Kia Sorento Complaints (2003)

305 consumer complaints on file.

#10097348October 18, 2004
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT-END ACCIDENT. *BF AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT AND THE AIR BAG NOT DEPLOYING, THE CONSUMER SUFFERED NECK AND BACK INJURIES. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10086969August 16, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
BRAKE ROTORS ARE WARPING EVERY FEW THOUSAND MILES. WITHIN 16,000 MILES OF USE, ROTORS HAVE BEEN RESURFACED TWICE, AND ARE IN NEED OF IT ONCE AGAIN. ALTHOUGH THIS CONDITION IS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, KIA REFUSED TO HONOR IT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10073282May 28, 2004
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE TO WORK. FOR THE PAST 2 TO 3 DAYS, I NOTICED SOME NOISE FROM MY ENGINE THAT SOUNDED LIKE A LOOSE BELT. NO PROBLEM, I COULD REPLACE IT ON THE WEEKEND. ON THE WAY TO WORK, MY POWER STEERING WENT AND THE ENGINE LIGHT FLICKERED ON AND OFF. I DIDN'T WANT TO BE STUCK ON A BACKROAD IN MAINE WITH NO CELL SERVICE SO I CONTINUED, SLOWLY, TO WORK. AFTER REACHING WORK, I HAD THE 24 HOUR SERVICE TOW MY KIA SORENTO TO THE NEAREST DEALER. THIS VEHICLE IS 18 MONTHS OLD AND THEY TELL ME THE BOLT HOLDING THE CRANKSHAFT TO THE PULLEY HAS SHEARED OFF. THEY CANNOT REMOVE THE BOLT PIECES FROM THE CRANKSHAFT AND HAVE TO REPLACE IT. TO TOP IT OFF, THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ON, FOR THE SECOND TIME, AND THE RADIO HAS BEEN REPLACE TWICE. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10073544May 12, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKES AT LOW SPEEDS VEHICLE VIBRATED. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS HAD BEEN REPLACED ON SIX SEPARATE OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10068099April 30, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
AT 12000 MILES I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS ON MY 2003 KIA SORENTO MACHINED TWICE DUE TO WARPING AND RESULTANT BRAKE PULSING/VIBRATION. DUE TO REQUIRED ROTOR THICKNESS, THE NEXT EPISODE WILL NECESSITATE ROTOR REPLACEMENT. THE NEED TO DO THIS AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE INDICATES A SEVERE DEFICIENCY, PROBABLY RELATING TO FAULTY DESIGN OR A METALLURGICAL PROBLEM WITH THE ROTORS. THE SORENTO IS A NEW MODEL AND I SUSPECT THAT AS MILES ARE ACCUMULATED THIS PROBLEM WILL BECOME MORE EVIDENT FLEET-WIDE. I AM SUBMITTING THIS COMPLAINT DUE TO THE CRITICAL NATURE OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM AND THE HIGH POTENTIAL FOR DISASTER RESULTING FROM ANY KIND OF BRAKE MALFUNCTION. THERE IS ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY SORENTO OWNER ENCOUNTERING THIS DIFFICULTY. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10067114April 13, 2004
AIR BAGS
WHILE DRIVING AND TURNING SRS LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC WAS NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10065957April 12, 2004
AIR BAGS, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
ON SATURDAY, APRIL 3, 2004, MY 2003 KIA SORRENTO WAS PARKED IN THE MIDDLE OF MY DRIVEWAY WHILE I MOVED THE LAWN. AFTER RETURNING MY LAWN MOWER TO THE GARAGE, I GOT INTO THE SORRENTO TO MOVE IT BACK INTO THE GARAGE. AFTER I STARTED THE VEHICLE AND PUT IT INTO DRIVE, IT ACCELERATED RAPIDLY, PULLED ME THROUGH THE GARAGE AND THROUGH THE BACK WALL, WHICH IS SOLID BRICK. I WENT THROUGH MY FRONT YARD, AND THE ONLY REASON I STOPPED WAS BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WENT OVER SOME BOULDERS AND DOWN AN INCLINE, CAUSING THE BACK WHEELS TO COME OFF THE GROUND. I ALSO HIT A TREE IN MY FRONT YARD. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10064435April 2, 2004
SUSPENSION
