10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 8
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 0
Average Mileage:
15,453 miles

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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #44

Dec 012023

Sorento

  • miles
Driving on the xway, engine stopped. I pulled over to shoulder and noticed engine smoking. I opened hood and observed fire in the engine compartment. Put fire out with water in vehicle. Had vehicle towed to Kia dealer in urbana. Il.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #43

Nov 082023

Sorento

  • miles
Oil pan crack below Plug due to changing oil.

- Oaklyn, NJ, USA

problem #42

Oct 092023

Sorento

  • miles
I was driving from Los Angeles to Concord, CA when my car stalled on the highway. The last few miles I was driving a red oil light came on, which I found unusual since I wasn't due for another oil change for about 1000 more miles. I get my car towed to the nearest auto shop and they said the drain plug for my oil had fallen off and the tow truck bed was covered in oil as well as the entire backside of my vehicle. And now my engine is done for.

- Lubbock, TX, USA

problem #41

Aug 102023

Sorento

  • miles
Oil plug fell out

- Forked River , NJ, USA

problem #40

Mar 012023

Sorento

  • miles
Engine Trouble: 1. Throttle Actuator Control (past issue, not sure if problem still exists). 2. Combustion Issue: (past and present) engine consuming excessive amounts of oil. Needing additional oil between oils changes. Dealer claimed -??Combustion Cleaning-?? was performed April/May 2023 and issue was resolved. I have had to add oil twice since then. Oil Lamp indicator would signaled, or engine would sound loud and over worked. I would then check the oil and add oil as needed. 3. Driving Mode: The vehicle can on be driven in -??Comfort-?? mode. If I drive in -??Sport-??, specifically, the car will start to malfunction and stall. When driving in any of the other modes the engine will become sluggish and eventually malfunction and stall. All of these problems occurred this year, 2023. I have service documents from the dealership. My cell phone is old and doesn-??t take clear photos so I can-??t upload them. I can provide the documents later if requested. Please contact me by email as I am in the process of moving.

- Fortson, GA, USA

problem #39

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 #38

Jul 232023

Sorento

  • miles
On a Sunday morning, approximately 168 miles away from my hometown of Fresno, Ca I was on a family road trip to Pismo, Ca when without warning I began to hear a loud knocking noise coming from the Sorento engine.Since the check engine light was not illuminating, I opened the hood of the Sorento to inspect for any obvious signs of what is causing this sound such as any loose part or oil lose. Nothing was apparent loose and full measured at full. I attempted to check the local area for a mechanic to assist but none were open due to the weekend. The vehicle was left parked at this time. Approximately 7 hours later, I attempted to drive the Sorento home when It started to loose power and began to shake while operating it on a heavy trafficked highway CA-101. I had to quickly exit the highway and park the Sorento on the side of the road. Due to the hour of the day, I left the Sorento on the side of the road in front of a GMC dealership in Paso Robles, Ca and received a ride back home to Fresno, Ca. The following morning with the local businesses open, I returned back to Paso Robles and had the Sorento towed to the local Paso Robles Kia by utilizing my roadside assistance towing through my insurance company, GEICO. After about a hour of being at Paso Robles Kia, I received a call from a rep stating that I would need a new engine because it is damaged. I then arranged a $400 tow from Paso Robles, CA to Coalinga, CA where I work to have the car more accessible for me to access during a repair and I could obtain a second opinion on the repair. They too informed me that I would require a new engine. I called Kia and discussed this issue with them due to this issue being a common occurrence, a partially with the 2019 Kia Sorento Model where a Class action suit was initiated. Kia informed me since my VIN was not part of the suit they would not cover the cost. I would like to note that this issued directly reflects the issues reported in the class action suit against Kia.

- Fresno, CA, USA

problem #37

May 212023

Sorento

  • miles
I was told by the dealer, that we had to have it dropped off at {400 miles from home}, that the oil drain plug fell out and the engine seized. there are are no previous warning lights no temperature rise the car just stalls, then the warning lights for engine and oil come and by this time your engine is dead. Thank God we where stuck in traffic. Otherwise at cruising speed this could have been a very catastrophic event with the possibility of lose of life.

- Long Beach, NY, USA

problem #36

May 252022

Sorento

  • miles
When driving at certain lower speeds the vehicle is jerky. The car will go into high RPM's when excelerating even when not fully pressing the gas pedal. The engine is burning through oil very quickly. In less than a month from my oil change I have had to put 5 quarts in. When the cruise control is on it sometimes excelerates faster than what it is set for. This has been ongoing for about a year. I have confirmed with 2 shops that I do not have an oil leak.

