Kia Sorento Complaints
10,397 consumer complaints on file.
- #10321082March 19, 2010EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SORENTO. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH THE EXTERIOR LIGHT SYSTEM WAS ACTIVATED AND SUDDENLY BECAME NONFUNCTIONAL WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A BURNED OUT LIGHT BULB. THE FAILURE WAS A FREQUENT OCCURRENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 110,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10320189March 16, 2010EXTERIOR LIGHTING, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
I HAVE A 2005 SORENTO. I HAVE REPLACED THE HEADLIGHTS 15 TIMES. THEY HAVE BOTH GONE OUT BEFORE WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT AND I HAD TO DRIVE NEARLY 40 MILES WITH BRIGHTS ONLY. I HAVE ALSO REPLACED BRAKE LIGHTS 5 TIMES. IT STARTED IN OCT THE YEAR I BOUGHT THE CAR AND HAS CONTINUED. I AM STUNNED AT THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS AND LACK OF RESPONSE FROM KIA. ANYBODY FILING A CLASS ACTION? I'M SURE THERE WOULD BE PLENTY OF TAKERS!! *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10319301March 12, 2010ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL, STRUCTURE
2011 KIA SORENTO, CHROME BEZEL ON INSTRUMENT PANEL REFLECTS SUN LIGHT AND STREET LIGHTS INTENSE ENOUGH TO CAUSE TEMP BLINDING FLASH. CONTACT KIA VEHICLE IS NEW AND NO OTHER COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN FILED. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10317167March 5, 2010ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE
TOOK POSSESSION OF 2011 KIA SORRENTO ON 2-18-2010. SINCE THAT TIME THERE HAVE BEEN 14 INSTANCES WHEN THE CAR HESITATED ALMOST DYING OUT AND THEN SURGING FORWARD. AT ONE TIME IT DIED COMPLETELY OUT AND HAD TO BE RESTARTED WHILE BEING IN THE LANE OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. TWICE IT HESITATED AND SURGED AHEAD 4 - 5 CONSECUTIVE TIMES BEFORE SETTLING DOWN, ONCE WHILE CROSSING OVER A 4 LANE HIGHWAY. IT HAS BEEN BACK TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES AND THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, SO THEY CLAIM WE DO NOT HAVE A PROBLEM. WE ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS AND BELIEVE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND MY WIFE WILL NOT DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL THIS IS RESOLVED. UPDATED 03/16/10 *BF *TR UPDATED IVOQ 07/16/10*JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10316776March 4, 2010ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE A 2005 KIA SORENTO THAT STARTED TO SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING ON JAN 3RD 2009. SINCE THEN IT HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES. IT IS RANDOM AND I AM CURRENTLY IN COURT WITH KIA THROUGH THE PA LEMON LAW. I WANTED TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT SO IT IS ON RECORD. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10316847March 4, 2010TIRES
ON A TRIP FROM BILOXI, MS TO FORT MYERS, FL- APPROXIMATELY 800 MILES ALL 4 TIRES ON A "NEW" (13,000 MILES) KIA SORENTO FAILED. AFTER SEVERAL HUNDRED MILES OF THE TRIP THE CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND LUCKILY WAS KEPT UNDER CONTROL. A TOWTRUCK HAD TO BE CALLED AND THE CAR TOWED TO TWO CITIES BEFORE A DEALERSHIP COULD BE FOUND TO "FIX" THE CAR. THIS MEANT AN OVERNIGHT STAY. THE SERVICE DEPT PROBABLY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED! THEY PUT 2 NEW TIRES ON, INSPECTED OTHERS AND ALIGNED THE CAR- COSTLY