Kia Sorento Complaints (2003)

305 consumer complaints on file.

#10292932November 19, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
2003 KIA SORENTO HAS FUEL TANK THAT DOES NOT READ GAS RIGHT. IT WILL TELL YOU EMPTY WHEN IT IS NOT EMPTY THIS GAGE HAS NEVER WORKED RIGHT AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED TO FIX THIS THING BEFORE SOME ONE GET HURT BADLY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10291000November 4, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED. DURING THIS LAST TIME, THE GAS GAUGE SHOWED THAT THE TANK HAVE LESS THAN 1/8 FULL. WHEN I STARTED TO PUMP GASOLINE TO THE VEHICLE'S TANK, THE GAS PUMP ABRUPTLY STOPPED AS IF THE VEHICLE'S GAS TANK IS ALREADY FULL AND GASOLINE SPLASHED BACK OUT OF THE TANK. GASOLINE SPRAYED ALL OVER INCLUDING MYSELF. I CAUTIOUSLY STARTED TO PUMP GAS TO THE VEHICLE AGAIN AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED. I SMELLED LIKE GASOLINE AND RUINED MY CLOTHES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10290609November 2, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
MY 2003 KIA SORENTO, MADE 10/12/02, DOES NOT TAKE GAS WELL. WHEN YOU FILL IT, IT PRESSURIZED AND BLOWS GAS BACK AT YOU. THIS IS AN ONGOING FAILURE AND SAFETY ISSUE. A MECHANIC SAYS THIS NEEDS A DIFFERENT FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY AND VALVE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10289298October 21, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
WHEN I ATTEMPT TO FILL THE GAS TANK IN MY 2003 KIA SORENTO, THE GASOLINE BLOWS BACK AT ME. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME I ADD GAS. IF I AM NOT CAREFUL IT GETS ON MY CLOTHING, SHOES, OUTSIDE OF MY VEHICLE AND ON THE GROUND. THE DEALERSHIP HAS QUOTED THAT A REPAIR WOULD COST BETWEEN $650.00 AND $850.00 TO FIX IT ALTHOUGH THEY CANNOT TELL ME FOR SURE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. I CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10288895October 18, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT
MY 2003 KIA SORENTO STOPPED WITH NO WARNING OR INDICATION OF A PROBLEM AT 67,735 MILES DUE TO WHAT WAS LATER DETERMINED TO BE ENGINE OVERHEATING. AT FIRST THE KIA DEALER SAID IT WAS DUE TO THE COOLANT RESERVOIR CRACKING AND GOING EMPTY. SINCE THIS IS NOT A PART OF THE ENGINE'S ACTUAL MEANS OF COOLING, THEY CHANGED THEIR STORY TO THE THERMOSTAT FAILED. KIA SAID THAT THIS PORTION OF THE WARRANTY PASSED AT 65,000 MILES. THEIR WARRANTY SAYS 100,000 MILES. COST OVER $3,600.00 TO REPAIR, SIMILAR SITUATION AT 80,000 MILES FOR $1,400.00. STILL NO WARRANTY COVERAGE. I HAVE FURNISHED COMPLETE MAINTENANCE RECORDS SHOWING MAINTENANCE AT EVERY INTERVAL REQUIRED BY KIA. LOOKING FOR SOME ONE TO JOIN IN A CLASS ACTION SUIT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10285292September 25, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2003 KIA SORENTO HARMONIC BALANCER BOLT BROKE OFF REPORTED TO KIA THEY WILL NOT HONOR ANY RECALLS, THEY SAID IT WAS A RECALL FROM SEVERAL YEARS AGO . BUT IF ITS A SAFETY ISSUE LIKE THIS THEY SHOULD TRY HARDER TO INFORM PEOPLE OF THIS BEFORE THERE IS MAJOR ACCIDENT . JUST WISH THEY WOULD HONOR A RECALL THAT THEY HAVE HAD WITH THIS BOLT. I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE OR IT IS NOT POSTED ON ANY SITE THAT I COULD FIND, ,JUST WANT MY CAR FIXED WITHOUT A $2900 BILL AT THE END . *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10282362August 31, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2003/04 KIA SORENTO CRANK SHAFT PULLEY BOLT IS FAILING. THERE WAS A NOTICE SENT BY