10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
14,141 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.

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problem #10

Nov 302025

Sorento

  • miles
My car totally stopped on me due to one of the 8 recalls I have undone related to my car. My insurance company verified that the recalls were open related to my car. I verified it to make sure by vin number at NHTSA.gov. up until today 2/13/2026 as I spoked with a representative at NHTSA my 8 recalls went from 8 to 0 recalls all of a sudden. I'm pretty sure the young lady went updated they website to read just that. I still have some proof that the 8 recalls pertain to my car and needs to be repaired.the dealership had me to bring my car in due to the recalls but because it had a motor failure now they're saying it's my fault for going over the approximate mileage of getting an oil change which is not true. The recalls were due way before my time and should have been taken care of before the car was sold to me. I purchased the car in March of 2025 and the car just failed on me in November of 2025. Within that time frame of me purchasing the car, I took good care of the car getting and oil change as well. Providing all oils where needed replacing tires that were needed, keeping gas tank clean. Changing air filters, and just keeping up with the maintenance. The car had no accidents no losses perfectly good car other than the recalls that were pointed out. When I brought the car in they told me everything was fine and that they would take care of those for me. My car has been there for like three weeks now and now they're telling me that the car is showing that the car was driven 11 thousand miles before it had an oil change. I have no idea of who drove the car before I purchased it and that I can only provide them with documents of what I took care of within the time frame I drove it up until the day it just stopped on me while I was driving. I really need my car and they is holding my car doing nothing to it all this time just to tell me that it's up to the manufacturer and sending him my documents for them to decide wether they will approve the repairs or not.

- Corpus Christi, TX, USA

problem #9

Feb 022026

Sorento

  • miles
On [XXX] I was in a car accident. When it happened the airbags did not deploy and the seatbelt not locking. This resulted in me hitting my head in on the dash and chest on the steering wheel multiple times and having to go to the er to receive care and be put out of work. This is a major safety risk INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Willis, VA, USA

problem #8

Jan 232023

Sorento

  • miles
We bought a used 2016 Kia Sorrento. Upon driving, we realized that the seat belts were not tightening up on the driver's seat. We took the car into Kia in order to get the seat belt fixed. They told us it was the seat belt tentioner was bad and that the repair would not be covered under any kind of warranty. I called Kia directly to ask them to override what the dealer was telling me and cover the seat belt since it was a safety issue and the car was under 10 years old. They denied my claim.

- Scottsdale, AZ, USA

problem #7

Oct 062022

Sorento

  • miles
This morning while driving on the highway I was unable to accelerate. It triggered an engine light & then went off. I have taken my car in for paid services a few months back just to be told to wait until my car knocks in order for them to replace the engine. This is unsafe and an terrifying option on the highway with my Children.

- Pendergrass , GA, USA

problem #6

Jan 032020

Sorento

  • 46,000 miles
I was involved in a rear end collision on Friday, Jan. 3, 2020. I was stopped/stationary behind a vehicle turning left on a one lane (in both directions) road traveling South. The car behind me struck my vehicle going between 30-35 mph. My vehicle was thrust forward and hit the vehicle in front of me and then the vehicle behind me struck my again, felt like bumper cars. During the initial rear impact my face slammed into the steering wheel causing my nose to bleed profusely for at least 25 minutes. I still have blood coming out of my nose four days later. During this accident in which my vehicle experienced both front and rear collision damage my air bag did not deploy nor did my seatbelt lock. As a result I suffered a head injury both front and back of my head.

- Florence, KY, USA

problem #5

Jul 192018

Sorento 6-cyl

  • 85,000 miles
I was driving on a major interstate in ga (I-75 southbound). Traffic came to a stop; I was at a complete stop when I was rear ended at 70mph by a 3500 Dodge Ram. I was pushed into the car in front of me which caused major damage to the front and rear of my vehicle. My driver's seat broke, not a single air bag deployed and my seat belt did not lock. This caused my face to hit the steering wheel which broke my jaw in two places, dislodged teeth and caused me to temporarily black out. My jaw required emergency surgery and I now have a plate and four screws in my jaw for the rest of my life - I'm 25 years old. In addition to the photos below, I have dash cam footage of the accident as it happened which I can provide. My email is [xxx] I can email it if needed. Thank you for your time parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Cartersville, GA, USA

problem #4

Jan 082016

Sorento

  • 400 miles
No seat belt warning on passenger side. A safety issue

- Uniontown, PA, USA

problem #3

Jan 022017

Sorento

  • 10,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, no audible alarm was present when the front passenger seatbelt was not secured. The cause of the failure was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 10,000....updated 03/13/17

- Platsburg, NY, USA

problem #2

Mar 012016

Sorento

  • miles
2016 Kia Sorento smells like vinegar or rotten spoil egg. Took it to where I got it from and they want me to pay $99 to air out the car. I refuse to pay that. My car is not the only one doing it I see other Kia's are doing it and the seat belt sometime don't go back and gets stuck in the door. This is a Kia problem that I shouldn;T have to pay for

- Roanoke Rapids, NC, USA

problem #1

Mar 242015

Sorento 4-cyl

  • 10 miles
Seat belt did not unlatch after crash.

- Washington, DC, USA