10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
19,750 miles

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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #26

Aug 192019

Sorento

  • 49,000 miles
Transmission taking time to load or not picking at initial move until you press more gas pedal.

- Columbus, OH, USA

problem #25

Dec 212019

Sorento

  • 73,000 miles
I was driving straight in a grain silo town in Kansas (coming up on oakley from Colorado springs) and there were no cars around me. The weather wasn't drastically changing and there was no adverse weather. Suddenly, it sounds as though there was an explosion on the top of my car. The fabric partition that separates the sunroof from the interior of the car starts shaking violently in the wind and there was some glass shards that fell into the car. It goes without saying that the incident scared both me and my two kids who were in the car with me. I pulled over to the closest gas station and took a look at the damage (seen in the picture below). As I had the rest of my road trip to accomplish (Kansas City, mo), my husband met me in oakley, ks with his car and we made the exchange. I am a very meticulous driver who inspects everything before a road trip: Tire pressure, window cracks, interior is intact, drastic change in weather along the trip, etc. I would have never thought to look at the sunroof and even if I did, I'm not sure I would have found anything. If I were driving on a major highway I could write this whole incident off as maybe a stray rock. However, there was nothing around me.

- Colorado Springs, CO, USA

problem #24

Oct 262019

Sorento

  • miles
My Kia Sorento sometimes won't start. While parked in our driveway, we'll try and turn on and for some reason, won't start and come back later in the day, it'll start. My kids drive this car and I don't want them stranded somewhere because it won't start. In fact, my 17 year old was stranded due to the car not starting and he had sit around and wait for car to be ready to turn on. I've read many complaints online about this same issue but no real solution. One time when it did not start, I spent $160 to tow it to a Kia dealership. When the car arrived, the dealer turned on the key and it started. They said they can't diagnose it until it fails to start again which meant leaving the car there until it decides not to turn on. This is unpredictable so we took the car and it started fine for two weeks and again, it failed after that two weeks. With so many online complaints and Kia claiming they don't know what the issue is, this has to be unsafe. Online, some refer to the issue as having to do with the anti-theft system. Doesn't Kia know this" some complaints noted that they've fixed the battery and starter and still have the same issue. When is Kia going to acknowledge these complaints and recall the intermittent start issue"

- Tracy, CA, USA

problem #23

Sep 202019

Sorento

  • 77,690 miles
Sunroof exploded going down the highway.

- West Plains, MO, USA

problem #22

Aug 052019

Sorento

  • 102,359 miles
I have a serious electrical/wiring problem. Whenever it rains or I go to the carwash, I am guaranteed to have my headlight, brake lights, turn signal light to go out because it gets wet. Also, I have a bad vibration in my front wheels while I am driving. I have had my rotors replaced with new rotors as well as brakes. I have had my tires rebalanced and rotated and it still vibrates. I have taken it to the Kia dealership service department for issues. The vibration does not happen when I hit the brakes, it vibrates when I accelerate. It does not matter what the speed, it will vibrate.

- Stafford, VA, USA

problem #21

Aug 262019

Sorento

  • 48,032 miles
We were headed back from vacation, just got into the little town of province Louisiana, and the moon roof just exploded ! there were no other cars around us no debris! we were driving about 50 mph on a 2 lane highway.the noise was so loud it sounded like a shotgun went off in the car, we nearly ran off the road !

- Conway, AR, USA

problem #20

Aug 232019

Sorento

  • 10 miles
Car started making knocking noises from engine and got louder as my husband accelerated. Car then hesitated to accelerated and eventually stalled. This is dangerous!

- Tracy, CA, USA

problem #19

Aug 152019

Sorento

  • 63,000 miles
My 2015 Kia Sorento just shuts off while driving. No warning no issues. Serviced regular. Still has another 2000 miles before an oil change is needed. I was stuck in the middle of a very busy main road. Turned sideways. Thank god I did not get on the turnpike before this happene!

