10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 0 / 1
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 106,750 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.
The contact owns a 2004 Kia Sorento. Within less than 30 days of owning the vehicle, the contact stated that the fuel gauge on the instrument cluster continued to indicate full whether the contact refueled the vehicle or not. Also, when the air conditioner was turned off, smoke emitted into the interior of the vehicle and under the hood. The contact exited the vehicle and lifted the hood to fan away the smoke. The contact drove the vehicle to her job. Another consumer called the fire department because the vehicle erupted into flames. The fire department extinguished the flames. Neither a fire nor a police report was filed. The approximate failure mileage was 107,000. The manufacturer was notified of the failure.
- Bakersfield, CA, USA
The contact owns a 2004 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while refueling the vehicle, the fuel would spew out of the tank. The contact also stated that the vehicle had been repaired under a manufacturer recall for the same failure in 2012. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 135,000. The VIN was not available.
- Port Orange, FL, USA
200 miles from home, out of the blue, car acted like it was misfiring then lost power and died on highway at highway speeds. Car would not turn over or crank. Called tow truck to bring vehicle home for $490 and mechanic came out and hooked up machine to it and code came out crankshaft position sensor system. Check engine light wasn't on at all, until we got it home and it started up like no problem, but then died again. Weren't the crankshaft bolts already recalled and fixed?! maintenance schedule always kept up to date and wouldn't you know, happened one month to the day that my extended warranty expired! still haven't had it to shop, can't afford to bring it in after having it towed 200 miles, others thinks it can be fuel filter/pump or the brain, ECM. Who knows. Sitting with no vehicle is so much fun, thanks, Kia!
- Ephrata, WA, USA
Three times this week I have been traveling 35 miles an hour or less and the car has just turned off. The first time I was in a parking lot and had to push it into a stall (cracking my tail light while doing that quickly to get out of the way.) the second time was turning a corner and it died. The third time I was just entering the freeway on-ramp when it died. It gives no warning other than silence and a last gasp of gas going through. All three times I was able to stop the car, put it in park and restart it. It has been harder and harder to get it started after that. I took it into the mechanic and he cleaned the fuel filter, but it hasn't stopped the problem totally.
- Castle Rock, CO, USA
My 2004 Kia Sorento has an intermittent check engine light that displays error code P0446. The light comes on and off as it pleases. There is a tsb for this particular problem, but there are no details. This intermittent light is causing my vehicle to fail it's smog inspection. I have replaced the gas cap as indicated but this did not fix the problem.
- Laton, CA, USA
My compliant while refueling the vehicle it spills back out fuel. Spitting me, the side of the vehicle and sidewalk. Constant engine light on.
- Bayamon, PR, USA
When refueling the tank will suddenly "spray"gasoline forcefully from the neck of the gas tank for several seconds. Took it in on the voluntary recall and had the air filter replaced. Car worked fine for about 2 weeks but is now experiencing the same problem again. Pumped less than $25 in the tank two nights ago and was sprayed with gasoline!
- Aydlett, NC, USA
- Manning, SC, USA