Kia Sorento Complaints (2011)

1,520 consumer complaints on file.

#11128799September 11, 2018
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I AM ISSUING A COMPLAINT BECAUSE THERE ARE TONS OF REPORTS ABOUT MY MAKE/MODEL CATCHING FIRE AND STEERING ISSUES. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY CAR, ESPECIALLY WITH MY SON IN THE CAR WITH ME. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE, OR THESE CARS NEED TO BE DISCONTINUED!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11128829September 11, 2018
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
SINCE I BOUGHT THE 2011 KIA SORENTO THE TRANSMISSION OR ENGINE TENDS TO STALL IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING LIKE NOT CHANGING GEARS, GETS LOCKED, JERKS BACK AND FORTH TILL IT UNLOCKS OR CHANGES GEARS WHILE AT THE SAME TIME SLOWING OR STOPPING CAR IN IT'S TRACKS. TWICE I HAVE HIT MY HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL, HAVE HAD SEAT BELTS LOCK TIGHT AGAINST ME AND MY PASSENGERS WHEN IT LOCKS WHILE TRYING TO CHANGE GEARS. IT HAPPENS AT LEAST 3-6 TIME A YEAR SINCE I HAVE HAD THE CAR. I HAVE REPORTED IT TO MY SERVICE DEALERSHIP KEARNY PEARSON KIA, 7303 CLAIREMONT MESA BLVD, SAN DIEGO, CA 92111 AND THEY HAVE NOT FOUND ANYTHING WRONG. THESE PAST TWO YEARS THE GEARS LOCKING IS GETTING WORSE AND THE CAR SLOWS DOWN INSTANTLY FROM DRIVING ON THE FRWY 65 MPH DOWN TO 35 MPH INSTANTLY ALMOST HAVING CARS HIT ME FROM BEHIND. SAME FOR DRIVING ON THE STREET GOING 35-40 MPH DROPPING TO 5-10MPH AND STOP/JERK/GO/STOP/JERK AND ALMOST HAVING CARS BEHIND ME CRASH INTO ME. I HAVE BEEN BLESSED TO HAVE HAD FAST REACTING DRIVERS BEHIND ME OR NO DRIVERS. THIS LAST INCIDENT LAST MONTH WAS SO POWERFUL THAT I SMACKED THE STEERING WHEEL AND THOUGHT I HAD GOTTEN HIT BUT DIDN'T. MY CHEST GOT TIGHT AS IF I WAS HAVING A HEART ATTACK FROM THE FORCE AND MY KIDS CRIED FROM THE WHIPLASH. THIS WAS YET THE STRONGEST. ALSO, SINCE 2011 I HAVE HAD 7 - 10 INCIDENTS OF SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE AIR VENTS, SMILING LIKE FIRE. I TURN OFF THE VENT AND IT CONTINUES FOR 10MIN THEN GOES AWAY. I AM NO MECHANIC BUT IF I HAD TO GUESS I WOULD SAY SOMETHING WITH THE AIR-CONDITIONING BEING HIGH FOR LONG PERIODS AND THEN WHEN IT GETS TURNED DOWN OR OFF SEEMS TO ACTIVATE THESE THINGS ESPECIALLY THE GEARS LOCKING. JUST MY OBSERVATION. I HOPE YOU CAN GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS BECAUSE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE I FEAR FOR MY LIFE AND THOSE WITH ME OR AROUND ME WITH THIS CAR. YOU JUST DON'T KNOW WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN NEXT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11128492September 10, 2018
POWER TRAIN
WAS DRIVING FELT LIKE I HIT SOMETHING AND THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO ANY OTHER GEAR. I STOPPED PUT IT IN PARK AND NO CHANGE AFTER WORK,8 HOURS LATER, THE CAR RAN FINE. IT HAD BEEN SHIFTING ROUGH FOR A WHILE, AT OR AROUND 50MPH, IT WOULD JERK THE WHOLE CAR LIKE IT WAS SHIFTING UP OR DOWN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11128568September 10, 2018
STRUCTURE:BODY, ENGINE
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY LOCKED UP(STOPPED) AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. SHE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THEN WITHIN MINUTES THE ENGINE WAS IN COMPLETE FLAMES. PRIOR TO THIS THERE WHERE NEVER ANY SIGNS OF THE CAR RUNNING OR DRIVING LIKE THERE WHERE GOING TO BE PROBLEMS. I'VE NEVER HAD ANY MECHANICAL ISSUES AT ALL ASIDE FROM THIS INCIDENT. THIS HAS COME COMPLETELY OUT OF NOWHERE UNEXPECTEDLY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11128230September 8, 2018
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE REAR DOOR ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE DOES NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. AFTER RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11124718September 6, 2018
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), SUSPENSION
