Kia Sorento Complaints (2007)

154 consumer complaints on file.

#10207397October 30, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
IN JULY, 2007, I PURCHASED A 2007 KIA SORENTO. ON MY FIRST OCCASION TO DRIVE ON THE INTERSTATE, COMING HOME FROM WORK, I ENCOUNTERED A MAJOR SHUDDER OR JERKING WHEN TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. THE INTERSTATE WAS VERY SHOW TRAVELING DUE TO AN ACCIDENT. WHEN I TRIED TO ACCELERATE, THE CAR SHUDDERED (OR JERKED) SEVERAL TIMES EXTREMELY HARD BUT THEN STRAIGHTENED OUT. THE HARD SHUDDERS OCCUR AT APPROXIMATELY 35 TO 45 MPH. ALSO, WHEN TRAVELING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, IF I HAVE TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL DUE TO SLOWING TRAFFIC, I PRESS THE MIDDLE CRUISE CONTROL BUTTON AND TAKE OVER MANUALLY. WHEN TRAFFIC PICKS BACK UP, I PRESS THE "RESUME" BUTTON, AGAIN...THE SHUDDER. THE SHUDDER OR JERKING ALWAYS HAPPENS UPON ACCELERATION. WHEN ATTEMPTING A HILL AT 35 TO 45 MPH, THE CAR LOSES POWER ALL TOGETHER AND REALLY STRUGGLES UNTIL REACHING THE TOP. I HAD CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND TAKEN THE SORENTO IN FOR REPAIR. THE SERVICE MANAGER DROVE THE CAR, DID IN FACT EXPERIENCE THE SHUDDER, BUT WAS UNABLE TO COME UP WITH A SOLUTION TO FIX IT. HE CONTACTED HIS DISTRICT MANAGER WHO SAID HE WAS WORKING A CAR WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND WAS TRYING TO FIND A "CURE." I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND EVEN DROVE WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER. HE ACKNOWLEDGES THE PROBLEM BUT, AGAIN, AT THIS TIME, THERE IS NO SOLUTION AS TO HOW TO FIX IT. I CONTACTED KIA HEADQUARTERS TO SEE IF THEY WERE WORKING ON TRYING TO FIND A SOLUTION TO FIX THE SHUDDER. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS PROBABLY A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE CAR AND WOULD BE CONSIDERED "NORMAL" PERFORMANCE FOR THE SORENTO. I FIND THIS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. I HAD DRIVEN A LOANER SORENTO WHEN MINE WAS IN FOR MAINTENANCE AND IT DID NOT DO THE SHUDDER. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH MY SORENTO AND AM CONSIDERING TRADING AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10207076October 27, 2007
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
THE AIRBAG ACTUATION SYSTEM IS DESIGN DEFECTIVE, AT LEAST FROM MY POINT OF VIEW, IN THAT IT DOES NOT ALWAYS BECOME ACTIVE , WHEN A PASSENGER IS SITTING IN IT. I HAVE HAD PASSENGERS FROM 105# TO 315#, AND SOMETIMES THE SYSTEM IS ACTIVE AND SOMETIMES NOT. I HAVE BEEN ADVISED BY KIA SERVICE THAT THE 8" BLADDER IN THE SEAT, WHICH ACTIVATES THE SYSTEM FOR DEPLOYMENT IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, IS SENSITIVE TO WHERE AND HOW THE PASSENGER SITS IN THE SEAT. IF THEY DON'T SIT IN JUS A CERTAIN MANNER, THE SYSTEM DOES NOT ACTIVATE. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ITEM AND HAS AN IMMEDIATE URGENCY TO HAVE KIA REMEDY THIS. IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT AND THE BAG DOES NOT DEPLOY FOR THE PASSENGER DUE TO THIS PROBLEM, I MOST DEFINITELY WILL BE IN COURT WITH KIA. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10206143October 17, 2007
WHEELS:HUB, EQUIPMENT
