Kia Sorento Complaints
10,397 consumer complaints on file.
- #10392988March 27, 2011POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION BROKEN FOR THIRD TIME. WE CAN NOW DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM CONSISTENTLY BY PARKING ON AN INCLINE, PUTTING THE 2011 KIA SORENTO IN DRIVE AND ATTEMPTING TO TAKE OFF, THE VEHICLE GRINDS AND THEN SUDDENLY ACCELERATES. WE ARE TAKING VEHICLE INTO DEALER FOR THE 4TH TIME. THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO GRIND AND SURGE FORWARD, ONCE CAUSING WIFE TO NEARLY JUMP PEDESTRIAN SIDEWALK WITH HER MOTHER IN VEHICLE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10393470March 26, 2011SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
EXPERIENCING VIBRATION IN BRAKES CAUSED BY WARPED ROTORS. THIS IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE DEALER SAID BRAKES WERE USED TO SLOW DOWN VEHICLE WHILE GOING DOWNHILL ON MOUNTAIN ROADS. VEHICLE IS NOT USED MUCH IN MOUNTAINS, MOSTLY STOP-AND-GO CITY TRAFFIC. IF THIS VEHICLE CANNOT WITHSTAND THIS TYPE OF USE, IT IS NOT SAFE FOR USE ON AMERICAN ROADS. KIA APPARENTLY USES UNDER DESIGNED, INADEQUATE MATERIALS AND THEN EXCLUDES THESE PARTS FROM THEIR SHAM OF A WARRANTY.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10392723March 24, 2011POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AFTER COMING HOME FROM WORK MY DAUGHTER SAID HER CAR WAS MAKING A STRANGE NOISE. SHE ASKED ME TO TAKE IT FOR A TEST DRIVE TO SEE IF I COULD TELL WHAT WAS WRONG. AFTER STARTING THE CAR I PLACED THE TRANSMISSION IN REVERSE. AT THAT POINT I NOTICED A LOUD NOISE AND FELT A STRONG BUMP. AFTER BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE AND NOTICED THE SAME NOISE. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFTED AS I STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION I NOTICED THE NOISE AGAIN. AFTER DRIVING ABOUT A MILE I WENT TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP SIGN, WE HEARD A LOUD NOISE, FELT A BUMP, AND THEN HEARD A VERY LOUD GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION. AT THAT POINT THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT GO ANY WHERE. WE WERE ABLE TO COST TO A SAFE LOCATION ALONG THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10392580March 23, 2011ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AIR BAGS, EQUIPMENT, POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE, POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
I BOUGHT A 2004 KIA SORENTO IN 2006 FINISHED PAYING FOR IT IN 2010,OVER THE YEARS I HAVE HAD TO CHANGE THE LIGHTS SO MANY TIMES I CANT COUNT,I HAVE HAD TOPAINT IT TWICE,THEN THE DRIVING SHAFT BROKE,THE COMPRESSOR WAS CHANGED TWICE, THE CD PLAYER WORKS ON AND OFF THE AIR BAGS LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED FOR MONTHS ON END THE ENGINE LIGHT DOES THE SAME AND MOST RECENTLY THERE IS SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE, I AM HAVING TO STOP PARK AND LET IT COOL OFF BEFORE CONTINUING ON MY JOURNEY, AT THE MOMENT I GOT SCARED AND I NOW I HAVE MY VEHICLE PARKED AT HOME BECAUSE I AM SCARED TO DRIVE IT, IT IS A SHAME AND I AM VERY UPSET. IS THERE ANYONE OUT THERE WHO IS TRYING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS US CONSUMERS ARE HAVING? I OWN MY VEHICLE AND HAS A CLEAN TITLE AND WOULD LIKE TO TRADE IN OR SELL BUT WITH ALL THESE PROBLEMS HOW CAN I PASS IT ON TO SOMEONE ELSE? I AM ASKING SOMEONE FROM KIA TO DO THE RESPONSIBLE THING AND GIVE US SOME ANSWERS BEFORE SOMEONE LOSES THEIR LIFE,THAT IS IF IT HASN'T HAPPENED ALREADY. DON'T LET THIS BE TOYOTA. