10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 5 / 2
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 3 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 38,045 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
Cancel button on steering wheel for speed control is inoperative about 30% of the time while the vehicle is in motion on highway and the speed control is active. Note: Stepping on the the brake will deactivate the speed control.
- Elko, MN, USA
I was driving around 30 mph on a local side street and the car shut off with no warning lights illuminated on the dashboard. The dashboard went black and the car stopped running. I had to pull the car over, put it in park, turn the key to the off position. I waited a few seconds and started the car again and drove it home (~1 mile from home). I had it towed to the dealership as I did not feel it was safe to drive it there.
- Newtown Square, PA, USA
The contact owned a 2016 Kia Sorento. While driving approximately 65 mph, the contact heard a knocking noise under the hood of the vehicle. The contact coasted the vehicle to the side of the road; however, no failure was noticed and the contact resumed driving. Approximately one mile down the road, the contact stopped at a stop sign. While attempting to accelerate, the vehicle failed to accelerate. The contact waited a few seconds and depressed the accelerator pedal again. The vehicle accelerated and an explosion sound was heard under the hood. The contact coasted the vehicle to the side of the road and was alerted by another driver that the vehicle was on fire. The vehicle started to omit black smoke through the vents. The contact was able to exit the vehicle without injuries. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or an independent mechanic to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer informed the contact that the vehicle was out of warranty and did not offer further assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 163,000.
- Lakeland, FL, USA
TL-contact owns a 2016 Kia Sorento ---- vehicle crashed into store front--- contact was pulling into parking lot parking space and engine revved up and crashed into store front --- engine was really loud -- footage on camera in vehicle shows first part of accident --- then backed out of store and backed into emergency vehicle --- contact stated she went online and saw recalls for earlier model years but not the 2016 model---
- Gaithersburg, MD, USA
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the dealer and manufacturer were aware of an ongoing failure pertaining to the vehicle failing to pick up speed upon acceleration. The vehicle would go into a limp mode or a forced idle mode each time the failure occurred. The vehicle was taken to a dealer (montgomery Chevrolet, 5325 preston hwy, louisville, ky 40213, (502) 968-6111) and a service technician test drove the vehicle, but the failure could not be replicated or diagnosed. In addition, the vehicle was excluded from a manufacturer recall. The manufacturer also had several technical service bulletins, but refused to remedy the failure to provide a repair solution for the contact. The vehicle was not repaired after taking it to the dealer several times. The manufacturer provided no solution. The approximate failure mileage was 18,000. Updated 7/23/18
- Louisville, KY, USA
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sorento. While driving various speeds, the accelerator pedal was depressed, but failed to accelerate the vehicle without warning. The contact stated that the vehicle would independently accelerate randomly. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer (redding Kia 418 E. cypress avenue, redding, ca 96002), but the cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 1,500.
- Redding, CA, USA
The Kia Sorento 2016 my family and were driving and the car went into "limp mode" on a busy street. We nearly has an accident. It was towed to the dealer. The dealer did not know why it occurred. They said they secured the wiring and returned the car to us. Approximately a week later the car went into "limp mode" again on another busy road again putting us in danger of having an accident. It was towed to the dealer. They said that they then replaced the throttle. We are not confident it will not occur again.
- Tenafly, NJ, USA
On 6 separate occasions I had my cruise control on on the highway.after either touching my brake or touching the cancel button the control cancelled itself.however 5 times going up the hill by my house and once on a side street the cruise control engaged itself and started to speed up I assume to highway speed.at all times I touched the brake or cancel button and it shut off. I just fell uneasy about this because I fear one day I may not be able to shut it off.I am an a well experienced driver I have driven everything from motorcycles to buses and tractor trailers over 50 years and this concerns me.
- Tribes Hill, NY, USA
My car has been in motion multiple times recently on the highway. Once I was getting ready to merge and was slowing down when my vehicle started accelerating on its own and making a revving sound. This has also happened on city streets. It does not happen all the time.
- Clifton Park, NY, USA
I took my 2016 Kia Sorento in 2mos (3/16) after I purchased for acceleration issues. The first time it was lunging when accelerating and the RPM's would go to 5-6 then drop to 0, then stabilize at 2. Kia did some re-computer program to address issue. It is still not resolved but was not as bad after the re-programing. Well, now it is really bad so took it back (4/17) because it stalls on acceleration. I was trying to enter a highway, accelerated Kia stalled again RPM's up to 5-6 down to 0, but had to quickly move to shoulder or semi-truck would have hit me. Once I stopped and started again, it accelerated. Yesterday, 4/5/17, driving to work in rush hour traffic on NJ E. I-78, was in middle lane merged to left lane to pass (60 mph), accelerated Kia stalled (rpms up then down), I had to brake to indicate to car behind me or I would have been in a horrific crash because this roadway carries a massive amount of semi's. I was scared for my life and my heart was racing!! I was able to move back to center lane where I remained. The Kia kept having the acceleration issue all the way to work and on the way home so I took it to the Kia dealer. I don't know if they can replicate the issue but I am not driving this vehicle until it is resolved. I see on line there are numerous others with this same issue and no recall??!! I guess someone has to die first. NHTSA you need to do something before someone losses their life. This is not some small problem. Kia certainly is not interested in being pro-active. The service and sales people said "we have never heard of this issue" my reply "you better look on line at consumer complaints". of course they wanted to usher me out of the showroom to a "quiet table" so other prospective buyers won't hear. Word of mouth my friends, word of mouth. Sad a sale means more to Kia then a life!!
- Macungie, PA, USA
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sorento. While the vehicle was idling with the brake pedal depressed, the engine revved up and the vehicle experienced unintended acceleration. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent and occurred without warning. The contact stated that the failure occurred four times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was determined that an engineer from Kia would have to investigate the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 29,200.
- Orange Park, FL, USA
Vehicle fails to accelerate properly, especially when accelerating rapidly. Vehicle exhibits exact same problems as in NHTSA recall # 15V-089 and manufacturer recall #SC115. The manufacture date for the automobile on the door sticker is February 16, 2015 -- which is not in the original recall dates for the above mentioned recalls.
- Humble, TX, USA
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sorento. While attempting to accelerate from a traffic light, the vehicle lunged forward and accelerated independently without warning. The last time the failure occurred, the vehicle crashed into the garage and caused extensive damage. The contact sustained minor bruising that did not require medical attention. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The failure mileage was 27,123.
- Glencoe, GA, USA
My name is [xxx] reason im putting this complaint now cuz I have been taking my 2016 Sorento Kia 5times to local dealers to fix speed pedal cuz its not working last Friday 07/8/2016 I was on the freeway and a big truck was behind me well I press gas pedal dint work on me truck almost hit me I took my Kia Sorento for the 5 time to santa ana Kia and they said they test drive vehicle and nothing wrong with it I ask to put that on writing now I will sick help for lemon law vehicle I check website I was happy to see more people complaining for the same reason and I was more calm thinking that I was going crazy cyz Kia dealer necer found a problem and that is a recall going on for the speed pedal and this people are telling me nothing wrong with your Kia goooo kill ur self on the freeway people out there check your Kia Sorento together we will make a difference I will started a law suite against this people they don't want to replace ur vehicle lets do class "action law suit" im tired of get them to complied with the law regulations but this Kia people need a law suit nowwwwwww.
- Santa Anha, CA, USA
- Mcleansville, NC, USA