5.4

fairly significant
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
17,076 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #17

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 #16

Mar 082019

Sorento

  • 35,000 miles
Steering is sticking at highway speeds. Sticking is slight but requires constant overcorrection to get it to unstick. Usually occurs on long, straight stretches of driving. Issue is intermittent and dealer cannot replicate, of course.

- Nampa, ID, USA

problem #15

Mar 012018

Sorento

  • 14,000 miles
Steering wheel feels very loose. It gives you the sensation that the car is meandering but it is not. You have to constantly correct the steering wheel and it is not always responsive. Also, it feels like it is sticking which causes an over correction and you suddenly head into the lane next to you. This happens especially at speeds over 50mph. Very uncomfortable driving. Feels very unsafe.wife refuses to drive the car. I'm concerned the condition could get even worse and cause an accident. I see no recall for this problem but there should be one. It is a significant safety concern. Please look into it and have Kia do the right thing.

- Bound Brook, NJ, USA

problem #14

Feb 142018

Sorento

  • 1,000 miles
Purchased new in 2018, the 2017 Sorento AWD vehicles steering from the showroom floor was fine. After roughly 1000 miles, the steering hangs as I'm driving into a 12:00 position. As speeds increase on highway, the level of effort to pull the steering wheel past this locking position increases somewhat. Also at highways speeds the car wanders all over the road regardless of the type of road surface. Understandably grooved concrete pavement can can this to some degree but the Sorento does it even on flat smooth, brand new blacktop roads. This is extremely dangerous as you have to pull the steering wheel strongly in the direction of the road and then it unlocks so to speak and over steers the car in the intended direction. I've tried everything to try to correct the issue. 1). turned off steering wheel centering function in the vehicle software. 2). under inflated the tires approx 5 lbs. 3). over inflated the tires by 2-3 pounds. 4). changed steering wheel tilt angle. I am very afraid of this vehicle now. Particularly when my grandkids are in it. We bought this 3rd row seated car for them. When my wife is driving the car alone I'm particularly concerned she may have a serious accident! this automobile was not an inexpensive model. I can't afford to take a huge loss selling the car because this information is widely distributed across the internet and no one is likely to buy it anyway. Please, help us on this issue. I love the car in general but I've owned old junkers that steered better and this start at only 1000 miles. It's bad enough that there will be serious accidents because of these issues. Thank you for allowing us to post our converens here

- Surprise, AZ, USA

problem #13

Dec 142018

Sorento

  • 14,000 miles
At speeds starting at 30 mph the steering wheel becomes unresponsive and there is some resistance in trying to turn it. With enough pressure you can overcome the resistance but in doing so you tend to over steer the vehicle and have to correct for that. The faster the vehicle is traveling the more pronounced this problem is. It is as though the steering wheel has lost its fluidity as if caused by very low tire pressure or a cross wind even though neither of those conditions are present. This is a serious safety issue for 2 reasons. First, it is difficult to keep the vehicle in its lane. Second, it is very fatiguing to drive the vehicle with this defect. In mid December of 2018 I drove the vehicle from oconomowoc, wi to des moines, ia and the problem was persistent the entire drive and then again a couple of days later on the return trip. As a result this defect driving requires extra concentration and is fatiguing to say the least. I noticed the problem as early as September of 2018. But the longer drive in December of 2018 cited above confirmed the magnitude of the problem and the potential dangers associated with it. The problems remains ongoing and is unaffected by weather conditions, though wind seems to exacerbate intensity somewhat.

- Oconomowoc, WI, USA

problem #12

Feb 182019

Sorento

  • 30,000 miles
Between 25pm and 75mph the steering in my 2017 Kia Sorento becomes sticky and notch like. There is no smoothness in the turn of the wheel. At high speeds (45mph and higher) the problem becomes extremely noticeable. The car feels very unsafe while traveling at highway speeds. The constant correction in my direction of travel make for a very uneasy and uncomfortable drive on the highway. The need to correct direction leads to a very unsafe over-correction. The problem wasn't noticeable upon original purchase of the vehicle. Currently have 30K miles. Problem became extremely noticeable around the 20-22K mark. Extremely dangerous and needs to be addressed asap.

- Charlottesville, VA, USA

problem #11

Dec 292018

Sorento

  • 30,000 miles
While driving highway speeds the steering locks and you can't make minor adjustments to stay in your lane of travel without having to apply heavy pressure to break it free. This causes you to over correct. Brought it in to Kia in January after a completely miserable 4 hour trip to new orleans and they said it was fixed. Drove an hour home and everything was good. Few days later it began again and is getting worse.

- Montgomery, LA, USA

problem #10

May 012018

Sorento

  • 21,000 miles
LX model AWD. Purchased at 21K miles, currently has 33K miles. Steering can be described as "sticky" with micro steering wheel adjustments needed to keep the car tracking straight. As the wheel is turned left or right there is a delay and small lag or bumping felt until the actual steering adjustment is transferred to the cars wheels. This occurs and is more pronounced at higher speeds. It is noticeable and concerning when trying to hold the car straight on a long stretch of highway. My concern from a safety point, is that the steering mechanisms will fail or freeze up. Besides the fact that driving the car is annoying to operate like this and causes fatigue, there is definitely something not right as I have read from many forums online. I love everything about else about the Kia Sorento, but this steering issue very concerning. Have already rules out tires, alignment etc. The feeling in the steering wheel is pronounced and not something I have ever felt in any car I have ever driven in 45 years.

