Kia Sorento Complaints

10,397 consumer complaints on file.

#10139459October 12, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
PURCHASED 2003 SORENTO ONLY TO FIND THE BRAKES AND ROTORS NEED REPLACED EVERY 8,000 MILES A COSTLY FIGURE TO GO ALONG. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO MERCHANTS DUE TO THE BRAKING SYSTEM THEY INDICATED NOTHING WAS FOUND AND ALL WAS GOOD ONLY TO LEAVE THE STATION PAYING THE PRICE FOR TIRE BALANCE/FRONT END JOB/BRAKE BLEEDING/AND TURNING OF ROTORS LETS NOT FORGET THEY REPLACED FRONT BRAKES FOR $1,000. JUST TO LEAVE AND HAVE THE PROBLEM STILL THE JERKING,SHAKING WHEN APPLYING BRAKES WHEN SPEEDS 30 MILES PER HR WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THE CAR FELT AS IF IT WERE TO FALL APART. I CALLED THE FACILITY BACK AND THEY WOULDN'T WARRANT THE SERVICE. I THEN CALLED KIA OF WESTMINSTER MD WHERE I WAS TOLD TO BRING THE CAR BACK AND THEY WOULD REVIEW THE PROBLEM AND GIVE ME A CALL, AGAIN THE BACK BRAKES THIS TIME AND THE ROTORS WERE PULLED AND REPLACED TO GET A BILL OF $400 AND ABOVE. WAS ONLY OUT OF THE SHOP FOR LESS THEN 5,000 MILES AND IT STARTED ALL OVER AGAIN. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO REPORT THIS AND THEY BROUGHT THE CAR BACK IN JUST TO DO THE BACK ALL OVER AGAIN, BUT I WAS WARNED THAT IF IT GOES AGAIN I WOULD HAVE TO HAVE THIS REPLACED BOTH FRONT/BACK AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO CHARGE ME. WELL GUESS WHAT ????? WE HAVEN'T EVEN PUT 8,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND IT'S GOING ON A SPELL AGAIN. I HAVEN'T DECIDED WHAT I'M GOING TO DO AS OF YET - I DO NEED A 4X4 DUE TO THE WINTER AND GETTING BACK AND FORTH TO WORK. LUCKILY MY FATHER HAS OFFERED TO DO THE WORK FOR ME JUST BUY THE PARTS MAYBE IT WILL LAST LONGER THIS TIME. I HAVE TO BUY MY SON A CAR WE KNOW WHICH NOT TO BUY- I'VE READ HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THE KIA WHICH EVER MODEL AND IT SEEMS THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS AND THE BIGGEST IS THAT THE MANUFACTURER HASN'T NOTED ANY FOR RECALL - WOULDN'T YOU THINK BRAKE LOSS OF UNABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR WHEN BRAKING WOULD THROW UP RED FLAGS ------I GUESS THEY DON'T CARE WHO THEY HURT. I HAVE TOLD EVERYONE I KNOW THAT THIS ISN'T A GOOD PRODUCT TO BUY. LUCKILY I'VE STOPPED MANY FROM MAKING A MISTAKE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10139950October 7, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS, STRUCTURE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
IN LESS THAN A YEAR CONSUMER HEADLIGHT WENT OUT AND THE BACK HATCH WINDOW WAS LEAKING INSIDE THE VEHICLE EVERY TIME IT RAINED. *TS THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED ON NOVEMBER 30, 2004 AND FIVE MINUTES AFTER THE NEW BULB WAS INSTALLED IT SHATTERED. ON THAT SAME DATE THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEM WITH THE CLOCK AND HVAC INDICATORS. UPDATED 03/30/07. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10138465October 4, 2005
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON. WHEN I AM IN THE PASSENGER SEAT THE AIRBAG INDICATOR SAYS "PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF". I WEIGH ABOUT 120 LBS. WHEN MY FIANCE IS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT THE AIRBAG IS ON. HE WEIGHS ABOUT 150 LBS. WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND TOLD THEM ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THEY SAID THAT I AM PROBABLY SITTING WRONG. I CANNOT ACCEPT THIS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10138094September 29, 2005
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
