10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 6
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
17,855 miles

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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #35

Oct 012021

Sorento

  • miles
Sunroof motor failed

- Lake Worth, FL, USA

problem #34

Aug 012021

Sorento

  • miles
I'm not sure I've had my vehicle serviced but nobody seems to know the problem. Every since my headlight was replaced my electrical system has been wacky. All of my doors keep locking and unlocking on its own. When I try to accelerate my vehicle seems to be more stagnant as if it's no longer increasing speed and the steering wheel does not appear to be in alignment with my tires when turning. My son has never been able to open the door while in motion but since the locks have started clicking there's been some close calls.

- Austin, TX, USA

problem #33

Jul 192021

Sorento

  • miles
1ST problem a year ago the rear latch to door wouldn't lock and I had to use bungee cords to keep it shut. 2nd problem, the engine was knocking after I returned from a recent road trip. I took it to local (trustworthy) mechanic and they noticed metal shards in the oil pan. They refused to open the engine because it would void the warranty. I had it towed to KIA of Smithtown and they said it was total engine failure. I said impossible, since I have kept up with all timely oil changes and maintenance and I have the records. There was no warning light of low oil or that the engine was running hot or smoke. Dealer refused to fix and so am in dialogue with an attorney. Kia has yet to send me a bill or approximate charge for engine replacement and has held the SUV for 13 days now.

- Middle Island, NY, USA

problem #32

May 042021

Sorento

  • miles
Instrument Panel and Alternator. My KIA Sorento continues to have alternator failures that shut down the engine while in operation without warning. I had to replace one at 48,000 miles and again at 97,500 miles. The problem has been reproduced and confirmed by two separate KIA dealers and they cannot identify why this continues to happen. The first time everything on the instrument panel lite up at one time and then suddenly the engine failed and stopped running in motion, while I was driving on a highway. Luckily, I was in the right lane and coasted to shoulder. The second most recent time, the instrument panel flashed a battery so I replaced the battery and then had KIA test for alternator problems and their equipment showed no issues although I brought it back numerous times. Then two months later it died AGAIN and they said it is the ALTERNATOR. In addition, there is an electrical problem with the radio and backup cameras. To resolve this they showed me a reset button. Clearly, there are electrical shortages or issues. I have had on-going issues with the KIA Sorento engines stalling and not accelerating and now this with the Alternator. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS!! NONE OF THE ISSUES are being addressed yet, they are listed all over the internet. HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE TO DIE BEFORE ISSUES ARE ADDRESSED"?"

- Macungie, PA, USA

problem #31

Jun 102019

Sorento 6-cyl

  • miles
I purchased a new 2016 KIA Sorento Tow Package that stated on the invoice it included a Mobius part number C6061 ADUS9 (Tow Hitch Harness) -?"Sorento. They part failed June 2019 and was reported to the KIA Kearny Mesa dealership. They initiated a request for the part and it was not received to date. The KIA Customer Care Irvine center said the vehicle was not listed as having the part and therefore I was not entitled to the KIA internal recall SC142. (Google search C6061 ADUS9) Their explanation was the VIN didn't include the Mobius part number C6061 ADUS9. I emailed a copy of the purchase invoice that showed otherwise. Please force KIA to update their build database to include purchased options. This is the second time I have submitted this Safety Recall. Consumer would like to provide an update complaint number 11390630 with 11420441. Essentially the PROBLEM is KIA customer service will not honor its INTERNAL RECALL SC142 with consumer's vehicle and suspect they won't honor others with the same issue. The sell their new vehicles in California without a Trailer Brake controller and defective CLASS III tow hitch harness. Mobius part is C6061 ADUS9 (Tow Hitch Harness) -?" Sorento

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #30

Apr 082021

Sorento

  • 76,555 miles
There are numerous safety issues I have found with this car I just financed. First, at random many different lights just blow, then on my dash various warning lights will go on and off, on top of that my ABS and traction control is off for no reason and so are my passenger air bags. My brakes scream somedays and are touchy others ive replaced the battery twice and only owned it 3 months. I have brand new tires yet the suspension is awful the fuel is going fast and my oil needs changing very often and it is under 100000 miles.

- Odenville, AL, USA

problem #29

Mar 132021

Sorento

  • 55,650 miles
Tailgate electric release fails to unlatch the tailgate. Pulling the emergency release does not open the tailgate either. A warning appears in the gauge cluster suggesting that the tailgate is not closed, and the vehicle does not signal that all doors are completely locked after attempting to lock the vehicle. This issue has been previously repaired by a Kia dealer.

- Ithaca, NY, USA

problem #28

Apr 152019

Sorento 6-cyl

  • 20,000 miles
Kia kearny mesa, ca dealership performed a class III trailer hitch tow package installation with VIN purchase that included part numbers C6061-adu00 and recalled part number C6061-adus9. The California law required electric brake controller was excluded. I completed the class III tow package myself for ~$500 parts charge and used it as a legal tow vehicle with a 3000 # rv for about 5 months then experienced the trailer light SC142 failure. I replaced the SC142 recalled part number C6061-adus9 with an etrailer company part number tekonsha 118269 successfully and found out about the recall later. I provided the receipt of dealership installed incomplete tow package part numbers and the etrailer part installed to both the dealership and Kia corporate customer care without resolve for over a year. I request the Kia dealership and/or Kia corporation reimburse $500 parts and current labor costs for neglect to install a complete class III tow package at time of purchase and denial of reimbursement for recalled part number replacement costs.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #27

Dec 022020

Sorento

  • 38,097 miles
The headlights went out while I was driving on the highway going 70 miles per hour. I was getting ready to brake and turn and was unable to see anything outside of the vehicle. The lights were off for approximately 10 seconds.