KIA IN JULY 2007 TO NOTIFY THE OWNERS OF THE ISSUE AND TO HAVE IT FIXED. THE REPLACEMENT BOLTS ARE FAILING. WHEN THE REPLACEMENT BOLTS FAIL IT IS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STOP NO MATTER WHAT SPEED THE DRIVER IS TRAVELING AND THE STEERING IS LOCKING UP. THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT ADDRESS THIS. THIS IS A AN EXTREME SAFETY ISSUE. SOME OWNERS HAVE REPORTED THIS PART FAILING UP TO 4 TIMES IN LESS THEN 24 MONTHS. THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS JUNE 27, 2007 AND THE SECOND INCIDENT WAS 8/27/2009. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10281974August 27, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
BACK IN OCT 2008 WENT TO CAR AT 5AM TO GO TO WORK STARTED MY 2003 KIA SORENTO HEARD THIS NOISE GOT OUT TO RAISE HOOD BEFORE I COULD SAW COOLANT COMING FROM UNDER MY CAR DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO REALLY INVESTIGATE HAD MY SISTER TAKE ME TO WORK WHEN I CAME HOME HAD CAR TOWED TO KIA DEALER THEY ADVISED ME THAT MY COOLANT RESERVOIR HAD CRACK AND I NEEDED TO HAVE REPLACED AT 250.XX AT THIS POINT THEY DID TELL ME THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY SORENTO MADE APPT TO TAKE BACK TO HAVE PART REPLACED NEVER, BEFORE THIS SO CALL RECALL PART WAS REPLACED NEVER HAD ANY WARNING LIGHTS COME ON AFTER THEY SAY THEY REPLACED THE PART MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON TOOK MY SORENTO BACK TO THE SAME DEALER 5 TIMES WITHIN A 2 MONTH PERIOD THEY KEPT TELLING ME NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH MY CAR SO I LET THE LIGHT STAY ON, MOVED TO A DIFFERENT CITY TIRED OF SEEING THIS LIGHT ON TOOK TO ANOTHER KIA DEALER THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTIC FOR 125.00 TO TELL ME NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH MY CAR BUT I NOTICED WHEN I WAS LEAVING THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS OFF WHEN BACK IN TO FIND OUT WHY AND HOW DID THE LIGHT GO OFF HE STATED HE TURNED IT OFF NOW WHILE SITTING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WITH NO WARNING MY CAR JUST SHUT OFF GOT STARTED BACK BUT THIS TIME WITH A LOUD BANGING NOISE I WAS ONLY ABOUT 3 BLOCKS FROM MY HOME SO I DROVE ABOUT 5 MILES PER HR TO GET HOME TO HAVE TO HAVE A TOW TRUCK COME GET MY CAR THE DEALER HAS YET TO LET ME KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS.... *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10281887August 26, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
I HAVE A 2003 KIA SORENTO THAT FAILED THE EMISSIONS TEST. WHEN GOING ONTO THE WEBSITE FOR RECALLS IT COMES UP THAT THEIR WAS A RECALL IN NOVEMBER 2005. I NEVER GOT NOTIFIED AND WHEN CALLING KIA THEY ARE TELLING ME IT IS NOT MY CAR AS MY CAR WAS BUILT IN A DIFFERENT MONTH, AND I AM TELLING THEM THAT THE RECALL IS COMING UP FOR THE SAME SAFETY/EMISSIONS AND THEY WILL NOT LISTEN TO ME. IF THERE IS A RECALL ON MY CAR FOR THE YEAR LISTED AND THE RECALL IS THE EMISSIONS THAT IS MAKING MY CAR FAIL WHAT CAN I DO. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10279731August 7, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, TIRES, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY 2003 KIA SORENTO KEPT LOSING ANTIFREEZE AND TO FIND OUT THE RESERVOIR HAD A CRACK IN IT. ALSO, AFTER I PURCHASE BRIDGESTONE FIRE DESTINATION TIRES A YEAR LATER THEY WERE WORN AFTER SPENDING $600.00 I HAD TO HAVE TWO OF THEM REPLACED WITHIN A YEAR. P245/70R16. ALSO 2 DEFECTS RECALLS WHEN MY CAR WAS PUT IN THE SHOP ONE FROM 2007 SC073 AND SC072 WHEN MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. IT WAS STILL ON AFTER THE CAR WAS SUPPOSEDLY FIXED BY QUIRK KIA IN BRAINTREE. WHEN I WAS DRIVING OUT OF THE PARKING LOT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS STILL ON. I WAS TOLD THE CAR WAS FINE AND IT WAS JUST A SENSOR AND TO FIX IT THE COST WOULD BE OVER $200. A YEAR LATER, I BROUGHT IT TO GET A STICKER, THEY REJECTED MY FOR ANOTHER RECALL THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN LAST YEAR. THE RECALL WAS FROM 2005. NOW I AM TRYING TO CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE OF THE INCONVENIENCE OF ME GOING TO GET THIS FIXED WHEN IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF LAST YEAR. I WILL NEVER BUY A KIA AGAIN, THE DEALERSHIP DOES NOT CARE ABOUT THEIR CARS OR CUSTOMERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10269496May 20, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA SORENTO. AFTER REMOVING THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING. SHE IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 67,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10267689May 4, 2009
VISIBILITY:REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL
THERE IS A PLASTIC CAP HOLDING ON THE ROD TO THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS THAT WILL POPPED OFF WITHOUT ANY KIND OF WARNING. MY FAMILY WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IN THE RAIN, AND THE WIPERS CAME TO A HALT WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING NO VISIBILITY. I THINK THAT THIS MATTER SHOULD REALLY BE ADDRESSED BECAUSE IT COULD HAVE CAUSED MAJOR ACCIDENT AND TAKEN MANY LIVES. THERE WERE NO DEATHS, BUT IT CERTAINLY COULD HAVE BEEN. BY THE GRACE OF GOD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10267355April 30, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
GAS SPEWS OUT WHILE TRYING TO REFUEL, DOESN'T MATTER IF IT'S ALMOST EMPTY OR HALF FULL,GETS ALL OVER CAR,GROUND AND ME. HAVE TO DRIBBLE FUEL IN TANK AND TAKES 15 MIN. JUST TO PUT A 1\4 TANK IN. I DON'T LIKE SMELLING OF GAS AND BEING A WALKING FIRE HAZARD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10266093April 20, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY CAR HAD A HORRIBLE NOISE & I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS THE DRIVE SHAFT. I GOT A FRIEND TO DRIVE IT TO A KIA KENDALL AND THEY WERE TO WARRANTY THE PART THAT WAS DEFECTIVE. IN THE PROCESS OF DRIVING CAR TO DEALER IT CAME APART HIT THE BOTTOM OF CAR DEPLOYED AIR BAGS, CRACKED WINDSHIELD, GAS TANK ALSO CRACKED. THIS WAS A DEFECTIVE DEALER PART AND WAS SUPPOSED TO BE WARRANTIED. NOW IT HAS BEEN REPORTED TO INSURANCE AND IN THE PROCESS OF FIXING THIS ITEM THEY BROKE A PLASTIC HOSE FROM THE RADIATOR AND THEN CLAMPED IT & PUT A SCREW IN MY RADIATOR. THEY KNOW THAT THIS WAS GOING TO CAUSE A PROBLEM & DID NOT EVEN CARE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10265609April 16, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2003 KIA SORENTO, PURCHASED USED WITH 11,000 MILES ON IT. HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT IT! HEAD GASKETS WARPED AT 28,000 MILES, OVERHEATED WITHOUT WARNING, NO SPIKE IN TEMP GAUGE, WHAM SMOKE FROM EVERYWHERE AND EVEN WITH PROOF OF MAINTENANCE UPKEEP IT TOOK KIA 2 MONTHS TO DECIDE TO HONOR THE WARRANTY. THIS WAS AFTER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON EVERY TWO SECONDS AND HAVE TO BE IN THE SHOP FOR MONTHS FOR THEM TO SAY NOTHING WRONG WITH IT, EVEN WHEN IT WAS TOWED IN EVERY TIME BECAUSE IT WOULD JUST SHUT OFF. THEN THE HEADLIGHT ISSUES ARE INSANE. EVERY OTHER MONTH AND THAT IS NO EXAGGERATION I HAVE TO REPLACE EITHER LOW BEAMS, HIGH BEAMS, BRAKE LIGHTS & TAIL LIGHTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10262996March 25, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