- Fremont, CA, USA

problem #9

Oct 012018

Sorento

  • 18,000 miles
While driving, the steering wheel situated at 12:00 O'clock sticks in that position enough that it requires the driver to move the wheel back to the 12:00 O'clock position. Any slight correction makes the vehicle swerve. This action occurs when correcting to the left or right. This gives the appearance that the driver is impaired. It doesn't matter whether driving on a highway or two lane city street. It would appear that the power steering is to blame. I had the vehicle in for regular service but noted the issue. The car was returned to me but was told nothing could be found. I doubt seriously they even drove the car. It doesn't happen when the vehicle is in a stationary position. Scheduling another check up this week. Please note below that I just stated a date of occurrence. The problem has been ongoing since purchase January 2017

- Land O Lakes, FL, USA

problem #8

Dec 032018

Sorento

  • 10 miles
Steering has been sticking while driving. I've had to forcefully correct the steering while on the highway and car feels very unstable and unsafe. I took the car to several dealers whom have acknowledged the existence of issues and have said to me there maybe be some software updates coming to address the problem. I've also put in a complaint to Kia Consumer Affairs over the issue and I have failed to get any feedback. This is a serious safety issue, I really remain apprehensive about driving the vehicle at this point.

- Jackson, NJ, USA

problem #7

Oct 252017

Sorento

  • miles
Shortly after buying the Kia it developed a problem where the steering wheel would stick when attempting to turn left or right. It takes a little extra effort to move the wheel past these sticking points mostly at 12 O'clock position and it gradually becomes more difficult the faster the car travels. At highway speeds this is quite troublesome and dangerous as the problem is amplified. While traveling in traffic at higher speeds, windy conditions, searching your mirror to change lanes, etc., if the car wanders sometimes it causes me to over correct which in turn causes another over correction to return to the lane. I have had these problems on the highway and cannot find a way to adjust. This seems to be an intermittent problem but if it happens it stays for the duration of the drive, it may or may not be there next time. A recent incident has caused me to notify Kia and NHTSA. There was no accident no one was hurt but over correcting caused an incident that shook up my wife and I as I could have easily lost control on that highway, in traffic at that speed at night. We ended up taking back roads. I have been to the dealer where I bought the car but they found nothing. A technician told me today that I probably need to get used to the electric power steering. After a year now? he apparently knew something and has answered similar questions as I believe that not all Kia's have electric power steering. It amy also be weather related since it seemed to return as the weather has gotten colder. I have searched on line and have found others with similar problems with Hyundai as well. I'm leaving the car with a Kia dealer 12/26.

- Selden, NY, USA

problem #6

Dec 122018

Sorento

  • 30,000 miles
Complained about steering wheel sticking for the last year. Driving on the freeway at 70 mph yesterday moved into the left lane to pass another vehicle. I'm now in the left lane about to pass the other vehicle and I needed to make a lane correction to the right however the steering wheel was stuck and I had to pull hard on the steering wheel and the steering wheel broke loose and my vehicle veered to the right and came within inches of striking the vehicle I was passing. Safety issue

- Waukesha, WI, USA

problem #5

Jan 012018

Sorento

  • 5,000 miles
At speeds ranging from 25mph to 70mph I must continually adjust the steering wheel to drive straight. The car will drift to either the left or right and feels "sticky" to try to bring back to straight. Steering becomes unstuck and there is an over-correction and must be repeated in the opposite direction. It feels like weaving going down the road.snow or icy conditions exaggerate the over-correction.there is 14,000 miles on vehicle but has been present since having 5000 miles. Leased vehicle new July 2017. Spoke to dealership service department. No recalls or bulletins for this type of problem.very concerned steering will lock up in a curve.

- Brookfield, OH, USA

problem #4

Dec 282017

Sorento

  • 12,000 miles
2017 Sorento LX fwd auto - steering sticks while driving on the highway, when you apply more pressure to the steering wheel it then releases causing driver to over correct. The issue is then repeated over and over making it difficult to drive straight.

- Lyndon, KS, USA

problem #3

Nov 232018

Sorento

  • 2,000 miles
Steering drifts and very difficult to correct happens in city driving and highway. Constantly have to correct steering

- Niceville, FL, USA

problem #2

Mar 062017

Sorento

  • 11,432 miles
A few months after purchasing the 2017 Kia Sorento we began noticing steering issues. It doesn't happen all the time but appears to happen after the car warms up. You must constantly adjust the steering to drive straight. The car will drift to the left and when you try to correct, the car fights you. All of the sudden, the steering releases and then the car drifts right and the steering fights you trying to adjust left. It makes it very difficult to keep the vehicle driving straight even on straight, flat roads. I stated below that it happened on March 6, 2017. That was the first date the car was taken to the dealer for service but the issue has been ongoing since before that date.

- Independence, OH, USA

problem #1

Dec 182017

Sorento

  • miles
While driving the car on any road (city or highway) it wants to drift to the side and when you go to correct the steering it feels sticky, for lack of better words, and there is a delay in the response. So I end up over correcting, and I'm all over the road. This car is so unsafe as it is right now. I've taken my car into the dealership twice, called consumer advisors for Kia, has a tech go for a test drive, and spoke to the service manager. While they can verify there's an issue, they can't do anything to fix it.

- West Melbourne, FL, USA