10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 1 / 48
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 7 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 71,527 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.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
This has been recalled for 6 months with no remedy. I cannot drive my car due to risk of engine fire, and I have been advised to not park near other cars. This has been extremely frustrating and inconvenient. I have not been offered a replacement vehicle either
- Triadelphia , WV, USA
car codes say vehicle has suspension with engine.
- Gallatin , TN, USA
On November 11th, 2023 I was driving down the road. I noticed my power steering starting to fail. I looked down and everything was lit up on the dash. I quickly put on my turn signal so the cars behind me knew I was exiting the road. I was in another state on a 2 lane road. Luckily I was able to pull off the road into a gravel parking lot. The car would not start. My children called for a tow truck and it was towed to my cousin's house about a half hour away. Several days later I had it towed to a garage by my cousin's and was told the engine seized up and would need replaced. I was about 4 hours away from home, so my children paid to have it towed back home. It was towed to a Kia dealership by my home. After several weeks of getting all my oil changes to give them, they wanted all my oil changes for the 7 1/2 years I have owned the car. They finally approved a new engine after denying it the first time. I had to go 6 weeks without a vehicle because they would not give me a rental till the new engine was approved. The only problem is the new engine is still under the recall to replace the HECU fuse, so the problem can occur again.
- Lorain, OH, USA
My concern is when will the RECALL BE HONORED FOR SAFETY PURPOSES 1ST- BRAKE SYSTEM 2ND- ENGINE CAUSING A FIRE HOW SOON CAN I GET MY CAR IN TO GET THESE RECALLS SERVICED"?"
- Kansas City, KS, USA
The contact owns a 2012 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 the vehicle would suddenly stall while idling. The contact was able to restart the vehicle to continue driving. The check engine warning light and several other unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the failure persisted after the first repair and the check engine warning light remained illuminated. The dealer was contacted, and the vehicle was diagnosed, and it was determined that the purge valve had failed and needed to be replaced. The purge valve was replaced; however, the vehicle was not repaired, and the failure persisted. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 114,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
- Philadelphia, PA, USA
It won't catch up speed it slips on the freeway. Once I pass 60 miles per hour it excelerates very high and rpm get stuck after I hit 50 miles per hour. There's a knocking noise coming from the engine and burns oil fast.
- South El Monte, CA, USA
Engine started loosing power a little over 100,000 miles and seized. Car has not started or ran since, was told it would be $7000 to replace engine.
- Elkridge, MD, USA
I experienced a Malfunction of indicators lamp, ABS warning lights, burning/ melting smell and smoke from the engine compartment.
- Olathe , KS, USA
SC284XM HECU My car was exacted by the HECU fuse
- Parker, CO, USA
On Wed, Nov 1, 2023, 1:08 PM [XXX] [XXX] > wrote: December's 2nd, 2020 Kia Recall number SC200XM NHTSA Recall # 20V750 Recall Status Incomplete The summary reads that Kia is conducting a safety recall campaign to inspect the engine compartment for fuel, engine oil leaks and or and engine test and make any repairs including engine replacement on all 2012 - 2013 Kia Sorentos. This recall basically described my vehicle that I owned and many of the related problems like fuel mix related issues. My vehicle was giving off codes related to the fuel emissions problems, like gas cap, intake manifold, sensor, could be related to a possible engine fire or oil leaks that could cause a fire, ( reasons for a recall) On (10-12-2023) I took my vehicle in for this safety recall because Kia had issued this above safety recall for my vehicle. Prior to my going in, I had experience my vehicle cutting off while driving, some overheating, and oil leaking also, before I replaced the valve cover gasket on 5-18-2023. The mechanic that worked with see uploads, stated that spark plugs were wet with oil because I needed a valve cover gasket replacement. His statement would have indicated that my vehicle was leaking oil because of a bad valve cover gasket and it would cost me over $400 to fix. My vehicle was not leaking oil, because I had already replaced the valve cover gasket. There were no oil leaks on the ground even in my driveway. The mechanic was not aware that I had already replaced the valve cover gasket on (5-18-2023), prior to the recall visit to Kia on Mt. Moriah, in Memphis, TN. I believe that Kia, the mechanic, intentionally fabricated a problem with my vehicle to keep from servicing my vehicle for free on any and all related recall problems. I am requesting that Kia replace my engine because the recall says it will replace or fix because it is a fire safety issue. Thanks. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
- Memphis, TN, USA
The contact owns a 2012 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 while driving at an undisclosed speed, the malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) and the ABS warning lights were illuminated. The contact noticed a burning odor on the interior of the vehicle. The contact stated that there was a knocking sound coming from the engine compartment. The contact drove the vehicle to her place of employment and turned off the vehicle. A coworker checked the engine oil level and discovered that there was no engine oil in the engine. The contact stated that the vehicle was not due to have an engine oil change for another month. The dealer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that parts were not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 129,000.
- Camden, AR, USA
The contact owns a 2012 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 her daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the check engine warning light had been illuminating off and on for approximately six months. The dealer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that parts were not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
- Harbor City, CA, USA
Engine went out while driving. Took vehicle to a mechanic where it was confirmed it needs an engine replacement
- Chesapeake , VA, USA
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
Was driving on highway car started making noise, wasn't sure where the noise was coming from by the time I could pull over my car started shaking and it was clearly coming from the engine. My engine went out so fast without warning. Only 120,000 miles.
- Hamilton, OH, USA
The engine is constantly loosing oil but it-??s no leaking it-??s burning somewhere there is always tons of smoke that come from the burning of it upon contacting Kia they stated that it isn-??t their problem.
- Danville, IN, USA
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at approximately 25-30 MPH, the vehicle decelerated and failed to exceed 30 MPH while the accelerator pedal was depressed. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that that her daughter veered the vehicle off the road and turned off the vehicle. The vehicle was then towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.
- Scottsboro, AL, USA
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
On Saturday September 23,2023 I was driving thru the City of Spring Garden, Alabama at 9:30 am. I was traveling at 45 MPH when I heard a light tapping noise coming from the engine compartment and almost an instant later the engine locked up and the right hand tire locked temporarily causing loss of steering control only lasted a couple of seconds and then the right tire freed up. I coasted to a stop. I tried to restart the engine but it would not turn over. I had the car towed to a local garage and after inspection determined that a main bearing had spun. The vehicle was running perfect up to this instant with no issues.
- Jacksonville, AL, USA
- Chapin, SC, USA