SERVICE CALL + 2 NEW TIRES. BACK TO THE TRIP AND SEVERAL MORE HUNDRED MILES AND AGAIN VIOLENT SHAKING. ANOTHER TIRE WAS FALLING APART! SAME THING ANOTHER TOW, OVER NIGHT STAY, DEALER, ANOTHER TIRE. BOTH DEALERS SAID THEY WOULD SEND TIRES BACK TO KUMHO FOR EXAMINATION. WE COULD NOT BELIEVE, BUT OUTSIDE TAMPA AT 10:30 AT NIGHT-VIOLENT SHAKING. CHANGED THE TIRE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN THE DARK. THANK GOD, NO ONE HURT. HAD TO ORDER A NEW TIRE FROM SEARS IN FORT MYERS FOR THIS ONE. I NOW HAVE MIS-MATCHED TIRES ON MY NEW VEHICLE- HAD TO BUY NEW TIRES 30,000 MILES BEFORE I SHOULD OF HAD TO- HAD A FAMILY MEMBERS LIFE IN DANGER, HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT DAMAGE DONE FROM ALL THE VIOLENT SHAKING, WAS SERVICE WORK DONE CORRECTLY, DO I STILL NEED AN ALIGNMENT-- IT TOOK OVER 48 GRUELING, NERVE-RACKING HOURS FOR AN 11 HOUR TRIP- WITH A LOT OF EXTRA EXPENSES. KUMHO DOES NOT WANT TO MAKE US "WHOLE" ON THIS FIASCO (WE ARE HAPPY THOUGH THAT IT IS NOT A TRAGEDY). BY "WHOLE" WE MEAN REIMBURSE US FOR WHAT WAS SPENT ON THIS "MESS". THEY DON'T SEEM CONCERNED THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. WE HOPE THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN TO SOMEONE ELSE WITH WORSE RESULTS. YOU WILL NOT BELIEVE WHAT THE TIRE WE HAVE KEPT LOOKS LIKE. THE AIR PRESSURE SENSORS NEVER SHOWED LOSS OF AIR AND THE LAST TIRE WHEN BROUGHT TO SEARS STILL HAD AIR IN IT. TREAD IS COMING OFF OF THE TIRE AND THE STEEL BELTS ARE FRAYED. PLEASE CONTACT US SO WE CAN SEND YOU PICTURES OF THE TIRE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUICK RESPONSE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10316023March 3, 2010AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2008 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT OCCASIONALLY FAILED TO INDICATE THAT A PASSENGER WAS SEATED IN THE FRONT SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT REPLACE THE COMPUTER BECAUSE IT WAS A SMARTS SYSTEM. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10314369March 3, 2010AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
2009 KIA SORENTO. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE DOES NOT PROTECT THE FRONT PASSENGER IF THE WEIGHT IS LESS THAN 120 POUNDS. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE PANEL READ PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10315271March 1, 2010AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
OUR 2007 KIA SORENTO, PURCHASED NEW, AND NOW WITH 20,000 MILES, HAS, SINCE PURCHASE, HAD THE PASSENGER AIRBAG NOT ON SIGNAL GO ON, ALMOST EVERY TIME WE USE IT. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY MUST SEE IT HAPPEN, AND CANNOT REPLICATE IT. WHEN WE MADE OUR WAY TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHILE THE SIGNAL WAS LIT, THEY SAW IT, VISUALLY IT, AND MADE A NOTE, HOWEVER, THE "COMPUTER" DID NOT RECOGNIZE IT AS A PROBLEM, SO THEY WILL NOT CORRECT THE "PROBLEM". WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT IF THAT IS LIT UP AND SOMEONE IS IN THE SEAT DURING AN ACCIDENT, THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY. I AM TOLD THAT KIA AND THEIR DEALERSHIPS ARE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, AND COULD REPLACE THE SEAT BOTTOM TO FIX THIS PROBLEM, YET NONE OF THE DEALERSHIPS WE HAVE TAKEN IT TOO, WILL REPLACE IT, UNLESS THE MAIN OFFICE MAKES IT A RECALL. OUR SECOND COMPLAINT THAT THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IS THE STRONG ODOR OF ANTIFREEZE, WHICH LITERALLY MAKES ME SICK ON MY STOMACH WHEN IT HAPPENS, WHICH IS NOT ALL OF THE TIME. I AM AFRAID THESE FUMES COULD BE HARMFUL. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10314735February 26, 2010AIR BAGS, SEATS
