Kia Sorento Complaints

10,397 consumer complaints on file.

#10629630August 30, 2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
WE WERE ATTEMPTING TO FILL THE SORENTO UP WITH GAS WHEN IT SUDDENLY SPIT GAS OUT OF THE TANK WHEN WE HAD ONLY PUT $11 INTO TO. IT WAS CLOSE TO EMPTY WHEN WE GOT TO THE GAS STATION. WE TRIED A COUPLE TIMES WITH THE SAME RESULT. THE CAR WOULD NOT TAKE ANYMORE GAS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10629272August 29, 2014
AIR BAGS
2007 KIA SORENTO PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG ALARM - DUE TO SEAT SENSOR PROBLEMS OR OTHER PROBLEMS. PROBLEM HAS RECURRED HUNDREDS OF TIMES SINCE PURCHASED NEW. ADVISED BY SERVICE MANAGER OF GREER, SC KIA THAT FAULT WAS DUE TO PASSENGER NOT SITTING PROPERLY IN SEAT WITH FEET POSITIONED PROPERLY BUT ADVISED BY A KIA TECHNICIAN, CONFIDENTIALLY, THAT THIS IS NOT TRUE. PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR WAS ADJUSTED AFTER SEVERAL VISITS BUT FAULT RECURS TIME AFTER TIME WHICH MEANS THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. KIA DOES NOT APPEAR TO TAKE MATTER SERIOUSLY. THIS COULD RESULT IN DEATHS. OTHER DEALER REPRESENTATIVES REFERS THE PROBLEM BACK TO SERVICE MANAGER ONLY. NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS: AT LEAST SIX OR MORE - TO LITTLE AVAIL. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS FROM TIME TO TIME. USUALLY THE PASSENGER CAN BOUNCE UP AND DOWN SEVERAL TIMES AND FINALLY GET THE ALARM TO EXTINGUISH SHOWING NORMAL AIR BAG OPERATION FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE. WROTE LETTER TO REGIONAL KIA DEALERSHIP TO NO AVAIL. CALLED KIA HELP LINE TO NO AVAIL. ONLY TOLD TO REFER PROBLEM TO KIA DEALERSHIP SERVICE MANAGER. INCIDENT DATE SINCE TIME OF PURCHASE IN JUNE OR JULY, 2007. GUESSING PURCHASE DATE SINCE IT HAS BEEN A FEW YEARS. STILL OWN VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10629311August 29, 2014
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START FINALLY IT STARTED IN THE DRIVE POSITION , HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING TO THE DEALER THAT THE VEHICLE SHIFTS ON ITS OWN FROM DRIVE TO ANOTHER POSITION. IN ADDITION ALL THE LIGHTS REMAIN ON IN THE DASH BOARD. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN OUT THE REPAIR SHOP ON 8/25/14 AND THIS PROBLEM WAS RECTIFIED. THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON NOW SINCE 8/25/14. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10629465August 29, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), EXTERIOR LIGHTING
ESC AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS. DEALER SERVICE DEPT STATED THAT BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WAS AT FAULT, BUT THAT IT HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY REPLACED IN MAR 2010 UNDER A RECALL CAMPAIGN. AFTER REPLACING SWITCH THIS TIME, DEALER SERVICE ADVISER STATED THAT SWITCH APPEARED TO BE ORIGINAL, BUT THAT I WOULD STILL HAVE TO PAY FOR PARTS AND LABOR ($129.86). I PAID BUT PROTESTED. I HAVE SERIOUS DOUBTS THAT BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WAS REPLACED IN MAR 2010 AS DEALER STATED, SINCE THE RECENTLY REPLACED SWITCH APPEARED TO BE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. SUBSEQUENTLY, I FEEL AS THOUGH I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THE MOST RECENT (AUG 2014) REPAIR, ESPECIALLY IF SWITCH HAD NOT BEEN REPLACED UNDER RECALL CAMPAIGN PREVIOUSLY. I SUSPECT THAT DEALER EITHER FALSIFIED THE MAR 2010 REPAIR, AND/OR REPLACED RECALLED SWITCH WITH IDENTICAL REPLACEMENT (WHICH IS PRONE TO FAILURE). WHAT GOOD IS A RECALL IF ORIGINAL DEFECT WAS SIMPLY REINSTALLED? I DO HAVE POSSESSION OF DEFECTIVE SWITCH REPLACED IN AUG 2014. NOT ONLY DO I WANT MY MONEY RETURNED TO ME, BUT I WOULD LIKE SOME ASSURANCE THAT THE PROBLEM IS NOW REMEDIED WITH A RELIABLE SWITCH. PLEASE RESPOND. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10628837August 27, 2014