HUBCAPS HAVE 3/8" GAP BETWEEN RIM AND HUBCAP. HAVE TRIED WEEKLY SINSE MAY TO GET KIA TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS AIR SPACE AT HIGHWAY SPPEDS COULD CAUSE UN STABLE STEERING AND WHEEL BEARING WEAR. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10205099October 5, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, MAINLY BETWEEN 42 AND 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKS AND VIBRATES. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON FOUR OCCASIONS. THE SECOND TIME, THE DEALER REPLACED THE DRIVESHAFT, HOWEVER, THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,600 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 959. UPDATED 12-12-07. *KB THE DEALER WASN'T SURE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. THEY STATED THE PROBLEM MAY BE A SOFTWARE OR TORQUE CONVERTER ISSUE. UPDATED
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10202909September 13, 2007
TIRES:VALVE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATED THAT THE PRESSURE IN THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE WAS LOW. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO CHECK THE PRESSURE WITH HIS TIRE PRESSURE GAUGE, BUT IT RELEASED THE AIR OUT OF THE TIRE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VALVE STEM WAS BENT. HE SPOKE WITH KIA ROADSIDE SERVICE WHO REFERRED HIM TO KUNHO, THE TIRE MANUFACTURER. KUNHO STATED THAT THEY WERE ONLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TIRE AND NOT THE VALVE STEM. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 2,394.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10201724September 3, 2007
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, EQUIPMENT
OUR 2007 KIA SORENTO HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SYSTEM. THIS IS MY WIFE'S CAR AND I RIDE AS A PASSENGER. WHEN I RIDE 75% OF THE TIME THE AIR BAG LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF, THIS TELLS US THAT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SYSTEM IS NOT ON. WE HAVE NOTICED MANY THINGS THAT WILL CORRECT THIS AND ALSO MAKE IT HAPPEN. ONE THING IS IT NORMALLY HAPPENS AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN LEFT OFF FOR AWHILE. THE AIR BAG LIGHT MAY GO OFF ARE YOU START THE CAR BUT WHEN YOU SHIFT IT INTO GEAR IT POPS ON. YOU CAN ALSO GET IT TO COME ON SOMETIMES WHEN YOU REMOVE YOUR SEAT BELT. YOU CAN SOMETIMES CORRECT THE PROBLEMS BY SHUTTING OFF AND RESARTING THE CAR. NOW THIS IS A VERY ANNOYING PROBLEM AND A ERRATIC ISSUE. BEING A AUTOMOTIVE TECH AND A ELECTRONIC TECH I CAN SEE HOW THE KIA DEALER WILL NOT BE ABLE TO HELP WITH OUT SEEING THE PROBLEM. THE KIA DEALER HERE IS REALLY NO HELP AS WHEN WE TOOK IT IN THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID "SHOW ME THE PROBLEM" BUT OF COURSE WE COULD NOT REPRODUCE IT AT THAT TIME. WE HAVE SINCE HAD THE CAR FOR A FEW MONTHS AND HAVE TAKEN NOTICE OF HOW THE PROBLEM IS SHOWING UP. WE HAVE NOT TAKEN IT IN AS WE HAVE LOST CONFIDENCE IN THE KIA TECHNICAL STAFF AS TO THERE CAPABILITIES OF REPAIR. I SHOULD SAY WE FIRST BOUGHT A 06 SORENTO AND HAD IT IN THE DEALERSHIP FOR 5 WEEKS OUT OF THE 7 WEEKS, WE OWNED IT AND TRADED IT IN FOR THE 07 TRYING TO GIVE KIA A CHANCE TO REDEEM FOR ALL THE PROBLEMS BEFORE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10201075August 28, 2007
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
