10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
22,573 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 #16

Jul 132023

Sorento

  • miles
Unknown, heard a pop when starting the vehicle, got out to look under the hood, and found smoke and then fire coming from under the hood. Fire report was filed and insurance claim was made. Insurance company deemed it a total loss.

- White Cloud, MI, USA

problem #15

Jan 012023

Sorento

  • 150,000 miles
My vehicle has the leaking oil pressure sensor. I have brought my car to Kia multiple times since either 65-89k based on loosing too much oil between oil changes with NO check oil light. I lost an extreme amount of oil between 113k and 115k after they changed my filter and checked my oil levels. Always told there is no leak. Now at 115k and 120k miles I am told that not only is the oil pressure sender leaking but it has been leaking on my wire harness which can create a fire. The oil presser sender has a recall of the 3.3 up until March of 2018, my car has a manufacture date of June of 2018.

- Frederick, CO, USA

problem #14

Oct 162019

Sorento

  • miles
Unknown Shortly after purchasing this (6 to 8 weeks) rainwater began collecting and falling into the cabin from the dash area when turning. Not long after this started occuring I began to have issues with the infotainment center or other electrical items in the car sporadically restarting while driving. There was one incident in July 2020 where I called the dealership I purchased this at because we were at the beach in Wisconsin and the car was off. The key was out. The doors were open and the radio would not turn off and the ac was on. I got no response from them. When I had mentioned the issues about things restarting they just said that if it was not happening at that moment they couldn't do anything. Then it started where the screens were restarting and glitching when I was backing up. As a result there was an incident where this occured. My screen (where the back up camera works) went black and the blind spot warning was not working either. I hit a pole trying to get out of a spot I was blocked in at a gas station. It all happened very quickly. Kia was contacted. It took almost 11 months for them to actually take possession of the vehicle at a dealership due to them not having loaner/rental cars or appointments available. They had the vehicle for I believe 28 days. I have documents from the dealership. Per kia I was to take it there so a tech could evaluate it. When I picked it up they said Kia just told them to make sure that the back up camera works. I have provided multiple videos from various incidents over the last 3 years. This is truly becoming a safety issue. I travel 44 miles of major expressway in Michigan daily each way to/from work in Ann Arbor. Having everything turn off/restart/being unable to control/or just not work at all is worse than texting and driving. I never know when something is going to happen https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1kRD0RehofbZ818V-GCUhykoeOeL23LeT

- Monroe, MI, USA

problem #13

Dec 082022

Sorento

  • miles
2019 Kia sorento caught on fire while driving. Drivers behind my wife saw flames coming from under motor. They signaled her to pull over and she got out just in time before entire car went up in flames. We believe the fuel pump was faulty as entire motor was on fire.

- Nashville , TN, USA

problem #12

Feb 042022

Sorento

  • miles
There is a hiss noise coming from the steering when you are making a left or right turn.

- Shillington, PA, USA

problem #11

Apr 112021

Sorento

  • 40,000 miles
Car lost power while drving and a semi truck almost ran into me. Have taken car to Kia dealership and throttle body was replaced and week later same problem exist. I have taken the car there 3 times for the same problem haven't had the car 3 months have had this problem since I purchased the car.

- Saint Pauls, NC, USA

problem #10

Jan 182021

Sorento

  • 46,500 miles
I began smelling burnt plastic and my battery light came on in my dashboard. Shortly after, all the warning lights came on in my dashboard (engine, ABS, traction control, etc). My vehichle wound up dying completely on the side of the road. I brought it to the Kia dealership. They informed me that all of the internal wiring was burnt beyond recognition. They were unable to tell where the problem started or ended. They also mentioned that I was fortunate that the vehicle died when it did because some of the burnt wire was an inch away from my fuel line and could have caused my vehicle to explode if it was running any longer. The end result of damages that needed to be repaired include a new alternator, battery, engine harness, O2 sensor to name a few. Ultimately they claimed warranty didn't cover an "act of god" so my insurance was forced to cover the cost of the damage.

- Mandan, ND, USA

problem #9

Jun 252020

Sorento 6-cyl

  • 18,000 miles
The power windows are a safety hazard. They are all on an automatic feature, so when you touch the button they will either go down or go up all the way, and you cannot stop them. It's impossible to put the window down or up part of the way. My child's finger got caught in the window when I tried to raise it up half way. I took the car to a Kia dealership, and the service advisor told me that's the way Kia designed it, nothing can be done. Then I saw there is a class action lawsuit being handled by a law firm based on Kia and Hyundai models from 2016-2020. I have never had a car that had this ridiculous and dangerous problem. Kia needs to be prosecuted. Https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/auto-news/vehicle-safety-defect-class-action-lawsuit-investigation/

- Boynton Beach, FL, USA

problem #8

Feb 252019

Sorento

  • 2,700 miles
Left side steering wheel control buttons for radio volume, muting, changing stations, changing radio modes, phone and phone hang up intermittently fail to function. Problem occurs almost daily and last anywhere from a few seconds to 15-20 minutes. The dealer service advisor has seen the issue at least 3 times but but the time it gets to the mechanic the problem resolves itself. Dealership has replace the affected buttons and the steering wheel clock spring. Problem continues but now with another twist. Now when trying to change the radio volume from steering wheel controls and when the button fails to perform the function intended the system activates my phone and calls the last number dialed. I cannot hang up from the steering wheel controls and have to find the hang up control on the center screen. This distraction has almost cost me an accident. Intermittant malfunction has been happening since the car was new in Nov 2019 and continues to date now May 2020 with 14000 miles on vehicle. It does not make any difference if the vehicle is stopped or in motion for the problem to occur.