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10392274March 20, 2011POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILED ON A 2011 KIA SORENTO WITH 22K MILES ON IT. WE WERE PULLING OUT INTO AN INTERSECTION WHEN IT COMPLETELY LOST POWER. THE ONLY WARNING THAT I HAVE SEEN IN REFERENCE TO A POSSIBLE TRANSMISSION ISSUE IS THAT THE CAR IDLES HIGH (AT ABOUT 3500 RPM) IN THE MORNING. THIS WAS REPORTED TO KIA BUT THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE IT. AS OF NOW, THE CAR IS AT THE DEALERSHIP WAITING ON A NEW TRANSMISSION. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10392134March 18, 2011ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ELECTRICAL ISSUES. DOME LIGHT WILL NOT WORK, HEADLIGHT CONTINUE TO BLOW OUT, SOMETHING IS WRONG ELECTRICALLY. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10392186March 18, 2011POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I WAS TRAVELING FROM COLUMBUS OHIO TO TOLEDO OHIO ON A BUSINESS TRIP. THE TRIP STARTED OUT NORMALLY, BUT WHEN I ARRIVED IN TOLEDO AND PULLED OFF AT AN I-75 EXIT, MY TRANSMISSION FAILED AS I WAS EXITING. DID NOT HAVE ANY FORWARD MOTION AT THE EXIT AND HEARD ONLY GRINDING SOUNDS COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION WHEN I TRIED TO MOVE. ENDED UP HAVING IT TOWED TO THE NEAREST KIA DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION, BUT I'M HEARING A STRANGE WHINE COMING FROM THE REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT IF I HAD BEEN TRAVELING AT 70 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE. THIS ISSUE NEEDS A RECALL FROM KIA. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10390493March 17, 2011POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I WAS DRIVING MY 2011 KIA SORENTO FROM ARKANSAS TO INDIANA. I STOPPED OFF TO GET GAS AND FELT LIKE SOMEONE BUMPED ME IN THE REAR END WHEN I CAME TO A STOP. I LOOKED BEHIND ME AND THERE WAS PLENTY OF ROOM BETWEEN THE CAR BEHIND ME AND MYSELF. I WASN'T SURE WHAT IT WAS SO I DIDN'T REALLY THINK TOO MUCH ABOUT IT AND WENT ON MY WAY. THE NEXT TIME I GOT OFF THE INTERSTATE AND STOPPED, IT DID IT AGAIN. I THEN CALLED THE DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT MY SORENTO FROM AND MADE AN APPT TO TAKE IT IN THE FOLLOWING DAY. NEEDLESS TO SAY IT DIDN'T MAKE IT TO THE NEXT DAY. AS SOON AS I GOT OFF THE INTERSTATE (THANKFULLY AT MY EXIT) THE TRANSMISSION WENT COMPLETELY OUT. I THEN HAD TO CALL ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND THEY HAD TO TOW IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE NEXT DAY I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO FIND OUT THAT THEY WERE GOING TO HAVE TO PUT A WHOLE NEW TRANSMISSION IN MY VEHICLE. I WAS PROVIDED A RENTAL CAR UNTIL THE SERVICE WAS COMPLETE. THE THING WAS I WAS ONLY IN TOWN FOR A LONG WEEKEND AND HAD TO GET BACK TO ARKANSAS. THEY TOLD ME THAT I COULD DRIVE THE RENTAL CAR BACK TO ARKANSAS BUT WOULD HAVE TO COME GET THE SORENTO WHEN IT WAS READY. (THEY WOULD NOT SHIP THE SORENTO TO ME) IT DID END UP WORKING OUT OK, MY MOTHER AND FATHER INLAW PICKED UP THE SORENTO WHEN IT WAS FIXED AND I DROVE ONE OF THEIR VEHICLES DOWN TO ARKANSAS. THEY BROUGHT THE SORENTO DOWN TO ME ON THEIR VACATION. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT IN MY BRAND NEW VEHICLE. I DON'T THINK THAT I WILL EVER FEEL TOTALLY SAFE DRIVING IT AGAIN. I'M ALWAYS GOING TO BE WONDERING WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10390391March 16, 2011POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
