Kia Sorento Complaints

10,397 consumer complaints on file.

#11767027September 25, 2026
ENGINE
I was driving to work on the interstate and my car went into limp mode almost causing me to get hit at those speeds. I sent it to my mechanic but was told about the theta2 lawsuit so I had it towed to Kia. Was charged $300 and it wasn’t even diagnosed or looked at due to missing oil change receipts. I have since contacted bbb and Kia headquarters to just be told it’s not covered due to missing receipts of oil changes. Even though it’s a known issue with the gdi engine. Was faulty due to metal left in the drive train after assembly. I have a car that I still owe $4,000 for still making payments and I can’t use the car. I just want it fixed?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11766727September 24, 2026
POWER TRAIN
Hard shifting and kia said I need a new transmission, 99,500 miles
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11766758September 24, 2026
ENGINE
Yesterday our car was making a knocking noise. It lost power temporarily. Upon pressing the gas pedal to the floor we were able to get up to 30 mph. We made it to a repair shop. They looked at it today. The Dip stick showed no oil. The did an oil change and it was down 3 quarts of oil. We just had the oil changed 3 months ago on June 20. No check engine light came on. No warning at all . We were driving on a road with no shoulder, so this was dangerous if the engine were to fail before we got to repair shop. They said we need a new engine and it will cost just under $10,000. It seems that many people are having this exact same problem.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11766362September 23, 2026
POWER TRAIN
The transmission in my Kia Sorento intermittently does not engage when shifting from park to drive. It will take 5 to 10 seconds for the gear to engage. When this occurs, the car is free-wheeling and will roll away. This is especially dangerous if you are on a slope or hill. I of course am applying the brake when shifting out of park, but their is no warning or indication that the transmission is, or isn't engaged. I have mentioned this problem when visiting the Kia dealer, but no action was taken.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11766477September 23, 2026
POWER TRAIN
Car will lose power sporadically ,go into limp mode . Need to shut off ignition,restart and then fine till next time!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11766271September 22, 2026
AIR BAGS
Knee airbags deployed in my car accident and have severe injuries on bilateral legs bruises that damage my nerves and veins.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11766028September 22, 2026
SUSPENSION, STEERING
Unknown
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11766165September 22, 2026
POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2021 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving out of the driveway at 20 MPH, the vehicle lost drive power. The check engine warning light illuminated after the failure. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, and the contact was informed that the vehicle had not produced DTC: SC250 associated with NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V760000 (Power Train). The related code was P1C2D03 - Electric Oil Pump (EOP) malfunction. The Kia service center was contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 73,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11765637September 20, 2026
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
Upon a catastrophic engine failure Tasca Kia replaced engine under Theta II settlement. I picked up my kia on 9/12. Engine is not running properly. It’s jerking and there is loud mechanical knocking. I don’t feel safe driving. I’ve contacted Kia corporate beginning 9/16 who contacted Tasca to arrange for tow and loaner. They said Tasca service mgr would contact soon to set up. They never did. I called corporate again later that day and after they called Tasca they were told service mgr went home for the day. As of this date Tasca Kia has not contacted me. I again called Kia corporate 9/17 asking to please escalate and allow me to use another service dept. The only other service location with loaner is a half hour away and I cannot afford another tow or another rental. I am stranded with a car that is not safe due to installation failure or another defective engine. No one from Kia will help in a reasonable time frame. I’m now told it can take up to 48 BUSINESS HOURS for any assistance. In the meantime I’m being forced to decide on whether to risk driving an unsafe vehicle to the service dept or to continue waiting for Kia to contact me.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11765555September 19, 2026
ENGINE, STEERING, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
While driving my 2021 Kia Sorento, the electronic power steering suddenly failed/intermittently cut out while the vehicle was in motion. The steering wheel became extremely stiff and difficult to turn, making the vehicle very hard to control and creating a serious risk of a crash. I had to muscle the wheel to get out of traffic turn the vehicle off and on several times before steering worked again. Because the steering failure occurred while driving THREE TIMES in the last two weeks and could recur without warning, I considered the vehicle unsafe to continue operating and had it taken to a Kia dealership for inspection. The vehicle has also experienced repeated electrical/electronic issues, including difficulty starting and recognizing both key fobs. Every time now, the engine requires approximately 3–4 attempts to start. There have also been problems with the climate-control system and other electrical components. I am concerned these issues may be related to a broader electrical, voltage, control-module, or electronic power-steering problem. The vehicle is currently available for inspection by the dealer/manufacturer upon request. The exact cause of the steering failure has not yet been confirmed. I have requested that the dealer inspect the electronic power steering system, retrieve any stored or historical EPS/IBU fault codes, and evaluate the vehicle’s battery, charging system, grounds, wiring, and related electronic control modules. The steering failure created an immediate safety hazard because normal steering assistance was lost while the vehicle was moving. There was little or no meaningful warning before the steering became extremely difficult to operate. I am reporting this because I am concerned the condition could recur and result in loss of vehicle control. I have two small children and this is my only means of transportation.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11765189September 18, 2026
AIR BAGS, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Issue 1: The front passenger airbag sensor is faulty. The ODS light is staying on. I took my car to a Kia dealership and they informed me that the passenger airbag would most likely not deploy in the event of an accident due to the faulty sensor. Kia has had this exact issue with other models and they issued a recall for those other models. This is a huge safety issue. Kia said it would cost me $3000 to fix the issue. Issue 2: My car is painted with the Snow White Pearl color. The paint is peeling and delaminating. This is a widespread defect with this paint color. Kia has not yet issued an extended warranty over this issue even though Hyundai (their sister company)i did extend the warranty for vehicles with this exact issue.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11765210September 18, 2026
ENGINE
The cars battery drained precipitously. Was able to sit and recharge. Took it to dealership. There were several code issues P033500 and P040500 among others. In discussion it seems that it might have been the EGR valve among other things. On research this is a known problem so why is there not a recall as the car can stop suddenly. "2024 Kia Sorento Hybrid Prestige (equipped with the Smartstream 1.6L Turbo Hybrid engine), code P0405 highlights a known issue that affects several modern Hyundai and Kia hybrid models."
