Kia Sorento Complaints
10,397 consumer complaints on file.
- #10465756July 16, 2012POWER TRAIN
WHILE DRIVING HEARD A LOUD NOISE FROM ENGINE CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING. CAR TOWED TO MECHANIC. DIAGNOSIS: CRANK BOLT BROKEN AND LAYING IN SKID PLATE; PART OF BROKEN CRANK BOLT IN CRANKSHAFT. CRANK PULLEY SHEARED PIN AND MOVED FORWARD CAUSING POWER STEERING BELT TO COME OFF AND OTHER BELT MISALIGNMENT. UPON REMOVAL OF BROKEN CRANKSHAFT BOLT, DAMAGE WAS FOUND TO CRANK GEAR AND BALANCER PULLEY. THE TIMING BELT, TENSIONER AND CRANKSHAFT BOLT HAD ALL BEEN REPLACED AT 91,000. LESS THAN TWO MONTHS AFTER REPLACING THE CRANKSHAFT BOLT, IT SHEARED OFF CAUSING MAJOR DAMAGE. LOSING POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT TO KIA THAT HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED CAUSING A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE TO ALL MOTOR VEHICLE DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS. IN ADDITION, THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR ISSUE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10465821July 16, 2012EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I'VE REPEATEDLY HAD TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHTS IN THIS CAR EVERY COUPLE OF MONTHS. WHEN ONE LIGHT IS REPLACED, THE OTHER SIDE GOES OUT NEXT. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS. I HAVE 189,000 MILES ON THE CAR NOW. I DON'T REMEMBER EXACTLY WHEN IT STARTED. MY DRIVER SEAT ALSO STOPPED WORKING. THE BACK GOES FORWARD AND BACK, BUT THE BASE SEAT DOESN'T MOVE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10465652July 14, 2012ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
AS I BACK U THIS WEIRD SCRATCHY SOUND AND ALSO AS I DRIVE AT NORMAL SPEED. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10465588July 13, 2012VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DRIVING ON FREEWAY AT APPROX. 75MPH , CAR JERKED, ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, VEHICLE DECELERATED AND WHEN GAS PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED IT DID NOT WORK AT ALL. HAPPENED 5 OTHER TIMES PREVIOUS TO THIS AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. DEALER DID A REFLASH OF SOME COMPUTER CHIP. THAT DID NOT FIX PROBLEM, 6TH TIME I HAD PROBLEM ON 7/12/12 I WAS THEN TOLD BY DEALER THAT THE THROTTLE BODY AND HOUSING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10464743July 9, 2012VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THERE WAS ONE REPORTED INJURY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AWAY FROM THE LOCATION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 27,000.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10464795July 9, 2012POWER TRAIN
CORROSION OF REAR DIFFERENTIAL, BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT ARM COMPLETELY BROKE OFF AXLE ASSY, UNSAFE TO DRIVE. REPAIR SHOP I'VE USED FOR THE LAST 4 YEARS GAVE ESTIMATE OF $1,300.00 WITH POSSIBLE ADDITIONAL COST OF UP TO $500.00. THEY SUGGESTED I CALL KIA REGARDING MY 10 YR. 100,000 MILE WARRANTY. CALLED KIA CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS FOR 10 YR. 100,000 MILE WARRANTY. WAS TOLD I NEEDED TO TOW IT FROM MY REPAIR SHOP TO THE NEAREST KIA DEALER WHICH WAS 48 MILES AWAY. SERVICE MANAGER AFTER LOOKING AT DEFECT TOLD ME WARRANTY DENIED WOULD COST $2,700.00 (APPROXIMATE) AND COULD COUNT ON AN ADDITIONAL $500.00 TO $1,000.00 WHEN TAKEN APART. PLACED ANOTHER CALL TO KIA CORP. HEADQUARTERS FOR WARRANTY AND WAS TOLD THERE IS NO DEFECT. DAMAGE AS A RESULT OF SALT OUT OF THEIR CONTROL, AND THE SERVICE MANAGER HAD THE FINAL SAY. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10464828July 9, 2012ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
DRIVING 65MPH ON TURNPIKE HEARD A LOUD SCREECHING NOISE BRAKES WERE HARD TO APPLY STEERING WAS DIFFICULT AND DASH BOARD LITE UP PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST KIA DEALERSHIP TO BE TOLD THAT CRANK SHAFT BOLT BROKE. AT 60000 MILES WE DID THE REQUIRED MAINTENANCE TO THE TUNE OF 663.65 AND HAD THE TIMING BELT REPLACED. THERE WAS ALSO A MEMO TO THE DEALERSHIPS TO REPLACE THE BOLT WHEN REPLACING THE TIMING BELT. ACCORDING TO MY ITEMIZED STATEMENT THE BOLT WAS NOT REPLACED. I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE COVERED SINCE I FOLLOWED THE RULES AND GOT THE REQUIRED SERVICE THEY WERE NEGLIGENT NOT REPLACING THE BOLT. HOWEVER THEY REFUSE TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THERE MISTAKE. NOW I AM STUCK WITH A CONSIDERABLE BILL. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10464639July 8, 2012POWER TRAIN
