Kia Sorento Complaints (2003)

305 consumer complaints on file.

#10257052January 31, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL NOT SHUT OFF. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. DEALERSHIP HAS AT TIMES BEEN RUDE AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. THEY DO NOT KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. ALSO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH HEADLIGHTS BURNING OUT VERY REGULARLY AND THE BACK HATCH WILL NO LONGER OPEN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10252680December 23, 2008
AIR BAGS
REFERENCE NHTSA ITEM NUMBER 10015248 -- TSB# 029 2003 KIA SORENTO -- AIR BAGS PURCHASED CAR IN 8/2003 AND HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH AIR BAG COMING ON AND OFF OVER THE PAST 5 YEARS. NOW THE CAR HAS BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND IS THREE MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY, THE DEALERSHIP IS NOT INCLINED TO COVER THE EXPENSE TO REPLACE THE "ADU" BUT RATHER WISHES TO CHARGE ME MORE THAN $500. MY DAUGHTER WAS IN A SCARY ACCIDENT AND AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251504December 11, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE HEADLIGHTS AND BRAKELIGHTS ON MY VEHICLE (2003 KIA SORENTO EX) GO OUT APPROXIMATELY EVERY 3-4 MONTHS. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THEM AT LEAST 12 TIMES SINCE I GOT THE VEHICLE IN 2005. I HAVE HAD THE BULBS REPLACED BY THE DEALER 3 TIMES JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WAS DONE CORRECTLY AND WITH THE KIA PARTS AND THEY STILL BLEW OUT. I HAVE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO KIA 4 TIMES. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION TO BE PUT IN AND I AM REQUIRED TO DRIVE QUITE OFTEN AT NIGHT. SEVERAL TIMES I WAS DRIVING AND SUDDENLY MY HEADLIGHTS OR BRAKELIGHTS WENT OUT WHILE I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY WHICH IS ALSO DANGEROUS AND INCONVENIENT. I FEEL THAT SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, BASED ON MY RESEARCH AND TAKING TO THE KIA DEALER IT IS A COMMON AND WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITH 2003 KIA SORENTOS THAT THE HEADLIGHTS AND BRAKELIGHTS GO OUT ALL THE TIME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10249388November 20, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
OVERHEATING , THE OVERFLOW AND FILLER TANK CRACKING OPEN ON THE BOTTOM OUT OF SIGHT . CAUSED ME TO REPLACE THE WATERPUMP AND THERMOSTAT BEFORE BEING ABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM AND LEFT MYSELF AND FAMILY STRANDED. TOOK TO DEALER WHO FOUND THE CRACK AFTER CHECKING AND STATED THEY NATIONWIDE THEY HAD TO REPLACE OVER A HALF A MILLION TANKS ON THESE VEHICLES AT $200.PLUS PER JOB NOT TO MENTION THE COST OF CREATED PROBLEMS FROM THE OVERHEAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT MULTI MILLIONS OF LOSS TO CONSUMERS . *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10242311September 15, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 35-40 MPH, THE MOTOR IN THE COOLING FAN FAILED. THE MOTOR WAS ATTEMPTING TO TURN OVER; HOWEVER, IT COULD NOT BECAUSE THE FUSE IN THE FUSE BOX DID NOT BLOW OUT AS IT SHOULD. THE WIRE FROM THE TERMINAL BLOCKER MELTED INTO THE FUSE BOX. THIS CAUSED THE WIRES TO BURN AND THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT BECAME ENGULFED IN SMOKE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME AND DID NOT CATCH ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE HAS TWO SAFETY FEATURES, ONE IN THE TERMINAL BLOCK AND THE OTHER IN THE FUSE BOX, BUT THEY DID NOT WORK. THE CONTACT CALLED KIA AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE WARRANTY ENDED AT 60,000 MILES. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10241464September 9, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA SORENTO. WHILE PLACING FUEL INTO THE VEHICLE, THE FUEL SPEWED BACK OUT FROM THE GAS PUMP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT WOULD TAKE TEN MINUTES TO PLACE $20 WORTH OF GAS INTO THE VEHICLE. HE HAD TO PLACE SMALL QUANTITIES OF FUEL INTO THE VEHICLE AT A TIME TO PREVENT IT FROM SPEWING BACK OUT. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPLACED THE FUEL TANK PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE AT THE COST OF $191; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE . THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,000. UPDATED 10/16/08 *BF UPDATED 10/20/08.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10239697August 25, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
ENGINE COOLANT LEAKING. CAR PARKED IN GARAGE AT 66,000 MILES. WON'T HOLD COOLANT IS LEAKING AT HEATED COIL. I HAVE TAKEN THIS KIA TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM YET. I SAW AND READ THE MANY COMPLAINTS AND SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH THE KIA SORENTO COOLING SYSTEM. THAT IS WHY I AM ENTERING ANOTHER COMPLAINT TO HELP GET SOMETHING DONE. WITH EVERY VEHICLE THERE WILL BE PROBLEMS. HOWEVER, THIS SORENTO SEEMS TO HAVE A TON OF ENGINE COOLANT PROBLEMS. THE ONLY RECALL I HAVE ON THIS 2003 KIA SORENTO IS A FUEL ASSEMBLY ISSUE. I WOULD LOVE TO RECEIVE A LIST OF ANY AND ALL RECALLS. HOPEFULLY ADD THE ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM TO IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10236204July 29, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON BACK IN FEBRUARY AND HAD IT TO TWO DIFFERENT MECHANIC SHOPS WHICH REPLACED SPARK PLUGS AND ONE COIL PACK. ENGINE LIGHT STILL ON SO I TOOK TO KIA DEALER AND THEY REPLACED SPARK PLUGS WITH PLATNIUM ONES AND REPLACED OTHER 2 COIL PACKS. VEHICLE HAS BEEN BACK TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS FOR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REPLACING INTAKE MANIFOLD DUE TO RECALL BUT LIGHT CAME BACK ON AND THEY HAVE HAD MY VEHICLE MOST RECENTLY FOR THE PAST 4 WEEKS. I WENT TO PICK IT UP YESTERDAY AS THEY SAID THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE CYLINDER HEADS WITH RECONDITIONED ONES AND ALL GASKETS AND SEALS. AS I STARTED TO LEAVE THE DEALERSHIP LIGHT CAME BACK ON AND VEHICLE IS THERE AGAIN. OBVIOUSLY MECHANICS AT DEALERS DON'T KNOW WHAT'S CAUSING THESE PROBLEMS AND CANNOT FIX THEM. I FEEL THAT KIA SHOULD BUY EVERYONE OUT OF THEIR SORENTOS PLUS GIVE THEM THE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE (WITHOUT DEDUCTING FOR PROBLEMS) PLUS A 15% COMPENSATION FOR PUTTING THE CUSTOMERS THROUGH THIS OR MAYBE PUT A BRAND NEW ENGINE IN VEHICLE. A NEW ENGINE OR REMANUFACTURED ENGINE WAS REPLACED IN THIS VEHICLE BACK IN AUGUST, 2006. I ORIGINALLY PUT MY DATE DOWN AS MARCH, BUT LOOKING BACK, THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE FEBRUARY!! THIS IS THE SECOND COMPLAINT I AM FILING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10235478July 23, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. HAD INTAKE MANIFOLD VALVE REPLACED PER KIA, NEW SPARK PLUGS, CORE COVERS AND NEW VALVES PLUS HEADS WERE SENT OUT. VEHICLE HAS BEEN BACK AND FORTH TO DEALER FOR PAST MONTH AND A HALF BUT HAS BEEN THERE ENTIRELY FOR THE PAST 2 WEEKS. VERY FRUSTRATING AS KIA WILL NOT PROVIDE A RENTAL BUT AFTER SOME DISCUSSION WITH SERVICE AT DEALER, THEY HAVE PUT ME IN A RENTAL. DEALER HAS BEEN ON PHONE WITH KIA AND STILL CANNOT COME UP WITH A SOLUTION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10234819July 18, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING THE SORENTO TO HIS GIRLFRIENDS HOUSE MY SON NOTICED THAT THE TEMPERATURE GAGE WAS HIGHER THAN NORMAL. HE WASN'T TO FAR FROM TOWN SO HE CALLED AND I TOLD HIM TO GET SOME 50/50 ANTIFREEZE TO PUT IN THE RESERVOIR. HE DID THIS AND HAD NO MORE PROBLEMS UNTIL THE NEXT DAY ON HIS WAY HOME. HIS GIRL LIVES ABOUT 20 MILES FROM US. ABOUT HALFWAY HOME THE VEHICLE JUST DIED. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO KIA DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NO WARNING LIGHTS OR GAUGES IDENTIFIED ANYTHING WRONG. WAS ALSO TOLD THAT ENGINE WAS DRIVEN WHILE EXCESSIVELY HOT. NOT BECAUSE A WARNING LIGHT OR GAUGE TOLD US SO! IF ALL OF THIS COST TO US IS DUE TO A SMALL PIECE OF PLASTIC SOMEONE NEEDS TO TAKE KIA OUT TO THE WOODSHED. "THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE COOLANT TANK WAS CRACKED AND ALL OF THE COOLANT LEAKS OUT THE VEHICLE. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE TEMPERATURE SENSOR STOPS WORKING. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATS WITHOUT THE CONTACTS KNOWLEDGE; THEREFORE, HE CONTINUES TO DRIVE UNTIL IT FAILS. THE DEALER DID NOT WANT TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE ENGINE FAILURE AND NO RECORDING OF PRIOR MAINTENANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10231187June 16, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE COOLANT TANK WAS CRACKED AND ALL OF THE COOLANT LEAKS OUT THE VEHICLE. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE TEMPERATURE SENSOR STOPS WORKING. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATS WITHOUT THE CONTACT'S KNOWLEDGE; THEREFORE, HE CONTINUES TO DRIVE UNTIL IT FAILS. THE DEALER DID NOT WANT TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE ENGINE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10225550April 23, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
2003 KIA SORENTO. GAS TANK WILL NOT FILL AND WHEN ATTEMPTING TO FILL THE CAR WILL SPEW GAS ONTO THE CONSUMER AND ALL OVER THE CAR AND SURROUNDING AREA CREATING A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. ACCORDING TO KIA I HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE GAS TANK ASSEMBLY BECAUSE IT'S DEFECTIVE. FOR NOW I HAVE TO PUMP THE GAS IN EXTREMELY SLOWLY AND IT TAKES APPROXIMATELY 12 TIMES LONGER THAN NORMAL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10224637April 15, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA SORRENTO. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICE THE COOLANT WAS LOW. APPROXIMATELY A WEEK LATER HE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AGAIN NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE RESERVOIR TANK. HE REPLACED THE RESERVOIR TANK. AS OF APRIL 15, 2008, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHTS, TAIL LIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. AS OF APRIL 15, 2008, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE FOR THIS FAILURE. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10224358April 13, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
SAME THING ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON I PULL OVER TANK CRACKED , ENGINE RUINED, KIA TOLD ME THEY DON'T CARE AND WON'T HELP. ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO MANUFACTURER DEFECT CAR HAD 110 K ON IT, BUT THEY KNEW ABOUT THE TANK AND THE ENGINE CONCERNS, KIA SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO GET AWAY WITH THIS, $4,000 LATER I HAVE A CAR THAT SHOULD NEVER HAD BROKEN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10223606April 7, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO DISASSEMBLE THE ENGINE AT THE COST OF $861. THE DEALER REPLACED THE HEAD GASKETS, WATER PUMP ASSEMBLY, AND THE COOLANT TANK RESERVOIR. THE TOTAL REPAIR COST WAS $1,691. AFTER RETURNING HOME, THE CONTACT HAD TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO HIS LOCAL DEALER TWO WEEKS LATER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO DISASSEMBLE THE ENGINE IN ORDER TO LOCATE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER IDENTIFIED WARPED CYLINDERS AS BEING THE FAILURE COMPONENT, AND THE HEAD GASKETS, PUMP ASSEMBLY, AND THE COOLANT TANK RESERVOIR WERE REPLACED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER BEING REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,400 AND CURRENT MILEAGE IS 66,800. THE COOLANT RESERVOIR LEAKED WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT. UPDATED 05/13/08. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10222051March 23, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