VEHICLE MODEL: KIA SORENTO EX; THE TRANSMISSION KEEPS FAILING AND THE AIRBAG MODULE KEEPS BREAKING AND DISPLAYING RED LIGHT EVEN AFTER FIXING AT A DEALER SHOP "BILL DODGE KIA , WESTBROOK, ME. THE SYMPTOMS ARE AS FOLLOWS: YOU PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE AND THE VEHICLE DOES NOT MOVE AND ONLY A GRINDING SOUND OCCURS, THEN YOU MOVE THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT UP AND DOWN AND AFTER A FEW MOMENTS IT GENERALLY GOES INTO GEAR.WE ALMOST HAD SEVERAL ACCIDENTS AND THE CAR IS BACK IN THE SHOP. THIS CAR IS A NIGHTMARE CAR -- PLEASE DO NOTIFY MANUFACTURER. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10390441March 16, 2011ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I HAVE TO EVERY 3 -4 MONTHS REPLACE THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2005 KIA SORENTO. KIA HAS TOLD ME BECAUSE YOUR ORGANIZATION HAS NOT ISSUES ANY TYPE OF RECALL ON THIS I WILL KEEP ON REPLACING THEM. THIS IS INSANE!!!!! I KNOW THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY OWNER COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10390084March 14, 2011POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2ND EVENT, UNCOMMANDED DOWNSHIFT FROM 6TH GEAR TO 4TH GEAR AT SPEED. TRANSMISSION THEN LOCKS IN 4TH GEAR UNTIL SHUT DOWN AND RESTARTED. VERY VIOLENT EVENT WHEN IT OCCURS, WITH AN INSTANTANEOUS BANG AND CORRESPONDING IMMEDIATE LOSS OF SPEED. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10389758March 10, 2011POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 65 MPH, TRANSMISSION SHIFTED TO 4TH GEAR UNCOMMANDED FROM 6TH GEAR. LARGE BANG AND SUDDEN DECELERATION. THINK OF HITTING A FOOT DEEP POTHOLE..WITHOUT THE POTHOLE. TRANSMISSION LOCKED IN 4TH GEAR UNTIL ENGINE SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED. PROBLEM HAS NOT RECURRED. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10391028March 10, 2011AIR BAGS
VEHICLE HAS HAS REPEATED ISSUES WITH PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR NOT RECOGNIZING 120 LB. FEMALE PASSENGER. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER (FISHER KIA IN BOULDER, CO) AND WAS TOLD AIR BAG HAD A "GRAY AREA" BETWEEN 80-120 LBS WHERE IT MAY NOT ACTIVATE PROPERLY. I FIND THIS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE AND FEEL UNSAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITH PASSENGER AIRBAG DEACTIVATED WITH MY WIFE IN PASSENGER SEAT.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10386784March 7, 2011STEERING
THE 2011 KIA SPORTAGE COMES NEW THIS YEAR WITH ELECTRIC POWER STEERING. THE CAR IS STEERED BY AN ELECTRIC MOTOR ACTIVATED BY REOSTATES WHEN THE WHEEL IS TURNED. THE STEERING IS VERY JERKY, DARTING FROM LEFT TO RIGHT ON LEVEL ROADS. IN HIGH CROSS WINDS AND RAIN COVERED ROADWAYS THE CAR BECOMES HIGHLY UNSTABLE. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER THAT SOLD ME THE CAR AND WAS INFORMED THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR BUT THEY HAVE NO SOLUTION FOR IT. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH OTHER OWNERS OF THIS CAR AND THEY EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS. THIS IS THE MOST UNSTABLE CAR I HAVE EVER DRIVEN AND FEEL IT IS A DANGER TO THE PUBLIC. MARK MY WORD, LIVES WILL BE LOST AS A RESULT OF THE POOR ENGINEERING EXHIBITED IN THIS CAR. TWO MAJOR CAR MAGAZINES THAT REVIEWED THIS CAR NOTED THE STEERING WAS TERRIBLE. I ASKED THE DEALER TO GIVE ME A NUMBER TO SPEAK TO KIA AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING ANYONE COULD DO. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10388508March 6, 2011UNKNOWN OR OTHER
CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT_WHILE DECELERATING TO MAKE A TURN, I LOST MY POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. THE BRAKE AND BATTERY INDICATOR LIGHTS CAME ON. THANKFULLY, I WAS NOT INVOLVED IN A POTENTIALLY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I MANAGED TO MAKE IT HOME THE LAST TWO MILES USING BATTERY TO SUPPLY IGNITION. THE 2 OF THE 3 BELTS HAD DISLODGED AND THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY WAS LOSE TO THE POINT THAT IT NEARLY DETACHED FROM THE CRANKSHAFT END. I AM GREATLY DISTURBED THAT, AFTER SOME RESEARCH, DISCOVERED THAT THIS EXACT FAILURE HAS BEEN REGULARLY DOCUMENTED. I PURCHASED MY UNIT USED SO I AM UNAWARE IF A PREVIOUS REPAIR HAD BEEN MADE BY KIA. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY NOTIFICATION OF SUCH. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE. I AM THANKFUL THAT I WAS IN A RURAL AREA WHEN THIS FAILURE OCCURRED. BASED UPON SOME RESEARCH FINDINGS, I HOPE THAT I DO NOT EXPERIENCE BALKING WHILE ATTEMPTING TO HAVE THIS ISSUE REMEDIED, AS OTHERS HAVE. I HAVE REVIEWED SOME DISCUSSION REGARDING A SERVICE BULLETIN #018 (NHTSA ITEM NUMBER : 10009688 DATE OF BULLETIN : JUL 01, 2004 CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT) ISSUED BY KIA CONCERNING THIS FAILURE. I WILL BE ARRANGING FOR THE UNIT TO BE DELIVERED TO MY NEAREST KIA DEALER (45 MILES AWAY IN QUINCY, IL).
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10386630March 6, 2011SEATS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STRUCTURE
2006 KIA SORENTO. I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE NEW IN 2006. I HAVE REPLACED SEVERAL HEADLIGHTS, TAILLIGHTS, TURN LIGHTS, ECT. MY DOME LIGHT IS NOW BROKEN AND WONT TURN ON WHEN I OPEN THE DOORS. MOST IMPORTANTLY THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT MOTOR HAS NOW WENT OUT. AFTER CALLING THE DEALERSHIP THEY ADVISED ME THAT ITS ABOUT $1,300.00 TO FIX!!!!!!! MY 4-WHEEL DRIVE GOES IN O.K. BUT I HAVE TO PLAY WITH IT TO GET IT OUT. THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER HAD WATER DAMAGE OR BEEN RODE HARD. YET STILL PROBLEM AFTER PROBLEM!!!!!!! *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10386504March 4, 2011EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS OVERHEATED AND FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BULBS WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED EVERY THREE TO SIX MONTHS. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER OR A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS OR REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. UPDATED 03/24/11*LJ
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10386518March 4, 2011POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAD JUST LEFT WORK AND DROVE ABOUT TWO BLOCKS, STOPPED AT STOP SIGN, THEN PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR WHEN I HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THEN A GRINDING NOISE. THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY ARE SAYING I WILL NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. I ALSO HAVE BEEN HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE DOORS UNLOCKING BY THEMSELVES AS I DRIVE. THIS HAS INCREASED IN FREQUENCY TO 3 -4 TIMES A WEEK. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10386295March 3, 2011TIRES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SORENTO EX. THE VEHICLE HAS KUMHO RADIAL 798 TIRES, LINE SIZE P245/70/R16, MANUFACTURED MARCH 2006. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRES WERE EXHIBITING ABNORMAL FRACTURES. THE TIRE DISTRIBUTOR WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE HOT CLIMATE. THE TIRES WERE NEITHER REPAIRED NOR REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE OF THE TIRES WAS 16,000. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,501 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 52,793. UPDATED 05/03/2011*LJ UPDATED 1/5/12 *CN
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10386291March 3, 2011ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SEAT BELTS
ESC OFF LIGHT COMES ON, SUDDEN LOSS OF ACCELERATION, HEAD LIGHTS CONSTANTLY NEEDING TO BE CHANGED. MIDDLE SEAT BELT IN BACK MALFUNCTIONS BY NOT UNLOCKING AT TIMES. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0