2003 KAY SORENTO EX: VEHICLE VIBRATES EXCESSIVELY ONLY BETWEEN APPROX. 68 -78 MPH. REAR-VIEW MIRROR (AND IMAGE) SHAKES. DIFFICULT TO SEE CARS IN REAR-VIEW MIRROR CLEARLY. VIBRATION CAN BE HEARD AND FELT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10058757February 23, 2004
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL
BOUGHT 2003 SORENTO JULY 1, 2003. SOON AFTER THE BACK BRAKES OR SOMETHING AFTER BRAKING WOULD "CLUNK". WHETHER IS WAS AFTER RELEASING BRAKES OR SECONDS LATER IT WOULD "CLUNK" (DEALER KEEPS SAYING IT 'POPS', IT CLUNKS). FIRST TIME IN THEY DIDNT FEEL IT THEY SAID. SECOND TIME THEY FELT IT AND THEN SAID THEY DIDNT KNOW WHAT IT WAS AND WOULD CONTACT KIA ABOUT IT-----THIS THIRD TIME---THEY SAY ITS NORMAL FOR THE VEHICLE. FTER THE FIRST TIME IN THE SHOP FOR THE 'CLUNKING' THE SERIOUS VIBRATION ON THE HIGHWAY BEGAN TO BE FELT STARTING AT 68 MPH AND WORSENING AT 70 MPH.....TOOK IT IN AND THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS THE TIRES AND THEY BALANCED THEM-----NOW THE VIBRATION IS WORSE AND YOU FEEL IT AT 60 MPH AND AT 68 MPH IT IS REALLY NOTICABLE. TOOK IN INTO THE SHOP 02/19/04....DEALSHIP DROVE IT AND THEN JUST TOLD US IT WAS NORMAL ON THE VEHICLE---SOME GUY LAST FALL HAD THE VIBRATION WORSE---AND SAID KIA CANT FIX IT. WELL, WE DIDNT TAKE THAT ANSWER AND IS NOW BEING INVESTIGATE. TWO FIELD KIA INVESTIGATORS JUST DROVE IT BEFORE MY HUSBAND ARRIVED AT THE DEALERSHIP. THEY TOLD MY HUSBAND THEY DIDNT FEEL REALLY ANYTHING. HE TOLD THEM TO GET IN THE VEHICLE AND NOW DRIVE WITH HIM---THE INVESTIGATORS ALL OF A SUDDEN SAID THEY FELT SOMETHING.....NOW THEY ARE GOING TO LOOK AT SEEING WHAT IT IS. BOTH KIA AND THE DEALERSHIP ARE DRAGGING THIS OUT......CALL KIA'S CONSUMER AFFAIRS OFFICE (OR WHATEVER IT IS CALLED) AND THEY SAY THEY HAVE NO REPORTS OF THESE PROBLEMS. THE DEALERSHIP TELLS US THEY KIA TELLS THEM IT IS NORMAL. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND LEFT IT ALL WEEKEND AT THE DEALERSHIP! MY DAUGHTERS LIFE IS AT STAKE DRIVING IT LIKE THAT IF SOMETHING FALLS OFF OR SOMETHING. I AM AFRAID THAT KIA OR THE DEALERSHIP WILL HAVE MORE EXPERIENCE AND ABLE TO COVER THINGS SO THAT WE CAN NOT FILE FOR THE LEMON LAW........... HELP!!!*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054864January 25, 2004
AIR BAGS, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ANTI-THEFT DEVICES
I PURCHASED A 2003 EX KIA SORENTO IN JUNE 2003. ON JULY 13,2003 THE AIR BAG LIGHT SYSTEM CAME ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BARRON KIA. THEY STATED THEY REPLACED THE AIR BAG MODULE. IT TOOK FIVE DAYS TO REPAIR. ON NOVEMBER 11, 2003 THE AIR BAG LIGHT WENT BACK ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BARRON KIA ON THE 14TH. IT WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR ANOTHER SIX DAYS. THEY STATED IT WAS THE LOJACK ALARM SYSTEM THAT WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. IT WAS FIXED. ON NOVEMBER 29,2003 THE AIRBAG LIGHT BEGAN TO FLICKER ON AND OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO BARRON KIA ON DECEMBER 3, 2003, IN ORDER FOR A LOJACK TECHNICIAN TO REMOVE THE ALARM AND FOR BARRON KIA TO FIX AND RUN TEST ON THE AIRBAG. THE CAR WAS THERE 11 DAYS AND SUPPOSEDLY CHECKED FOR ALL AIRBAG POSSIBLE PROBLEMS. ALL TEST CAME BACK NORMAL. ON JANUARY 19, 2004 THE AIRBAG LIGHT WENT BACK ON. THE CAR WAS ONCE AGAIN TAKEN TO BARRON KIA ON THAT DAY. AT THIS POINT, THE ALARM IS DISCONNECT AND THE AIR BAG CONTINUES TO ILLUMINATE AND INDICATING THAT THERE MAY BE A MALFUNCTION WITH THE SAFETY SYSTEM WITH THE CAR. THE VEHICLE IS STILL AT BARRON KIA (HAS BEEN THEIR 7 DAYS NOW) AND IS AWAITING THE INSTALLATION OF ANOTHER AIRBAG MODULE. I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACTED WITH THE KIA HOTLINE SEVERAL TIMES AS WELL AS LOJACK CUSTOMER SERVICE. NEITHER COMPANY WANTS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY OR ACCOUNTABILITY. IT IS DISTRESSING TO ME THAT SUCH COMPANIES WOULD JEOPARDIZES THE LIVES OF THEIR CUSTOMERS. I AM ALSO DISTURBED THAT A NEW CAR WOULD BE SOLD AND RETURNED TO ME SEVERAL TIMES WITH A DEFECTIVE SAFETY SYSTEM. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10070423January 15, 2004