- Galena, KS, USA

problem #35

May 212023

Sorento

  • 83,537 miles
The contact owns a 2019 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, he started smelling a burning odor. The contact stated that the oil warning light was illuminated. The contacted pulled over and checked the dip stick which indicated that there was no oil in the oil pan. The contact stated that he had had an oil change several months prior to the failure and had not noticed any oil leaks. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 83,537.

- Greensboro, NC, USA

problem #34

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 #33

May 142022

Sorento 4-cyl

  • miles
2019 Kia Sorento- Consumer Complaint- Engine went out after 7 months in to lease. Consumer blamed for damaged done to leased vehicle. Dealership will not honor warranty to repair or exchange. Attached Letter from Office of Attorney General Office Illinois, Retail installment Agreement, GAP Addendum, Vehicle Service Contract, Repair Order, Mechanic Info, & Bill of Sale.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #32

May 022023

Sorento

  • miles
Engine light and oil light came on. Car was running strange. We checked the oil and there was no oil on the dipstick. We put 2 quarts of oil in and drove to Kia of Bradley Illinois. On the way the car stalled without warning.

- Grant Park, IL, USA

problem #31

Jan 012023

Sorento

  • miles
I have a fuel consumption problem and have read/heard of other Kia owners that are having the same problem.

- Plano, IL, USA

problem #30

Mar 242023

Sorento

  • miles
I have a 2019 Kia Sorento with 79096 miles and on 3/24/2023 after taking it to the dealership for an engine diagnostic the car cut off while i was driving it in traffic. No warning or anything. The dealer state that a new engine is needed however the VIN is not on the Kia Recall settlement however i bought this car certified used i am the second owner and the car is still fairly new to have died so soon after having regular mainenance.

- Beverly Hills, MI, USA

problem #29

Mar 232023

Sorento

  • miles
My car has had oil changes regularly, all of a sudden the oil light comes on I check it and it's bone dry 3 quarts of oil just disappeared. There was no smoke coming from the car and no signs of a leak.

- Toccoa, GA, USA

problem #28

Aug 012019

Sorento

  • Automatic transmission
  • 100 miles
The contact owns a 2019 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, while the engine was idling there was a knocking sound coming from the engine compartment. Additionally, while driving at highway speeds, the vehicle failed to exceed 60 MPH while accelerating. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who performed a software update, but the knocking sound persisted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failures. The failure mileage was 100.

- Mabelvale, AR, USA

problem #27

Jun 272022

Sorento

  • miles
Traveling out of town on the highway from Pennsylvania to Virginia in June 2022 and our 2019 Kia Sorrento started shaking at the steering wheel and lost complete power in the engine. I was unable to accelerate with busy highway traffice behind me. I barely made it to th shoulder of the road without being rear ended with my wife and two children in the car. The forst thing I check is engine oil and it was bone dry. We just had it serviced in May at Sipala Kia before we left for our trip. I limped to a small service station in Virginia where he plugged into it but was unale to diagnose. He has us towed to Charlie O'Baugh Kia for repairs. We had this Kia Sorrento to two of our local dealers, Sipala Kia of West Chester and Scott Kia of Springfield, PA for oil leak or oil consumption but both dealers kept telling me nothing wa wrong. In addition to regualar oil and filter change I continue to check the engine oil on a regualr basis where it seems to be buring engine oil at a higher than normal rate.

- West Grove, PA, USA

problem #26

Dec 162022

Sorento

  • 90,000 miles
The contact owns a 2019 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH, the check engine light illuminated the instrument panel. The next day, the contact stated that while driving into her independent mechanic's shop, white smoke began to emit from the vehicle as the vehicle caught fire. The contact immediately exited the vehicle with her grandchildren as the independent mechanic managed to extinguish the vehicle with a fire extinguisher. The fire department was not notified of the failure. The contact sustained severe trauma as a result of the fire. The dealer was notified of the failure and gave her an estimate for the repair. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure and referred to the NHTSA. The vehicle had yet to be repaired and remained in the possession of the mechanic. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.

- Roswell, GA, USA

problem #25

Dec 142022

Sorento

  • miles
The evening of December 13, the driver noticed an engine rattle when accelerating. No -??check engine-?? or other warnings were displayed. The morning of December 14, the vehicle stalled. The driver waited then restarted the vehicle, which immediately turned over. The driver perceived no issues with electronics or engine and, again, the vehicle displayed no warnings or alerts. Upon accelerating from the location at which the vehicle was stopped, the driver heard a -??boom-?? and the vehicle cabin filled with smoke. Upon exiting the vehicle and attempting to ascertain the issue, the driver noticed flames. The entire engine became engulfed.

- New Cumberland, PA, USA

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