ENGINE
I WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC THAT "SOMETHING HAPPENED INSIDE THE ENGINE THAT CANNOT BE REPAIRED". PRIOR TO THE ENGINE FAILURE (MAY, 2014) THE REAR THROTTLE PLATE CAME APART AND LODGED IN THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO RETRIEVE THE SCREWS AND ONE WAS EVEN LODGED IN A CYLINDER HEAD. A THROTTLE PLATE ASSEMBLY WAS INSTALLED AND THE CAR WAS DRIVABLE BUT WITH AN AUDIBLE NOISE. AT THIS TIME I WAS TOLD THE SAME PROBLEM EXISTS WITH MANY KIA'S AND YET A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED. MY CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE, IT'S A V6 AND THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE IS COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN AND I FEEL KIA COULD HAVE AVOIDED THIS WITH A RECALL WHEN THEY HAVE KNOWN FOR YEARS THAT THE PROBLEM EXISTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10628975August 27, 2014
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY, STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
DRIVERS SIDE DOOR COULD NOT BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE. IT WOULD ONLY OPEN FROM INSIDE THE CAR. WHEN THIS ISSUE IS GOOGLED I REALIZE THIS IS A COMMON KIA PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10628777August 27, 2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WENT INTO "SAFE MODE" AND DECELERATED TO 20 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10628320August 26, 2014
ENGINE, STEERING
I BOUGHT A 2003 KIA SORENTO FROM MY NIECE BACK IN NOVEMBER 2013 FOR $2000 AND NOT EVEN TWO WEEKS INTO OWNING THIS VEHICLE, THE CRANK SHAFT BROKE IN HALF! THE BOLT BROKE OFF IN HALF INSIDE THE CRANK SHAFT PULLEY AND THE OTHER HALF OF THE BOLT WAS INSIDE THE CRANK SHAFT CASE. TO MY UNDERSTANDING, THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT THE CRANK SHAFT NEEDED REPAIRING (MY NIECE, HUSBAND WHO WERE THE FIRST AND ORIGINAL OWNERS TO THIS KIA SORENTO HAD IT BREAK DOWN ON HIM ON THE FREEWAY AS WELL, HAD TO GET IT TOWED TO KIA THEN PAID THEM TO FIX IT WHEN THEY OWNED THE VEHICLE) BUT THIS TIME, WHEN THIS ISSUE HAPPENED AGAIN WHILE I OWNED THE VEHICLE, THE CRANK SHAFT FAILED IN A GREATER AND MORE COSTLY CONDITION THEN THE FIRST TIME THE CRANK SHAFT FAILED ON THEM. WHICH THEN CAUSED ENGINE FAILURE, LOSS OF POWER STEERING, LOSS OF THE CHARGING SYSTEM, LOSS OF THE COOLING SYSTEM AND LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, EVERYTHING SHUT DOWN, VEHICLE WOULDN'T START UP AFTER THAT AND IT COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AS IT HAPPENED WHILE ON THE FREEWAY AND WHILE MY HUSBAND, MY DAUGHTER AND MY GRANDDAUGHTER WAS IN THE VEHICLE TRAVELING. IT COULD HAVE JEOPARDIZE THEIR LIFE'S AS WELL AS OTHER! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10628371August 26, 2014
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
FOR THE 3RD TIME IN AS MANY YEARS, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND ESC LIGHT COME ON AT THE SAME TIME CAUSING THE CAR TO GO INTO LIMP MODE. SOMETIMES IT WILL RESET IF YOU TURN THE CAR OFF AND RESTART. HAVE REPLACE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. SEE THIS IS A COMMON THEME WITH THIS CAR. I HAVE NO IDEA WHY IT HAS NOT BECOME A RECALL. WHEN LOSING ALL POWER ON HWY IN TRAFFIC THIS IS SURE TO BECOME A FATALITY ISSUE BEFORE LONG. I WOULD THINK THE COMPANY WOULD RATHER RECALL BEFORE IT BECOMES A LAWSUIT.. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10628447August 26, 2014
WHEELS