I PURCHASED A NEW 2005 KIA SORENTO IN JULY. WHILE SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT I WOULD NOTICE THAT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR WAS NOT DETECTING ME THUS LEAVING THE AIRBAG OFF. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER TO FIND THE PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD IT IS A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM AND THE SEAT MUST BE REMOVED, SENT BACK TO THE MANUFACTURER AND BE REPROGRAMMED. IT DOES NOT SENSE LARGER SIZE PEOPLE AS THE PEOPLE OF KOREA ARE SMALLER AND THE SENSORS ARE DESIGNED FOR THEM. I WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THIS DEFECT UNTIL I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THEM. THEY DID NOT FEEL IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10137536September 25, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
WHEN I STOPPED AT 12,000 FT MT PASS SUMMIT IN REMOTE AREA I NOTICED FLUID DRAINING FROM MY KIA SORENTO. I LIMPED INTO SMALL TOWN -HAD THE RADIATOR CHECKED AND REFILLED-TEMPERATURE GAUGE DID NOT REGISTER HOT- I WAS SENT ON MY WAY BUT THEN BECAME STRANDED IN MIDDLE PARK AREA OF COLORADO (KREMMLING) WITH WHAT WAS DISCOVERED TO BE CRACKED, LEAKING RESEVOIR. NO AUTHORIZED REPAIR SHOP IN AREA AND KIA WANTED ME TO CROSS MT PASS TO GET INTO DENVER 100 MILES AWAY!--KIA REFUSES TO HONOR WARRANTY AS I WAS NOT AT AUTHORIZED SERVICE SHOP-IT TOOK ME DAYS TO LOCATE THE NEEDED PARTS AND HAVE THE REPLACEMENT DONE. UPON RETURNING HOME TO AUTHORIZED KIA DEALER FOR A GENERAL INSPECTION OF THE PROBLEM I WAS TOLD THERE WERE 3 OTHER VEHICLES WITH SAME INCIDENT--NOW THERE ARE 2-3 MORE CRACKED AND LEAKING RESEVOIRS PLUS MINE -(TOLD TO ME BY THE KIA SERVICE DEPARTMENT)--KIA SORENTO 2003; MILEAGE 33,500--OLD PART IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION--INTERESTING TO NOTE-NEW RESEVOIR IS OF DIFFERENT DESIGN, SO KIA KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM!*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10136297September 13, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT,NEEDED CANISTER CLOSE V CANISTER ASS/CHECK ENGINE INSTALL CCV FILTER AND SPLASH SHIELDS/CHECK ENGINE SENSOR FUEL TANK/ STILL WAITING FOR SENSOR. NOW CANNOT PUT GAS IN VEHICLE, KEEPS BACK SPLASHING OUT, ON 1/4 TANK AND CANNOT PUT GAS IN,STILL WAITING FOR PART. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10136326September 13, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
DT: THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS MAKING A CLICKING NOISE, TOOK IT TO THE DEALER. THEY SAID THE CALIPER WAS MISSING AND BRAKES WERE GONE. ALSO, THEY SAID THE INDICATOR LIGHT WAS MISSING ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NINE MONTHS AGO FROM THE KIA DEALER, AND THEY SAID THIS WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE DEALER REFUSED TO FIX THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE INDICATOR LIGHT WAS MISSING. THE CONSUMER STARTED NOTICING THIS ON SEPTEMBER 1, 2005 TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER SOON AS THE CONSUMER NOTICED THIS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10135404September 6, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
I HAVE CONSISTENTLY HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR FROM THE 1ST MONTH OF PURCHASE. THE MAJOR PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN: CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEPT COMING ON AND A PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVE SHAFT. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED APPROXIMATELY 2 ATTEMPTS AFTER IT FIRST APPEARED. IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A PROBLEM WITH THE TSP. THE PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVE SHAFT HAS NOT YET BEEN RESOLVED AS IT STILL CONTINUE TO VIBRATE AT SPEEDS HIGHER THAN 65 MPH. THESE PROBLEMS CONCERN ME AS IT MAY INTERFERE OR HINDER WITH MY DRIVING ABILITIES AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10135094September 1, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
