(amendments to ODI#S: 10668775 & 10663356 - update) on 12/01/2014, I was in a 2015 Kia Sorento LX (enterprise insurance rental) traveling on crabb river road, (a city street) sugarland, Texas. I fully stopped at the traffic lights because it was red. Once lights turned green, I put the vehicle in motion by stepping on the gas pedal to accelerate but the car felt really sluggish so I gave it more gas in order to gain enough speed as I was about to go over some railroad tracks (approx. 55+ mph) which were on a road that was on an incline. Right as the car reached the tracks, the engine stalled, the steering wheel locked and I lost all control of the vehicle and it dove into a ditch; plowed directly into a steel billboard pole which was cemented into the ground because the brakes became unresponsive. There were no warning lights on the dash prior to the crash. Even though I was fully buckled, the seatbelt did not prevent my head from violently hitting the windshield and bouncing off the steering wheel since none of the 8 airbags deployed. I suffered near fatal injuries including a broken back (L2 fracture), spinal cord, head, eye, chin, jaws, neck and hip; broken teeth, permanent disfiguration (18 stitches), some vision & hearing loss from nerve damage and ptsd, mental anguish, chronic migraines, extreme stress, terrible recurring nightmares, etc. I'm a 5'2" woman and my chest was pinned to the steering wheel upon the impact with the pole and the fire dept. Had to free me and lift me up to the emts. I was transported to the er of a hospital by ambulance and later transferred to the trauma unit of memorial hermann hospital due to the severity of my injuries.

- Freeport, TX, USA

37000 miles, short 120 trip, oil checked before starting, 110 into trip, loss of power, ,rod knock, engine seized, towed to closest garage. Nom at lexington ky. Kia waiting on the battle of warranty to began waiting for the

- Ashland, KY, USA

Driving vehicle in town at approximately 40 mph. Engine lost power and shut off. Was able to coast out of traffic and off the side of the road. Would not restart. Had vehicle towed to local Kia dealer where they proceeded to tell me the engine had locked up and this only happens due to poor maintenance and sludge buildup in engine. They did an inspection and found engine to be clean and a rod bearing had failed causing the problem. They replaced engine under 100K mile power train warranty.

- Collegedale, TN, USA

Engine locked up with no warning lights or other indication it was happening. Vehicle was driven to store and parked. Came back out and it wouldn't start. Towed to dealer. Dealer says excess sludge in engine even with regular oil changes. Vehicle has 72,819 miles and dealer is stating it will not be covered under 100K power train warranty. Pictures of engine do not indicate excess sludge.

- Collegedale, TN, USA

V6 engine stalls randomly when accelerating into or across traffic.. Kia service dept. Unable to find cause with using electronic testing equipment. Stalling is random and unable to replicate with service dept personnel. A real safety issue.

- Southaven, MS, USA

We started having problems at about 20,000 miles.the car was pulling as we tried to accelerate and smoke would blow out of the tailpipe. We took it into the dealership in which they stated we had sludge in the engine. They stated to maintain regular oil changes, but we would need a new engine. 4 months later they did an oil change and stated the oil was clear of sludge. Within 2 weeks, we heard a loud banging sound from the engine, it got louder and was barely going 5 miles/hr. We were on a major road and were able to pull into a parking lot. We had it towed to the dealership (central Kia of plano). Without even looking at it, they said it was the sludge in the engine and we needed our engine replaced ($7000). They would not even look under the hood until we paid them $400 to open it up. They stated the work would not be covered under our warranty even though we are only 2 years into it and around 30,000 miles. I called Kia Consumer Affairs (800-333-4542) and they contacted the dealership and that's when they finally opened the hood and found sludge in the engine. They took pictures and sent it to Kia "tech" in which our claim was declined due to "lack of maintenance". we provided receipts for our oil changes. They did not accept 3 of them because they did not have a "po#" and they did not accept 2 of my credit card receipts. I told Kia Consumer Affairs the 2015's are having the same issues as the recalls 2011-2014. She stated the dmv is collecting information on the 2015's. everyone call Consumer Affairs!! there is an engine problem with the 2015's and Kia is not standing by their warranty. We have not been provided a rental car. I have also escalated this issue to Kia's "escalation dept" in which they stated to get them more receipts and "tech" can review the case again! I have gathered more receipts including how often we were putting oil in between oil changes.

- Dallas, TX, USA

We had just left home, and were driving at approximately 40 miles per hour, and no "warning lights or indicator lights" came on, we lost all power about a quarter mile away. Coasting to the side of the road and called for road-side assistance. Had vehicle towed to dealer, and was told it was engine failure, due to seizure of engine.

- East Canton, OH, USA

The vehicle was in motion 35mph when suddenly all the lights in the panel flashed and the vehicle came to a complete stop. The dealer diagnosed the car with engine failure. They refused to cover the damage under warranty and claim that is due to lack of maintenance even though we provided them with service records. This is a faulty engine and Kia is refusing to stand by their product.