ESC AND CBC LIGHTS CAME ON COULDN'T SHIFT INTO PARK. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10464532July 7, 2012SERVICE BRAKES
DRIVING CAR DOWN ROAD WHEN BRAKES WENT SOFT PULLING INTO MY DRIVEWAY WAS ABLE TO STOP BEFORE BRAKES WENT OUT FULLY. MY SON WAS PRACTICING FOR HIS ROAD TEST. CAR ALSO HAS CONTROL ISSUE DOES NOT FEEL VERY STABLE. FEELS LIKE IT WANT TO TIP OVER. NOISE IN FRONT END DEALER SAID YOU WILL GET USED TO IT. WHEN IT GETS BAD ENOUGH THEY MAY BE ABLE TO FIND IT. BIGGEST PIECE OF JUNK I HAVE EVER OWNED. WOULD NEVER BUY ANOTHER KIA. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10464476July 6, 2012LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA SORENTO. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT OPENED THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AND NOTICED A LOAD CLICKING SOUND UPON CLOSING THE DOOR. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THAT THE DOOR HANDLE HAD FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE DOOR HANDLE. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE CONTACT NOTICED THE SAME CLICKING SOUND UPON CLOSING THE FRONT DRIVER'S DOOR. THE DOOR HANDLE ALSO FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10462895June 24, 2012ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
I TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE WHICH HAD ONLY 5 MILES ON IT AND HAD NOT BEEN TEST DRIVEN PRIOR TO ME. I NOTICED A VERY SLIGHT VIBRATION FROM 0MPG TO 10MPG, AND ASKED THE SALES ASSOCIATE IF THAT WAS NORMAL. HE SAID IT WAS FINE AND WAS NOTHING TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT. I DID NOT NOTICE ANY FURTHER ISSUES WHILE IDLING AT STOP LIGHTS AND DID NOT NOTICE THE VIBRATION AGAIN DURING THE TEST DRIVE. AFTER I SIGNED THE FINANCIAL PAPERS AT 11PM AFTER THE DEALERSHIP HAD OFFICIALLY CLOSED FOR THE DAY AND GOT INTO THE CAR TO DRIVE HOME, I WAS SITTING IN THE CAR WHILE IT IDLED AND I WAS SPEAKING TO THE SALES ASSOCIATE WHEN THE CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE AND THE VIBRATION WAS VERY NOTICEABLE. I IMMEDIATELY TOLD THE ASSOCIATE AND HE SAID TO BRING THE CAR IN TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THE FOLLOWING DAY TO HAVE IT INSPECTED AND SAID IT WAS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. HE SAID IT'S UNDER WARRANTY SO IT WOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. WE BROUGHT THE CAR IN THE NEXT DAY AND THE SERVICE MAN TOLD MY HUSBAND IT WAS LIKELY JUST THAT IT NEEDED TO BREAK-IN SINCE IT ONLY HAD A FEW MILES ON IT. THEY RAN TESTS ON THE CAR AND EVERYTHING CHECKED OUT FINE. THE MAN SUGGESTED WE TAKE IT FOR A LONG DRIVE AND PUT A COUPLE HUNDRED MILES ON IT AND SEE HOW IT WAS RUNNING AFTERWARD. WE DID SO AND THE PROBLEM DID NOT GET BETTER. WE BROUGHT IT IN THE NEXT DAY TO BE INSPECTED AGAIN AND THE SERVICE MEN TOOK IT FOR A SHORT DRIVE TO SEE IF THEY COULD REPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND THEY NOTED THEY DID. OUR SALES ASSOCIATE TOLD US HE LOOKED INTO THIS VIBRATION PROBLEM AND FOUND THAT KIA WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND WERE WORKING ON A FIX FOR A COMPUTER CHIP THAT WAS AFFECTING THE 4 CYLINDER 2013 SORENTOS. HE TOLD US KIA DID NOT HAVE A TIMEFRAME FOR FIXING THE PROBLEM BUT IT SHOULD BE SOON, BUT THIS WAS A PROBLEM WITH ALL 4 CYLINDERS THAT THEY ARE MAKING. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10462711June 22, 2012STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED HE USED THE WRONG STEERING FLUID IN THE VEHICLE, WHICH CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT EMAILED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS AWAITING A RESPONSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10462542June 21, 2012STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 10 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED WHILE ATTEMPTING A LEFT TURN AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A DITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE POLICE WERE NOT CONTACTED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 143,000 . . UPDATED 07/27/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE POWER STEERING FAILURE HAPPENED ON FOUR DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING CRASH. UPDATED 08/02/2012. *JS