- Lauderdale Lakes, FL, USA

problem #18

Mar 012019

Sorento 6-cyl

  • miles
Car shut off repeatedly in the middle or driving and the car shakes.the car will not go over 60 while driving.

- Newark, NJ, USA

problem #17

Feb 212019

Sorento

  • miles
My key fob was sounding like the doors locked but the car headlights did not flash or horn sound to signal the car was locked/security feature. The dealer said there was nothing wrong with the battery in the fob, and let it be as that. Today my car is in the shop because I was in the rear seats this week and noticed the back driver side passenger door was not locking. I had trouble getting out too. This explains why the car horn did not beep nor the headlights flash, as it was not a locked car, there is a issue and the car is not secure, that is why it did not beep. It will sound like the doors locked and unlocked but at this time it is just this one door that will not lock. It is not under the Kia warranty now and it was noted, per this tech today, that when I first mentioned the key or fob issue was after the regular warranty too. I see online lots of comsumer comments about Kia door lock issues. This is a safety issue. This should be a major recall. Now I have to pay about $280 for this one door lock. And pray this takes care of

- Charleston, WV, USA

problem #16

Mar 172017

Sorento

  • 65,000 miles
My Kia lost power while driving on March 17, 2017 on the highway. After Kia replaced the motor I realized that during cold weather my car won't start at all. I've had several diagnostic tests done but nothing shows up. I've even had the manager of the service department come to my location with the diagnostic device, because I was once again stranded and had just paid to have the machine put on my vehicle the day before. Again nothing showed up. It only happens during cold hard freeze weather. I've filed a report with Kia and to this day no one has contacted me. Next issue is a clicking noise while driving vehicle coming from the steering wheel and of course it's not covered. Lastly, I just recently noticed that the smell of gasoline coming through the vents after filling the car with car and driving minutes later there's a strong smell of gasoline throughout the whole car. Kia has the worst customer service. They wont give you a rental car nor do they return or follow up on complaints.

- Humble, TX, USA

problem #15

Jul 282018

Sorento

  • 72,000 miles
My 2015 Kia Sorento has metal flakes in the engine, burns 2 quarts of oil every 2ooo miles, it hesitates on acceleration, white exhaust smoke, burns a lot of gas, the engine check light and uvo warnings constantly turns on, it can catch on fire anytime, the engine can lock anytime. We need more Kia recalls before lives are lost.

- District Heights, MD, USA

problem #14

May 182018

Sorento

  • 35,000 miles
I purchased my Kia in April of this year. A few weeks after the purchase I noticed a burning smell. I pulled over to investigate but could not find where the smell was coming from. I continued to notice the smell after the first incident and there was no pattern to cause the smell to happen. I brought the Kia in for service to find the problem. Kias mechanic said they could not duplicate the smell and they couldnt find the problem.I insisted something was wrong and asked them to search farther. I got another call from the mechanic saying they couldnt duplicate the smell and to basically bring the car in if its actually smoking or on fire. I contacted the corporate office and after their investigation I got a call saying based on the dealerships report they couldnt determine a cause for the burning smell and the case was closed.I have 3 kids 2 in car seats. My self and others continue to smell the burning. Iam terrified everytime im in the Kia. I feel I was sold a death trap and Kia doesnt care. I feel they wont do anything until the car is literally on fire and then it will be too late.

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

problem #13

Sep 102018

Sorento

  • 65,000 miles
The exterior handle cap fell off of my vehicle. It keeps the door handle in place. It is not covered under the warranty but when I searched, hundreds of other Kia owners had the same issue, some were brand new. The part is $10 but Kia wanted to charge 60 plus $100 for labor. This part fell off while I was driving which eventually caused the door handle to fall off while driving.

