Kia Sorento Complaints
10,397 consumer complaints on file.
- #10434312November 5, 2011POWER TRAIN
THIS CAR WAS PURCHASE NEW FROM THE DEALERSHIP. IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN SERVICED BY THE DEALERSHIP. AFTER A RECENT OIL CHANGE I HEARD A "WHINE" NOISE IN THE REAREND SO I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP. AFTER INSPECTION THEY SAY I NEED A NEW REAR END FOR $2000 AND THAT IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE ON PREVIOUS WORK THEY MENTIONED THAT A CHANGE IN FLUID WAS REQUESTED. IF THIS CHANGE IN FLUID WAS SO IMPORTANT WHY WAS I NOT INFORMED. THIS IS LIKE A DOCTOR SAYING IF YOU DO NOT DO THIS YOU WILL DIE. I ALSO HAVE PURCHASED A SECOND KIA FROM THIS DEALERSHIP AND AM VERY LOYAL. NOW I FEEL THAT BOTH KIA AND THE DEALERSHIP HAVE THROWN ME UNDER THE BUS. WHO CAN ONE TRUST IN TODAY'S WORLD. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10434339November 5, 2011VISIBILITY
DRIVERS POWER WINDOW WOULD NOT OPEN. HAD TO TAP ROCKER SWITCH MULTIPLE TIMES. WINDOW THEN WOULD NOT CLOSE AGAIN HAD TO TAP ROCKER SWITCH TO CLOSE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10434133November 3, 2011ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY 2006 KIA SORENTO HAS 96000 MILES ON IT AND IT SEEMS THAT THE HEAD LIGHT OR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAS A SHORT IN IT. THE HEAD LIGHT WILL GO OFF BUT YOU IF YOU TAP THE HEAD LIGHT ASSEMBLY IT WILL COME BACK ON AS IF THERE IS A SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. ALSO, THE DOME LIGHT WILL COME ON IF YOU TURN IT TO THE ON POSITION BUT IF YOU PUT IT ON THE DOOR POSITION IT DOES NOT COME ON WHEN THE DOOR IS OPEN. AGAIN THAT WOULD BE A FAILURE IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE KIA WILL NOT START AFTER REPLACING A HEADLIGHT BULB. I KNOW THAT SOUNDS LIKE THEY ARE NOT RELATED BUT THE HEAD LIGHT WENT OUT SO I REPLACED IT AND THEN I WOULDN'T START RIGHT AFTER CHANGING THE LIGHT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10432984October 27, 2011POWER TRAIN
I WAS DRIVING ON THE X-WAY AT ABOUT 65MPH AND FELT A HUGE JOLT AND HEARD A LOUD BANG AND THE SAME TIME AND THE VEHICLE SEEMED TO LOSE CONTROL A BIT. I WORKED THE SHIFT GEAR TO TRY TO REGAIN CONTROL AND GOT OFF THE X-WAY, AND TURNED AROUND TO SEE WHAT I HAD HIT OR RUN OVER. NOTHING WAS IN THE ROAD. I MADE IT HOME AND MADE A SERVICE APPOINTMENT AT THE NEAREST KIA DEALERSHIP. I BARELY DROVE FOR 3 DAYS UNTIL THE APPOINTMENT ON TUESDAY, 10/25/11. DURING THAT TIME WE FOUND INFORMATION ABOUT THE FAULTY TRANSMISSION RECALL ON THE NHTSA SITE (KIA SAFETY RECALL #SC089) THAT IS RELATED TO THE 2WD AUTOMATIC SORENTO. HOWEVER, THE SYMPTOMS DESCRIBED ARE EXACTLY THE SAME AS I EXPERIENCED ON MY AWD VEHICLE. KIA DROVE IT FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES AND WHEN THE SAME PROBLEM DIDN'T PRESENT FOR THEM, THEY TOLD ME NOTHING WAS WRONG AND TO TAKE IT HOME. THE KIA SERVICE TEAM DIDN'T SEEM TO BE AWARE OF THE NHTSA RECALL. I HAVE CONTACTED KIA BY PHONE AND ALSO BY E-MAIL IN AN ATTEMPT TO GET THE DEFECTIVE PARTS REPLACED. I AM WAITING ON A RESPONSE. I DON'T HAVE A BACK-UP CAR, AND I NEED TO DRIVE EVERY DAY TO KEEP MY JOB, ETC. PLEASE EXPAND THE NHTSA ACTION NUMBER PE11010 - KIA SAFETY RECALL # SC089 TO INCLUDE THE 2011 AWD KIA SORENTO MODELS AND HELP ME GET THIS VEHICLE REPAIRED WHILE IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND BEFORE A CRASH TAKES MY LIFE OR THAT OF SOMEONE ELSE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *TT
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10433016October 27, 2011VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO SX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE SUDDENLY AT ANY GIVEN TIME WITHOUT WARNING. THE ENGINE WOULD EXHIBIT AN ABNORMAL INCREASE IN RPMS AND THE CONTACT WOULD THEN HAVE TO DEPRESS THE BRAKES TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 450 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 600.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10432904October 26, 2011STRUCTURE:BODY, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