I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT IN JUNE 2009, IN A 2006 KIA SORENTO. I WAS HIT BY A VEHICLE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 60-70MPH. THE IMPACT WAS SO SEVERE, THAT I ENDED UP IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE THAT I WAS PUSHED INTO. THE RESULT OF THIS ACCIDENT WAS TOTAL LOSS OF VEHICLE. MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND THAT DRIVER SIDE SEAT BACK BROKE. DOCTORS SAID THAT HAD MY SEAT BACK NOT BROKE, I WOULD NOT HAVE SUSTAINED SUCH DEBILITATING INJURIES THAT I AM NOT GOING TO HEAL FROM. *TR
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10312307February 20, 2010EXTERIOR LIGHTING
FIRST THE HEADLIGHTS ON DRIVER SIDE WENT OUT. WE TOOK THE 2005 KIA SORENTO LX TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE HEADLIGHT REPLACED AT WHICH TIME THEY ADMITTED THERE WAS A DEFECT PROBLEM WITH THE HEADLIGHTS GOING OUT FREQUENTLY. THEY SAID BRING IT IN AND THEY WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. THE NEXT TIME THE PASSENGER LIGHT WENT OUT AND THE DEALER SAID THERE WAS NO PROBLEM AND WOULD NOT FIX IT. SINCE THEN THE DRIVERS SIDE LIGHT HAS GONE OUT THREE MORE TIMES AND THE PASSENGERS SIDE HAS GONE OUT TWICE. EACH REAR BRAKE LIGHT HAS GONE OUT TWICE. RECENTLY WE HAVE EXPERIENCED THE INTERIOR DOME LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY MALFUNCTIONING ALONG WITH BOTH HEADLIGHTS AND A SMELL OF SMOKE NEAR THE DOME LIGHT. WE HAVE BEEN PULLED OVER TWICE BY POLICE DUE TO INOPERABLE HEADLIGHTS AND TAILLIGHTS. THE DEALER TAKES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS OBVIOUS ELECTRICAL DEFECT WHICH IS CLEARLY A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10312402February 20, 2010STEERING
INTERMITTENT HARD STEERING AS STATED ON TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN, KIA MOTORS, # KT2005022519, MODEL: SORENTO EX, PRODUCED BEFORE 10/06/04. MAY INTERMITTENTLY HAVE VARIATIONS IN THE LEVEL OF POWER ASSIST DURING DRIVING AND PARKING. STEERING PROBLEMS WERE RELATED TO DEALER, ALIGNMENT OF FRONT WHEELS WAS PERFORMED THAT REQUIRED MAJOR REBUILD DUE TO DEFECTIVE PARTS. DID NOT SOLVE PROBLEM. I BECAME AWARE OF THIS SERVICE BULLETIN RECENTLY WHILE SPEAKING WITH A SERVICE WRITER AT NEW KIA DEALERSHIP. NO ACTION WILL BE TAKEN DUE TO VEHICLE BEING OUT OF WARRANTY. THIS INFORMATION WAS NEVER MADE KNOW TO ME SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10310313February 14, 2010EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WE HAVE TO CHANGE THE TWICE HEADLIGHTS AND THE TWICE TAILLIGHT FOUR SETS OF PARKING LIGHTS,ON OUR 2005 KIA SORENTO EX THIS IN A 18 MONTHS. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10308610February 10, 2010POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2011 KIA SORENTO; RENTAL VEHICLE FROM NATIONAL RENTAL. CRUISING AT 65 MPH AND CAR BEGAN TO VIOLENTLY JERK CAUSING PARTIAL LOSS OF CONTROL. MADE POPPING SOUNDS, AND SMOKE CAME OUT REAR OF VEHICLE. CAR BARELY MOVED AND HAD TO BE TOWED FROM SCENE. DURING INCIDENT, VEHICLE WAS VERY HARD TO KEEP UNDER CONTROL AND IN DESIGNATED TRAFFIC LANE. NATIONAL RENTAL SENT A TOW TRUCK AND A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE. THIS KIA HAD 62 MILES ON IT AT TIME OF FAILURE. TOW DRIVER THOUGHT IT WAS A TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THIS INCIDENT NEARLY CAUSED ME TO TOTALLY LOOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND CRASH. I CONSIDER MYSELF VERY LUCKY TO GET CAR STOPPED BEFORE HAVING AN ACCIDENT. ALL I HAVE IS LAST DIGITS OF VIN TAKEN FROM RENTAL PAPERWORK. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10307723February 9, 2010VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN I PRESS ON THE ACCELERATOR TO INCREASE MY SPEED (LIKE WHEN MERGING, FOR INSTANCE), THE CAR REACTS AS IF I PUT IT IN NEUTRAL. IT STOPS ALL FORWARD MOTION FOR AT LEAST A SECOND. SOMETIMES AS LONG AS FIVE SECONDS. THIS HAS ALMOST RESULTED IN BEING HIT FROM BEHIND OR THE SIDE SEVERAL TIMES. I HAVE HAD IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES, AND HAVE TAKEN THEIR MECHANICS FOR DEMONSTRATION RIDES SEVERAL TIMES. I'VE EVEN CONTACTED THEIR HOME OFFICE. EACH TIME THE ANSWER IS THE SAME, "WE CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. IT MUST BE YOU." I FULLY EXPECT TO BE INVOLVED IN A COLLISION IN THE FUTURE CAUSED BY THIS DANGEROUS DEFECT. I CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY A NEW CAR, SO I'M STUCK WITH IT. I HOPE YOU CAN HELP. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10304055February 2, 2010EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
FRONT HEADLIGHTS ON KIA SORENTO 2006 MODEL CONTINUES TO BURN OUT OR FLASH ON THEIR OWN HAVE REPLACED 6 SETS OF LIGHTS IN FRONT AND HAVE ON 38,000 MILES FIRST SET WAS AT 16,000 AND EVERY 6 TO 8 MONTHS THERE AFTER. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10303539February 1, 2010AIR BAGS
MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON WITHOUT WARNING. NOW I'M TOLD MY AIRBAGS WON'T WORK. THE DEALER STATES I NEED A NEW CONTROL MODULE. IT IS COMING UP AS A SEAT POSITION ERROR. THEY SAID IT IS COMMON. THIS IS A REQUIRED SAFETY ITEM ON NEW CARS, THE AIRBAGS. IF IT IS A COMMON DEFECT WHY NO RECALL. KIA WON'T HELP. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10303660February 1, 2010POWER TRAIN
THE CRANK SHAFT PULLEY IN MY 2005 KIA SORENTO IS DEFECTIVE. THE PART HAS FAILED MULTIPLE TIME AND THE MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THE PART OR VEHICLE. THE CAR IS STILL WITHIN THE POWER-TRAIN WARRANTY WITH COVER THE ENGINE. THEY HAVE HOWEVER STATED THAT THIS IS NOT COVERED AS IT IS NOT PART OF THE ENGINE HOWEVER THIS PART IS ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP PART OF THE ENGINE AS IT CONTROLS THE PISTONS AND WITH OUT IT THE ENGINE CAN NOT RUN. THIS SEEM TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM AS CONSUMER COMPLAINT ARE POSTED ALL OVER THE INTERNET AND THE DEALERSHIP HAS INFORMED ME THEY RECEIVE MANY COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE AND FIX 3-4 A WEEK AND OFTEN THE PART FAILS AND THEY AGAIN HAVE TO REPLACE IT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10302911January 28, 2010AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
INTERMITTENT DISPLAY ON DASH "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF'" WHILE PASSENGER IS SEATED AND BELTED INTO PASSENGER SEAT. SEVERAL DOCUMENTED SERVICE APPOINTMENTS WITH DEALER HAVE FAILED TO ELIMINATE PROBLEM. *TW
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10298624January 7, 2010AIR BAGS
AIRBAG LIGHT HAS COME ON. VEHICLE HAS 74,000 MILES ON IT HAS NEVER BEEN WRECKED OR OFF ROAD. THIS IS SAFETY EQUIPMENT AND SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY FOR LIFE. I HAVE NO ACCESS TO THE AIRBAG SYSTEM AND IT NO LONGER FUNCTIONS IN MY VEHICLE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0