COMMENTS: I WOULD LIKE TO INFORM YOU OF WHAT I THINK IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. SEVERAL WEEKS AGO MY WIFE AND I WERE RETURNING FROM A VACATION IN OUR CAR AND IT CAUGHT FIRE. LUCKILY THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR SERIOUS DAMAGE. AT THE END OF THIS LETTER WILL BE ALL THE PARTICULARS. WE WERE COMING FROM SANTA CRUZ ON HIGHWAY 1, IN CALIFORNIA AND AT WHAT IS CALLED THE SUMMIT, OF I STARTED SEEING SMOKE IN BACK OF OUR VEHICLE. WE STOPPED, TURNED OFF THE CAR ,OPENED THE HOOD AND THERE WAS A SMALL FIRE DOWN ON THE DRIVER SIDE NEAR THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. I CLOSED THE HOOD AND TRIED TO LOCATE A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THE FIRE EXTINGUISHED ITSELF AND WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. AFTER A DAY OF TESTING THE ONLY THING THEY FOUND WAS THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIGHTLY OVERFILLED, WHICH WAS MY ERROR. WHILE I REALIZE THAT CAN CAUSE THE PROBLEM HERE IS MY CONCERN. THE TECHNICIAN WHO WORKED ON MY CAR SAID THAT TRANSMISSIONS ARE DESIGNED TO BLOW OUT OR THROUGH OVERFLOW THE TRANSMISSION FILLER TUBE. HE ALSO SHOWED ME THAT ON TOP OF THE DIPSTICK WAS SLOT WHICH WOULD ALLOW THE FLUID TO ESCAPE. HOWEVER IT IS LOCATED RIGHT OVER THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. IT WOULD SEEM THAT IT SHOULD BE LOCATED WHERE THE FLUID WOULD NOT COME IN CONTACT WITH SUCH HOT ENGINE PARTS. I AM NOT SURE IF THIS AFFECTS OTHER VEHICLES BUT IT DOES CONCERN ME. MY VEHICLE IS 2004 KIA SORENTO 6 CYC, AUTOMATIC WE WERE NOT TOWING ANYTHING NOR WHERE WE LOADED DOWN. I THANK YOU FOR YOU TIME. STEVE ELIJAH 225 MERRILL AVE FREMONT, CA 945 [email protected] 510.623.8211. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10133408August 18, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION SLIPS IN THE FIRST FOUR GEARS. I A HAVE ALMOST BEEN REAR ENDED MANY TIMES BECAUSE TRANSMISSION GOES INTO NEUTRAL. TRANSMISSION MODULE REPLACED. IT IS STILL SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10133207August 17, 2005
SEATS
A FEW WEEKS AFTER PURCHASING MY 2004 KIA SORENTO, I NOTICED THE DRIVERS SEAT ROCKING BACK AND FORTH WHEN ACCELERATING AND BRAKING. DEALER REPLACED SEAT RAIL. THAT FAILED TO RESOLVE PROBLEM. SINCE THEN THE DEALER HAS AGAIN REPLACE THE SEAT RAIL AND THE WHOLE SEAT WITHOUT RESOLVING THE PROBLEM. KIA REP SAYS THAT IT IS NORMAL FOR ELECTRIC SEATS IN KIAS TO ROCK LIKE MINE DOES. I BELIEVE THE SEAT WILL EVENTUALLY FAIL DURING AN ACCIDENT RENDERING IT AND THE SEAT BELT USELESS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10132062August 9, 2005
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AIR BAGS
DT: 2005 KIA SORENTO. THE AIRBAG LIGHT STAYED ON. THEY HAVE REPLACED THE SEAT, T AND SENT THE SEAT OFF TO HAVE THE SENSOR REPLACED. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE THEY COULD DO. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THIS HAPPENED TWICE IN ONE DAY. THE VEHICLE WILL RESTART AFTER WAITING A WHILE. ALSO, THE CLOCK HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10129480July 20, 2005
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
MY NEW KIA SORENTO HAS "ADVANCED AIRBAGS" AND THE "PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG OFF" INDICATOR IS FREQUENTLY ILLUMINATED EVEN WITH AN ADULT PROPERLY SECURED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. I HAVE HAD IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE AND THEY HAVE INDICATED BOTH TIMES THAT THE PROBLEM WON'T HAPPEN WITH THEM. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO CONFIRM WHETHER THE AIRBAG WILL ACTUALLYWORK WHEN THIS LIGHT IS ON.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10127612July 6, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