SECOND OCCURRENCE IN LESS THAN 900 MILES, THIRD OCCURRENCE OVERALL, OF THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT COMING LOOSE. LOSE OF POWER STEERING OCCURS WHEN BELTS COME LOOSE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10217876February 12, 2008
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
AIR BAG LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. KIA FIXED THIS ISSUE AT LEAST 5 TIMES NOW THE LIGHT IS BACK ON AND THEY WILL NOT REPAIR BECAUSE I AM OUT OF WARRANTY. IF AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY AT TIME OF IMPACT I HAVE 3 SMALL CHILDREN. THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10217046February 5, 2008
POWER TRAIN
1. ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING ( MILEAGE 68,000 ) 2. ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND WOULD NOT RESTART 3. A MECHANIC CHECKED AND FOUND THE HARMONIC BALANCER WAS LOOSE ON THE CRANKSHAFT. IN THE ATTEMPT TO REMOVE THE HARMONIC BALANCER, THE MOUNTING BOLT BROKE OFF FLUSH WITH THE CRANK SHAFT AND APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN CROSS THREADED FROM THE FACTORY. THE HARMONIC BALANCER WAS NOT PULLED ALL THE WAY UP CAUSING THE FAILURE. DUE TO THE HARDNESS OF THE MOUNTING BOLT AND THE CRANK SHAFT, REMOVAL OF THE BROKEN BOLT IS IMPOSSIBLE. THE ENGINE WILL NEED AN OVERHAUL TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM AND OF COURSE THE WARRANTY HAS JUST EXPIRED. ( PLEASE ADVISE ). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10216187January 27, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
WHILE DRIVING MY 2003 KIA SORENTO ON AUGUST 14, 2007, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO MAKE NOISES, LOOSE POWER AND SLOW DOWN RAPIDLY. TWO BELTS POPPED COMPLETELY OFF AND THE CAR LOST ALL ITS POWER AND SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY. I TOWED THE CAR TO THE KIA DEALER AT ARBOR PLACE IN DOUGLASVILLE, GEORGIA FOR REPAIRS. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE CRANKSHAFT BOLT WAS BROKEN AND DID DAMAGE THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY AND SPROCKET. THE DEALER MADE THE REPAIRS BUT AFTER DRIVING THE CAR A FEW DAYS LATER ON AUGUST 22, 2007 IT BEGAN LOOSING POWER AGAIN. I TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES AND TRIED TO START IT UP AGAIN BUT IT WOULD NOT START AT ALL. I AGAIN TOWED IT TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP AT ARBOR PLACE. IN SHORT, THEY SAID THAT THE CAR WAS DUMPING GASOLINE INTO THE CYLINDERS AND THAT WHEN THEY TEST DROVE IT, THE CAR LOOSES GASOLINE RAPIDLY. THE CAR CLEARLY HAS MAJOR MANUFACTURER DEFECTS THAT SHOULD BE FIXED BY KIA AT NO COST TO ME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10210353November 30, 2007
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
LIKE MANY 2003 KIA SORENTO OWNERS THE OVERFLOW TANK IN MINE DEVELOPED A CRACK IN THE BOTTOM THAT IS ONLY VISIBLE WHEN IT IS PRESSURIZED. ALTHOUGH KIA KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE OVERFLOW TANK IN MOST IF NOT ALL 2003 KIA SORENTO'S AND HAS SENT OUT A TSB TO THEIR MECHANICS OVER HOW TO REPLACE IT. AS SOON AS MY CAR HAD OVERHEATED DUE TO THE LEAK, I HAD TO PAY AROUND $100 TO BUY A NEW TANK FROM THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP BUT ALAS AFTER OVER HEATING MY CAR DEVELOPED MORE PROBLEMS AND ENGINE HAVING TO BE THROWN OUT. THIS HAS COST ME OVER $4300 IN REPAIRS SO FAR, AND HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR I AM STILL MAKING MONTHLY PAYMENTS ON IN NINE MONTHS. NONE OF WHICH ARE COVERED TO THE WARRANTY DUE TO THEIR "10 YEAR 100,000 MILE" POWERTRAIN WARRANTY NOT BEING TRANSFERABLE TO THOSE WHO BUY THE CAR USED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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