PULLS TO 1 DIRECTION WHEN BRAKING AND DRIVING. SOUNDS OF AXEL OR SUSPENSION IN MOTION STARTED ON CITY STREETS NOW ON HIGHWAY
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11123962September 1, 2018
ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, STEERING
VERY ROUGH START IN THE MORNING OR AFTER SITTING OFF FOR OVER 2 HOURS. AFTER 30 SECONDS ENGINE NOISE REDUCED DRAMATICALLY. STEERING CONTROL MALFUNCTION SOMETIMES. MAKING UP DOW BUTTON ACT ERRATICALY ALONG CRUISE CONTROL AND RADIO CONTROL. BLUETOOTH CONNECTION SOUND QUALITY VERY POOR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11123893August 31, 2018
POWER TRAIN
MY TRANSMISSION ISN'T SHIFTING PROPERLY I CANT EVEN REVERSE 1ST 2ND AND PART OF 3RD GEARS ARE ROUGH SHIFTING. ITS ALSO CAUSING IT TO MAKE A CLUNKING SOUND IN THE REAR AXEL ALSO WONT SHIFT WHILE TURNING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11123563August 30, 2018
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
DOOR WILL NOT OPEN! THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION, IT IS CLEARLY A KNOWN ISSUE ON THESE VEHICLES. IT WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE AND IF YOU HAD THE CHILD LOCK ENGAGED, IT WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE EITHER. FORTUNATELY I DID NOT HAVE THE CHILD LOCK ENGAGED SO I CAN STILL OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE, BUT NOW THAT I KNOW IT'S A COMMON ISSUE I'M AFRAID IT WILL HAPPEN ON MY OTHER DOORS AND I DO HAVE A CHILD, SO THE CHILD LOCKS ARE SOMETIMES USED. CAR WAS PARKED AT THE TIME, I CLOSED THE DOOR AND THE NEXT TIME THE HANDLE WOULD NOT OPEN IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11122684August 27, 2018
POWER TRAIN
2011 KIA SORENTO - WHILE DRIVING, THE GEARS IN MY CAR STOPPED WORKING AND MADE A TERRIBLE LOUD NOISE. AFTER GETTING VEHICLE TOWED, PROBLEM WAS FOUND TO BE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT ON PASSENGER SIDE.BELOW IS THE DETAILED RECALL INFO-HOWEVER MY VIN DOES NOT SHOW THIS RECALL. BUT I THINK IT SHOULD. DESCRIPTION OF VEHICLES IS MINE. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO ME: SB082B - RECALL TO REPLACE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. RECALL: 11V258000 RECALL DATE 04/25/2011 COMPONENT POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT SUMMARY KIA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 SORENTO 2WD VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS AND 2.4L ENGINES MANUFACTURED FROM THE START OF PRODUCTION THROUGH MAY 22, 2010. THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT MAY SUFFER FROM NOISE AND EXCESSIVE WEAR DUE TO A MISALIGNMENT OF THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WITH THE RIGHT SIDE OUTPUT GEAR. CONTINUING TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE IN THIS CONDITION LEADS TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF A WHIRRING/WHINING NOISE AND CAN EVENTUALLY CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. CONSEQUENCE DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION MAY CAUSE LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. WHAT OWNERS SHOULD DO DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE RIGHT SIDE OUTPUT GEAR AND INTERMEDIATE SHAFT FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MAY 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542. **I SUBMITTED A CASE TO KIA #12833214, AFTER 10 DAYS I DIDN'T GET A REPLY SO I CALLED THEM. I SPOKE TO HALEY AND SHE ADVISED MY CAR WAS NOT MANUFACTURED IN A LOCATION THAT HAD THIS ISSUE. I THINK KIA GOT THIS WRONG. MY CAR OBVIOUSLY HAD THE EXACT PROBLEM THEY ARE STATING AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY KIA FREE OF CHARGE. INSTEAD, I HAD TO PAY $635 TO REPLACE THE EXACT PART THIS RECALL WAS ON. KIA HAS REFUSED TO REIMBURSE ME. WHEN I ASKED WHO I COULD COMPLAIN TO, THEY SAID THERE IS NO ONE. SO I AM REACHING OUT TO YOU.... THANKS, EVONNE (KIA OWNER SINCE JUN 2010)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11122394August 26, 2018
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