TL- THE CONTACT 2011 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED SHE HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A TIRE DEALER TO REPLACE FOUR TIRES ON THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE CORE BETWEEN THE VALVE STEMS AND THE TIRE PRESSURE SENSORS WERE CORRODED AND COULD CAUSE FUTURE FAILURES. THE REAR DRIVER SIDE SENSOR WAS ATTACHED TO THE VALVE STEM AND THE ENTIRE PIECE HAD BROKEN OFF OF THE VEHICLE WHEN AIR WAS INSERTED INTO THE TIRE DUE TO CORROSION. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE "LOW TIRE PRESSURE" SENSOR TO NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE TIRES WERE LOW. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS AND THE DEALER MECHANIC WAS NOT ABLE TO LOCATE A PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000.GB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10628094August 25, 2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY PLACING FUEL IN THE VEHICLE. THE FUEL WOULD NOT ENTER THE TANK AND LEAKED OUT WHILE THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO INSERT FUEL. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW CANISTER FILTER, FUEL CAP, AND FILLER PIPE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. UPDATED 10/8/14*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE CONSUMER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF ANY RECALLS DUE TO BEING THE SECOND OWNER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. UPDATED 3/24/2015 *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10628113August 25, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DASH INDICATORS FOR TRACTION SLIP, DOWNHILL ASSIST AND ABS CAME ON AND HAVE STAYED ON. BRAKING IS FINE AND PUSHING THE ASSIST AND SLIP BUTTONS HAVE NO CHANGE ON BRAKING. TWO WEEKS LATER THE HIGH BEAM AND TURN SIGNAL DASH LIGHTS WILL NOT ILLUMINATE, BUT THE AFOREMENTIONED LIGHTS ARE STILL ON. THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WAS RECALLED AND REPAIRED BY THE DEALER UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVE CHANGED THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH AND AFOREMENTIONED LIGHTS ARE STILL ON AND OTHERS STILL NOT WORKING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10628169August 25, 2014
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES AND WAS SIMILAR TO THE FAILURE LISTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V473000 (AIR BAGS). THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10627824August 24, 2014
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE LIGHTS AT LEAST THREE TIMES A YEAR ON THIS VEHICLE SINCE OWNERSHIP MANY TIMES. IN ADDITION, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP 2 AND THE WHOLE STEERING SYSTEM TWICE ALSO. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON THE VEHICLES OF MY MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR BUT NOT ON MY SPECIFIC VEHICLE. SO IM STUCK WITH A VEHICLE BREAKING DOWN ON ME AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR THAT HAS A RECALL FOR OTHER VEHICLES IN THE SAME MODEL AND YEAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10627872August 24, 2014
POWER TRAIN
THE VEHICLE IS SIMPLY NOT WANTING TO ACCELERATE UPON TAKING OFF OR GOING UPHILL. AFTER LITTLE RESEARCH, I FOUND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ASSOCIATED WITH THIS MODEL. A METAL PIECE OF A VALVE HAS BEEN SHEARING OFF THEN LODGING IN THE EMISSIONS SYSTEM. CANADA HAS ALREADY ISSUED A RECALL SO I AM UNSURE WHY THE US HASN'T FOLLOWED SUIT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10627789August 23, 2014
ENGINE
