8.7

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$290
Average Mileage:
53,700 miles
Total Complaints:
3 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. not sure (2 reports)
  2. replace battery (1 reports)
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problem #3

Jun 062023

Sorento SXL

  • Automatic transmission
  • 67,600 miles

3/20/2023 picked up my Kia from Myrtle Beach Kia, paid installation for new warranted Kia battery. Was promised car was fixed, there would be no more dead battery problems, and I could use the car without worry. June 6, 2023, flew home to Myrtle Beach Airport, around 8:30pm, got luggage, used shuttle to car lot, and car fob would not open car. Shuttle driver tried to jump start the battery and didn't work. Called AAA and they arrived within 20-30 minutes, said the battery was totally drained, and needed to install a new one. AAA installed battery, charged around $280 but with tip and battery turn-in fee was over $300. Plan was to call Myrtle Beach Kia on 6/7/2023 to see about reimbursement. 6/7/2023 needed to run errands, so didn't call Kia dealer.

6/8/2023 had an appointment and key fob would not work, car would not start, battery dead. Called Kia dealer, talked to service center, was referred to Matt Gipe, Supervisor, got voice mail, left message regarding battery purchase, and that car had drained battery, and car was not usable. About 4pm today, 6/9/2023 and have not heard from Matt Gipe. So have no running car, this is hurricane season, there is no interest so far from Kia in getting the car fixed which at this point I feel should be at their expense. Have been trying to get this taken care of since last October of 2022. All that has happened is continually replacing batteries, other parts have been replaced at my expense, had to pay to get to Kia each time to pick up car, and now June of 2023 and problem not taken care of.

- Karen G., Georgetown, US

problem #2

Feb 132023

Sorento SXL

  • Automatic transmission
  • 67,393 miles

Started having dead battery problems about a year ago. Used Auto Advantage; purchased new battery and they replaced that 4 times. Made an appointment with Myrtle Beach Kia in June of 2022 but couldn't get appointment until Oct of 2022. New Kia battery installed at that appointment. Bill around $600 because Kia went over car and corrected what they thought caused problem. Assured all was fine.

Battery died again and was replaced at no charge in November, 2022. 2/13/2023 picked up car from Kia Myrtle Beach as had car towed due to dead battery at shopping center. Kia replaced starter motor, insisted battery was fully charged and not the problem. Battery was dead when trying to start the car at Kia dealership on 2/13/2023; they jumped it. Bill for that visit was $631.72 plus I paid $170 for taxi ride to the dealership because Kia would not help with that.

3/1/2023 battery was dead, car sitting in driveway; used AAA for the 2nd time this year to start car (first time was to start car and tow to Kia dealership in February, 2023). Read comments regarding 2016 Kia and seems Kia uses these problems as a cash cow, constantly fixing problems but not ever any help in ending the problems they have created by using inferior equipment. Have call into Kia dealership to see if they will look at car again even though they now say there is no reason for battery to drain. Everything that I can turn off has been turned off. Not even using A/C. A repairman at Kia on this last visit, who had moved here from Idaho, said they had many problems with same type car and replaced radio and that apparently stopped battery drainage.

Kia Myrtle Beach has never said there was anything wrong with radio causing problem and I will not have that switched out at my expense. Am currently also looking at using South Carolina Lemon Law as according to all the complaints have read things could be much worse.

- Karen G., Georgetown, US

problem #1

Aug 312018

Sorento V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 26,000 miles

WE LEASED THIS CAR IN APRIL OF 2016 FOR 36 MONTHS SO OUR LEASE IS UP IN FEBRUARY, 2019, WE HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY SINCE THEY ARE ONLY COVERED FOR 24 MONTHS THIS WAS AN EXTREME COST TO US AND TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE WE HAVE A 2016 KIA OPTIMA THAT WE HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY YESTERDAY,I'M GOING TO MAKE A SEPARATE COMPLAINT ON THAT ONE - FOR A BATTERY TO ONLY BE COVERED FOR TWO YEARS IS SUPER ANNOYING

- Leslie E., Huntington Beach, CA, US