Kia Sorento Complaints
10,397 consumer complaints on file.
- #10182228February 10, 2007POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:FLOOR SHIFT ASSEMBLY
INTERMITTENT SHIFTING DEFECT THAT CAUSES THE GEARS TO GET LOCKED UP AND THE TRUCK WILL NOT SHIFT INTO FIRST GEAR, OR THE SHIFTER WILL GET VERY TIGHT AND IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO SHIFT GEARS. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10182162February 9, 2007SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
2003 SORENTO EX PURCHASED NEW. REPLACED THE LEFT FRONT ROTOR ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO, BUT BREAKING HAS RETURNED TO SIGNS OF A WARPED ROTOR AGAIN. VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED AND LOUD NOISE IN FRONT WHEEL AREA (NON-METAL) SOUND. CAR HAS NEW BRAKE PADS AND RECENT ALIGNMENT. ROTORS ARE NOT LASTING. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10181500February 3, 2007STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
2003 KIA SORENTO WOULD LOOSE POWER STEERING ASSISTANCE WHEN TRANSITIONING FROM MODERATE SPEEDS (30-50 MPH) TO LOW SPEED (5-10 MPH), SUCH AS WHEN EXITING A HIGHWAY BY SLOWING IN A CENTER TURNING LANE AND TURNING LEFT IN FRONT OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. FIRST OCCURANCE WAS AT 19,000 MILES (SEPT 2003), KIA DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE PROBLEM AND RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO ME. PROBLEM CONTINUED INTERMITTENTLY UNTIL 30,000 MILES (MAY 2004) WHEN I RETURNED TO DEALER AND THEY DISCOVERED A TSB ON THIS ISSUE. DEALER REPLACED P/S SENSOR AND LOADED IMPROVED SOFTWARE CODE. THERE WERE A NUMBER OF NEAR COLLISIONS DUE TO THIS FAILURE. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10181503February 3, 2007STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
2003 KIA SORENTO WITH HISTORY OF POWER STEERING FAILURES WHICH RESULTED IN NO POWER STEERING ASSISTANCE WHILE TURNING AT LOW SPEEDS. PROBLEM FIXED MAY 2004 (AFTER THEE VISITS TO DEALER) ALTHOUGH TSB IDENTIFYING CORRECTIVE ACTION WAS ISSUED A YEAR EARLIER. STEERING RACK FOUND TO BE SEEPING FLUID DURING ANNUAL INSPECTION AT 63,760 MI. TAKEN TO DEALER AT 70,000 MILES FOR EVALUATION. DEALER ADVISED THAT SEALS NOT SERVICEABLE, STEERING RACK AND HOSES REQUIRE REPLACEMENT AT COST OF $2000 - NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE ADVISED THAT STEERING RACK COVERED UNDER WARRANTY UNTIL 60,000 MI; NOT PART OF 100,000 MI POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. I HAVE BEGUN A SEARCH FOR A NEW VEHICLE, AND KIA PRODUCTS AREN'T ELIGIBLE FOR CONSIDERATION. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10181040January 29, 2007SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
BRAND NEW 2006 KIA SORENTO - BRAKES STARTED SHAKING AFTER ABOUT 2,000 MILES. AT 8,000 MILES THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP. I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 45 MPH AND ENTERING A TURN LANE. THE LIGHT AHEAD WAS ABOUT TO TURN RED. AS I BRAKED, IT SOUNDED LIKE THE WHEELS WERE SPINNING AND THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP. THERE WAS A HEAVY CLANKING NOISE AND THEN THE CAR FINALLY STOPPED (WHILE I WAS HALFWAY INTO THE INTERSECTION.) WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, I GENTLY APPLIED THE GAS AND THE TIRES SOUNDED LIKE THEY WERE SPINNING AGAIN AND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE FOR ABOUT 3-5 SECONDS. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK MY CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY CALLED ME 3 HOURS LATER AND SAID THE CAR WAS FIXED. THEY REPLACED BOTH FRONT ROTORS AND DID NOT HAVE AN EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THE TILES SPUN WHEN I APPLIED THE GAS AT THE STOP LIGHT. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10181065January 29, 2007POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT, POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