STEERING
I PURCHASED THE SORENTO 5/31/03, WHILE MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN THE POWER STEERING COMPLETELY WENT OUT; I ALMOST HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE REGAINING CONTROL. CONTACTED KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS IMMEDIATELY, THEY HAVE COMPLETE LOGS ON FILE. 6/2/03 DEALER REPLACED POWER STEERING RACK. 6/10/03 830 MILES,POWER STEERING FAILED AGAIN;HAD TO FIGHT WITH THE STEERING TO CONTROL VEHILE IN PARKING GARAGE.6/12/03 POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED. PICKED UP VEHICLE THAT EVENING AND PULLING OUT FROM THE RESTAURANT THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AGAIN. 6/13/03 850 MILES, COMPUTER MALFUNCTION; NEW DOWNLOADS HAD TO BE DOWNLOADED TO VEHICLES COMPUTER. 6/18/03 ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING MODULE HAD TO BE REPLACED. NOW 6/20/03 DEALER SAID THEY WONT HELP ME, KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS SAID THEY WONT REPLACE THE VEHICLE NOR BUY BACK THE VEHICLE. I'M TERRIFIED TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE TONIGHT. KIA WANTED ME TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE 30 DAYS MORE THEN CALL BACK AND THEY WILL RE-IMBURSE ME 2 MONTHS PAYMENTS FOR ALL THE TROUBLE. I REPLIED I WONT DRIVE IT, I'LL HAVE IT FLAT BEDDED TO MY HOUSE AND SEEK LEGAL COUNCIL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10052884January 12, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
FRONT BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS HAD TO BE REPLACED BY DEALER AFTER ONLY 20,000 MILES. DEALER SAID THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE SORENTO. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10051135December 26, 2003
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
1. (11/03/03 1ST INCIDENT) "AIR BAG" SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JEFFERY KIA FOR REPAIR. I WAS CALLED TO PICKUP VEHICLE TWO DAYS LATER. (UNAWARE AT THE TIME THAT THE AIR BAG SYSTEM HAD BEEN DISABLED) WEEK LATER RECEIVED CALL THAT AIR BAG WAS IN AND TO RETURN VEHICLE FOR AIR BAG REPLACEMENT. REPAIR COMPLETED AND VEHICLE RETURNED NEXT DAY. 2.) (2ND INCIDENT) ON VACATION IN STARKE, FA., DECEMBER 24, 2003 "AIR BAG" SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON. TOLD TO RETURN TO DEALER (KIA HOTLINE) DROVE 16 HOURS 12/25/03 TO GET VEHICLE TO JEFFERY KIA AND DELIVERED TO DEALER 12/26/03. I AM DISTURBED THAT VEHICLE WAS INITIALLY RETURNED TO ME IN UNSAFE CONDITION AND UNSATISFACTORILY REPAIRED AND PLACED MY GRAND CHILDREN IN JEOPARDY.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10045695November 7, 2003
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
BOUGHT CAR NEW. POWER STEERING NEVER WORKED. NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10043409October 23, 2003
SUSPENSION
VEHICLE DISPLAYS RUMBLING VIBRATION AND NOISE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. DEALER HAS REMOVED UNDERCOATING FROM DRIVELINE AND ROTATED AND BALANCED TIRES TO IMPROVE PROBLEM. THIS INITIALLY SEEMED TO HELP, HOWEVER, RUMBLING HAS RETURNED AND IS JUST AS BAD AS BEFORE. DEALER HAS NO IDEA WHAT ELSE TO DO. KIA DENIES THERE ARE ANY REPORTED ISSUES AND HAVE NO INPUT. WILL BE RETURNING TO DEALER AGAIN FOR #3 REPAIR THIS WEEK. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10034462August 25, 2003
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
INTERMITTENTLY POWER STEERING FAILED, MAKING HARD TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10030577August 1, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE, POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
