10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 20
Injuries / Deaths:
6 / 0
Average Mileage:
44,042 miles

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« Read the previous 20 complaints

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

problem #81

Nov 232020

Sorento

  • 56,500 miles
Intermittent connection to passengers side headlamp bulb, causing overheated connector and wiring.

- Tigard, OR, USA

problem #80

Nov 022020

Sorento

  • 100,000 miles
Vehicle was being driven and completely shut off, came to a stop and started to smoke, a fire ignited and consumed the front end

- Bedford, PA, USA

problem #79

Apr 022020

Sorento

  • 120,000 miles
When driving on a highway, the tachometer drops to zero and the power decreases, but the engine doesn't stop running. Then it smells like something is burning, and I pull off the road, turn it off, and start it again, then it goes back to normal. It has been doing this for a few months already. Also, I have had this car for almost 4 years and have replaced the headlights, tail lights, and blinkers numerous times. I'm at the point that I'm afraid it's going to burn up. Btw, the engine temp light remains normal. Also, sometimes, the engine will stop when I stop at a light or sign, but then is normal when I start it again.

- Grand Prairie, TX, USA

problem #78

Jul 212020

Sorento

  • miles
Airbag issues with this vehicle vehicle is not safe to drive Kia needs to recall airbags may just save a life and mines is at state here... passenger seat airbags disabled and will not allow other airbags to work if I become in an accident. Please help me with this issue I'm fear of my safety

- Tuskegee Inst, AL, USA

problem #77

Aug 032020

Sorento

  • 180,000 miles
All interior lights and dash lights have completely stopped working - back up camera does not work any more either. Replace the fuse and it blows immediately. Had the car looked at and they informed me a dealership would have to fix the problem- it's an electrical issue.

- Beech Grove, IN, USA

problem #76

May 012020

Sorento 4-cyl

  • 100 miles
Driving on the thru-way going 65 mph when my vehicle jerked forward suddenly. I was able to pull over, vehicle lost control of steering and brakes and completely just 'shut off' on me with no fore-warning. Called aaa, tech. Could visibly see a belt which had ripped out of engine and was dangling under vehicle. I then had vehicle repaired- a new belt was installed, a brand new alternator, new brakes, oil change. 3 weeks after this event, I was again driving on the thru- way in almost the same exact location and this happened again.. my vehicle just went dead, this time slowing down and dying. Called aaa, they serviced me off the thru-way (thru-way division) and upon having vehicle looked at my choice shop.. I was told that my vehicle had completely seized (was now totally dead) and was non- repairable without a new engine. Also told that my vehicle had little oil even though I had only 3 weeks prior gotten an oil change and car repairman could not report any physical issues with oil connections, ie. Gasket leak, drain plug, seal issues. Due to the amount of monies I have spent from day 1 on this vehicle, my experiences and the lemon the vehicle has proven to be, I find this incredibly unsettling and know that there were issues going on with this vehicle prior to it going onto the road that should have been repaired and were not due to no fault of my own. Aside from these issues, in past there were several other problems related to the locks and windows locking on there own while vehicle in motion and fuses related to this as well as the vehicle shocking me when opening drivers side door handle which is incredibly unsafe! I request that someone please look into the recall withholding which has come to light with Kia and my vehicle qualifying for these recalls as Kia has told me that they are unwilling to assist me financially as well as West herr.

- Orchard Park, NY, USA

problem #75

Apr 252020

Sorento

  • 146,000 miles
The vehicle was sitting in the driveway approximately 30 to 45 minutes after having been driven. I had noticed nothing unusual when driving the car. I walked outside to the driveway and flames were visible inside the car. The car was unoccupied and was not running. The switch was turned off and the keys were removed. The doors were locked. I unlocked the doors and put the fire out with a pan of water. I let it cool off and cranked it and moved it out of the driveway to the side of the road. I removed the battery cable for safety reasons. The emergency flasher switch apparently had melted and the flashers would not turn off.

- Pleasant Grove, AL, USA

problem #74

Jan 012020

Sorento

  • miles
I continue to have starting issues. Sometimes it starts many times it doesn't. also I have replaced my head lights and blinkers several times. It's as if there is a shortage inside the car somewhere. I have been reading many consumers having the same issues with the same vehicle I have 2012 Kia soento. I've spent so much money trying to get this problem handled but I am convinced this is something electrical that has to do with manufacturing.

- Wyoming, MI, USA

problem #73

Nov 282019

Sorento

  • miles
Since I purchased this vehicle brand new in December 2011 I have had to replace the headlight wiring 4 times and have to change the headlight bulb at least once every 2-3 months. Each time I have had the wiring harness replaced after the third light bulb change the wiring harness begins to melt and then loses connection with the bulb therefor my headlights are intermittent.

