10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
6 / 27
Injuries / Deaths:
9 / 0
Average Mileage:
71,232 miles

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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #125

Jan 082019

Sorento

  • 100,000 miles
The engine has a clicking sound all the time sounds luke its grinding metal

- Rialto, CA, USA

problem #124

Jun 012019

Sorento

  • 80,000 miles
Driving down hwy. O in orrick mo with two other passengers my daughter 15 and my granddaughter 5. around 5pm Saturday hune 2nd a smell of smoke came through front vents. As I started to pull over a swoosh sound came from the car and flames shot out of the hood of the car. Then from under the dash inside. Through the car in park and open the door. Ran to get my granddaughter out of her car seat and a third passenger my daughter got out of the backseat as well. With in minutes the car was totally in flames. VIN unknown. Consumer stated she suffered 2nd degree burns.

- Orrick, MO, USA

problem #123

Mar 102019

Sorento

  • 124,000 miles
I own a 2011 Sorento (not a gdi engine) that experienced a spun rod bearing and engine failure (engine limp). My sons were driving on the highway in our Kia Sorento when without any warning, the engine failed. Thankfully, my sons were able to safely transition off the highway through high-speed traffic in "limp mode". my sons were quickly able to find online complaints and diagnostics duplicating what they had just experienced - spun rod bearing. I was instructed by Kia corporate that I should tow my vehicle to a Kia dealer for official diagnostics ($140). The dealer confirmed the car experience a spun rod bearing and engine failure requiring a $6,500 engine replacement. It has come to my attention that my model is not included in the Kia engine recall. I don't understand the recall limits when the rod bearing defect causes the engine failure regardless of the engine type.

- Tinley Park, IL, USA

problem #122

May 042019

Sorento

  • miles
I was driving the car 2 weeks ago May 4 thand the car die in the middle of the road. I got someone to help push the car in there driveway. When back the next day with a mecanic he told me the car engine need to be replaced. Didn't believe him cause I brought the car 3 yrs ago. Before the car die the check engine turn on than die. The seatbelt turn in 1 month ago.now I have 9000 left on the car the won't wrong take back and the dealership won't make a strades

- Monsey, NY, USA

problem #121

May 042019

Sorento

  • 145,700 miles
Vehicle was in motion traveling down the highway, when engine shuts off completely. No warning lights were illuminated or anything. The indicator never went up to hot, there was no steam from the radiator--only a thick cloud of black smoke coming from behind the engine. Had it towed to the repair shop to find out that engine had cooked itself from the inside out and had to be replaced. The mechanic stated that the oil and fluids were good except all the coolant had been blown out and that it was a defective engine. Spoke to several different mechanics and were told they had encountered many other Kia Sorento that did the same thing. Engine would suddenly just stop. I am the second owner and therefore not covered under the original warranty. This is unacceptable. There should be a recall on the engines and/or vehicles. It is gonna cost me over $5000 to repair my vehicle!

- Nathalie, VA, USA

problem #120

May 012019

Sorento

  • 170,000 miles
I was driving down the interstate slightly uphill. At about 55 mph when my Sorento began to loose power/speed. Before I could pull off onto the shoulder smoke began coming in through the a.C vents. When I reached the shoulder and opened the hood the back right end of the motor was on fire from the wiring harnesses. I was able to put out the fire. Upin a mechanic looking at it I was told it had thrown a rod and most likely the fire.

- Maryville, TN, USA

problem #119

May 012019

Sorento

  • 170,000 miles
'tamara recall' I was traveling up the interstate slightly uphill at 55 miles an hour when I begin to lose power\speed and before I could get it to the shoulder it lost all power to gather and smoke started coming in the ac vent when I got it stopped and open the hood it was burning at the back right hand side of the motor on some wiring harness I was able to put the fire out I later was told that it had thrown a rod and was most likely the cause of the fire

- Maryville, TN, USA

problem #118

Apr 212019

Sorento

  • 123,000 miles
The engine started making noise and locked up, checked with Kia on recalls dues to I've seen so many, and after trying to find one at many engine shops, they have none at the time because they said they were in high demand right now. The 2.4 is failing, and the only recall is on the 2.4 tdi, but I highly believe Kia has to be aware of this. Motor locked up while driving on the interstate and almost caused me to be rear ended.

- St. Albans, WV, USA

problem #117

Apr 152019

Sorento

  • 50,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the engine produced a loud knocking noise when the vehicle was started. Also, while driving 35-48 mph, a deer jumped out into the street. The contact swerved and crashed into a guardrail. The air bags did not deploy. There were no injuries. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to fuccillo Kia (3900 state St, schenectady, NY 12304, (518) 847-0800) where the mechanic stated that the contact should have the vehicle serviced at the dealer's collision shop. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to have the body damage repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The cause of the failure was not determined. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was 50,000.

- Canada Hairy, NY, USA

problem #116

Feb 012019

Sorento

  • 75,000 miles
Vehicle has 75,000 miles on it and has started to stall at low idle times. Mostly upon start up but has increased to stalling occasionally at stop lights. Engine light will come on car will restart and sometimes engine light goes off other times it will stay on. Has been happening about 3 months now. Had it in the dealership for faulty door handle which is a known problem but was not covered under warranty. Had dealership run diagnostics which of course I had to pay for and they claimed it was reading a cpu error and the board should be replaced $1,400. Lots of recalls on this vehicle, don't see myself buying another Kia.

