10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
6 / 6
Injuries / Deaths:
5 / 0
Average Mileage:
48,573 miles

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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #67

Apr 072019

Sorento

  • 126,000 miles
While driving on the expressway at night, my car lost acceleration. No warning at all !!! the car completely stopped before making it completely to the shoulder. I had to get my car pushed by another car to avoid a major accident or fatality. I learned after towing my car to a repair shop that there was a recall that I wasn't informed of and my motor has to be replaced. Thank god he sent angel's to protect us.

- Dolton, IL, USA

problem #66

Feb 202019

Sorento

  • 147,000 miles
While driving on the highway and attempting to accelerate, the engine light came on, the car slowed and would not accelerate. Within 400 feet, the engine completely stopped and the car would not start again. I had it towed to the mechanic who said the engine 'seized' and would need replacement. There were no prior warnings of problems and the oil was changed regularly.

- N Franklin, CT, USA

problem #65

Mar 312019

Sorento

  • 122,000 miles
Was driving down the interstate, the engine completely shut off, I had no signs of my car needing oil wasn't due for a oil change for another 1,000 miles, my engine light never flashed the car never jerked or nothing just shut off and would not testart, called the tow truck he advised me that my motor was locked up, upon pulling the oil stick out I didn't not have 1 drop of oil in my car, I had no smoke or anything coming from my car it is a 2015 Kia Sorento however on the door it has a 2014 manufacturing date

- Crossville, TN, USA

problem #64

Jan 012019

Sorento

  • miles
When I turn a corner, my Kia sputter to get around the corner. This problem has almost caused me to be in a couple of accidents. I advised the dealer before about this problem and was told, "my car is ok". this is not ok. Also, when accelerating, it sounds like the transmission or some other component is slipping. It rpms goes high before decreasing back down to get into next gear. I've expressed this to the dealership as well and was told once they drove my car, "they didn't notice any change". when going up a hill, I have to press all the way down on the gas to get up the hill which causes the RPM to raise and it sounds like it's stuck in a gear or something. These issues needs to be rectified immediately. This is not normal for a car to do this. It frustrates me to tell the dealership what's going on with my car and nothing is being done. I am the one who drives my car everyday and I know when something isn't right. How can a dealership tell you what your saying isn't correct when they don't drive your car everyday? for me to have purchased this car 1 year and 4 months ago with only 2,500 miles on a 2015 Kia, I really shouldn't be having these many problems. It almost make me feel like the odometer was rolled back. Just my opinion.

- Kansas City, KS, USA

problem #63

Mar 102019

Sorento

  • 92,000 miles
I took my car in to a Kia dealership recently for preventative maintenance, and because I noticed that it was not driving as smoothly as usual. I was told that nothing was wrong with the car, but, there was a product improvement campaign for which software was updated on my vehicle. Approximately one month later, I was out of town in my vehicle, and all of a sudden the engine light began to flash, the rpms went down, the transmission appeared to slip, and the car was essentially disabled. The Kia service department that I brought it to explained to my husband that the "product improvement campaign" -- where the software was added to my vehicle was due to the fact that Kia knows that the engines have issues, and may have catastrophic failure early, and because of this, they have designed something to put the vehicle in a 'limp home mode', so that it is not further damaged. Because this has not been called a recall -- even though Kia has full knowledge of engine issues -- a vast majority of Kia oweners of the affected vehicles have not had this software update, and are at risk of their engine failing at high speeds, endangering themselves, their families, and others. This is an absolute public safety issue. Additionally, just replacing the engines is not enough, these vehicles need to be completely recalled. Many are still being financed, and owners owe thousands of dollars on vehicles that will have to carry a salvage tag, and be worth pennies on the dollar due to having an engine that it was not manufactured with. Please hold Kia accountable for their irresponsibility, and consumer fraud.