ALL OF A SUDDEN ALL MY INTERIOR DASH LIGHTS AND HEADLIGHTS STARTED BLINKING WHILE THE CAR WAS RUNNING. I SHUT THE CAR OFF AND IT CONTINUED, TURNED THE CAR BACK ON AND IT WAS STILL GOING. THEN THE FLICKERING RANDOMLY STOPPED. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY IN MY DRIVEWAY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11122261August 25, 2018
POWER TRAIN
THIS IS THE SECOND TIME MY CAR JOLTS WHEN I AM DRIVING. DOES NOT MATTER HOW FAST I AM GOING. IT FEELS LIKE THE CAR GETS REALLY SLUGGISH AND IT JOLTS BEFORE ACCELERATION, IT HAPPENED ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO AND THE DEALERSHIP MADE ME PAY $600 TO CHANGE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CLAIMING THAT IT WOULD FIX THAT ISSUE AND IT DID NOT. AFTER THAT IT KEPT DOING THE SAME THING AND I LOOK IT UP ONLINE AND SAW THAT PEOPLE WERE SAYING TO REQUEST FOR A TRANSMISSION UPDATE, SO I WENT BACK AND THEY DID THAT AND IT "FIXED" THE ISSUE. THAT TIME MY ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AND CAME BACK ON EVEN AFTER THEY FIXED THE SUPPOSED ISSUE. THIS TIME THERE'S NO ENGINE LIGHT ON AND THE CAR JOLTS EVEN HARDER. I HAVE SEEN SO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ONLINE I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY MY CAR DOES NOT SHOW AS A RECALL FOR THE TRANSMISSION. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING NOW FOR A FEW DAYS AND THE JOLTING JUST GETS WORSE EVERY TIME I DRIVE. LAST NIGHT WHEN I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY GOING ABOUT 40 MPH IT DID IT AND AGAIN AFTER 50MPH IT WAS VERY SCARY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11121177August 20, 2018
AIR BAGS
THE SRS LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11120133August 15, 2018
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR FAILED TO LOCK MANUALLY OR WITH THE KEY FOB. ALSO, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL CLICKING NOISE WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11120001August 14, 2018
SERVICE BRAKES
MY BRAKE LAMP SWITCH/ STOPLIGHT SWITCH APPEARS TO BE FAULTY OR FAILING, AS MY BRAKE LAMPS ARE NOT LIGHTNING UP WHEN I PRESS MY BRAKE PEDAL, NOR WILL MY CAR GO INTO PARK OR REVERSE WHEN THIS HAPPENS. IF IT'S WHEN I FIRST CRANK THE CAR, THEN IT WILL NOT GO OUT OF PARK WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS PRESSED. ALSO, THE ESC LIGHT AND THE DBC LIGHT COMES ON WHEN THIS HAPPENS. MY PEDAL/GEAR SHIFTER WON'T MAKE THE CLICKING VIBRATION NOISE THAT CAN EVEN BE FELT IN MY FOOT AND HAND IN ORDER TO SHIFT THE CAR INTO A GEAR OR OUT OF GEAR. THIS APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM IN KIAS AND I DO SEE A RECALL THAT WAS FOR 2006-2011 KIA SORENTO VEHICLES. MY VIN IS NOT SHOWING AS PART OF THE RECALL, BUT I'M HAVING THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM, AND THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE I CAN BE REAR-ENDED AND EVEN KILLED IN AN MVA WITH NO BRAKE LAMPS. KIA SHOULD COVER THIS REPLACEMENT FOR ME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11118578August 8, 2018
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
MY 2011 KIA SORENTO HAS BEEN TROUBLE FROM DAY ONE. A WEEK AFTER I BOUGHT IT, THE WIRING HARNESS HAD TO BE REPLACED WHICH TOOK OVER A MONTH TO GET THE PART FROM KIA. THEN AT 90,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION STARTED FAILING AND IT TOOK ME FOREVER TO GET KIA TO REPLACE THAT. THEN THE REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION WENT BAD LESS THAN A YEAR LATER AND THEY REPLACED THAT. NOW, AT 120,000 MILES (OUT OF WARRANTY) THE MOTOR HAS DIED. GRINDSTAFF KIA IN JOHNSON CITY, TN TELLS ME IT IS A 'INTERNAL FAILURE' OF THE MOTOR, IT COULD BE A ROD OR CAM, BUT THEY WOULD NOT KNOW UNLESS THEY TOOK THE MOTOR APART. KIA'S PRODUCT IS TERRIBLE AND A SAFETY HAZARD. WHEN THE MOTOR STOPPED MY HUSBAND WAS IN 65 MILE AN HOUR TRAFFIC AND COULD HAVE BEEN INJURED WHEN IT STARTED TO LOOSE POWER AND THEN THE STARTER STUCK AND WIRES STARTED SMOKING WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE. MY MOTOR WAS A 4 CYLINDER 2.4 LITER ENGINE THAT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED BY KIA FOR FAILURES. THEY WANT TO CHAGE ME $5500 PLUS TAX TO PUT ANOTHER ENGINE IN THE JUNK, WHICH TO ME IS ADDING GOOD MONEY TO BAD PRODUCT. I ALSO STILL OWE A BANK $$ FOR THIS CAR WHICH IS GOING TO BE NEGATIVE EQUITY I'M SURE. KIA SHOULD STAND BEHIND IT'S PRODUCT AND RECALL THIS ENGINE WHICH IS JUNK. I WILL NOT BUY KIA AGAIN, THAT IS FOR SURE!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11115586August 3, 2018
