10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
18,863 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #13

Oct 102019

Sorento

  • 47,000 miles
On October 10 2019 my wife was driving the kids to school in our 2017 Kia Sorento and before she could get out of the neighborhood the car started to jerk uncontrollably and lost all acceleration before it cut off. She then tried to restart the car several time but was unsuccessfully it it starting back up before it stalled out. After the car was left alone for a while I went out to the car and it started back up and seemed like it drove fine. We did not take it to the dealership that time. After that my wife said that she felt the vehicle was not driving like it should. She said that you basically had to floor it for it to get up to cruising speed. Approximately 6 weeks later my wife started to have more problems with the vehicle. She stated that the acceleration problem was very noticeable and was scaried that it was going to stall out again before she could get home that day. She was able to get home safe that time. Later on that day she had to go back out and she said that it started up fine and drove fine until with out warning it just shut off while she was driving in the middle of business intersection. The car started up just fine once it shut off and my wife drove it to a nearby parking lot where it sat until it was towed to the dealership. The dealership has had the vehicle about 3 weeks now and are unable replicate the problem. The dealership said that they have done everything possible to see if there was a problem with the car. Since they cannot replicate the problem and there is no codes then they think that the vehicle is fine. Sin E the car cut off on my wife twice in six weeks she is scared to drive the car in fear that it will shut off on her again. This is a major safety concern that needs to be addressed by Kia. I am not the only one complaining about this problem with this car this could have very easily resulted in a major accident

- Dunn, NC, USA

problem #12

Nov 022019

Sorento

  • 35,000 miles
My 2017 Kia Sorento headlights when operating in auto mode will unexpectedly and without warning turn off. I have to turn the switch manually to make them come back on. This creates an extreme safety hazard. It has happened both on the highway / interstate as well as back roads. This needs to be addressed by Kia asap.

- Ashford, CT, USA

problem #11

Jun 272019

Sorento

  • 46,000 miles
Head lights turn off while driving down the road

- Beaumont, TX, USA

problem #10

May 312019

Sorento

  • 67,000 miles
Engine is severely slugged and there was no warning ever. Found out after an oil changed at 67K at jiffy lube when I took it to the ourisman Kia dealer in chantilly, va. There is no warning that any of this situation was starting to happen even after a previous oil change at Kia dealer at 58K miles. The dealership denied my claim with the 100K mile warranty because I don't have proof that I did all 9 oil changes. They proceeded to tell me that I need a new engine but that they are on backorder nationwide and who knows what date tbd that will become available. The repair shop I took it to piedomont in haymarket, va says they think it is something like a year before it might be available. So in the mean time no loaner was ever offered to me and no I have a unusable vehicle that I have submitted a claim for with geico. I do not have funding for a new engine and the fact that the Kia motor company has no engine to even supply to me is completely unacceptable practice for a business. Also 1 year ago my battery just died according to the Kia dealer due to a parasitic drain. That seems suspicious to me since the vehicle was only a year old and had to be replaced with one I bought at walmart. Also, the fuse for the driver seat continuously blows.

- Gainesville, VA, USA

problem #9

Mar 082019

Sorento

  • 25,000 miles
As I am driving over 40 mph, the vehicle will lose all power and caution lights illuminate on the dash, radio turns off, power steering goes out, car decreases speed. The car immediately turns back on, but there is no acceleration to the vehicle. This has happened 3 times in the last 5 days and it happed 3 times today March 12, 2019. All incidents were on city streets, while going straight at speeds 40 mph or more. The last time, was while I was making a right turn getting on the freeway. After each occurrence, I would safely pull off the road, turn the vehicle off, wait a couple seconds and turn the car back on. The car would resume back to normal. I have noticed that after the first time this happened, when I do the first attempt to turn the car on, it does not turn over.

- Glendale, AZ, USA

problem #8

Jan 142019

Sorento

  • 30,000 miles
When vehicle is in motion the headlights will randomly turn off when on the auto setting. This has happen multiple times since we purchased this vehicle and is a serious accident waiting to happen. I have viewed multiple reports of this issue online from other owners. This has happen on the highway and city streets where the roads have no lighting.

- Knoxville, TN, USA

problem #7

Nov 242016

Sorento

  • 500 miles
The car will be off and locked and all the lights will periodically come on. This has happened about 15times in the 2yrs we have owned it. The dealership has been informed. We were told the Kia's on the lot do the same thing and they don't know why"??"

- Lynchburg, VA, USA

problem #6

Sep 262018

Sorento

  • 33,000 miles
While driving at night with lights in the "automatic" position, the headlights will randomly switch to parking lights as indicated on the dashboard display and based on what I can see out the windshield. After 5 to 10 seconds the lights will turn back on as indicated by the dashboard display and what I can see. The problem is most common at highway speeds but has occurred on city streets as well. It usually occurs within the first 10 minutes of driving. If the headlight control switch is turned manually to the "on" position, the lights will function correctly.

- Raleigh, NC, USA

problem #5

Oct 272017

Sorento

  • miles
Takata recall the rear passenger door shows as "open" on the dash screen even when the vehicle is off. The door is closed and shows as open when driving eliminating imperative on-screen notifications.

- Highland, CA, USA

problem #4

Jun 012017

Sorento

  • 10,000 miles
The contact owns a 2017 Kia Sorento. While driving approximately 50 mph, the vehicle suddenly shut off. The vehicle operated normally after it was restarted. The vehicle was taken to lou sobh Kia (1135 bruford rd, cumming, ga 30041), but the failure was unable to be duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact indicated that the vehicle recently experienced the same failure a second time while driving. The manufacturer was not notified of the failures. The failure mileage was 10,000.

- Cumming, GA, USA

problem #3

Oct 092017

Sorento 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 80,000 miles
The contact owns a 2017 Kia Sorento. While the vehicle was parked outside of an auto body shop over the weekend, the center console caught on fire. The contact stated that the melted center console and burnt driver side seat were discovered by an auto body technician. A police report and a fire report were not filed and there were no injuries. The vehicle was not inspected by an independent mechanic or dealer to determine the cause of the fire. The contact was unaware if the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The insurance company was to contact the manufacturer for an inspection. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000. Consumer stated wiring failures with window, trunk and console. Updated 8/22/18 the consumer stated the vehicle was deemed a total loss.

- Frisco City, AL, USA

problem #2

Sep 212016

Sorento

  • miles
The collision warning and autonomous emergency braking systems on this vehicle are totally inoperative and have been since vehicle delivery. Vehicle now has about 1800 miles on it. It has been to two dealers for repair and both say their tests do not indicate any failure

- Elmhurst, IL, USA

problem #1

Oct 032016

Sorento

  • 500 miles
This problem is identical to NHTSA id number 10917569. On three different occasions the smart cruise control/ABS/stability control warning: Basically all warning lights lit on the dashboard. Car had less than 500 miles, doing 65mph on a clear day. Stopped and restarted car, all light S cleared. Dealer found no codes stored. So far it has only happened when using the ldws. Leave it off it never occurs.

- Marianna, FL, USA