10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
0 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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problem #18

Sep 212024

Sorento

  • miles
While parked on a residential street. I started car and put it in reverse. Car would not reverse when I applied gas. I shifted to drive. Car would not go forward when I applied gas. Repeated attempt to reverse. No movement. Shifted into drive and after applying more pedal, almost to floor, car lurched forward. In just about 30 minutes later car again would not move when reversing. It did go forward in drive the second time. The Kia dealership has been dealing with a complaint regarding the car going into limp mode while merging in traffic...an on going problem since the car was at 25,000 miles. They have "reset" the transmission according to a recall notice but say they can not replace transmission without a "code" that verifies it is the transmission. This is a new issue but also unable to pull any codes. There is a definite safety concern with driving this car. What can I do.

- Granbury, TX, USA

problem #17

Jul 212024

Sorento

  • miles
Automatic stop start admission. Was turning right on a green light. The vehicle stalled while trying to take the turn. All the dash lights flickered and the dashboard made a buzzing sound. Then vehicle then shut off, while trying to take the turn. There was 4 people in the vehicle 2 of them small children. We almost got hit on the left side of the vehicle. Because the light that was green had turned red. This is the fourth time the vehicle had failed us. By shutting off while driving. We having taken the vehicle in 2 times to be inspected by Kia, but have been told there is nothing wrong with the vehicle. But we are still having issues. There is no warning signs that the vehicle is going to shut off. It shows it after the fact.

- Dubuque, IA, USA

problem #16

Feb 152024

Sorento

  • miles
The sunroof imploded on its own while driving with no cars around. The implosion was so loud it caused me to swerve to other lanes and caused temporary sound loss. There was no warning and would have been worse if the sunshade wasn't on. Insurance is reviewing

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #15

Jan 252024

Sorento

  • miles
While attempting to merge into 70mph traffic on the interstate, the vehicle suddenly lost all acceleration capabilities. I could have been in an accident due to the sudden loss of acceleration and eventual power to the engine. When I pressed on the gas pedal, there was no resistance and the pedal went all the way to the floor. The vehicle slowly accelerated on it's own from 20MPH to 55MPH without my pressing the accelerator. There were no warnings on the dash at this time. Once it reached 55MPH, it slowly began to decrease it's speed without my pressing the brake or accelerator. As it started decreasing in speed, a warning popped up "Check Hybrid system, Stop safely". At this time, the battery level showed 0 bars though it showed half full (8 bars before this happened). I got over to the side of the highway and continued coasting until the vehicle slowed itself to a complete stop at which point the car put itself in Park and engaged the Emergency Brake and the dash displayed "Parking brake automatically engaged" and the Engine Oil Pressure Warning light came on. I attempted to put the car back in Drive and the dash displayed "Shifting conditions not met". I turned the car off, let it sit a few minutes and restarted it. When I restarted it, the battery showed 0 bars and the display said "Park with engine On to charge battery". I put it in Drive and I was able to drive without any issues. The battery level went back up 6 bars in less than a minute and I drove it to the dealership. This was the 2nd time this happened. The same exact thing happened the first time and when I took it to the dealership they couldn't replicate the issue and there were no codes recorded. First incident was on 1/12/24. I immediately pulled over, put it in park and turned the vehicle off. It worked fine after restarting it. Second incident was on 1/25/24. There were no codes recorded this time either but I do have pictures of the dash displays. They are "live" photos.

- Purcell, OK, USA

problem #14

Jan 252024

Sorento

  • miles
I recently got this vehicle and only has 26k miles on it. I have always been a good driver and have taken care of this vehicle, but this vehicle has brought too much stress in my life recently. Keeps breaking down, and i have to repeatedly go to the service center. My value for time is gone. The service team are not welcoming and they never give you a replacement car. Not everyone has a replacement car for when it will break down. It messed up with all of my schedule, my family's schedule, kid not being able to go to school. Me not being able to go to work. Today i had to take my car to service again, second time. Last time i had to book a rental car from my own pocket for 2 whole week. And it broke down again today, i have no car and it has been a worst experience. KIA needs to do something about this. I will never be a KIA customer again in my life. KIA has a worst engine and worst customer service.