- Fruitvale, TX, USA

problem #26

Oct 102020

Sorento

  • 32,010 miles
Front headlights periodically turns off without warning, goes back on as soon as you touch the light switch. Safety hazard when driving at night! happened several times! the vehicle was in driving motion both on a freeway and also on a highway and street!

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #25

Jan 012020

Sorento

  • 70,000 miles
10 months now I've gone with driving my 2016 Kia Sorento by entering a screw driver in the override mode because I can't get out of park the moral way. I've taken this car into shawnee mission Kia so many times I've lost count and they have not only refused to take care of this problem, indicating that BCM or body control moduler isn't covered under my warranty. Well let me say this they got over on me once already telling me I had to turn a claim in on the fuel pipe, and under carriage parts that I now realize was all a lie and should have been covered because Kia knew about all those parts being dangerous and still stood by the 'it had to me hitting something under car'.. it's now all surfaced via class action law suit and they still refuse to take car of my drive problem! they will not get me again and I am so frustrated that I just want them to take the car back! I'll never own another Kia after this! previously purchased two brand new vehicles from them over 35,000 a car and they can't seem to find it reasonable to make car drive without a screw driver! fed up!

- Peculiar, MO, USA

problem #24

Oct 012020

Sorento

  • 90,200 miles
Power steering failed while driving. Extreme difficulty to steer, dangerous situation since it happened when I was trying to turn left from the left turning lane on a freeway offramp. Was able to turn car left and change to right lane then moved to side of road. Turned off car, on restart power steering returned.

- Irvine, CA, USA

problem #23

Sep 132020

Sorento

  • 65,000 miles
Driver's side mirror: Side mirrors automatically lower when in reverse, but the driver's side mirror will often aim too low--almost straight down at the ground. Once in drive, the mirror will reset to the incorrect position, often too high - aiming toward the sky.

- Plainfield, IL, USA

problem #22

Jul 052020

Sorento

  • 0 miles
Trunk is not lifting itself and latch is not locking. And when driving the trunk hits

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #21

Mar 202020

Sorento

  • 30,000 miles
Sometimes while driving at night with my lights in the auto position, they will turn off for about 5 seconds before coming back on. This is very dangerous and has happened to me while on a dark highway before.

- Seattle, WA, USA

problem #20

Feb 122020

Sorento

  • 70,000 miles
Unable to move shifter from park without using the manual shift lock override. Amco inspected issue. Advises that there is no signal being sent from the BCM (body control module) to the shifter and that I will need a new computer and wiring harness at a cost of $3,000+. car is only 4 years old with 70,000 miles. Replacement part and labor are apparently not covered under warranty. Not being able to shift from park when pressure is applied to the brake is a safety issue and should not be acceptable. Kia should be held responsible for replacing that part. I have read numerous online forums that mention this is happening to many other users. I believe this is due to a faulty of subpar part being used in the original build and that Kia knows they were cutting corners. Please look into this and make these manufacturers responsible!!! consumers should not be paying over $30,000 for a car that has major issues 4 years later.

- Chino, CA, USA

problem #19

Jan 042020

Sorento

  • 65,000 miles
Unable to move shifter from park without using the manual shift lock override. Kia dealer inspected issue. Advises that there is no signal being sent from the BCM (body control module) to the shifter and that I will need a new BCM at a cost of $1,050. Car is only 4 years old with under 70,000 miles. Replacement part and labor are apparently not covered under warranty. Car has been kept in excellent shape with routine maintenance and has never been in an accident. Not being able to shift from park when pressure is applied to the brake is a safety issue and should not be acceptable. Kia should be held responsible for replacing that part. I have read numerous online forums that mention this is happening to many other users. I believe this is due to a faulty of subpar part being used in the original build and that Kia knows they were cutting corners. Please look into this and make these manufacturers responsible!!! consumers should not be paying over $30,000 for a car that has major issues 4 years later. My parking/emergency brake does not work either. This is an ongoing issue that will not resolve without the expensive fix.

- Plum, PA, USA

problem #18

Feb 012020

Sorento

  • 125,000 miles
My wife and I had just been home for an hour after a 20 min in town drive. Something had made me look out side of our second story apartment and I asked my wife is your car running? the entire rear end was engulfed in blue smoke. She said no! so then began panic mode! I ran downstairs to the smell of electric fire. So I instantly when to my pickup truck grabbed a pair of pliers ran back to my wife's Kia and unplugged both positive and negative battery connections from the terminals which instantly stopped the smoke. I grabbed my flashlight (it was dusk) and crawled underneath the rear bumper to see what was happening. A little black box tucked behind the bumper between the spare and the bumper. Looked like a junction box of wire had melted and almost caught on fire. What if we where not around? the car would be a total loss.

- Hermon, ME, USA

problem #17

Oct 062019

Sorento

  • 115,602 miles
Check headlight (low) passenger side low beam light went out.

- Tampa, FL, USA

problem #16

Sep 122019

Sorento

  • 130,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sorento. When the vehicle was started, the contact noticed that the oil light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who changed the oil gaskets and advised the contact that the engine had a very high oil consumption. The contact also mentioned that the horn and the door locks failed when the vehicle was first purchased. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000. The VIN was unavailable.

- Marquette, MI, USA

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