10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
68,921 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

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problem #9

Feb 042018

Sorento

  • 133,258 miles
Service brake hydraulic switches brake light, exterior lighting brake light switch, air bag frontal sensor/control module. No brake light when brake is press, cruise ontrol, ESC light, air bag and gear shift will not move from park.

- Kathleen, GA, USA

problem #8

Nov 112018

Sorento

  • 110,000 miles
Takata recall: Vehicle is unstable when driving, it jumps when on motion. When driving in the night the head lights goes on and off, rear wiper is working non stop even when the car is off. This electric system dysfunction also affects the radio system.

- Raynham, MA, USA

problem #7

Aug 042015

Sorento

  • miles
When trying to open the drivers door, there was a loud pop and the door was unable to be opened from the outside. This is a major issue in the event of an emergency or an accident. I've gone to the Kia dealer and they are quoting an outrageous amount just to take a look at the issue. This is inconvenient while I travel to and from work, as I have to climb through the passenger side in order to get in the car! the problem initially began December of 2014, and my father had to leave a stick or a wired hanger on the floor boards so that when entering the vehicle I would lean in through either the passenger or rear drivers door to open the driver door. On 8/4/15, the door has stopped working completely. This is obviously a manufacturing issue as the same thing has happened to the rear passenger door as well. I haven't found an independent repair person that can actually fix this issue and it's something that needs attention asap!

- St Matthews, SC, USA

problem #6

Aug 012013

Sorento 4WD 6-cyl

  • 56,000 miles
When opening doors, the dome light no longer would turn on. This eventually continued until the front lights no longer turn on, and now the rear hatch lights do not turn on either. The lights work when they are manually turned on, just not when the doors open. It was checked by a repair shop and they say it is not a switch issue (as the lights on three of the doors still light when open). They feel it is an electrical issue and found hundreds of posts from as far back as 2003 Sorentos with the same issues. The lights not turning on is a huge safety issue for myself and my family trying to enter a pitch black vehicle at night time.

- Oshkosh, WI, USA

problem #5

Aug 052014

Sorento

  • 130,000 miles
Beginning in early August 2014, the ESC and check engine light would illuminate while driving down the road. The vehicle accelerator stops working and the vehicle goes into limp mode. We are unable to get more than 40 mph out of it and on several occasions, nearly caused an accident when other vehicles would come up from behind very suddenly. We were fortunate that we were in an area where we could get off the road quickly. Once we have come to a stop, if we turn the engine off and restart, the lights reset themselves and the vehicle functions normally until the next time it happens. The first time it happened was shortly after we bought the car new and the Kia dealership replaced a brake light switch under recall #09V130000. This helped until recently. We took the vehicle to the dealership and they replaced a throttle position sensor at the cost of $395. It helped for two weeks and the problem returned exactly the same. This time the dealer informed us that it was the accelerator pedal assy - engine control system at the tune of $250 all these items are part of the ESC system and cause the vehicle to go to limp mode. I'm concerned that there may be other sub-assemblies associated with it and every time one goes bad, we'll end up in limp mode and/or a hood ornament on a kenworth. This is ridiculous and needs to be addressed by Kia at no cost to consumers.

- Dayton, OH, USA

problem #4

Aug 042014

Sorento 4WD 6-cyl

  • 98,432 miles
ESC and check engine light illuminated. Took vehicle to dealer for repairs. Dealer service dept stated that brake light switch was at fault, but that it had been previously replaced in Mar 2010 under a recall campaign. After replacing switch this time, dealer service adviser stated that switch appeared to be original, but that I would still have to pay for parts and labor ($129.86). I paid but protested. I have serious doubts that brake light switch was replaced in Mar 2010 as dealer stated, since the recently replaced switch appeared to be original equipment. Subsequently, I feel as though I should not have to pay for the most recent (Aug 2014) repair, especially if switch had not been replaced under recall campaign previously. I suspect that dealer either falsified the Mar 2010 repair, and/or replaced recalled switch with identical replacement (which is prone to failure). What good is a recall if original defect was simply reinstalled? I do have possession of defective switch replaced in Aug 2014. Not only do I want my money returned to me, but I would like some assurance that the problem is now remedied with a reliable switch. Please respond.

- Aurora, CO, USA

problem #3

Jul 062013

Sorento

  • 92,000 miles
I have replaced appro. 15 low beam bulbs and fuses in the past 3 months. They don't last very long and when I called the dealer they told me tobring it in but I would have to pay all costs. I have read many complaints on this vehicle after googling it.I was driving down a dark road at 10:30 P.M. one time when this happened. That could have caused a wreck.

- Haughton, LA, USA

problem #2

Mar 212013

Sorento 6-cyl

  • miles
TL- the contact owns a 2007 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that that the brake lights would remain illuminated when the brake pedal was released and the cruise control was slow to disengage. The contact was told that the vehicle was repaired August 19, 2009 under NHTSA campaign id number: 09V130000 (exterior lighting) for the stop lamp switch. The dealer informed the contact that that component had failed a second time. The manufacturer was contacted and refused to provide any assistance. The failure and current mileage was 62,000. Kmj

- Alexandria , VA, USA

problem #1

Jan 112007

Sorento

  • 600 miles
The contact owns a 2007 Kia Sorento. Three days after purchasing the vehicle, the air bag light illuminated, which indicated that the passenger side air bag was deactivated. While driving between 40-45 mph, the vehicle hesitated and jerked. When the vehicle is stopped at a stop sign or a red light, the exterior lights shut off. The contact has had to strike the dashboard in order to get the air conditioning to work. In addition, none of the windows will roll down. The blinkers, turn signal, and cruise control do not work. After owning the vehicle for ten months, the alternator had to be replaced and it currently needs to be replaced again. The rails to step up into the vehicle had to be replaced twice. During a crash with a deer, both the driver's and passenger side air bags failed to deployed and the seat belts did not work. As a result, the passenger sustained a broken arm. On two occasions, when the vehicle was taken to the dealer, the contact was informed that the tires needed to be rotated and aligned. On the third occasion, she was informed that the vehicle was out of warranty. Since owning the vehicle, she has been to the dealer several times with many complaints, but they have never made any repairs. A Hyundai inspector stated that the entire vehicle was out of specifications. The failure mileage was 600. Updated 09/23/08. The consumer hit a deer and the air bags did not deploy and the seat belts did not perform as they were designed. The transmission would delay in shifting and would not shift in the correct gear. Updated 09/24/08.

- Loachapoka, AL, USA