- Ridgeland, SC, USA

problem #12

Aug 212018

Sorento

  • 45,000 miles
While driving my car to work after a software update at a local dealership it became sluggish and difficult to drive. I was just coming off a local highway onto a surface street when this occurred. I pulled over and checked the icon on my dashboard in my car's manual. It told me not to drive it so I had it towed to the dealer - 6 weeks ago! apparently the software update they did to protect my car damaged it instead. I have been in weekly contact with the dealership but they are getting very little information or help from Kia, who apparently can't figure out how to fix my car. I am now concerned about the damage being done to my car sitting for that long without being driven and now I wonder if this will cause more problems in the future. Not happy with Kia's inability to fix my car. I bought it used so it doesn't fall under the lemon law and I need to know if I have any legal recourse. I have made 2 car payments with a third coming up since it has been sitting at the dealer waiting for whatever decision they end up making. The dealer has been great about it and provided me with a rental, but this is all getting old real fast!

- Pickerington, OH, USA

problem #11

Jul 192018

Sorento

  • 71,880 miles
2015 Kia sorrento sxl engine check light and vehicle verbal warning that my truck has a serious engine problem that needs to be checked. I took my truck to the dealership service three times in one week to research and repair the engine issue. I paid over $300 for repair. I was told my engine has metal flakes and it's nothing the dealership service can do to repair it. I was told to live with the engine check light basically. My engine has low take off speed when getting on the highway and it runs rough.

- District Heights, MD, USA

problem #10

Jul 012018

Sorento

  • 5,000 miles
I have 2 concerns, 1 mainly I have a newer 2015 Kia sorrento with under 25K miles, owned it about 2 years ever since I owned it there has been a ticking in the engine and white smoke blowing out the exhaust. Which should not be thecase with a newer car, after taking it to the dealership they said nothing was wrong. Additionally when I turn on the air conditioner it smells like vinegar or dirty socks an aweful smell, once again the dealership stated nothing wrong with the car. It sounds like Kia is covering up old deficiencies with their engines as it said engines manufactured into late 2014 were recalled how is the 2015 Kia, which was manufactured in 2014 not on the recall list? additionally there have been many many other people listing the engine seizing up. My wife drives this car with my small children im writing this retractively in case something happen. Additionally we get regular oil changes done. I think this engine model should be recalled. As a newer engine should definitely not be blowing white smoke out of the exhaust nor ticking like the components are displaced.

- Alsip, IL, USA

problem #9

Jun 152018

Sorento

  • 53,000 miles
Engine failure due to metal filings in oil said by dealer to be related to bearings. Same issue the 2014 Kia Sorento was recalled for. My car was made at the same Alabama plant in 2014 but is a 3.3L. No one can tell me how many warranties have been rejected or honored for engine replacement. The feds are investigating if Kia recalled enough cars. Did they? my car was made in the us..but shipped and sold in Canada. Asking for information on this problem as reported. Thank you. This is a major safety issue.

- Prospect Bay, AA, USA

problem #8

May 012017

Sorento

  • miles
Horrid smell coming from ac. Last summer it smelled like vinegar, this spring, cat urine. I took it to the dealer to have the system cleaned/deodorized for $65. Sadly didnt help. They are taking it back to delve into cleaning the evaporator? I hope it doesnt cost more, but there are so many accounts of this on Kia....people getting headaches from the mold, aggravating kids's asthma....talk of a law suit, etc. Kia had better buck up and fix this! I called Kia consumer complaints...they are "not aware" of the problem...tho there was a technical service bulletin (tbs) on older Kia's about this. Basically, they have continued with a bad design.....but people will get sick having that blow in their faces! please log your complaint at: Https://ksupport.kiausa.com/consumeraffairs

- Frederick, MD, USA

problem #7

Mar 042018

Sorento

  • 103,000 miles
We were driving down the highway with our small children in the back seat and car began to make a loud noise. The engine light came on and then started to flash. We proceeded to the exit and as we were taking the exit all the lights came on in the car stalled. We had to have it towed and we were advised that the engine was bad and one of the cylinders was not opening. This vehicle is not even two years old and the engine should not be failing

- Fredericktown, MO, USA

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