- Roseville, CA, USA

problem #13

Oct 102023

Sorento

  • miles
The heater does not work when the vehicle is running, it only works when parked. I have done research & I am not the only one experiencing the same issue. There was another Sorento owner that was at the same car shop that I went to with the exact same issue. No one is diagnosing it including the dealership, I-??ve taken the car to two different once-??s & other shops as well.

- Lanham, MD, USA

problem #12

Sep 062023

Sorento

  • miles
The car jerks periodically when pressing on the gas from a stop. The RPM also goes up without warning even if I'm not pressing hard on the gas pedal.

- Abbeville, LA, USA

problem #11

Oct 142022

Sorento

  • miles
I was driving down the highway and the car stalled out the lights dimmed and the car shut off luckily I was able to get over and stopped the steering wheel was locked up almost like the battery went out. I was able to put it in park and restart the car. I got off the highway at the next exit and went through town and about half way home I was sitting at a stop light and the car died again. I put it in park and started the car again I took it straight over to the dealership and they hooked into it and scanned the car they said they couldn't find anything it continues to happen and I keep asking the dealership about it but they can't recreate the problem. I have also almost been in several wrecks do to this problem. I have also had the car slam on the breaks going over 40 and say caution -??? and the breaks lock up for a few minutes.

- Idaho Falls, ID, USA

problem #10

Jul 282023

Sorento

  • miles
This is the second occurrence of this issue. Suddenly all warning lights appear and the car loses power. When press the accelerator there is no revs increase and the engine misfires. I photographed the dashboard and will try to attach. The car becomes impossible to drive and my wife is scared to use it. Luckily in both cases I have been able to stop in a safe area. Switching off and restarting the engine a couple of times re-established normal engine running the issue but left the ECU warning light on.

- Kennett Square, PA, USA

problem #9

May 152023

Sorento

  • miles
Have token vehicle to dealer ship twice and no resolution

- Imperial Beach, CA, USA

problem #8

Mar 312023

Sorento

  • miles
While traveling on the highway about 70m/hr. the glass sunroof exploded while operation the vehicle. The glass explored/shattered in upwards direction. There was not trucks or overpass around for any object to fall from or strike the vehicle/sunroof. The explosion was comparable to shotguns or "like a bomb". My first thought was that tire blown but I didn't loose steering. After the assurance, I pull over immediately to the side of the route in safe place to inspect the vehicle. After the inspection of the vehicle, I noticed that sunroof glass shattered in pieces. Thanks god the curtained was closed at the time of the incident. This is something I never experienced in my life. Based on the information available on the website, this is not the first time happened and there is complains already filed. It is defiantly dangers and may result in crash, face injury and possible death caused by collision. Kia Dealership has been informed and appointment has been scheduled. Kia motors did not made decision on repair yet to classify as manufacturing defect.

- Carol Stream, IL, USA

problem #7

Feb 092023

Sorento

  • miles
I went to take my husband coffee put my car in park got out to get my son out of the back passenger side seat of the car and when I got to the back passenger side seat, I try to unlock the door the door was locked so I went back around to get back to the driver seat to unlock the door and before I could get all the way back to the driver side door I heard a loud click and my car jolted forward and crashed into my husband-??s truck with my two year old in the backseat. I notified Kia. They towed it to the nearest dealership. It-??s been there for a week, but they-??re refusing to do anything or provide me with a loaner vehicle at this time. I-??ve been working with a representative and his Only concern seems to be getting pictures of the damage that was done to the front of the vehicle when in reality, they really need to be looking at the computer in my car to see what actually happened. Although it caused damage to both my vehicle and my husband-??s vehicle, I am grateful that my husband-??s vehicle was there to stop my car because It could have been so much worse!

