10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 4 / 28
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 5 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 25,743 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
3.3 liter engine - no warning not part of recall or knock sensor per Kia - driving slow ( thank God ) just died. Towed to the dealer - hearing 3 different story-??s " Diagnosis " Manifold or Rod Bearing issue - whole engine needs replaced over 15k cost. Doing research on this issue snd see many complaints on all makes and models / expect a recall on this vehicle in time as well - it-??s only a matter of time till someone is hurt or killed due to Kias repeated negligence in regards to engine failure - the dealer and corporate are ignoring this and that is not acceptable.
- North Fort Myers , FL, USA
I purchased a like new 2016 KIA Sorento with about 6000 miles on it. Maintenance was performed by Dealer on regular schedule. After appx 40,000 miles, early in 2021, I noticed obscene oil consumption, at least 1 quart every 325 miles. Dealer checked the engine and said "Yes, it is losing oil somewhere.", but did nothing to fix it. High oil consumption continued and eventually cylinders 2 and 4 blew out on interstate with a car load of kids mid-year 2022. Dealer fixed this at my cost of about $1700. Late 2022, just past 100,00 miles, one of the exhaust valves broke and pretty much destroyed the engine. Dealer confirmed the issue and stated they would not replace the engine or repair the engine, and recommended I find a mechanic. Since December 2022, I've had the car towed multiple times to the Dealer and then to 2 different shops and no one can or wants to fix the engine. The mechanic where the car has been sitting since February 2023 now says I need to look for an engine myself and he will switch it out. What a sorry company KIA is. I've bought 3 KIAs from the Dealer and I bet this will be my last one. Is there any help is getting my problem resolved?
- Gray, KY, USA
The vehicle lost.all power engine started to knock stopped in the middle of traffic in 4 lanes almost causing an accident 700 miles from home. Mechanic states engine is blown and that Kia engines don't last past 100000 it will cost me almost 11000 to get a new Kia plus had to pay for rental car motel etc to get home. Pathetic and extremely dangerous and car has to be pushed out of traffic and get a tow truck to haul it. I will never ever purchase a Kia again and will tell everyone I know not to purchase and of course the warranty was off so I have no can and lose 110000..Kia should be held responsible as it looks like this is a continuing and dangerous issue.
- Sioux Falls, SD, USA
Car engine suddenly started to fail, no power, engine knocking, died in traffics turning into an intersection extremely dangerous
- Sioux Falls, SD, USA
My engine was replaced under the recall approx 10,000km ago. Now, my car is over heating. Check engine light has NOT come on ever. There seems to be oil in my radiator as the colour is that of a milky brown.
- Eastern Passage Nova Scotia , CA, USA
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that she noticed that the temperature gauge was continuously fluctuating. The contact checked the oil level and noticed that there was no oil in the vehicle; even though the engine oil had been changed two weeks prior. The contact added 3 quarts of oil in the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine needed to be replaced, and that the failure was related to Kia Campaign Number: 2002B. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who informed the contact that they could not replace the engine unless it had completely failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised as the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 73,000.
- Tracy, CA, USA
My oil light was not working and even though I was having maintenance done on my car regularly, my piston rings failed and my car was burning oil between oil changes and I did not know it. Now, my car needs a new engine which I cannot afford and Car Shield is refusing to honor their warranty. I have been without a car for 4 months while it sits at a shop
- Morristown, TN, USA
The engine on our 2016 Kia Sorento blew in February (2023) with 120k miles on it. When this happened, it blew a fist sized hole on each side of the engine. A brief fire was seen under the car but quickly went out. Since it was over the MFG warranty, we had to buy a used engine for $7k. Labor was $3k. There were absolutely no warning lights on the dash. Fast forward 6 months, the replacement engine now just seized. You just can't make this up. Kia should not be allowed to make cars. The car broke down in a small town 3 hours from home. With $11k still owed on the vehicle, I just can't justify spending another $10k to replace the motor again. There were no warning signs this time either. Our engine is the 3.3L which Kia is not offering lifetime warranty on and out of pocket expenses like the 2.0L and 2.2L engine which lawsuit was just won.
- Brooklyn Park, MN, USA
Total engine failure on highway with no warning. Kia dealership says a piston broke and a valve is stuck open. Total engine replacement required with a cost of $12,000. Kia refused to help with cost due to car being at 101,000 miles. Only 1,000 miles over the powertrain warranty.
- Felton, CA, USA
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at 70 MPH, the vehicle lost oil, the low oil and low fuel warning lights did not illuminate. The vehicle started to slow down and it made an abnormal noise and lost power. When she depressed the accelerator pedal, the vehicle would make a jerking motion. The contact was able to pull over to the shoulder and the vehicle was towed to a safe area. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
- Springfield, TN, USA
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sorento. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V703000 (Trailer Hitches) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while attempting to drive at highway speeds, the vehicle lagged and was unable to exceed 50 MPH. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was unknown. Parts distribution disconnect.
- Palm Beach Gardens, FL, USA
Fire from fuel pump engine failure catalytic converter issues from engine
- Jacksonville, FL, USA
My kia Sorento 2016 uses excessive amount of oil resulting in engine failure. At the moment my car need an engine replacement. I took my car to get a diagnostic at the auto shop, I was informed that my car engine was dying. I did some searching online, and I find out that Kia Sorento are known to have engine issues and unusual excessive consumption of oil.
- Frederick, MD, USA
My Kia Sorento 2016 use alot of oil, resulting in my car needing a new engine. The contact stated to cancel the complaint because the wrong vehicle was entered.
- Frederick, MD, USA
Replaced engine 6 months ago only to have the same problem again engine is locked won't start cut off while driving excessive oil consumption
- Central, SC, USA
My shifting lever acts all wonky. Feels lose. It acts as if it does not want to go into the gears I put it in, especially park. I have to wiggle the lever before it will lock. When I put it in reverse it takes a minute before the R comes up and then my back up camera won-??t come on because I feel it-??s not telling it that-??s it-??s in reverse. Yesterday I was driving the SUV and going down the road and all of a sudden it was like my SUV was put into to neutral going down the road, nothing touched the shifting lever but it was as if the car had no idea what gear it was in. This worries me as if someone was behind me I could have been rear ended. This is a real safety concern to me and my family. The SUV only has 60,000 miles on it. Are there any issues with this make and model? I would really hate to get into an accident.
- Turin, NY, USA
Car was in an accident; started on fire, car is totalled
- Vancouver, WA, USA
Engine stopped working.
- San Antonio, TX, USA
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving approximately 40-50 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact towed the vehicle to the residence and then to an independent mechanic. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with Manufacturer Recall Number: PI1802B; however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 79,571.
- Arlington, TX, USA
- Athens, TN, USA