10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 3 / 18
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 7 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 63,272 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.
Car dash lights flashed and car shut down
- Denton , MD, USA
The Hydraulic Electronic control unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, whioch can result in an engine compartment fire while paked or driving the car.
- Tucson, AZ, USA
I called Courtesy KIA in Altoona, PA. I informed them that I have another recall addressing this latest issue "The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit, " as I was there last month addressing another recall. That situation was resolved. However, I called today 5/13/24 at about 12:50PM and was told by service dept. member Toby that we already have all the parts we can order for recall. He also told me to call him back in a month"?" My concern is I am getting a letter saying the engine could catch fire and I am being told to call back in a month. I just wanted to log this incident for my personal file to show that I am trying to remedy the problem. Regards, [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
- Huntingdon, PA, USA
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while attempting to unlock the vehicle with the key fob, the contact heard the doors unlocking, but the rear doors failed to unlock. Additionally, the contact stated that the failure initially started after the vehicle was serviced by the dealer. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by a dealer or an independent mechanic. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 92,000.
- Hemet, CA, USA
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the "Theft Prevention" warning light was illuminated, and several other warning lights were blinking on and off. The contact stated that the vehicle lost power steering and braking functionality. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle, but the vehicle failed to restart. The contact stated that after several attempts a relative jumpstarted the vehicle. The contact drove the vehicle back to the residence and parked the vehicle. The contact stated that the battery was replaced; however, the battery became drained. The contact stated that when the vehicle was jumpstarted, the ABS warning light illuminated. The contact no longer drove the vehicle. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a dealer or to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The failure mileage was approximately 225,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
- Carlisle, IA, USA
After my daughter pulled into her school parking lot on Friday morning, 4/19/24 she reported smelling a very bad smelling smoke. She immediately got out of the car because she then saw flames from under the hood. The car lit on fire, and was completely totaled. I have since been made aware of the recall that causes engine fires.
- Lagrange, GA, USA
Knock Sensor Code came up when having my car checked P1326
- Greenville, NC, USA
My Kia Sorento 2011 in November 2023 started having the instrument cluster warning lights flashing, abs warning light, tire pressure light and sometimes the check engine light. There is also a very strong burning or melting smell when the car is on. I was very scared to drive my car and have had to find ways to get to work when I received the notice from Kia that there was a recall SC284. About HECU fuse that many Kia Sorento 2011 owners are having issues with the engines catching fire while driving or parked. And the symtoms before a fire occurs are the same as I have experienced with the instrument cluster illuminating and the strong burning smell as well. Its April 2024 and I haven't had a car since November 2023 because the recall has yet to be remedied. This is completely unacceptable I cannot drive I cant take my car to emmissions and might eventually get my car towed due to not being able to it not passing emissions and cant pass for registration. There needs to be compensation for this inconvenience and for this recall not being a priority.
- Bristol , CT, USA
Preventative complaint. I received a recall notice on November 14, 2023 regarding recall of my 2011 KIA Sorento. Recall #23V652000. Manufacturer's recall #SC284XM. I have contacted my dealer, Danbury CT KIA to find out when they can repair the recall. They just keep stating that they don't have the parts. The recall is not done in a timely fashion and I am greatly concerned that my only car could catch fire at any time. This should be repaired immediately if such a great hazard is possible. Lives could be in jeopardy since I seldom have my grandchildren in my car. Please provide Danbury Connecticut KIA the necessary parts to address the recall.
- New Milford, CT, USA
I-??ve gotten approved to buy another car and was going to trade my 2011 Kia sorento but still has open recall and Kia dealership has no answers when they can fix. What do i do. Thank you for your help!
- Tallahassee , FL, USA
Family and i were driving home from soccer and car violently stuttered felt like we hit a deer. This has happened three times now and has caused solenoid a in transmission to fail which i fixed. My wife smells a burning smell also randomly.