- Crafton, PA, USA

problem #115

Feb 012017

Sorento

  • miles
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that there was an internal oil consumption failure that caused the oil to constantly have to be refilled in the vehicle. An oil consumption test was provided by benson Kia of spartanburg (1100 N pine St, spartanburg, SC 29303, (864) 585-3611) and it was diagnosed that there was a crack in the radiator. After the oil consumption test was rendered, the oil leaked under the vehicle. The dealer and manufacturer refused to comply with an extended warranty campaign for the engine assembly and oil consumption failures due to the vehicle's maintenance record. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer provided no assistance. The failure mileage was not available.

- Inman, SC, USA

problem #114

Apr 052019

Sorento

  • 151,000 miles
Engine shut off while car moving. No indication no lights across dash and lost all power.

- Saint Charles, MO, USA

problem #113

Mar 292019

Sorento

  • 137,440 miles
So this morning I'm just heading to work and my Kia start a limp mode which it stop in middle of a highway and their where kids in the car it has a bunch of light

- Ruston, LA, USA

problem #112

Feb 152019

Sorento

  • 138,288 miles
Every time I changed the oil, I noticed it was not the same as used oil coming from my other vehicles. Engine problems started approximately 3 years ago. I was constantly checking the oil and needing to add. I took the vehicle to the Kia dealer where we bought the car and they said the oil was burning up in the motor. It was getting hot. I ran two flushes on the motor and then continued my regular oil changes. In February of 2019 the motor seized up and quit while being driven on city streets. I drained 4.5 quarts of oil from the vehicle after it was towed. I heard about the recall on various years of Kia/Hyundai motors and thought this migh be the problem with my 2011 Sorento.

- Quincy, IL, USA

problem #111

Oct 012018

Sorento

  • miles
2011 Kia, just over 100,000 miles. Started knocking from the engine, pulled over had it towed to my mechanic. Stated that lower engine block broke the engine blown. Dealership would not do anything.

- Surprise, AZ, USA

problem #110

Jan 252019

Sorento

  • 120,000 miles
I have been a Kia customer for over 7 years and are on our third vehicle from them. Traded my Kia forte for 2011 Sorento in 2016. It has had a lot of issues with the electrical system and it cost $1,200 to fix it. Recently on Jan 25th my timing chain broke and also ruined the engine. Now told that I need new engine for $5.100. I have learned of many recalls on Sorento engine motor but starting for the year 2012.

- Jackson, MI, USA

problem #109

Feb 202019

Sorento

  • 200,000 miles
Taka recall- vechicle has stalled on the highway/streets while driving several times, example I could be in the middle of driving and the car just completely slows down, almost causing accidents which can be very serious. I have taken the car back to the dealer and they said there's nothing wrong, clearly there's and issue with the car. I have been reading storys with consumers having the same issues that I'm having. Kia has not issued a recall which is sad due to the many complaints and life threading situations this has put people in. I'm in the process of hiring and attorney to look into this because no one is giving me answers. Not sure what it could be but I've ask around and some say it sounds like a transmission issue I need answers

- St.Louis, MO, USA

problem #108

Feb 152019

Sorento

  • 120,000 miles
A cam sensor melted, there were pieces of plastic on the spark plugs, and all mechanics we talked to have never seen anything like this. They initially thought that it was the exhaust vvt solenoids, but as they inspected further they realized something else was majorly wrong. We were on a road trip when this happened and have been stranded for 4 days because they haven't been able to fix the problem. The only solution they found is to replace the engine. The symptoms seem to be consistent with the NHTSA campaigns #11V258000 and #17V224000 after discussing with the mechanics we've worked with. See attached image of melted cam sensor.

- Plymouth, MN, USA

problem #107

Feb 112019

Sorento

  • 140,000 miles
My car went into limp mode after check engine light came on for transmission and electrical system failure in solenoid a of transmission. Car struggled to shift between gears and would would jerk me driving. Driving yesterday and pedal went straight to the floor causing total motor loss and hole in motor.

- Stow, OH, USA

problem #106

Jul 272018

Sorento

  • 80,000 miles
2011 Kia Sorento was parked in the attached garage at 7:30 pm. It had a nearly full tank of gas. No problems were noted. My son went cycling the next morning at 5:30 am and returned at 7:30 am. He went into the garage to turn on sprinkler system. Nothing out of the ordinary was noticed. At approximately 7:45 am he started taking a shower. A few minutes later he heard a loud pop. Then a few minutes later another loud pop. Then a few seconds later the lights went out. Then he heard a loud banging at the front door. A man was yelling that the garage was on fire. My son and another young man who was renting one of the bedrooms in the house escaped without injury. The fire department responded and extinguished the fire but the car the attached garage were completely destroyed. The rest of house suffered extensive smoke and water damage. See attached picture taken at 7:59 am. Garage is totally engulfed in flames. Fire investigators determined that the fire appeared to be center at the front of the 2011 Kia Sorento. The car was totally destroyed. Investigators hired by the home insurance company were not able to determine what component in the engine compartment failed and caused the fire. Not enough left to be certain. Kia motors usa has stonewalled us all the way. They sent people twice to make sure there was not something else in the garage to blame the fire on and to make sure that the fire investigators made a definitive determination of of what component failed or otherwise had to say it was undetermined. They also hired a local law firm to observe all the investigation efforts. Intimidation and stonewalling is what Kia has provided to us. My concern is that someone is going to have to die before Kia and Hyundai admit they have defect in their engine manufacturing process and get it fixed.

- Spring Branch, TX, USA

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