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10462546June 21, 2012SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BY THE DEALER WHEN THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE REAR HOUSING LINKAGE WAS CORRODED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 107,500.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10462598June 21, 2012FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND REPLACED THE FUEL INJECTOR FLUID BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE FUEL INJECTORS NEEDED CLEANING. AFTER THE FUEL INJECTORS WERE CLEANED, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY INCLUDED AND REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 05V353000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS). AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED A FUEL SPILL WHEN REFUELING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,387.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10462363June 20, 2012POWER TRAIN
THE SAME THING IS HAPPENING TO MY SORENTO THAT IS LISTED IN OD10459049. VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO PARK FROM THE DRIVE POSITION. THE DBC AND ESC DASH LIGHTS WERE ALSO ILLUMINATED. THIS HAS HAPPEND 3 TIMES IN 2 WEEKS. *JS
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10462447June 20, 2012ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS, INTERIOR LIGHTING, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HEADLIGHT BULBS HAVE GONE OUT AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH SINCE I HAVE PURCHASED VEHICLE USED. HAVE TO KEEP SPARE BULBS IN VEHICLE IN CASE IT HAPPENED AGAIN AT NIGHT WHICH I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DRIVE WITH MY NORMAL HEADLIGHTS IG I HAD NOT CARRIED THE SPARE ONES IN SORENTO. BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE GONE OUT 3 TIMES SINCE I HAVE PURCHASED SORENTO IN MARCH 2012. LIGHTING INTERIOR DOES NOT WORK UNLESS YOU MANUALLY PUSH THE BUTTON FROM THE TOP OF CEILING. DOOR AJAR" LIGHT CAME ON AND STARTED BEEPING ALL DOORS WERE TIGHTLY SHUT. WAS TOLD THAT THE SEAT BELT HARNESS METAL PART MAY HAVE CAUSED THE DRIVERS DOOR TO BEND OR KNOCK OFF THE DIODE BUTTON. *JS
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10462481June 20, 2012POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY:SOLENOID
UPON STARTING THE 2009 KIA SORRENTO ONE DAY, I SHIFTED TO REVERSE AND NOTICED A VIOLENT JERK WITH A LOUD POPPING SOUND. UPON PUTTING IT INTO DRIVE, THE CAR WOULD BARELY ACCELERATE BUT THE ENGINE WOULD STILL REV WHEN PRESSING DOWN ON THE GAS PEDAL. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON BUT LATER WENT AWAY. THE DEALERSHIP HAS SEEN THE CAR MULTIPLE TIMES AND OUR SERVICE ADVISOR GARY DAWSON IN HOUSTON, TX SAYS THEY CANNOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM OR FIND ANY FAULT CODES (EVEN THOUGH WE PROVIDED THE CODE PULLED FROM AUTOZONE THE PREVIOUS DAY). CODES SAID THE TRANSAXLE AND HIGH/LOW SOLENOID WERE THE PROBLEMS. THE CAR IS IN THEIR POSSESSION NOW BUT AFTER A QUICK TALK WITH OUR SERVICE ADVISOR I HIGHLY DOUBT THEY WILL BE FIXING ANYTHING. A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH SHOWS ALMOST ALL 2005+ SORRENTOS HAVE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT KIA AND KEEP THEM IN CHECK. *JS
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10462040June 18, 2012ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. THE ENGINE RESTARTED AFTER WAITING A FEW MOMENTS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWO TIMES. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10461796June 14, 2012ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
AT 60,000 MILES TOOK MY 2006 SORENTO IN FOR MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDED SERVICE - CHANGE TIMING BELT AND NEW PLUGS, ETC., NEVER HAD A PROBLEM BEFORE THEN. GOT THE SUV BACK FROM MECHANIC AND THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE BELTS CAME OFF, LOST POWER, OVERHEATED. CRANK SHAFT BOLT CAME LOOSE. NOW AT 82,290 MILES, BOLT BROKE, HARMONIC BALANCER CAME LOOSE AND CHEWED UP THE END OF THE CRANKSHAFT. $3200 FIX. SUV HAS BEEN IN SHOP FOR 5 WEEKS AND WILL REMAIN THERE FOR AT LEAST 5 MORE UNTIL I CAN GET THE MONEY TO FIX IT. KIA SHOULD RECALL THIS MODEL AS WELL, THEY ALREADY RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM IN 2003 AND 2004 MODELS. I AM A SINGLE MOM, RAISING BOYS WITHOUT THE BENEFIT OF CHILD SUPPORT OR ANY OTHER HELP. KIA SHOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR WORKMANSHIP!
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0