KIA INFORMED ME OF A "CRANK SHAFT BOLT" RECALL FOR MY 2003 SORENTO LX. 3 DAYS AFTER HAVING THIS REPAIR PERFORMED, MY CAR BEGAN TO JUST "DIE" AT HIGH SPEEDS ON THE FREEWAY, BUT IT WAS INTERMITTENT AND THE KIA DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THEY PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM IF THEY COULDN'T RECREATE IT. AN INTERNET SEARCH ON THE ISSUE REVEALS MANY CONSUMERS HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM WHICH ULTIMATELY TURNS OUT TO BE A DEFECTIVE "CRANK SHAFT SENSOR" -- BUT KIA SERVICE JERKS PEOPLE AROUND AND KEEPS THEIR CARS FOR DAYS/WEEKS SAYING THAT THEY "CANNOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM". THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE WHEN YOUR VEHICLE JUST SUDDENLY DIES ON THE FREEWAY WITH ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING... NOT EVEN SPUTTERING. I PRINTED OUT SEVERAL CONSUMER ACCOUNTS DESCRIBING MY EXACT PROBLEM--REVEALING IT'S ULTIMATELY THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR, AND KIA IS REFUSING TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THEIR REPAIR WORK AND THE LIKELIHOOD THAT IT'S THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR -- ADMITTEDLY HOLDING MY VEHICLE WITHOUT EVEN REVIEWING THE BASIC DIAGNOSTICS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10262661March 21, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
PURCHASED VEHICLE USED IN NOVEMBER 2008 - KIA SORENTO 2003. I NOTICED A GASOLINE SMELL SHORTLY AFTER THE PURCHASE, BUT DIDN'T THINK IT WAS FROM MY VEHICLE. LAST WEEK NOTICED A DAMP SPOT UNDER MY CAR, CHECKED IT, FOUND GASOLINE LEAKING FROM MY TANK. TOOK THE CAR IN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE. THEY FOUND A CRACK ALONG A SEAM IN THE GAS TANK AND REPLACED IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10261638March 12, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY ENGINE BLEW ON THE CAR IT ONLY HAS ABOUT 78,000 MILES ON IT GETS REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND NO MAJOR PROBLEMS. I HAVE NEVER HAD A WARNING LIGHT COME ON AS TO INDICATE I HAD SOME OIL OR ENGINE PROBLEMS. THE CAR HAD JUST BEEN INVOLVED IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT AND BEEN SITTING SINCE 12/15 I JUST GOT IT BACK ON 01/23 AND THE ENGINE BLOWS ON 01/30 AND THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME $5,000 TO REPLACE ......I HAVE HEARD THINGS ABOUT KIA ENGINES BUT MY SUV WAS IN FINE CONDITION AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY ENGINES BLOWS....SOUNDS LIKE A DEFECT TO ME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10259396February 19, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND IT HAS BEEN CHECKED BY A DEALERSHIP AND THEY DON'T KNOW THE PROBLEM, THE FRONT HEADLAMPS KEEP BURNING OUT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10258826February 16, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEADLIGHTS/FOG LIGHTS NEED TO BE REPLACED EVERY 3-4 MONTHS. I BOUGHT MY CAR NEW SO I KNOW IT IS NOT THE FAULT OF ANYONE ELSE, OTHER THAN THE MANUFACTURER. EACH BULB COSTS APPROXIMATELY $19.00 [DEPENDING ON BRAND AND TYPE OF BULB}. I KNOW I HAVE SPENT HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS ON BULBS SINCE 2003; IT IS NOW 2009. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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