- Chattanooga, TN, USA

problem #62

Mar 102019

Sorento

  • 101,333 miles
On 3/10/2019, I was out of town, driving on the highway when my car lost speed, engine light came on and car shut down and wouldn't start back up. Had to have car towed to near by shop and had to find a way back home, which was 2 hours away. On 3/11/2019, shop stated that my engine had froze. He could understand why engine froze because it had oil and I wasn't due for an oil change until another 800 miles. Shop owner informed me that he have had 3 other customers with the same make and year who car did the same thing. I have taken my car to Kia on several occasions for evo systems reading problem with system and told them that I heard a knocking and shaking in my engine. I have read about several other case similar online. Clearly there is a problem with the engines in the 2015 Kia Sorento that you all aren't willing to investigate or admit too

- Blythewood, SC, USA

problem #61

Mar 082019

Sorento

  • 132,000 miles
While vehicle was traveling 70 mph on interstate, engine cut off. Subsequent mechanic evaluation was engine is internally damaged and requires replacement

- Stuart, FL, USA

problem #60

Jan 242019

Sorento

  • 91,000 miles
I was driving and was stopped in a turning lane waiting to turn when the car stopped working and wouldn't do anything. I had it towed to a Kia dealer and was told the engine had seized. There was no reason for this to have happened on a newer vehicle. I was told there was sludge, much like I am finding a lot of other people with these vehicles were told. It cost me $5700 to have a used engine put in that will likely fail as well, as after researching this is a common problem in these vehicles. There was a recall up to year 2014 for known engine failure and it should be extended to 2015 because the problem is beyond the year 2014 engines.

- Byron Center, MI, USA

problem #59

Feb 172019

Sorento

  • 74,000 miles
Between oil changes, the engine on this vehicle burned through / consumed all of the full synthetic oil causing a massive failure with the timing chain and all the tensioners. Repair estimate: $2800. I've never had a car that consumed oil like this. It was unpredictable. If I had caught this later, it was have likely caused a more catastrophic failure requiring the replacement of the entire engine or rebuild. The vehicle is under 75,000 miles. Had I been the original owner of the vehicle, a 100,000 mile warranty would apply. However, subsequent owners lose 40,000 miles of warranty coverage. My warranty is expired as a result. Kia has had other recalls on prior year Sorento models, but the 2015 is yet to be recalled as of the writing of this complaint. I hope that changes in the near future.

- Bakersfield, CA, USA

problem #58

Jan 032019

Sorento

  • 74,500 miles
The engine began knocking while driving on the highway. This occurred about 2000 miles into the last oil change. The dealership is stating the bearings in the engine are the cause of the failure.

- Tyler, TX, USA

problem #57

Jan 112019

Sorento

  • 7 miles
While driving on highway car lost power and cut off, was able to start again and get to dealer maintaining speed roughly 45 mph

- Frederick, MD, USA

problem #56

Feb 122019

Sorento

  • 41,000 miles
Sitting at a red light I noticed my check engine light flashing. The light turned green and when I pushed the accelerator I had zero power. It was able to go up to 20mph and I was able to make it up the hill and into my work parking lot. I called Kia and luckily was able to get towed to the dealership. They stated its probably an engine misfire, we'll have you up and running in no time. The next day, I called the dealership (bc I didn't hear from them) and was told "were ordering you a new engine". 6 days later I called again because I still haven't a reason as to why.. I was informed the update they did on my computer did something to my engine and thats their only solution. Mind you the vehicle only has 41K miles on it! apparently that happens alot to Kia's but I wish I knew before I purchased this vehicle! total piece of junk and I don't feel safe. Side note: My transmission has always shiftted very hard in the morning (even after a 20min warmup) their looking into that now.

- Essex, MD, USA

problem #55

Oct 102016

Sorento

  • 20,000 miles
We had a 2015 Kia Sorento that was burning through very high amounts of oil when driven on the highway. The dealership could not find a problem but asked us to supply all oil change records which we did not have available, the car was under lease. When we brought it back to Kia, on lease, we were told we had to pay over $6000. We have not paid at this point.