DT: CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A GAS LEAK IN VEHICLE. SHE FIRST NOTICED GAS COMING OUT OF THE VEHICLE ON JULY 5, 2005. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND IT WAS FIXED, BUT THEY DID NOT TELL HER WHY IT WAS LEAKING. DEALERSHIP STATED IT WAS THEIR FAULT, AND IT WAS THE THIRD ONE IN THE SHOP TO FIX. SHE HAS BEEN SMELLING GAS FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10127315July 1, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
DT: THE CONSUMER OWNS A 2005 KIA SORENTO. THE CONSUMER COULD NOT GET THE KEYS OUT OF VEHICLE. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED. THE DOORS TO HIS VEHICLE WILL NOT LOCK WITH THE KEYS IN THE IGNITION. THE KEY WAS LOCKED IN THE IGNITION. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO HAPPEN AFTER DRIVING IN EXTREME HEAT. 11/15/2005 *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10125962June 20, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
HARMONIC BALANCER BOLT BROKE. TRAVELING LESS THAN 5MPH. VEHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE. UPON INVESTIGATION, FOUND THAT THE MAIN BOLT HOLDING THE HARMONIC BALANCER IN HAD SHEARED OFF. THERE WERE SOME RUST DEPOSITS AT THE BREAKAGE POINT. THIS OCCURED WHILE ON AN OFFROAD TRIP. THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT IN THE BACKCOUNTRY. I WILL HAVE TO ATTEMPT TO MAKE REPAIRS IN THE FIELD IN ORDER TO GET IT TO THE DEALER. THERE IS NO WAY TO TOW THE VEHICLE OUT OF ITS CURRENT POSITION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10124597June 8, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
1) SLOWED CAR TO PUT INTO PARK & CAR LUNGED FORWARDED, BACKED OFF, LUNGED FORWARD, BACKED OFF, ETC. TAPPING SOUND CAME FROM ENGINE. 2) CAR ENGINE STOPPED AND WOULD NOT RESTART (STALLED ON ROADWAY) 3) IT IS CURRENTLY IN THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS, AFTER THEY TOLD ME THEY COULDN'T GET IT TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM (ALTHOUGH THE 1ST DAY IT WAS IN THE DEALERSHIP, THEY ANKNOWLEDGED IT WAS "MISFIRING".) THEY HAVE NOW STATED THAT A CLIP ON THE INTAKE MANIFOLD COMES DISLODGED AND END UP IN THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, AND THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED THE PROBLEM. MY CAR HAS BEEN OUT OF SERVICE FOR 3 DAYS, AS OF THIS WRITING, AS THEY HAVE ORDERED A NEW INTAKE MANIFOLD.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10123836June 1, 2005
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
THE 2005 KIA SORENTO ADDED A FRONT PASSENGER WEIGHT DETECTION SYSTEM TO AUTOMATICALLY ARM OR DISARM THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG FOR LIGHTER WEIGHT INDIVIDUALS. THIS DETECTOR AND/OR RELATED EQUIPMENT OPERATES IRRADICALLY AND INEFFECTIVELY, LEAVING THE USERS REGULARLY UNCERTAIN REGARDING THE STATUS OF THE AIR BAG SYSTEM. THIS IS A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM KNOWN TO KIA BUT NO SCHEDULE EXISTS FOR A FIX.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10122181May 26, 2005
AIR BAGS
DT: CALLER STATES HER SON HAD AN ACCIDENT AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10122199May 26, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
WE HAD A VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END OF THE CAR WHEN WE STOPPED. WE TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL KIA DEALER. WE WERE TOLD THAT THE ROTORS WERE WARPED. WE BOUGHT THE CAR NEW, IT ONLY HAD 33,000 MILES ON IT. WAS TOLD THAT THE ROTORS WARRANTY WAS 5YR/50000 MILES, BUT ONLY ON DEFECTS. SINCE MOST ROTORS WEAR OUT AT 65K OR 70K MILES I SAID IT WAS A DEFECT. DEALER REFUSED REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY. CALLED KIA NATIONAL OFFICE, WAS TOLD THEY CAN'T MAKE DEALER DO REPAIRS, ITS UP TO THE DEALER TO DECIDE IF WARRANTY OR NOT! KIA DOES NOT BACK UP THE WARRANTY'S AND WILL NOT SUPPORT CONSUMERS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Kia Sorento