DRIVING HOME ON RAINY DAY WHEN SUNROOF SHATTERED OUT OF NOWHERE. DID NOT RUN OFF THE ROAD NOR DID I HEAR ANYTHING HIT THE VEHICLE. I HEARD ONE LOUD POP AND NOTICED SUNROOF VISOR SAGGING SIGNIFICANTLY. CANNOT PROVE SOMETHING DIDN'T HIT IT, BUT DID NOT FIND ANY EVIDENCE OF SOMETHING HITTING THE SUNROOF. CONTACTED KIA TO SEE IF ANY OTHER CASES HAD BEEN REPORTED WITH KIA REPRESENTATIVE STATING THAT SHE DID NOT BELIEVE THERE IS ANYTHING WRONG WITH THEIR VEHICLES, BUT SHE ALSO STATED THAT SHE DID NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES TO LOOK BACK AND SEE IF THERE WAS ANOTHER REPORT. SHE ALSO DECLINED TO LET ME SPEAK WITH HER SUPERVISOR ON THIS MATTER. DUE TO SAFETY PURPOSES, I BELIEVE KIA NEEDS TO LOOK INTO THIS POSSIBLE ISSUE. IF THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ANYONE ELSE, PLEASE CONTACT KIA AND NHSTA IN ORDER TO HELP CORRECT THIS POSSIBLE PROBLEM. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *TT
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10432583October 24, 2011ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR HAS TO BE REPLACED EVERY 2 YEARS WITH NO EXPLANATION AND HEADLIGHTS BEING REPLACED EVERY 3-4 MONTHS AND DOME LIGHT JUST QUIT AND NO EXPLANATION FROM KIA OR DLR. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10432521October 23, 2011POWER TRAIN
BRAND NEW KIA SORENTO (4,000 MILES) NEEDS TO HAVE A COMPLETELY NEW TRANSMISSION AFTER THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10432336October 21, 2011ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 50 MPH WHEN SHE HEARD A CLICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE AS THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FILTER PLACE IN THE ENGINE WAS NOT UP TO STANDARDS AND THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REBUILT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 12,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10430856October 19, 2011VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH IN REVERSE AND THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY INCREASED ACCELERATION AND CIRCLED AROUND THE SIDEWALK AND THEN UNCONTROLLABLY TRAVELED ONTO THE LAWN, CRASHING THROUGH A PLASTIC FENCE. THERE WAS NO PERSONAL INJURY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED, BUT THEY WERE NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,410. UPDATED 12/28/11*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER HAS SINCE SOLD THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 03/12/12
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10430700October 18, 2011STRUCTURE, STEERING, WHEELS
THE PANEL ASSEMBLY UNDER COVER IS BROKEN OFF EASY AND OBSTRUCTING THE WHEELS MOVEMENT, CAN CAUSES OVER TURN OR FLIP OVER. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10430403October 16, 2011ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT HAS COME ON AND STAYS ON. ALSO, THE "ESC OFF" LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. THE CAR IS ONLY DRIVEN SHORT DISTANCES A COUPLE OF TIMES A WEEK, HOWEVER WE ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE IT AT ALL BECAUSE OF THE REPORTS OF POWER AND CONTROL FAILURE. THE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE ALSO NOT WORKING, WHICH COMPOUNDS THE PROBLEM. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10430419October 16, 2011POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION ISSUES. DRIVING AT 30MPH WHEN I NOTICE SUDDENLY THE TRACTION CONTROL AND DOWNHILL ASSISTANCE LIGHTS CAME ON THE DASHBOARD. I TRIED TO TURN IT OFF BUT I COULDN'T, IT JUST WOULD GO AWAY. AT THE NEXT STOP SIGN I PUT THE CAR ON PARK WHEN IT FOR MY SURPRISE IT GOT STUCK, WOULD NOT GO FW OR REVERSE. I HAD TO TURN THE CAR ON AND OFF A FEW TIMES WHEN I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO GET IT TO WORK. THE TRANSMISSION GOT STUCK A FEW TIMES BEFORE AND WHEN I INQUIRED THE DEALERSHIP THEY RAN SOME TESTS AND SAID EVERYTHING IS FINE. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I FOUND OUT THIS IS COMMON ISSUE ON 2011 KIA SORENTO. SEVERAL CUSTOMERS HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED ONCE, TWICE AND EVEN 3/4 TIMES AND THE SAME THING HAPPEN OVER AND OVER. IT SEEMS TO ME KIA DOES NOT CARE, IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND A RIP OFF FOR A $25K CAR WITH LESS THAN 17K MILES. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10430318October 15, 2011ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, POWER TRAIN
AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, VEHICLE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE POWER FROM ACCELERATOR GREATLY REDUCES. APPEARS TO GO INTO 1ST GEAR, AND VEHICLE ONLY ABLE TO DRIVE AT 5MPH. STOPPED CAR ON SHOULDER, TURNED ENGINE OFF AND PARKED. RESTARTED VEHICLE WITH NO POWER OR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS; CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON. AFTER 5 MINUTES OF DRIVING, REPEAT IN ACTIVITIES. OCCURRED 5 TIMES WITHIN 20 MILE DRIVE. VERY UNSAFE TO HAVE OCCUR ON HIGHWAY. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10430930October 14, 2011VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
