k miles past due for an oil change but almost all prior oil changes and routine maintenance had been on time and completed by the dealership. No oil or check engine light ever came on. There was no oil leak noted either.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11574561February 28, 2024
ENGINE
While driving the car, the engine temperature started fluctuating and finally reached over temp. The engine failed. I towed the car to my mechanic and initially thought that the head gasket had blown. However, upon inspection, they found that the engine head bolt to the engine block was damaged. The threads were stripped. The only repair option for this problem was to replace the engine block. I believe the engine on this vehicle is a 3.3-liter Lambda II V6. This car only had 87,000 miles on it.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11574167February 27, 2024
ENGINE
The Engine failed at 79,000 miles due to the known defect with their 2016 Kia Sorento engines. Kia is unwilling to honor their recall due to not completing what they refer to as a Product Improvement prerequisite. Kia admitted these Product Improvements are only communicated to original owners and not published through any recall so a consumer that purchased a pre owned vehicle would have no way of knowing about this unless they ask for it specifically at a Kia dealership.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11574170February 27, 2024
ENGINE
I was driving with my 10 year old son on the road, and without any warnings the engine made a knocking noise and then stalled out. I was able to put the car in neutral and restart the car. Then when I got home, as I was parking the engine did the same thing, without warning the engine made a knocking noise and stalled out. I went to the dealership and they inspected the vehicle. They stated that the engine rods and bearings failed, and even though all scheduled maintenance was completed it was out of warranty and I would be responsible for the cost of an engine replacement. I then called Kia customer support and they stated that they were able to verify all maintenance in their system, but our engine does not qualify for a warranty replacement. This car has never been in an accident and received regular maintenance, it is a major safety concern that the engine is failing and can stall at any time while driving.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11574219February 27, 2024
ENGINE
The Kia burns oil quickly. The oil light used to come in between oil changes. Last oil change the service station said the dip stick was dry but the oil light hadn’t come on at all. A week after the oil change we checked the oil level and the stick came out clean(no oil)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11574267February 27, 2024
ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the engine was empty of engine oil a week after an oil change. After oil was added, the contact's husband observed that a quart of oil had been consumed in a few days. The vehicle was initially taken to an independent mechanic, and it was discovered that excessive oil sludge and hard carbon build-up was in the valve and stems. The contact was also informed that the piston rings were worn and that there was scoring on the cylinder walls. The contact also stated that while driving at 55 MPH, the engine oil warning light flashed on the instrument panel and the vehicle stalled. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with piston failure and a misfire in cylinder #2. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 142,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11574284February 27, 2024
ENGINE
When passing another vehicle on the road at ~70 mph, the engine warning lights lit up and rpms went to zero. The vehicle was towed and the mechanic told me that then engine is seized. Fortunately, there was no one ahead of us on the road, but it could have been dangerous because we were passing on a two lane road, and when the engine seized it might have meant we were unable to successfully pass. The vehicle has been inspected by a local mechanic (Autotrust Repairs, Montgomery, TX). The engine had been dealing with excessive oil consumption (nearly 1 qt/1000mi), which online documents by Kia said was "normal". I have kept the oil levels replenished during this time. There were no warning lights before the engine seized, only once it actually had done so. I have called local dealership Sterling Kia and Kia Customer Service and they refuse to cover the engine because of reference to an ECU upgrade not having been done ([XXX]). I have received no notice of the recall, even when I took the car to the dealership on [XXX], well after the recall notices had supposedly been sent out. This recall is also not listed on the NHTSA online. 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
#11574303February 27, 2024
STEERING, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Steering on car felt sticky or as if power steering was not working. It seems to be an intermittent problem occurring mostly at highway speeds of approximately 60 mph. It seems to be a safety issue because steering feels unresponsive to feel of steering wheel. Dealer says that I will have to bring it in where they can diagnose to confirm. If problem continues I will take it in to be checked. Vehicle has not given any warnings or indications of problems/service needed. The problem was first noticed on 02/12/2024 and then again on 02/23/2024.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11574344February 27, 2024
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The exterior paint of the vehicle is peeling off to the point where the metal of the car is visible. The vehicle has the Special White Pearl SWP paint code, and it is peeling off in different areas all across the vehicle. Also, the dash has cracked, in both the driver and passenger's side. The use of those foil accordions to protect the dash has been in use since purchased back in 2018, but it still cracked.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11573917February 26, 2024
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
The headlights go out without any warning. The fog lights work fine. I have had signal bulbs replaced many times but the worst complaint is the headlights.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11573972February 26, 2024
ENGINE
Engine failed Kia decided that part is Not covered under warranty and dealer expects us to pay $6500 This car is only 8 years old, 88,500 miles. How can Kia sell faulty engines and still expect someone to pay outrageous price to repair their junk cars?!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11574048February 26, 2024
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ENGINE
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Sorento. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The failure mileage was 35,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11573521February 23, 2024
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL (notice received November 14, 2023) Today is 2/22/2024. Malfunction Indicator Lamp warning light did illuminate (02/16/2024). Registered mechanic diagnosed an intake manifold flap broken and intake manifold motor had to be replaced. ($2000). Not sure if this may be related to the HECU issue. BUT, as of this message, contact about the IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL from KIA about a remedy part has not been issued to me. Recall remedy for the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) has not been performed in a timely manner and the risk of fire or other issues continues to be a possibility. This is a lawsuit waiting to happen. Please advise.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11573528February 23, 2024
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
We purchased the car around Thanksgiving of last year (2023). A month and a half after purchase, we noticed all the warning lights coming on all at once. When we reported the incident and safety concern with the Kia dealership, they claimed it would be okay and we had nothing to worry about until our service appointment in Mid-March. Today, my wife was driving with my mom in the car and the brakes completely failed while they were driving on a major highway. Fortunately they were able to pull the car into an embankment before going down a large hill into the valley. We had the vehicle towed back to the Kia dealership where they’re running tests and diagnostics to identify the issue. We’ve also opened a case with customer affairs at Kia of America.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11573565February 23, 2024
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
The contact's wife owns a 2012 Kia Sorento. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11573566February 23, 2024
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
The contact's wife owns a 2012 Kia Sorento. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11573648February 23, 2024
ENGINE
turbo feed pipe, high pressure fuel line, oil feedline gaskets, oil return line gaskets, turbo oil feed line. problems started happening in 2016 with turbo. 2020-2024 seem to be having problems with turbo lines and oil lines and nothing seems to be connected. in 2020 something happened and lost oil but no lights came on. also, have had more recalls on this vehicle than any other one i have owned. if there is a problem with this engine or turbo, i just wanted to have my concerns recorded.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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