THE SORENTO SUV WAS BOUGHT IN JUNE 2003. WITH LESS THAN 1000 MILES IN JUNE 2003 THE SORENTO WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALER'S SERVICE TO CHECK AN OIL LEAK ON THE FRONT AXLE. THE DEALER CITED AN OVERFILLED GEAR OIL AND THE GEAR OIL LEVEL WAS CORRECTED. AFTER FEW WEEKS, IN JULY 2003, THE SORENTO WAS BROUGHT BACK AGAIN TO THE SAME DEALER BECAUSE THE GEAR OIL LEAK WAS STILL THERE. THE DEALER KEPT THE SORENTO, CITED NON-DRIVABLE AND HAVE TO ORDER THE PART. THE GASKET WAS REPLACED AND SORENTO WAS TEST DRIVEN. THE GEAR OIL LEAK STILL SHOWED UP. NOW THE DEALER SAID THAT THEY GOT HOLD OF KIA AND CITED THAT THEY HAVE TO REPLACE THE BLEEDER TUBE. THE BLEEDER TUBE WAS REPLACED AND THE GEAR OIL LEAK DID NOT GO AWAY. AT THIS TIME, THE WHOLE UNIT OF THE FRONT DRIVE AXLE WAS ORDERED AND REPLACED THE ORIGINALLY INSTALLED UNIT OF THE SORENTO. AFTER THE DEALER TEST DROVE THE NEWLY INSTALLED FRONT AXLE, THE GEAR OIL WAS STILL LEAKING. AT THIS TIME, FOR ALMOST A MONTH, THE SORENTO IS STILL IN THE REPAIR BAY OF THE DEALER AWAITING DIRECTION FROM KIA. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10023204June 16, 2003
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
PURCHASED 2003 KIA SORENTO 4X4 ON 5/26/03. ON 5/31/03 (ODOMETER 600 MILES)WHILE DRIVING AND MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN THE POWER STEERING FAILED, ALMOST STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE, TRIED TO REGAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD. A FRIEND WAS IN THE VEHICLE WITH ME AND CAN ATTEST TO THE POWER STEERING FAILURE BECAUSE HE TRIED TO STEER THE VEHICLE ALSO. 6/2/03 DEALERSHIP REPLACED POWER STEERING RACK, GEAR AND ASSEMBLY. ON 6/10/03 (ODOMETER 830) POWER STEERING FAILED AGAIN WHILE I WAS EXITING DOWN IN A PARKING GARAGE; HAD TO FIGHT WITH THE STEERING WHEEL TO GAIN CONTROL. ON 6/12/03 (ODOMETER 850) POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED AND LATER THAT EVENING WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING STALL FROM THE RESTAURANT THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AGAIN. DEALERSHIP SAID A TEAM OF 3 KIA SERVICE TECHS NOW FOUND OUT THERE WAS A PROGRAM ERROR ON THE VEHICLES COMPUTER; THEY CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THEY(KIA OR THE DEALERSHIP) DIDN'T HAVE A CLUE. MONDAY 6/16/03 ENGINEER TEAM FROM KIA WAS TO EVALUATE THE VEHICLE. THEY COULD NOT FIGURE THE PROBLEM OUT. AFTERNOON OF 6/16/03 DEALERSHIP SAID KIA'S FIELD INSPECTOR WILL BE OUT WEDNESDAY 6/18/03 TO EVALUATE THE VEHICLE FURTHER. I COULD HAVE KILLED SOMEONE OR MYSELF DRIVING THIS VEHICLE WHILE THE POWER STEERING REPEATED FAILED. NOW I'M DEATHLY TERRIFIED DRIVING THE VEHICLE, I'M IN A RENTAL CAR UNTIL WEDNESDAY 6/18/03 WHILE THE KIA FIELD INSPECTOR EVALUATES THE VEHICLE. IN MY OPINION KIA NEEDS TO RECALL THIS VEHICLE AND GIVE MY MONEY BACK. I DON'T NEED TO RISK MY LIFE IN ORDER TO MAKE THE COMPANY LOOK GOOD. KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS WERE KEPT IN THE LOOP FROM DAY ONE BUT NO ONE CARES HOW SERIOUS THIS IS, PLEASE HELP. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10019268May 25, 2003
SUSPENSION
VEHICLE VIBRATES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. TOOK TO DEALER THEY SAID WHEELS WERE UNBALANCED. DEALER BALANCED WHEELS AND STILL NO CHANGE. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10016466April 24, 2003
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
VEHICLE WOULD NOT START/HAS BEEN IN SHOP 4 TIMES IN LAST WEEK/1ST TRIP REPLACE THROTTLE BODY 2ND RECALIBRATE ENGINE 3RD TRIP EGI UNIT FAULTY ENGINE LIGHT ON /REPLACE EGI UNIT 4TH TRIP REPLACED THROTTLE BODY(AGAIN) CALIBRATED. CHECKED IDLE SET ..VEHICLE WAS KEPT FOR 2 DAYS ON 2 OF THE VISITS. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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