I HAVE A 2007 KIA SORRENTO THAT WAS PURCHASED PARTLY BECAUSE OF THE 5 STAR SAFETY RATING. HOWEVER, IN MY PARTICULAR VEHICLE THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEACTIVATION SENSOR DESIGNED TO DEACTIVATE THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG WHEN THE SEAT IS OCCUPIED BY A CHILD ALSO DEACTIVATES THE AIRBAG MORE THAN 50% OF THE TIME WHEN AN ADULT OCCUPIES THE SEAT. I HAVE REPORTED THIS ISSUE TO MY DEALER 3 TIMES AND THE SERVICE MANAGER TELLS ME THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO BECAUSE THERE IS NO "FIX" FROM THE FACTORY. HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT HE IS NOT AWARE OF ANYONE ELSE HAVING THIS PROBLEM ( I DOUBT THAT) AND THAT KIA WAS NOT PARTICULARLY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG WAS A "SECONDARY PROTECTION DEVICE" WHICH WAS NOT REALLY NECESSARY TO PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IF THE OCCUPANT WAS WEARING HIS/HER SEAT BELT. I CALLED KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY BASICALLY "BLEW ME OFF" SAYING THAT KIA WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM IN "DUE TIME". HOW CAN KIA ADVERTISE A 5 STAR SAFETY RATING WHEN IN FACT THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS SENSOR ISSUE AND ARE NOT WILLING OR ABLE TO FIX IT? APPEARS TO ME THAT THERE IS SOME FALSE ADVERTISING GOING ON AND REALLY WE HAVE ABOUT A 2 STAR SAFETY RATING! *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10198364August 3, 2007
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
PURCHASED A NEW 2007 KIA SORRENTO ON 3/30/07. LEFT THE DEALERSHIP WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBACK DISCONNECT LIGHT ON WITH AN ADULT SITTING IN THE SEAT. HAVE TAKEN THE CAR INTO TWO DIFFERENT DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENTS AND THEY HAVE REFUSED TO ADDRESS THIS SAFETY ISSUE. REPORTED PROBLEM TO KIA USA CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN OTHER THAN REFER US TO ANOTHER DEALER FOR SERVICE. A SERVICE MANAGER I SPOKE WITH SAID THIS WAS A "KNOWN PROBLEM" WITH THE 06 AND 07 SORRENTO BUT THAT THE COMPANY COULD NOT "REPRODUCE A HARD ERROR". THE SERVICE MANAGER WENT ON TO TELL ME THAT THERE ARE SENSORS IN THE SEAT CUSHION AND SEAT BACK AND THAT A PASSENGER HAS TO SIT IN THE SEAT IN A PARTICULAR WAY IN ORDER FOR CONTACT TO BE MADE PROPERLY. THE MANAGER WENT ON TO SAY THAT HE HAD SEEN A LOT OF 06 AND 07 SORRENTO'S WITH THIS PROBLEM AND WAS WAITING ON KIA TO TAKE ACTION. OTHER THAN PURSUE THE LEMON LAW PROCESS, WHAT OTHER RECOURSE DOES A CONSUMER HAVE WITH A CLEAR ENGINEERING DEFECT OF A KEY SAFETY FEATURE? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10196330July 13, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WELL BOUGHT THIS NEW KIA SORENTO ON 01-06-07 WELL NOTICED ON 01-07-07 A TCIKING NOICE COMMING FROM ENGINE BROUGHT IT BACK I ON MONDAY 01-08-07 SERVICE MANAGER AT WORLD KIA IOF LAS VEGAS SAYS ITS NEW NEEDS TO E BROKE IN THEN I GET A RECALL NOTICE FIX ON 02-23-07 FRE OF COURSE NOW ON 4-23-07 BROUGHT BACK IN THE TICKING NOICE GOT WORSE REPLACE LIFETERS TENSINOR ASSY ALMOST A COMPLETE OVER HAUL ON ENGINE AT 1843 MILES FIXED THEN ON 6-29-07 THE UPPER RAIDATOR HOSE BLOWS AT 3049 MILES ASK WHY SERVICE MANAGER KEVIN BLACKWELL AYS THEY DONT KNOW I BROUGTH THIS BACK NOT EVEN ONE DAY TO GET MY OTHER VECHILE BACK WELL THEY SAY YOU SIGNED THE NEW CAR NOTE THIS SUV HAS 3350 MILES ON NOW AND WITH THIS AMOUNT OF WORK ALREADY THAT HAS BEN DONT I CANT EVEN GET A GOOD GEAL ON A TRADE ONCE THEY RUN A CARFAX REPORT IT WILL SHOW THIS IS A PROBLEM SUV SO WHO WANTS IT MY OPION THE DEALER GIVES ME BACK MY MONEY IN FULL OF WHAT I PAID FOR IT LET HIM HAVE HIS PROBLEM SUV