I DRIVE A 2003 KIA/SORENTO/4D. ON OR ABOUT DEC 15 2006 I NOTICE A LOUD NOISE AN SERVER VIBRATION COMING UNDER VEHICLE. I TOOK SUV TO FAMILY MECHANIC. HE COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM AND RECOMMENDED THAT I TAKE VEHICLE TO KIA DEALER. ON DEC 27 2006 KIA DEALER TECH INITIAL DIAG READS 4X4 IS STAYING ENGAGED ALL THE TIME. SUSPECTED SWITCH FAILURE. THEREFORE FRONT DIFF STAYING ENGAGED ALL THE TIME. THIS HAS CAUSED INTERNAL DAMAGE TO FRONT DIFF AND FRONT PROPELLER SHAFT. ESTIMATE COST TO REPAIR/2,775.00 I AM AT A LOST CAUSE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, BUT I FEEL BECAUSE 4X4 RELEASE/ENGAGE SWITCH FAILURE THAT I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO ENDURE THE FINANCIAL BURDEN. REPAIRING THIS MANUFACTURES DEFECT. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10179502January 23, 2007VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES
TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SORENTO, WHEN THE CONTACT LIFTS THE FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL THE THROTTLE CABLE STICKS. THERE WAS A COLLISION WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, AND THE PASSENGER WAS INJURED RESULTING IN A 2 DAY HOSPITAL STAY. THIS FAILURE OCCURRED ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT HAS REFERENCED RECALL#05V329000 AS THE EXACT FAILURE IN HIS VEHICLE. THE RECALL STATED THAT ON CERTAIN MINI VANS, FREEZING CONDITIONS CAN CAUSE WATER ON THE THROTTLE CABLE TO FREEZE DURING NORMAL OPERATION. RESISTANCE TO MOVEMENT OF THE THROTTLE CABLE CAN OCCUR WHEN THE DRIVER LIFTS THEIR FOOT OFF OF THE GAS PEDAL. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19585 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 19591.*AK UPDATED 2/21/2007 - *NM
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10178154January 9, 2007ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2006 SORENTO WAS PURCHASED IN NOV 2005. JAN OF 2006 THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I WAS TOLD IT WAS DUE TO POSSIBLE LOOSE GAS CAP. FIRST TIME TAIL LIGHT WENT OUT WAS IN JULY OF 2006. RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHT WAS REPLACED. IN OCTOBER OF 2006 A TAIL LIGHT BULB WAS REPLACED DURING MY 15,000 MILE MAINTENANCE. IN NOVEMBER 2006 RIGHT TAIL LIGHT WENT OUT AND KIA REPLACED BULB ONCE AGAIN. IN DECEMBER OF 2006 LEFT TAIL LIGHT WENT OUT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. BULB WAS REPLACED AND I WAS TOLD MY SPARK PLUGS WERE MISFIRING AND WERE REPLACED. A DAY LATER MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. I AM NOW TRYING TO SEE WHAT DAY I CAN TAKE OFF OF WORK YET AGAIN TO GO AND HAVE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT LOOKED AT. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10178038January 8, 2007POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:UNIVERSAL JOINT, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
2003 KIA SORRENTO-THERE HAS BEEN NO CRASH==THE DRIVE LINE FROM THE REAR MAKES A NOISY THUMP ALMOST EVERY TIME I STEP ON THE BRAKES AND RELEASE THEM--KIA SERVICE IN MIDDLETOWN, NY SERVICE MANAGER AND KIA ZONE REP STATE THAT IS NORMAL OPERATION OF VEHICLE--I DISAGREE AND INFORMED THEM I WILL BE TAKING VEHICLE TO ANOTHER MECHANIC,I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR 34 YEARS AND NEVER ENCOUNTERED THIS SITUATION IN A VEHICLE. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10178108January 8, 2007ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
