10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 19
Injuries / Deaths:
6 / 0
Average Mileage:
45,498 miles

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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #101

Jul 152023

Sorento

  • 170,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, several unknown warning lights illuminated, prompting the contact to pull the vehicle into a parking lot. The contact also stated that the vehicle history stated that the engine was replaced by the dealer when the vehicle was purchased. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000.

- Rienzi, MS, USA

problem #100

Oct 262023

Sorento

  • 125,000 miles
The contact owned a 2012 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled while driving at approximately 30 MPH as the battery and alternator warning lights illuminated. Another driver then alerted the contact that the vehicle had caught fire under the hood. The contact merged to the side of the road and exited the vehicle. The contact mentioned that a third of the vehicle had been engulfed in flames. The fire department extinguished the fire. The contact sustained injuries to her knee from the door while attempting to exit during the incident. Medical attention was required. The vehicle was towed to an impound lot and deemed totaled by the insurance agency. A fire report was filed but there was no police report filed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and opened a case. The VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hyraulic) however the recall remedy was not yet available. The approximate failure mileage was 126,000. VIN Tool Confirms Parts Not Available.

- Azle, TX, USA

problem #99

Jan 302023

Sorento

  • 150,000 miles
The contact owned a 2012 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked in her carport, she was awakened by her son that a fire had ignited and that the vehicle was in flames. The contact then stated that the fire from the vehicle had extended to her home living room. As a result, half of the house was in flames. The contact stated that she and her family were able to exit her home to safety and then notified the fire department. The fire department had extinguished the fire. No injuries were sustained. No medical attention was required. The family's iguana pet passed away due to the fire. The contact then stated that the vehicle was towed to a tow lot and inspected by the insurance company and that the source of the fire was near the carport area and may have been electrical related but was to be determined. The vehicle was deemed a total loss by the insurance company. Additionally, the contact stated that she was not notified that the VIN was included in a recall, and upon research she discovered that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V750000 (Engine). Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

- Gamaliel, AR, USA

problem #98

Sep 262023

Sorento

  • miles
The abs brake light, traction control, and downhill assist lights all came on at the same time. This is being caused by a faulty speed sensor. This item was recalled on the two wheel drive kias, but not the all wheel drive models... hiwever.. looking for answers in the forums show that there is a systemic problem in the kia system, just Google search it and watch all the other car owners stories pop up.

- Gorham, ME, USA

problem #97

Aug 212023

Sorento

  • miles
Transmission / or gear shifting

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #96

May 162023

Sorento

  • miles
My regular lights on pasenger side keeps going out. The harness keeps melting. And my sunroof rubber pieces keep coming undone hitting the glass of sunroof causing very loud noises while driving sounds like the glass is going to break.

- Manning, SC, USA

problem #95

May 082023

Sorento

  • miles
Having ignition problems. Ignition switch will not go to the Lock position and stays on ACC all the time. Always having to undo the negative battery cable from draining my battery. Warranty company refuses to fix it.

- Brooklet, GA, USA

problem #94

Mar 312023

Sorento

  • miles
Unknown. Push start engine failed on first and second try. One minute later the engine is one fire.

- Oxnard, CA, USA

problem #93

Oct 192022

Sorento

  • miles
These vehicles were never equipped with an alarm to notify drivers when parked in any other gear other than 'Park'. If the driver parks vehicle in 'Reverse' and do not set the parking brake, he/she can shut off the engine with no alarms notifying the driver to move shifter to park. An incident occurred with this vehicle in which the driver parked it overnight in a parking garage on level 6. The space appeared level, but is on a very slight incline. The vehicle (miraculously) remained in place overnight. However when the same driver proceeded to use the vehicle the following morning, it wouldn't start (obviously because you cannot start these vehicles unless the shifter is in 'Park' or 'Neutral'). He thought the battery was dead, not thinking to check the position of the shifter. After trying to get the vehicle to start with no success, he left the vehicle to use his personal vehicle. After leaving this vehicle, it rolled out of position and proceeded backwards (halfway down the incline between levels 6 and 5), turned slightly and hit the wall inside the parking garage (causing almost $6,000 of damage to the LR corner of the vehicle). The safety issue lies in the fact that this vehicle could have collided with another parked vehicle (with someone inside it) or another vehicle making the turn from level 5 to proceed to level 6. The vehicle could've also struck a pedestrian inside the parking garage. If the speed was greater, the vehicle could've damaged the section of the parking garage it struck and dislodged fragments of concrete (possibly causing it to fall on people and/or vehicles below).

- Atlanta, GA, USA

problem #92

May 222022

Sorento

  • miles
Replaced the headlight bulbs in my wife's car around 80k miles when 2 of the 4 bulbs went out. I noticed the lenses were discolored from the inside slightly but didn't put much thought into it. The vehicle now has a little over 144k miles and I have replaced the high beam bulbs once again, and the low beam bulbs twice more, and the low beam bulbs I have had to replace the connector due to burning on both sides, and the driver side is burnt out again. This shouldn't happen and means there is too much power going to the bulb, which is a fire hazard as well as a safety hazard as I can't keep a bulb working in that slot.