- Halifax, AR, USA

problem #54

Jan 152019

Sorento

  • 50,000 miles
Was driving on a busy intersection on 1/15/2019 around 2:30 pm and doing around 40mph the check engine light began flashing. A short while after the cel began flashing the car rpms slowed down even though the car was in motion & I was pressing on the accelerator. The car behind me began honking their horn because my vehicle was slowing down. I tried to find a street where I could safely pull over. After dodging cars while the car was in a slow rpms motion I pulled over to a side street & shifted the gear to park but kept the engine running and tried to calm down. I decided to head home, after shifting from park to drive I stepped on the accelerator and the car was in motion but the rpms only reached 10mph even though I kept my foot on the gas. And slowly but surely the speed increased. The slow acceleration from a park and stop mode the car was slow to accelerate. The state of my component part or system is unknown. Googled recalls for 2015 Sorento's and found several websites pertaining to a recall on Kia Sorento's. however after contacting Kia (1-800-333-4542) the representative informed me that my 2015 Kia Sorento was not part of the recall. Since my car was only around 50,000 miles she informed me that it's still under warranty. I contacted my local Kia dealership (1450 E camelback rd, phoenix, AZ 85014 602-388-1276) about the issue I am having. The service advisor erik informed me that he would have my car towed to their dealership and check out the issue. Stated "it" "should be" covered since I was under 60,000. I'm waiting on what the mechanic finds and if the issue will be covered.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #53

Jan 192019

Sorento

  • 150,000 miles
We went to get oil changed and they said if they change oil the engine will exploed. They said our vehicle had recall on

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #52

Aug 182018

Sorento

  • 70,000 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Sorento. The contact purchased the vehicle on August 15, 2018. A couple of days later, the check engine indicator illuminated, the vehicle would not accelerate on the highway, and the vehicle shook. Galeana Chrysler Jeep Kia (180 greystone blvd, columbia, SC 29210, (803) 779-7300) performed a diagnostic test and cleared some of the codes that appeared; however, the failures recurred. On another occasion, when the vehicle was started, a booming sound was heard from the engine compartment. An independent mechanic stated that some screws detached from the cam timing shaft and the vehicle was leaking oil. The vehicle was towed back to the dealer, but they stated that they could not assist since the vehicle was out of warranty. The contact was referred to the manufacturer who also stated that the vehicle was out of warranty since it had over 60,000 miles. The dealer stated that the vehicle had a history of code misfires and needed a new engine. The failure mileage was 70,000.

- Cayce, SC, USA

problem #51

Dec 222018

Sorento

  • 57,000 miles
After Kia dealership installed the knock sensor software update in October 2018, the engine went into limp home mode with engine light blinking in the month of January 2019. Dealership advised me engine failed and would be replaced under Kia warranty for this issue. Vehicle has 57,000 miles on it. Problem now is dealership says new engine won't be sent to them for 3-4 weeks. Then additional week to install. It's already been there over two weeks. They did provide loaner. Correction this occurred in December 2018, not January 2019.

- Loudon, TN, USA

problem #50

Dec 222018

Sorento

  • 100 miles
We were driving and hear a rattling noice and all of a sudden our vehicle started shaking and we pulled over. This was about 3 hours after we had an oil change at the dealership. This was the second time after an oil change we had issues. We attempted to turn on the car to get it to safety but could not power on. We had to get towed and a mechanic advised us we would need a whole new engine

- Irving, TX, USA

problem #49

Dec 132018

Sorento

  • 90,600 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Sorento. Ever since the contact purchased the vehicle six months ago, there had been an abnormal tapping sound coming from the engine. Also, the steering wheel made a loud popping noise that caused it to vibrate. The failures occurred upon starting the vehicle. In addition, the check engine indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to friendly Kia (5819 us-19, new port richey, fl 34652), but was not diagnosed or repaired. The staff stated that they were too busy to assist. The manufacturer advised the contact to call NHTSA. The failure mileage was 90,600.

- Port Richey, FL, USA

problem #48

Sep 012018

Sorento

  • 75,000 miles
Takata recall. I have a 2015 Kia Sorento. At about 76,000 miles, the engine began to burn oil. I had it checked for a leak, but the mechanics couldn't find anything. When I start the engine, blue smoke emits from the tail pipe. I am loosing about a quart of oil every 200 miles.

- Knoxville, TN, USA

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