TL* - THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES CONCERNING THE HORN NOT WORKING. EVERY TIME HE TOOK SIT TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY STATED THAT THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED ON AND OFF. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10172638January 4, 2007POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
MANUAL TRANSMISSION INTERMITTENT SHIFTING SAFETY DEFECT CAUSES OUR 2005 KIA SORENTO TO LOCK UP WHILE WE ARE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AND WILL NOT LET US SHIFT GEARS OR MOVE THE CAR. HAS HAPPENED PULLING INTO TRAFFIC IN FIRST GEAR; HAS HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY SHIFTING UP THROUGH GEARS, HAS HAPPENED DOWN SHIFTING IN INTERSECTIONS. THIS DANGEROUS SAFETY DEFECT COULD CAUSE US TO BE IN A POSSIBLY FATAL ACCIDENT. WE HAVE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO KIA INC. TWO TIMES AND TAKEN TO DEALERS FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT HAVE BEEN TOLD SINCE THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM AND THEY CAN'T DUPLICATE IT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO TO HELP US. THEY TEST DRIVE THE CAR BUT WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ELSE TO LOOK AT THE CAR. IN THE MEANTIME THE PROBLEM CONTINUES TO EXIST AND WE ARE DRIVING A DANGEROUS VEHICLE AND WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM CORRECTED. OUR CONSCIENCE TELLS US WE SHOULD NOT TRADE OR SELL THIS AUTO BECAUSE WE KNOW IT HAS A POTENTIALLY LIFE-THREATENING SAFETY DEFECT (EVEN THOUGH IT HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY) . THIS IS A FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE. EVERY TIME WE DRIVE THE CAR WE WONDER IF THE SHIFTING PROBLEM WILL OCCUR. WE HAVE YOUNG GRANDCHILDREN AND BOUGHT THE KIA SORENTO BECAUSE OF ITS POSITIVE SAFETY FEATURES. BECAUSE OF THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM WE ARE HIGHLY CONCERNED FOR THEIR AND OUR SAFETY. *NM UPDATED 11/21/06. *JB UPDATED
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10177458January 1, 2007ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
A SCREW THAT HOLD THE CRANK SHAFT & THE TAMPER GET BROKEN WHILE I WAS DRIVING TO MY HOUSE. THE DEALER IN PUERTO RICO SAID THAT I HAVE TO PAY$2,521.00 TO FIX IT. BUT I HEARD FROM AN INSURANCE AGENT THAT KIA WAS TOLD BY SOME GOVERNMENT AGENCY, I THINK THAT AGENCY IS NHTSA; TO MODIFY THE SCREW INVOLVED IN MY INCIDENT, CAUSING THE LOST CONTROL OF MY SORENTO. THE STEERING GET HARD TO MOVE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10176507December 18, 2006FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE, POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:FLOOR SHIFT ASSEMBLY
WE HAVE A 2006 KIA THE SUV TYPE AND THE PROBLE IS THAT WHEN WE FILLED THE GAS TANK THE GASA GAUGE WOULD WOULD GO TO EMPTY IN 32 MILES AND AL SO THE SHIFTER HANDEL POPED OUT THE HOLDER
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10176072December 13, 2006ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN ON THE DEFOGGER/DEFROST SYSTEM, THE HEATER FAILED TO OPERATE, AND NO HEAT WAS PRESENT. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER, WHO DETERMINED ANTIFREEZE FLUID LEAKED OUT OF THE RESERVOIR TANK BECAUSE IT WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REPLACEMENT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE AT THE DEALER, AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED, WHO CONFIRMED THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE DEALER INSTRUCTED THE CONTACT TO MONITOR THE LEVEL OF ANTIFREEZE FLUID DAILY AND ADD MORE ANTIFREEZE IF NEEDED.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10175176December 5, 2006ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