- Palm Beach Gardens, FL, USA

Leased a 2015 Kia sorrento, in my third year of lease, regular oil changes every 3 months, heard a knocking sound in engine at approx. 35,000 miles on my way home from my son's hockey game on the highway which got louder and louder. Took it to the Kia dealer and immediately the sales person informed me that it was the connector rod failure without even working on the car. Showed Kia all my receipts for oil changes, waited two weeks to hear back from them, finally I called and they offered to pay for engine but I would be on the hook for 1200 on labor. Not sure why I am on the hook for labor on a faulty engine. They claimed there was sludge in the engine. Looked online and saw a recall for optima engine connecting rod for Kia in which they are extending their warranty from 100,000 miles to 120,000 miles because of the same connecting rod problem. So they know they have an issue with this part but still wants me to pay for some of the cost. I don't have 1200 to pay for the repair, its now going on 3 weeks without the vehicle while they review my claim, no rental vehicle, and I am expected to pay on a lease of a vehicle I don't have. Vehicle is still in repair shop.

- Grand Island, NY, USA

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Sorento. While driving 45 mph, the vehicle stalled without any warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced due to low oil maintenance. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 62,000.

- Canton, GA, USA

While driving approximately 50mph in my sorrento the car hesitated and stalled when I pressed the gas to pass a car next to me. Ithe felt like a slip. I wasn't sure what to make of it, but over the next 4 days it started happening more frequently. I went to turn it on the 4th morning and a cloud of white smoke came out of my tailpipe. I decided it needed to go to Kia immediately. My sorrento is a 2015 with 27xxx miles on it. This is not what I expected from a new car. I brought it to Kia and was called 10 minutes after I received my courtesy ride back. I was told a diagnosis was sludge and they needed maintenence records. I brought my receipts (which I had to have my mechanic type back out as I hadn't saved any reciepts). When we brought those in I had a spare key to my car and noticed it was in the parking lot. I checked under the hood only to discover they hadn't even pulled the valve cover on the car (I know this because there was a dead wasp frozen to the top of the bolt you need to take off to remove the cover that was there when I brought it in). They informed me that they opened the cap and that's how they knew even though initially on the phone they said they pulled the valve cover. They took my service papers and called me the next day to say Kia won't cover it and rejected my records. My mechanic is a licensed mechanic. No reason given for the rejection. They say we will be responsible for engine replacement but still can't give us a diagnosis other than "sludge". so much for their "best warranty in the business".

- Cape Coral, FL, USA

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Sorento. While driving approximately 40 mph, the vehicle suddenly jerked and stalled. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle failed to restart and had to be towed to the nearest dealer. It was diagnosed that sludge was present in the oil reservoir, which caused the engine to shut down. The vehicle had to be towed back to the state of residence and the dealer diagnosed that improper oil changes were performed. The engine had to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000.

- Powder Springs, GA, USA

The SUV has been having white smoke coming from tailpipe and the car has been pulling. It makes ugly noise when we try to accelerate on the freeway and pulls. The oil light isn't coming on to tell us when the oil is low even if it's not time for a pil change. We seem to notice that the car is burning oil more frequently than a normal vehicle. Also notice sludge when we check the oil even if we had just had a oil change it seems to come back. The dealer keeps telling me there is nothing wrong with it. They tell me they can't find anything wrong.

- Santa Ana, CA, USA

I was driving down the road with my 4 children in the car at 45 mph when all of a sudden my car completely lost power. Luckily I was able to coast to the side of the road. It was over a 100 degrees outside and my 4 kids under 6 had to sit and wait on a ride in the heat. The car has 40,000 miles on it and has had 7 oil changes, of which I have provided the receipts for. There is engine sludge despite the fact that the oil was changed more frequently than the manual suggested 7500 miles,

- Choctaw, OK, USA

How can NHTSA give a 5-star safety rating to a 2015 Kia sorrento based on a 2013 crash test done on this model vehicle when there is obvious a problem with this vehicle in the 2014/2015 Kia sorrento models. Since 2014, there has been at least 2 serious injuries and other complaints due to this defect and its non-deployent of airbags, etc. (please look at the photos, video & small overlay crash report at www.iihs.org/iihs/ratings/vehicle/V/Kia/Sorento-4-door-SUV/2015)..the manufactiurer was well aware of this since they redesigned the 2016 model. This defect should be made public for all vehicles affected with these issues which should repaired or recalled to avoid further risk of serious injuries and/or loss of life. It is completely wrongful, harmful and negligent of NHTSA to give an "5-star safety rating" on a later model vehicle based on an outdated test & without fully and appropriatel testing; rendering false misrepresentation to the vehicle shopper.....updated 06/21/17

- Freeport, TX, USA

Had oil light go on when I would take off from a stop but would turn off when I stop. I called the dealer and took it in and was told that the oil filter was put in wrong. The dealer put a new one on and did all the test to make sure it was working proper. Nine day later I had a oil leak and called the same dealer and was told to come back in. The service manager then told me the because someone else had done other oil changes on the car I would have to pay for any repairs if the other place would not. When I asked about the part being under warranty the service manager told me that this part was not under warranty. The service also told me that even if the dealer did the oil change after the first one that Kia would not warranty it. So now I will get a bill over 900 dollars and still not know if I have a engine that will work.

- Morris, IL, USA

I purchased a new 2015 Kia Sorento May 17, 2014. As I was driving down the road last night at approximately 45mph, suddenly the car jerked around, sounded like I downshifted (although it's an automatic) and I got the diagnostic message of the "engine control system- possible engine condition" it told me to take it to the dealership for service immediately. They said today that they had to order a new throttle body assembly and it was too dangerous for me to drive. Not sure if anyone else has had these problems yet but it shouldn't be happening in a brand new car!

- Iva, SC, USA