- Minneaplis, MN, USA

problem #72

Nov 162019

Sorento

  • 117,000 miles
I drive Kia sorrento 2012, its at 117,000 miles. For the last 6000 miles my car has started burning through abnormally high amounts of oil. It doesn't give any warning signs and the low oil warning light never comes on. For my last 3 services which were in June, August and November, all well before I was due for oil change, I was told that there was next to none oil left in my car. On Nov 16th, while I was driving on a freeway my car without giving me any warning or indication that oil was running low, decelerated from 60mph to 30mph and the check engine sign started flashing. I pulled aside and got it towed to a nearby car auto repair shop. I was told that there was next to none oil in my car and because it had been running without any oil my engine was all damaged. I was told that my Kia needed engine replacement. I was also told that the mechanic didn't find any leaks or other reasons why oil might be getting consumed so quickly. I searched online about why I might be having this problem and found that many other Kia owners across America are experiencing same problems with abnormally high amount of oil consumption. Since then I have been trying to get in touch with Kia corporate to see if they might be able to help me figure out what has been happening but I have been unsuccessful.

- Renton, WA, USA

problem #71

Nov 022019

Sorento

  • 83,586 miles
On a busy highway rt.70 vehicle decals got to flashing on the dash broad all of them. Than lost all power.couldn't use flashers or anything. And got over to the shoulder.wait a few minutes nothing had to get it tow back to my sons. Try a jump after 3 minutes the vehicle shut back down.battery show good.

- Frederick, MD, USA

problem #70

Aug 082019

Sorento

  • 122,000 miles
Last July my husband had changed my brakes and then went for a test drive just to make sure everything was working properly. Well, the engine shut off in the middle of driving. Called Kia and had it towed there(unreimbursed) replaced engine told them that sometimes the transmission would hesitate to shift into gear. Kia said nothing was wrong. Now, a year later still trans problem. Took to master mechanic that has a trans shop and that has been in business for over 40 years. He said it needed a software update from Kia for a hard transmissikn shift. Called Kia they said they had to "research problem", but had never heard of this happening. Also, my car shuts off if I have to do a hard brake even after my engine being replaced. Also, my gas lid wont open, my mirrors had stopped moving and my windows all stopped working. Having major electrical problem with fuse box. Apparently something is not grounded correctly Kia and is shorting out all my fuses. But I have to pay all this money to have a car that is barely that old have so many problems. If I could sue them for damages under lemon law I would. Very upset and scared to drive car and I have a ten year that is always in the car with me. Please investigate

- Millville, NJ, USA

problem #69

Jul 302019

Sorento

  • 165,000 miles
Driving on the interstate or in town, I lose all power with no warning other than a jerk that feels like I have been hit in the rear. Then it goes dead. I crank it back up and it runs for a while then repeats. I took to Kia dealership and left it today, but they are saying it is not part of a recall, after Kia Corp. Told my father last week that it was a recall on the power train control module. It is there now to be checked 1st thing in the morning.

- Rocky Face, GA, USA

problem #68

Jul 162019

Sorento

  • 69,000 miles
2nd complain for Kia engine. Dec. 2017 my engine seized. I spent on 5grand for a rebuilt engine. Original complaint was electrical system did not give me any indication that there was an issue with my oil or engine. Driving down a main street where my car suddenly died. I had to pull off to the side of the road. I was able to restart it. Once it was restarted you can hear loud clicking from the engine. Fast forward to a year and 4 months later. Rebuilt engine on Feb 2018.. car died again on 7/16/19. Once again no indication that there was a problem with my car. No oil light. I was driving on the highway when my car was not picking up on accelerating. I decided after work I put some oil into my engine. Schedule an appt with my mechanic to have my oil changed. The next day my car would not start. Had my mechanic tow my car and later tells me that it was my engine again. Stated he could find an engine for over 3grand for me. Unfortunately I do not have the money. I am now out of a car again with a newborn and trying to find rides to and from work. I just recently moved and cannot afford this. My VIN is not listed in the recalls and it should be. Kia has faulty engines and it is not just the one engine. Last engine failure was at 65000 miles. This time it is at 69000 miles. Why are my oil lights not coming on when there is low oil" why was this problem not fixed to begin with??" other problems with my car is my handle in the back seat pulled off (I am not that strong) electrical system (oil light not coming on, cruise control knocks out while driving, volume control for radio randomly calls contacts) Kia is a lemon but I don't have the money to repair a 2nd and probably 3rd engine. I don't even trust my car with my Kia dealership anymore because they are crooks and liars. I still have 10grand left to pay for this car!

- Bristol, PA, USA

problem #67

Jul 032019

Sorento

  • 90,000 miles
2012 Kia Sorento, when driving at 30mph average, straight or turning, slowing down to a stop sign, or driving in parking lots, at the moment of pressing the brakes, the engine cuts off.

- Marietta, GA, USA

problem #66

Jun 302019

Sorento

  • miles
As I was driving, I noticed smoke coming from under my hood and when I pulled over to check, my car blew up in flames.

- Margate, FL, USA

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