- Tallahassee , FL, USA
The engine showed signs of overheating and smoke emissions. The vehicle was taken to a authorized Kia dealership where the recall components: KSDS software, and one other out of the three recall components was replaced. The KSDS software failed to activate and the engine overheated several days later, the vehicle was taken to a dealership where the engine recall replacement order was refused and instead was given a cost estimate of $10,000 USD to replace.
- Raleigh, NC, USA
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started, the horn was inoperable and the front and rear driver's side windows did not go up and down as designed. In addition, the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer several times. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.
- Watsonville, CA, USA
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated there was an abnormal burning odor coming entering the cabin of the vehicle. The battery warning light was blinking intermittently. The dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 230,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
- Franklin, NC, USA
While driving on the freeway, the car began to lose power. As I struggled to maneuver to the right lane to pull over, something under the hood caught on fire and black smoke came billowing out. We were able to get out of the car before a young man traveling in he opposite direction saw us and turned around to help. With his help we were able to get my grand kids out and into his car. Thank God that he was not criminally minded. I then called AAA who towed the car back to our home. This happened in July 2023. In October, I received a safety recall notice warning of a possible fire happening. I contacted the local Kia dealership and was told that there was nothing they could except wait and that it could take up to a year or receive the part to remedy the problem. I then contacted Kia Headquarters and was told the same thing. It is now January 2024, and still no remedy and no operable vehicle.
- Edna, TX, USA
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds and while the vehicle was idling, the voltage reader indicated that the voltage was fluctuating between 11.2 and $19.20 volts. The lights within the vehicle were illuminated, the radio would turn on, and other electrical systems would suddenly activate. The contact had to unplug the negative cable for several minutes for the charging system to work correctly. The failure persisted after the repairs and had since become more consistent. An independent mechanic inspected the vehicle and determined that the alternator had failed and needed to be replaced. The alternator was replaced. The vehicle had not been taken to be diagnosed after the failure. The contact replaced the battery however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
- Kempton, IN, USA
As I was backing into my driveway on Thursday 1/18/2024 @ 5:25 pm. I was on my way home from work. As I was backing into my driveway I lost power, the ABs and the MIL light both came on, the abs went off but the MIL began to flash and I lost all power in the car. I shut it off immediately and we pushed my car the rest of the way into the driveway. I had received a KIA Safety recall notice that said if this happens, Call KIA, immediately to request a tow to the nearest Authorized dealership. Was told they cannot perform this task and that I need to wait till tghe figure out the recall before they will help me. I have no vehicle to get back and forth to work now and KIA is refusing to help me.
- Crested Butte, CO, USA
I'm supposed to park my 2011 Sorento outside and away from structures, and not drive it until Kia comes up with a part/solution to fix the engine compartment fire issue relating to NHTSA Recall # 23V652000 (manufacturer recall # SC284XM). This warning was issued Sept 25th, 2023. It's now been over 3 months. Am I supposed to walk everywhere, use a Ride Share service, or take public transportation"?" If Kia won't fix it, they should give me another vehicle to drive....or purchase the vehicle back from me for what I paid for it in 2022, less 1 year's depreciation.
- Palmetto, FL, USA
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the dealer had replaced the front passenger's side and driver's side door handles; however, after the repair, the front passenger's side door handle fractured. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the front passenger's side door handle was replaced at the contact's expense. Additionally, the contact stated that the front and rear passenger's side doors, and the rear driver's side door failed to open from the outside while pulling the doors handles. The contact stated that the steering control buttons, and the cruise control mode had become inoperable. The air bag warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle hesitated to respond. The contact also stated that while shifting into park (P), the vehicle made an abnormal clunking sound and the gear shifter moved beyond the park (P) position. The contact stated that the failure occurred intermittently. The contact stated that the interior lights of the vehicle failed to turn off. The ABS, TPMS, traction control, check engine, air bag warning lights, and other unknown warning lights were illuminated. Additionally, the contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
- Maple Valley, WA, USA
- Kissimmee , FL, USA