AFTER A SMALL NUMBER OF DAYS OF A MINOR RATTLING FROM THE ENGINE, AS I PULLED AWAY AT AN INTERSECTION THERE WAS A BANG FROM THE ENGINE, THE ENGINE LOST ALL POWER AND THERE WAS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF BANGING FROM THE ENGINE. MANAGED TO CRAWL TO A NEARBY GAS STATION. THE CAR STALLED ON THE FORECOURT. MANAGED TO RESTART IT, ONLY TO HEAR THE TERRIBLE BANGING AGAIN AND SEE THAT THE ENGINE STILL HAD NO POWER. HAD IT TOWED TO THE LOCAL KIA DEALER THE FOLLOWING MORNING. AT THE TIME OF WRITING THIS, KIA ARE REFUSING TO FIX THE CAR UNDER WARRANTY, DESPITE IT STILL BEING COVERED AND THERE ONLY BEING 44,000 MILES ON IT. THEY ARE CLAIMING THE REASON FOR THE INCIDENT IS A 'CLOGGED OIL FILTER', ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE YET TO PROPERLY EXAMINE THE ENGINE AND OFFICIALLY DIAGNOSE THE FAULT. THE SYMPTOMS OF MY INCIDENT ARE SUSPICIOUSLY SIMILAR TO OTHER ISSUES DATING BACK TO 2005 WHERE THE BOLT PIN ON THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY SHEARS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10627393August 22, 2014
POWER TRAIN
THERE HAS BEEN A VERY HARD JERK FORWARD AFTER A STOP (OR STOP AND TURN I. E. AT STOP SIGN) WHEN I START TO ACCELERATE GENTLY. THIS JERK HAS ALWAYS HAPPENED AFTER A STOP WITHIN 75 - 150 FEET. THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN AROUND 10- 15 MPH. JERK FORWARD SEEMS TO BE A SLAM FORWARD OF DRIVE SHAFT AFTER JUST STARTING TO ACCELERATE. THIS HAS OCCURRED ABOUT THREE TIMES A MONTH AND USUALLY AFTER CAR HAS RUN ABOUT FIVE MINUTES. I AM NOT A MECHANIC BUT THIS SEEMS TO BE POWER TRAIN ISSUE WITH DRIVE SHAFT, BRAKES AND/ OR TRANSMISSION INVOLVED. I WILL RESEARCH FURTHER WITH DEALER AS TIME PERMITS - THEY HAVE BEEN MADE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE BUT DID NOT SAY FOR SURE WHAT WAS HAPPENING AS OF YET (WANT LONGER EVALUATION TO DRIVE VEHICLE THEMSELVES). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10627313August 21, 2014
STRUCTURE:BODY
AROUND THE FIRST OF THIS MONTH I ATTEMPTED TO OPEN MY DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE AND WAS UNABLE TO. I THOUGHT IT WAS THE LOCK ITSELF, BUT AFTER INVESTIGATING A LITTLE FURTHER I REALIZED IT IS THE DOOR HANDLE ITSELF. I ALSO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS WITH MY FUEL DOOR. SOMETIMES IT OPENS WITH THE PUSH BUTTON AND SOMETIMES IT DOES NOT. KIA HAS LOOKED AT THIS AND WAS NOT ABLE TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10626499August 20, 2014
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE SPECS FOR THE ADJUSTMENT OF HID LIGHTS ARE REQUIRING THE LIGHTS BE SET TOO LOW (NOT SHINING FAR ENOUGH) THE ROAD IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE IS ILLUMINATED FOR A FEW YARDS ONLY, AND THE HIGH BEAM LIGHT SHINES ONLY AS FAR AS THE LOW BEAM OF ME PREVIOUS VEHICLES. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS IF ONE DRIVES ON A FREEWAY AT THE ALLOWED SPEEDS (IN SOME STATES THIS IS 80 M/H). IN MY INCIDENT I WAS DRIVING ON I 80 IN NEBRASKA AT ABOUT 12 AM AND DID NOT SEE A CHUNK OF TRUCK TIRE LAYING ON THE ROADWAY. I DROVE OVER THE PIECE WHICH SUBSEQUENTLY WAS PROPELLED UNDER MY VEHICLE AND DESTROYED THE PROTECTIVE PLASTIC SHIELD FOR THE BRAKE LINES AND TORE OFF THE FUMES CANISTER OF THE GAS TANK. BOTH COULD HAVE ENDED UP IN A RATHER DANGEROUS CONDITION, AND ONE HAS TO ASK, IS A PLASTIC SHIELD THE PROPER PROTECTION FOR THESE COMPONENTS? THIS WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED IF THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD HAVE ILLUMINATED ENOUGH OF THE ROAD IN FRONT OF THE CAR WHICH IN TURN WOULD HAVE ALLOWED FOR AN EVASIVE MANEUVER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10626359August 19, 2014
STEERING, SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
AFTER SITTING OVERNIGHT OR ALL DAY, WHEN BACKING UP THEN GOING FORWARD THE CAR ACTS LIKE THE ABS IS STICKING AND WONT MOVE FORWARD, PULLS TO THE LEFT. YOU HAVE PUT CAR IN PARK, TURN IT OFF, THEN TURN BACK ON FOR IT TO STOP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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