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER OPERATING, A BURNING AND EXHAUST ODOR ENTERED THE CABIN THROUGH THE VENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BAIERL KIA (11410 PERRY HWY, WEXFORD, PA 15090, (724) 741-1197) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT CARBON WAS BUILDING UP IN THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11114289July 28, 2018
STRUCTURE:BODY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 6 MILES TO A LOCAL STORE NEARBY AND BACK HOME AS I PULLED MY CAR INTO MY PARKING SPOT BLACK SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM THE HOOD SO I TURNED THE CAR OFF WAITED UNTIL THE SMOKE STOPPED AND LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD TO SEE IF I COULD TELL WHAT WAS SMOKING. EVERYTHING APPEARED FINE AND I MADE SURE TO CHECK ALL OF MY FLUID LEVELS AND OIL WHICH WERE ALL FULL. LATER THAT DAY MAYBE 4 HOURS LATER I DROVE ABOUT 15 MILES TO MY SISTERS HOUSE AND AGAIN AS I WAS PARKING MY CAR THE BLACK SMOKE STARTED AGAIN FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I PROCEEDED TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND LOOK UNDER THE HOOD AGAIN AFTER THE SMOKE CLEARED. LESS THAN 5 MINUTES LATER THE WAS A LOUD POPPING NOISE FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND BY THE TIME I RAN OUTSIDE TO SEE THE ENTIRE FRONT PART OF MY CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES HOWEVER THE WINDOWS WERE UP SO THE FLAMES WERE CONTAINED INSIDE THE CAR AND UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME MINUTES LATER AND PUT THE FIRE OUT AND I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED DUE TO THE FRONT TIRES MELTING FROM THE FIRE. I HAD IT TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I'D PURCHASED IT ONLY 5 MONTHS BEFORE AND LET THEM AND FINANCING COMPANY KNOW. NO ONE COULD EXPLAIN WHY MY CAR SPONTANEOUSLY COMBUSTED LIKE A BOMB WHILE PARKED AND TURNED OFF. I'M REPORTING THIS INCIDENT BECAUSE I DO NOT BELIEVE IT WAS A FREAK ACCIDENT I BELIEVE THESE VEHICLES SHOULD DEFINITELY BE INVESTIGATED BEFORE SOMEONE LOSES THEIR LIFE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11112988July 23, 2018
ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE THE OIL LIGHT INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON DASHBOARD. VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO A GAS STATION AND ATTENDANT CHECKED OIL, INDICATED THAT IT WAS APPROXIMATELY ONE QUARTER LOW AND ADDED A QUART OF OIL. WHEN VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED THE OIL LIGHT WAS STILL ILLUMINATED AND ALSO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY TO MILES TO RESIDENCE WHERE IT WAS PARKED. THE NEXT MORNING VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL AUTO REPAIR SHOP. WHEN STARTED BOTH OIL AND ENGINE LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED AND VEHICLE ENGINE WAS MAKING LOUD KNOCKING AND GRINDING NOISES FOR THE APPROXIMATE MILE AND A HALF DRIVE TO REPAIR STATION. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT ENGINE WOULD NEED REPLACED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11112589July 20, 2018
AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TAKATA RECALL - MY 2011 KIA SORRENTO AIR BAG HAS STOPPED WORKING AND STAYS ON RED. I NOW HAVE NO AIR BAGS. ALSO THE WHOLE FRONT PANEL KEEPS FLASHING ON THEN OFF AT NIGHT WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. I'VE SEARCH FOR A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE AND NONE IS SHOWING UP.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Kia Sorento