FIRST INCIDENT - CAR STALLED AND FLUID STEAMED FROM THE HOOD. IT HAD TO BE TOWED AFTER SEVERAL RESTARTS TO DRIVE TO THE DEALER. THE COOLANT RESERVOIR WAS CRACKED. THIS PART IS ON NATIONAL BACKORDER AND I HAVE SO FAR BEEN WAITING APPROX. FOUR WEEKS FOR THE PART. THE DEALER SAID KIA HAS HALTED MANUFACTURING/DISTRIBUTING THE PART JUST FOR NEW CARS AND REQUESTED THAT THE PARTS BE SHIPPED TO THE DEALERS FOR REPAIR INSTALLATIONS. THE DEALER CUSTOMER SERVICE IS GREAT AND I HAVE NO COMPLAINT ABOUT THE DEALER. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10175182December 5, 2006AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
I HAD A 1 YEAR OLD BATTERY REPLACED, WHICH WAS DEFECTIVE (NON-KIA DEALER). AFTERWARDS, I NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. KIA DEALER SAID IT WAS DUE TO A BAD SENSOR ($300 PART, $300 LABOR). IT WAS TOO EXPENSIVE FOR ME TO PURSUE CORRECTING. I TOLD THE DEALER TO FORGET THE REPAIR. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10174204November 24, 2006EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
WHEN THE A/C TURNS ON, A BELT SLIPS NOTICEABLY AND THE POWER DIPS. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10173998November 21, 2006SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH UNDER NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE BRAKES LOCKED UP. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE SERVICE DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE BRAKES. THE CONSUMER HAS ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE'S CRUISE CONTROL *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10173140November 10, 2006ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
ENGINE AND COOLING SYSTEM. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10173143November 10, 2006ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHERE DO I START?....WELL NOT LONG AFTER WE GOT THE PIECE OF JUNK WE HAD TO TAKE IT TO THE KIA DEALER BECAUSE THE ENGINE LIGHT KEPT COMING ON, THEY SAID IT WAS BECAUSE THE GAS CAP WASN'T BEING TWISTED ENOUGH AND AIR GOT IN. WELL FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS THE ENGINE LIGHT STAYED OFF, WE TOOK IT BACK NUMEROUS TIMES BUT IT KEPT COMING BACK ON. THEN ON ONE OCCASION I WAS STRANDED ABOUT 40 MILES FROM HOME...THE CAR WAS DEAD, WE HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER, ALL THE BELTS HAD COME OFF, THEY TRIED TO MAKE EXCUSES WHY KIA WOULDN'T FIX IT UNDER THE WARRANTY, THANK GOD WE WON THAT BATTLE...KEEP IN MIND, THE ENGINE LIGHT IS STILL ON AT THIS POINT. NOW THIS YEAR THE HEATER WON'T STAY HOT AFTER ABOUT 30 SECONDS IT TURNS COLD, AS COLD AS THE AIR. THEN WITH NO WARNING THE CAR OVER HEATS AND DIES ON ME. WE HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALER THEY SAY IT IS MY FAULT BECAUSE WHEN I SEEN THE LIGHT COME ON I SHOULD HAVE PULLED OVER, "THE LIGHT NEVER GOES OFF" KIA WON'T FIX IT UNLESS WE PAY FOR IT, AND THE COST IS $10,000. WE HAVE ONE YEAR LEFT AND IT WOULD BE PAID OFF...LESS THAN $7,000 AND NOW THIS. I AM SO ANGRY, THIS IS NOT RIGHT. I THINK THE KIA COMPANY NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE THEY ARE RIPPING EVERYONE OFF. TAKING MONEY FROM WORKING PEOPLE AND SCAMMING THEM. THEY ARE NO BETTER THAN THIEVES AND LIARS. THEY ARE SELLING A PRODUCT ALONG WITH A PROMISE TO SERVICE IT SHOULD SOMETHING GO WRONG BUT NOT HONORING THAT PROMISE. OH AND DID I MENTION THE HEAD LIGHTS ARE ALWAYS GOING OUT? *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0