2.9

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
49,592 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 #13

Sep 282022

Sorento

  • 129,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Kia Sorento. The contact stated upon reversing out of his garage, the brake pedal was depressed and emitted an abnormal sound. The ABS and the electronic stability control warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where the recall repair of NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V114000 (Exterior Lighting) was completed; however, the dealer informed the contact that the failure persisted, and he needed to pay a diagnostic fee to determine the cause of the failure. The contact stated that the recall remedy failed to correct the safety failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 129,000.

- Orlando, FL, USA

problem #12

Aug 012020

Sorento

  • 153,100 miles
Driver side airbag light remains on, passenger side seems operational. In motion on highway, during the same trip interior lights, except manual push lights and dashboard, do not automatically turn

- Silver Bay, MN, USA

problem #11

Jun 042017

Sorento

  • miles
My check engine goes on and off whenever. Passenger airbag light grout it to autozone for check and it stated sensors. My shop says they fix it and it continues I have had the car for almost 2 years now

- New Bedford, MA, USA

problem #10

Jan 302010

Sorento

  • 4,000 miles
Interior lights have not worked for years. The light on ceiling of car is switched to off because the interior lights do not go out when you shut all of the doors

- Lake Forest, CA, USA

problem #9

Jan 162018

Sorento

  • miles
The starter burned out and the starter relay is sticking. It started sticking and making funny noises around mid October or beginning of November 2017 and acutally burned out December 8, 2017 and was replaced December 9, 2017. Now the starter went out again January 16, 2018. Also I had my driver side brake light bulb replaced around July or August 2017 and now the same driver side brake light is out again.

- Richardson, TX, USA

problem #8

Nov 012015

Sorento

  • 86,600 miles
I have had to replace low beam headlight bulbs at least 3 times in the 3 years I have owned my car. Just had my right passenger side replaced again, was working immediately after being replaced, and now the next morning when I get in my car neither headlight works. I am a single mom on a fixed income and I cannot afford to keep replacing these bulbs at $20 each time.

- Alabaster, AL, USA

problem #7

Mar 182015

Sorento 6-cyl

  • miles
The contact owns a 2008 Kia Sorento. While driving various speeds, the brake pedal was depressed and the brake lamp failed to illuminate. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the brake lamp switch ground wire was replaced. The failure persisted. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 13V114000 (exterior lighting, service brakes, hydraulic). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unavailable. Updated 02/05/16 updated 4/23/18

- Albemarle, NC, USA

problem #6

Nov 182014

Sorento

  • 72,000 miles
Dim lights both quit at the same time in early morning (dark) driving.

- Caldwell, ID, USA

problem #5

Sep 252011

Sorento

  • 48,000 miles
For years now I have replaced lights on this vehicle. I have replaced headlights at least 15 times and brake lights about 20 times. On at least 5 occasions all lights burned out at once.. the fuses and relays have never been bad because when I replace the lights they work.something is wrong with the vehicle and I have known many other Kia owners to have the same problem but the dealership says nothing is wrong. I can't afford another vehicle and this is a serious safety issue.

- Somerset, TX, USA

problem #4

May 292013

Sorento 6-cyl

  • 85,000 miles
Current and ongoing problems began just a few days after receiving a notice of recall from Kia regarding the faulty/defective brake light switch. The switch was faulty and there was a problem with no brake lights coming on upon braking as well as "ESC off" and "check engine" malfunction indicator lights appearing and staying on the instrument cluster. The vehicle was promptly taken to a Kia dealership where the recall service was performed. Replacement of a failed brake light switch under the recall campaign did not eliminate the problems/codes that began when the brake light switch failed. Shortly after the repair (less than a month afterward and very few miles driven) the "ESC off" and "check engine" malfunction indicator lights appeared, stayed, then came on and off intermittently with engine not going over past approximately 2,000 rpms resulting in unpredictable vehicle behavior especially when it comes to merging onto a highway/interstate or getting through an intersection. The vehicle was taken to the dealership where the service advisors gave assurances that the new brake light switch is not defective. The problem is that the service advisors/technicians could not specifically diagnose what needs replacement to ultimately solve this ongoing problem or if it is related to the failure of the of the brake light switch.

- Duluth, GA, USA

problem #3

Jun 062010

Sorento 6-cyl

  • 24,000 miles
ESC off light comes on, sudden loss of acceleration, head lights constantly needing to be changed. Middle seat belt in back malfunctions by not unlocking at times.

- Winder, GA, USA

problem #2

Nov 112010

Sorento

  • 43,000 miles
Dash lighting problem on 2008B Kia Sorento. When control knob on turn signal switch is rotated for night lighting of dash lights, the dash lights go out, blowing a fuse. Possible short is system somewhere. Unable to trace at Canadian Kia dealership without paying $90/hr fee which could take many hours.

- Winnipeg,Manitoba,Canada, 00, USA

problem #1

Dec 272008

Sorento

  • miles
From the first day I purchased my vehicle, I've noticed a problem with the headlights visibility. When driving, the headlamps are not aimed or focused to see more than two car lengths in front of the vehicle. I went back to Kia and had them check it out. They said the lights were adjusted as far up as the state allows. I contacted Kia customer service and they claim they haven't had any complaints. The visibility with the headlights is terrible. The headlights are not adjusted high enough to see when night driving. You can only see two car lengths in front of you and if depending on the terrain of the road or if there is no other area lighting, I.e. street lights, store lights or other commercial lighting, the area beyond two car lengths is completely black.. the visibility is horrible and unsafe. It's at the point, that we're afraid to drive the car at night.

- Freedom, PA, USA