2011 KIA SORENTO. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SAFETY RECALL CONCERNING VEHICLE SUNROOF *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN NOVEMBER 2010. THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAD NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH EITHER A WATER LEAK OR NOISE SINCE HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN MARCH 2010 AND UP UNTIL THE REPAIR SHOP REPLACED THE SUNROOF. ON JUNE 7, 2011, THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE FOR A SCHEDULED ONE HOUR REPLACEMENT OF THE GLASS PANEL IN THE SUNROOF. IT DID NOT FIT PROPERLY, WITH A SIGNIFICANT GAP AROUND THE GASKET SUCH THAT ONE COULD INSERT A DOLLAR BILL OR PIECE OF PAPER INSIDE, WITHOUT BENDING IT, AND PRONOUNCED WIND STARTING OCCURRING AT AROUND 25 MPH. THE CONSUMER RETURNED TO THE REPAIR FACILITY TWICE IN THE SAME DAY FOR FURTHER ADJUSTMENT, BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE REPAIR FACILITY INFORMED THE CONSUMER THEY WOULD HAVE TO ORDER ANOTHER GASKET. WHEN THE CONSUMER RETURNED FOR HIS SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT, HE WAS INFORMED THERE WOULD BE A $300 CHARGE TO REPLACE THE SEAL, AND ONLY THE PART WAS COVERED UNDER RECALL. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10430259October 14, 2011FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA SORENTO EX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REFUELING,THE INJECTOR WOULD LEAK FUEL AT ANY TIME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE DEFECT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,333 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 109,433.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10429434October 11, 2011VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE ABNORMALLY WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE ESC AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND INFORMED HER THAT THE BRAKE SWITCH AND THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO STATED THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,436.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10429442October 11, 2011ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE EXPRESSWAY, WITHOUT WARNING, THERE WAS A CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE CAUSING ONE OR TWO OF THE CONNECTING RODS TO BLOW THROUGH THE OIL PAN AND START A FIRE FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE TO THE BACK UNDERNEATH THE CARRIAGE. THE FLAMES CAME UP THE SIDES AND BACK OF THE CAR. NEEDLESS TO SAY IT WAS EXTREMELY FRIGHTENING. LOOKING AT THE DAMAGE OF THE CAR I NEVER EXPECTED THEM TO ATTEMPT TO REPAIR THIS CAR YET THEY DID. THE CAR WAS DOWN FOR ALMOST TWO MONTHS, THE SECOND ENGINE AND POWER STEERING FAILED BEFORE WE EVEN DROVE THE REPAIRED CAR OFF THE LOT. KIA STILL DID NOT WANT TO DO ANYTHING BUT REPAIR THE CAR AGAIN. THEY SAID, "THESE THINGS HAPPEN THATS WHY YOU HAVE A WARRANTY". THESE THINGS HAVE NEVER HAPPENED TO ME OR ANYONE I KNOW IN THE 30 YEARS I HAVE BEEN DRIVING. YOU BUY A NEW CAR TO AVOID SUCH PROBLEMS. THE CAR HAS NOW BEEN RETURNED TO ME AND IT IS STILL NOT RIGHT. I JUST TOOK IT IN FOR THEM TO BLOW OUT THE VENTS AND FILTERS. THERE WAS STILL REMNANTS OF THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER COMING OUT WHEN YOU TURNED ON THE AIR. THIS CAR IS DEFECTIVE AND SHOULD HAVE A SALVAGED TITLE. I WAS FORCED TO PUT IN A LAW SUIT. *KB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10429231October 9, 2011STEERING
WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE HOME I NOTICED PULSATING IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT, THE VEHICLE BECAME VERY HARD TO TURN, AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE AND TURNING IT OFF, I TURNED IT BACK ON AND THE POWER STEERING CAME BACK, THIS ISSUE WILL BE ADDRESSED WITH THE DEALERSHIP ON MONDAY. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10429251October 9, 2011POWER TRAIN
I WAS ACCELERATING FROM A STOPLIGHT, AND THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT ENGAGE, AND VEHICLE SEIZED TO ACCELERATE. THERE WAS A LOUD GEAR GRINDING NOISE WHEN GEAR WAS ENGAGED, BOTH FORWARD AND REVERSE. CAR STARTED FINE AFTERWARD, BUT SAME GEAR GRINDING OCCURRED WHEN PLACED IN GEAR, WITH NO VEHICLE MOTION. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0