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10196225July 12, 2007
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR FOR THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 900 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10191370May 21, 2007
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA SORENTO. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1000. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT WILL STAY OFF WHEN THERE IS AN ADULT IN PASSENGER SEAT. THE DEALER IS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10190763May 15, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA SORENTO LX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION SURGES AND HAS DIFFICULTY SWITCHING GEARS. SHE HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A KIA DEALERSHIP TWICE BECAUSE THE TORQUE CONVERTER CONTINUES TO LOCK UP. THE FAILURE IS NOTICEABLE AT 35 MPH. DURING THE FIRST SERVICE VISIT, A SOFTWARE UPDATE WAS PERFORMED. ON THE SECOND VISIT, THE DEALER STATED THAT NO REPAIR WAS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FOR THE TORQUE CONVERTER. THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 720 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10189448May 1, 2007
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
I BOUGHT A 2007 KIA SORENTO A MONTH AGO. IT HAS A PASSENGER SENSOR IN THE SEAT THAT ACTIVATES THE AIR BAG ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. IF A CHILD OR PASSENGER WHO DOESN'T MEET THE WEIGHT REQUIREMENT SITS IN THE SEAT IT WILL DEACTIVATE THE AIR BAG. PROBLEM IS THAT THE SENSOR ISN'T WORKING FOR PASSENGERS WHO MEET THE WEIGHT REQUIREMENT . THE AIR BAG IS DEACTIVATED AND THEREFORE THE SAFETY FEATURE THAT IS THE AIR BAG IS NO LONGER THERE TO PROTECT THE FRONT PASSENGER AND THERE IS NO WAY TO OVERRIDE THAT FEATURE. I ASKED THE SERVICE GUY AT THE KIA DEALERSHIP AND HE SAID THERE'S NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG HASN'T BEEN WORKING SINCE I BOUGHT IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10187104April 5, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I PURCHASED A 2007 KIA SORENTO ON 1/6/07 FROM CHRIS LEITH KIA IN WAKE FOREST, NC. NOT LONG AFTER I BOUGHT IT, I NOTICED THAT IT FREQUENTLY JERKED WHEN ACCELERATING AT HIGHER RATES OF SPEED. ON 1/11/07, I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AND COMPLAINED OF THE PROBLEM. AT THAT TIME THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY WHICH WAS SELF ADJUSTING ,AND WOULD FIX ITSELF AS I DROVE IT. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO STRUGGLE, SO I TOOK IT BACK TO KIA ON 3/5/07. THEY HAD THE VEHICLE FOR 3 DAYS. AFTER CORRESPONDENCE WITH KIA, I WAS TOLD TO COME PICK UP THE VEHICLE. THEY TOLD ME THAT KIA WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND THAT THEY WERE WORKING ON A SOLUTION. IT IS BELIEVED TO BE A SOFTWARE ISSUE. AS OF TODAY, 4/5/07, I STILL HAVE NO SOLUTION TO MY PROBLEM. I HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH THE DEALER, AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THEY ARE STILL WORKING ON A SOLUTION. I AM VERY FRUSTRATED! A BRAND NEW VEHICLE SHOULD NOT RUN LIKE THIS!!!*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Kia Sorento