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11765211September 18, 2026
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
The contact owns a 2020 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle and shifting into gear with the brake pedal depressed, the vehicle unexpectedly jerked back and forth, accelerated unintendedly, and crashed into the corner plaster wall of a friend's garage, causing plaster to fall onto the front of the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to Caliber Collision to be repaired. The dealer was notified of the failure. Police officers responded to the scene, inspected the vehicle, and filed a report. The failure mileage was approximately 35,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11765284September 18, 2026
ENGINE
Complete engine failure inspected by Westgate Kia Service Dept, Wake Forest, NC Service manager confirmed that known issue and recall in effect for 2018 Kia Sorrento same issue but because manufactures parts are only covered when made in certain locations. mine not covered. He did agree it was exact same issue but declined to assist. Warning sign / flashing check engine light.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11765337September 18, 2026
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
Kia completed Recall SC250 via a software update only. The physical hardware has now failed (Code P193B). Kia Corporate and the local dealership are refusing to honor the safety recall remedy because the software update marked the recall 'complete,' leaving a failed, dangerous transmission unaddressed.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11764985September 17, 2026
ENGINE
We bought this car new on XXX. On XXX as my family and I were returning from a vacation, re-entering the interstate, the gas engine on the Sorento hybrid would not start. There was no warning or error message. I put the pedal to the floor and it would not pick up speed as we entered XXX. I tried switching the drive mode to sport, then to smart. Nothing worked. The fastest I could get the car going was about 50mph for a few seconds, then it slowed to 40 mph as traffic was bearing down on us, starting with an 18 wheeler truck that I could see in my rearview mirror. I had to put my emergency blinkers on and drive on the little bit of shoulder that there was on a bridge, and pull off onto the shoulder as fast as I could. The interstate was loaded with traffic today, going 75 mph. It was only fortunate that there was a break when the car rolled onto the interstate at about 40 mph. This car almost caused a wreck which could have killed me and my whole family, including my [XXX] daughter. If there hadn't been enough of a shoulder for me to get mostly off the road, the thick traffic going 75mph would have all had to slow to 40mph, without anyone plowing into the car in front of them. As it was, trucks were flying past me one foot from the side of my car going 75 mph. If one of them was off a little, my whole family could be dead or in the hospital now. After I turned the car off, and then on again, the gas engine started operating as normal. We got home, albeit with a flat from driving through the trash on the shoulder. I have now taken the car to two dealers and they could not repeat the problem. I told Kia I didn't trust the car any more and that if they couldn't fix it, I wanted my money back. They told me yesterday that they will not do a buyback. And they've been claiming for weeks that they plan to have an engineer look at it. All the while, we don't have a car. It has been sitting at the dealer because it is unsafe. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11764664September 16, 2026
POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2022 Kia Sorento. The contact stated after driving 25-30 MPH into a parking lot and parking the vehicle, the message "Transmission System Error Check Transmission" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to an auto parts store, where it was determined that the transmission pump was failing, there was low oil pressure, but no debris found inside the transmission. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V760000 (Power Train); however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where no diagnostic trouble codes were retrieved; a hard transmission reset was performed. Following the repair, the failure recurred, and an unknown vehicle symbol displayed on the instrument cluster. The vehicle was returned to the local dealer with the error message and symbol present. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and opened a case. The failure mileage was approximately 116,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11764746September 16, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, ENGINE
The contact owns a 2017 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the vehicle had started independently. While the vehicle was in the driveway, the contact became aware that the vehicle had been running for a while. While driving at 45 MPH, the vehicle shut off but restarted independently. While driving 35 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The failure had occurred on several occasions. The vehicle was towed by AAA to the local dealer, where it was determined that the ignition switch was melted. The vehicle failed to turn off as needed. The dealer stated that the failure was a fire hazard. The contact was informed that the wiring harness and the pigtail starter button needed to be replaced. The dealer ordered the part. The failure mileage was approximately 149,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11764804September 16, 2026
ENGINE
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. There was no warning light illuminated. A local dealer was contacted, and the contact was advised to continue driving the vehicle until the engine was blown. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 204,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11764322September 15, 2026
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
The contact owns a 2024 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 55-60 MPH, a loud boom suddenly occurred. The contact pulled to the side of the road and exited the vehicle with three passengers, including a nephew in a car seat. The passengers noticed that the panoramic glass fractured into several pieces and completely shattered. After cleaning out the vehicle, the contact put trash bags on the ceiling of the vehicle to avoid glass falling on the passengers. The contact stated concern about driving the vehicle before any repairs or replacements due to pieces of glass being in the fabric above the passenger's ears and the sound of glass fracturing every time a door is closed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the contact was informed to contact to the manufacturer for further instruction. The failure mileage was 25,199.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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