- Saunemin, IL, USA

problem #6

Nov 112022

Sorento 4-cyl

  • miles
I was pulling out to cross a highway with my 13 year old daughter in the passenger seat when my brand new 2022 Kia Sorento completely lost power and we were almost T-boned by a white Ford F150 (I have all of this drivers info if needed). The screens went black like it simply shut off & I had no control of the vehicle whatsoever. I quite literally could not move my vehicle. We sat helpless, my daughter screaming bloody murder, watching a truck barrel towards us. By what could only be the grace of god, this man came to a screeching hault mere inches from my daughters windows. The car started back up like it never happened & I was able to drive almost 10 miles homes before suddenly losing power again, only this time, the screens turned black for a moment and it started back up on its own. I do not trust this car & I will be taking it back to the dealership today to demand a different car or a refund. This vehicle WILL CAUSE A FATAL ACCIDENT.

- Flower Mound, TX, USA

problem #5

Oct 282022

Sorento

  • miles
Transmission will not shift or rev to high for next gear then will drop back to correct rpm an shift. Car will stall out or not shift.Problem has been duplicated at dealer. Was at dealership with no correction available at time KIA Engr. advised no call back. Engine light stayed on would not reset at all dealer plus was told transmission replacements is only correction.Car had10K on it less then year.

- Iuka, MS, USA

problem #4

Nov 032022

Sorento

  • miles
I was driving down the highway at 8:00 AM. The weather conditions were foggy. The air temperature was 43 degrees and I had the heat on in the vehicle. I experienced a sudden loud BANG, followed by a shower of shattered glass. The front panel of my panoramic sunroof exploded, sending glass into the vehicle. There were no other cars around, I did not hit a bump in the road, I did not see any evidence of debris hitting or falling onto the vehicle, and I was not driving under any bridges or trees where something could have dislodged and fallen onto it. It was just a weird spontaneous explosion without reason. When I inspected the glass, it was clear that the stress around the edges where glass was still present was directed from inside the vehicle to outside, (or down to up), as the glass was bowed upward, perhaps indicating unusual torque around the edge of the glass panel. The entire panel was compromised except for about 6" of glass extending inward around the perimeter of the panel housing. I was hit by some falling glass, but was uninjured. Glass also showered down into the middle row seats, where my children would have been sitting if they had they been along with me.

- Athens, OH, USA

problem #3

Aug 102022

Sorento

  • miles
Smell something burning like electric

- Waterford, NY, USA

problem #2

Aug 162022

Sorento

  • miles
Last Tuesday, August 16, I parked in the driveway at around 8 PM. After about 2 hours I heard car alarm. I looked out window and saw flames engulfing rear of vehicle. Called 911. Firefighters extinguished flames. Fire crew stated fire was likely electrical and started near tow hitch receptacle. Tow hitch was installed by Kia dealer weeks after I bought car; they told me it was an OEM hitch. I'd never used the hitch until the day of the fire. That afternoon I bought a Kuuat bicycle rack with lights. Bike store installed the rack and plugged it into the hitch receptacle. I did errands for several hours with nothing appearing amiss. Then parked, and fire started hours later. No injuries and no other damage. Looks like total loss, but State Farm hasn't confirmed yet.

- Frisco, TX, USA

problem #1

Jun 202022

Sorento

  • miles
My vehicle has only 8,672 miles and the vehicle brake rotors are warped and shake violently from normal driving. I seen other complaints online with the same issue saying the vehicle has a undersized brake system that produces a lot of heat. Also I have had a issue where I would be coming to a stop slowly and the brake pedal feels like it grinds or makes a crunch noise, also I have had twice where I get a message on my dashboard saying -??check ESC-?? I-??ve called dealer and they told me I can drop off vehicle to get it looked at but if the warning lights or messages don-??t stay on then for me to come back when they are on constantly.

- Manteca, CA, USA