- Gray, GA, USA

problem #91

May 182022

Sorento

  • miles
My passenger headlight went out again. I've taken to the dealer. They replaced the burnt out fog lights too. This is the 4th time in less than a year! I filed previous complaints. Had the headlights replaced repeatedly. Something keeps shorting out. There's an electrical problem. I can't keep replacing my headlights all the time. When the one side goes out, the other follows. This is becoming a real safety issue.

- Lebanon, OH, USA

problem #90

Dec 152021

Sorento

  • miles
The passenger low beam head light keeps burning out. I have had the wiring replaced twice because it keeps melting. The brake light blow at least every 2 months

- Villa Ridge , IL, USA

problem #89

Dec 022021

Sorento

  • miles
Passenger side low beam headlight keeps burning out. Had bulb replaced one month ago, burnt out again. Had it replaced several times. One time recently the mechanic had to also replace the wiring connections because it melted.

- Attleboro, MA, USA

problem #88

Jun 012020

Sorento

  • miles
In 2012 my sister bought new 2012 Kia Sorento from Caribbean Auto Mart in St Thomas VI. About a year ago, the horn stopped working and the air bag light has been on for some time now clearly indicating a possible problem with the clock spring assembly in the steering column mentioned in the recall notice attached. On contacting the dealer, Caribbean Auto Mart, she was told that they were no longer a Kia dealer and that it was not their responsibility to fix the problem. The local Jiffy Lube apparently is doing warranty work for Kia here now but they refuse to fix it without authorization from Kia. On contacting Kia, they refuse to even acknowledge the existence of this vehicle. They say they have no matching VIN. We asked if they would just send the part and I would install it. They refused this as well. I-??m concerned that my sister is still driving this vehicle with defective safety equipment with no apparent way to resolve the situation. Any help you could provide in this matter would be greatly appreciated.

- St. Thomas, VI, USA

problem #87

Jun 012021

Sorento

  • miles
Car will shut off randomly while driving. Usually slowing down or speeding up in the 0 to 30 mph zone. Does not show any codes for KIA or my mechanic to read. Car will not restart for about 20 seconds. Car will slow down and loose all RPM's of it doesn't shut all the way off and will only run 20mph until I can get off the road and restart it.

- Georgetown, SC, USA

problem #86

Mar 222021

Sorento

  • miles
On 03/22/21, at 8.00am was a regular visit for oil change, finally around 1pm my car was showing on the dashboard the "engine light", never happen before, I claimed verbally why, that happen now. I am driving because they told me is safe and I believe, and waiting the appointment for( recall 20V750) thanks to all.

- Hollywood, FL, USA

problem #85

Mar 082021

Sorento 4-cyl

  • 50,000 miles
Please see attached email sent to NHTSA.. I was advised to file a complaint. I need help! this issue is getting worse. Please feel free to contact me anytime regarding documentation. If you do not reach me directly, feel free to speak with my wife [xxx]. she can also attest the issues we have. This is constant whether in park, driving, idling. Also recently we have notice the light to signal a malfunction in the air bags keeps coming on. It also flashes for a few minutes at a time. Please let me or my wife know what documents you need and we will get them to you immediately! thank you for your help with this matter. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Columbia, MD, USA

problem #84

Nov 172017

Sorento

  • 142,000 miles
While driving the vehicle under normal operating conditions the tachometer will drop to zero and the car will start to sputter and stall. This occurs intermittently sometimes while on the highway sometimes at stop lights or stop signs. This vehicle only has 142K miles and has had the cam sensors replaced by the dealership but is still having issues that they don't want to track down.

- Clayton, OH, USA

problem #83

Dec 162020

Sorento

  • 158,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Kia sorrento. The contact stated that his wife was driving through a snow storm and the vehicle stalled several times. The wife pulled the vehicle over and called for a tow and a new battery was bought and the old one was replaced. The failure recurred on the same day. The vehicle was taken to an independnent mechanic who observed the vehicle shutting on and off and referred the contact to danbury Kia (100A federal road, danbury, ct 06810, (203) 730-5737). The dealer recommended the starter be replaced. The repairs were completed but the vehicle loss acceleration the same day after it was picked up and shut off when it was pulled over. The vehicle was towed back to the dealer and diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been contacted. The failure mileage was 158,000.

- Bridgeport, CT, USA

problem #82

Apr 122020

Sorento

  • miles
Hi I am writing you on behalf of my Kia sorrento 2012 I've been having problems the last past nine months after my car wouldn't start I supposedly assumed it was the battery so I had the battery changed in the lock at the battery is about 78 years old so I changed it after change that still drain after every month my car would just turn off in the middle of me driving or stopping at a stop sign when I put my ac or my heater on it drops idle and it makes the car really heavy to the point where it feels like it's holding back my car has been doing this occasionally often on where I'll be driving a long distance or a short distance with the ac on and as I'm parking turn off the ac in the car while I go up and down and will drop idol and just turn off the vehicle without any spiders I do not know what's going on with the vehicle I've had it checked out every month for the last past nine months and paid for the diagnosis which they always keep on telling me there's nothing wrong with the vehicle I have looked up my vehicle VIN number and have put in the nhtse number and I have a form you recalls and they look like engine cesar an engine fire

- Princeville, HI, USA

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