- Prescott, AZ, USA

problem #7

Mar 012020

Sorento

  • 35,600 miles
On 3 separate occasions (2 of which occurred 3/1/20). After stopping my vehicle, I lost all electrical power when I attempted to restart. No displays, no lights and of course the vehicle wouldn't start. After exiting and entering the vehicle multiple times everything comes back on. The battery and alternator test fine and the keyfob battery is good, the vehicle was not in motion when the incidents occurred.

- Etters, PA, USA

problem #6

Jan 252020

Sorento

  • 15,000 miles
Days previous to event was getting warning alerts on different problems. Called dealership when warning alerts continued happening. On day of event was driving on major route, when power steering became difficult as I pulled over the entire car shut down. No lights, no braking, no hazard lights to engage all systems down.

- Kunkletown, PA, USA

problem #5

Dec 042019

Sorento

  • 9,166 miles
The contact owns a 2019 Kia Sorento. The contact took the vehicle to atlanta West Kia (1301 thornton rd, lithia springs, ga 30122) because the check engine warning indicator was illuminated. The dealer determined that the knock sensor needed to be replaced and ordered the part. When the contact returned for the vehicle, she was informed that the wiring harness to the engine needed to be replaced due to rodent damage because the insulation was soy bean based. The repairs were not covered under warranty. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 9,166.

- Lithia Springs, GA, USA

problem #4

Dec 072019

Sorento

  • 18,200 miles
While driving on highway, radio on and only connected via bluetooth. The radio screen was flickering and then shut down as if I manually turned off. As this happened the dashboard lights and my headlights shut off. I had to safely pull over and by the time that I did, I couldn't record it for evidence as it rebooted itself. I called right away and had to wait 2 days for appt. This is the 3rd time and rick case Kia in sunrise fl keeps giving me the run around. My battery and alternator is fine. I honestly think they stop caring and just give me excuses and tell me they have to wait for mfg decision on my issue. My issue seems to happen when I am driving and cannot be on my phone recording as they want some kind of video as proof. So disgusted with their service and wished I wouldnt have gone with a Kia.

- Coral Springs, FL, USA

problem #3

Jun 102019

Sorento 6-cyl

  • 7,000 miles
[xxx] I have some records from (lev Kia) I am going to share with you as soon as I get them together, in the meantime I am going to drive this 2019 Kia Sorento and hope on the highway it does not decide to down shift at 60 or 70 mph like it was doing, especially if a large tractor trailer is behind me. I think it would be a mess when they find out that a (serious electric problem that the manager Warren rios at lev Kia told me that the vehicle has) caused the transmission to down shift, I will send those papers soon. Also if there was nothing wrong with the transmission, why did they replace the first one. They told me because of a moisture problem was the cause of the internal shifting modulator valve to act up, after the transmission was replaced I had the same problem I called and was told to bring it back and leave it they had to do a program update for the transmission to correct the modulator valve. How do you correct a moisture problem in an internal modulator valve with an update? we will see what your answer to this is, there were other problems with the #1 E-brake light coming on by itself #2 the right front head lamp lower lamp going out 2 times, they had it in the shop for three days and went through the wire harness cleaned all the connectors to the lamp. I told [xxx] that a lot of this happened after a heavy rain storm that something was getting wet and causing either a short or a surge or a bad ground connection, I have pictures of the E-brake light being on and the headlamp lower light out only on the right side. That's it for now I will sent the paper work soon. I am also sending a copy of this note to the attorney general's office and to Kia corporate headquarters, and the better business bureau information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Milford, MA, USA

problem #2

Jun 292019

Sorento 6-cyl

  • 11,000 miles
I sent this to [xxx]<[xxx]> I have some records from (lev Kia) I am going to share with you as soon as I get them together, in the meantime I am going to drive this 2019 Kia Sorento and hope on the highway it does not decide to down shift at 60 or 70 mph like it was doing, especially if a large tractor trailer is behind me. I think it would be a mess when they find out that a (serious electric problem that the manager [xxx] at lev Kia told me that the vehicle has) caused the transmission to down shift, I will send those papers soon. Also if there was nothing wrong with the transmission, why did they replace the first one. They told me because of a moisture problem was the cause of the internal shifting modulator valve to act up, after the transmission was replaced I had the same problem I called and was told to bring it back and leave it they had to do a program update for the transmission to correct the modulator valve. How do you correct a moisture problem in an internal modulator valve with an update? we will see what your answer to this is, there were other problems with the #1 E-brake light coming on by itself #2 the right front head lamp lower lamp going out 2 times, they had it in the shop for three days and went through the wire harness cleaned all the connectors to the lamp. I told Warren rios that a lot of this happened after a heavy rain storm that something was getting wet and causing either a short or a surge or a bad ground connection, I have pictures of the E-brake light being on and the headlamp lower light out only on the right side. That's it for now I will sent the paper work soon. I am also sending a copy of this note to the attorney general's office and to Kia corporate headquarters, and the better business bureau information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Milford, MA, USA

problem #1

Jul 242019

Sorento

  • 8,000 miles
I was out of town when my airbag warning light came on, indicating a problem with the vehicle's airbags. I contacted Kia and was told the repair should take 2-4 hours. However, after trying a fix the dealer discovered that a wiring harness in the front console was faulty and needed to be replaced. They have now had the car for a week. I am not sure if any or all of the airbags would've failed during a wreck but felt this was significant enough to report, especially since the vehicle has less than 10,000 miles on it.

- Pilot Point, TX, USA