This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
Driving on a surface street with a 40 mph speed limit. Car suddenly lost power and could not get speed above 20 mph. We were lucky that there wasn't much traffic about as this could definitely have caused an accident. When this happened both the ESC off light and the check engine light came on. We had to leave our car in Nevada and get a rental car to get home to Arizona, we have no idea when we will get our car fixed and back home. We were owners of a Kia rondo and the same thing happened to that vehicle too (no longer own that one). This vehicle needs to be recalled immediately and Kia needs to admit that there is something seriously wrong and that they will take responsibility for fixing it. Too many owners having exactly the same problem, we should not be ignored.
I was driving on an interstate with a speed limit of 65 mph when with no warning the "check engine" and "ESC off" lights came on simultaneously. At the same time, the engine lost power, causing my vehicle to suddenly decelerate and almost causing a collision both with the car behind me and with the cars merging over from an entrance ramp. Luckily, I was able to safely maintain control of my car and put on my hazard lights to warn other drivers of my much slower speed. Even depressing the gas pedal to the floor, I was unable to accelerate above 55 mph, and my speed going up hills was significantly slower. Once I was able to safely reach a shoulder with comfortable clearance, I pulled over and stopped the car for a few minutes. I restarted the car, both lights remained on, and I similarly was unable to accelerate the car appropriately, especially from a stop. I limped along with my hazard lights for the last few miles to work where I immediately began researching this issue only to find that this is far from an isolated incident. In fact, this problem seems to be pervasive in Kia of similar model year. There are scores of Kia owners who have experienced a similar series of events. The sudden and unexpected loss of power with absolutely no warning is highly dangerous in any situation, but especially so on the interstate when speed limits are so high. I was so lucky that the drivers around me and I were able to avoid an injury-causing crash. This issue needs to be investigated swiftly and thoroughly. Again, a simple search of this very website as well as other online car forums reveals a problem so widespread that it should warrant a recall by Kia.
I was driving my 2008 Kia Sorento ex when all of a sudden my ESC light and engine light came on and I could not accelerate, my vehicle in fact slowed down terribly. I have noticed that if I shut my car off then turn it back on sometimes this will take care of the problem for a short time. This is very dangerous when driving with my kids in the backseat. If my car slows while on the highway I could end up causing quite an accident not to mention hurting myself or my family that is in the vehicle. Mileage on my vehicle at the time was approximately 65000 miles.
Started car to warm up for trip to work. ESC light stayed/came on. Engine wouldn't allow speed over 55 with the gas pedal floored. Took to Kia dealer made appointment.
Every time I turn on my car the ESC off light is illuminated. When I step on the gas I have no power. If I turn the car off and then back on, it will usually disappear. I have done research on line, and many people with my same car have the same issue. The issue in their cars have progressed to randomly turning on while going 65 miles and hour, and losing speed which has almost caused several accidents. I currently do not know of any accidents, but this now has me afraid to drive my car. If it is a known problem, why has there not been a recall to fix it?
- Broomfield, CO, USA
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Jan.19,2013 my 2008 Kia Sorento started to loss power and the engine light turned on the car started to shake, the dealer found the vehicle shown code PO300, vehicle misfire and it burned plug assy-spark and coil assy-ignition. Repairs were done at city Kia of greater orlando. Services was great. March 7,2013 the same incident as above happened again the repair shop found camshaft sensor connection error, perform pin tension rechecked. I was treated badly, they stated at first they did not know what was going on and refused to offer any situation. Repair were done where I had purchased the vehicle in 2/2011 with Kia warranty. Location orlando Kia E.colonial drive.orl fl.32817. On May 4,2013 my vehicle appears to have the same issues as above incidents will take it back to dealer on E. colonial drive on Monday 6,2013. Hope they will help me....
I have researched and found that other 2008 Kia sorrento owners have reported to Kia, about the ESC light coming on causing lost of power in the vehicle. Kia is content to charge customer a diagnostic fee, fix part that do not need to be fixed when clearly there is a defect in the vehicle. When you mention to them the complaints filed about the problem, they indicate the have never heard anything about it instead of taking the time to look on safecar.gov, they continue to brush it off. Not sure how being on the hwy driving at 70 mph and your vehicle suddenly dropping to 20mph is a customer problem. Also not sure how when you place my car on the machine and it gives you a code to fix this life threatening problem and it happens again causing me to have to coast into the emergency lane to keep from being hit from behind with 2 children in the back seat is a customer problem sounds like a defect to me.
While driving the electronic stability control "off" (ESC off) light and the check engine light came on at the same time. Upon taking it to the a mechanic, he informed me that the accelerator pedal position sensor was bad. I continued reading online, and have notice this has happened on many occasions. When this occurs the vehicle looses all power to make any necessary corrective actions which could result in a accident. It also slows the car drastically while in motion, again with the possibility of causing an accident. ## VIN failed ##
I purchased a 2008 Kia Sorento last year as a pre-owned vehicle. I have started having serious issues with this vehicle. A deer ran into my vehicle April 2012 really messed up my entire front end and side. My insurance company had my vehicle botched up and my now my avs system and clutch are not working properly they refused to fix my vehicle. Now I am having problem with a ESC light coming on I couldn't find out what this light meant but I can imagine that it is not good. They need to recall this vehicle because truly they are no good.
I purchased this car pre owned. About 2 week later, while driving the ESC light shows up causing the car to slowly lose power. This is very dangerous. I almost got hit when this happened!! after 3-4 times later, Kia dealership cannot repair the issue or even solve it. They actually told me yesterday that the car was ready, however it was not fixed bc they cant figure it out. They tried everything. I did pick up the car only to bring it right back this morning. I am scared for my safety as well as my children. I looked online and their are so many others with this same issue. This is insane. I am now in a rental as they are trying again for time #5 to figure it out. I have spoken to Kia corporate. I have filed complaints with the BBB. And now I am here. If anyone cares about others safety this needs to be recalled. I refuse to put my children's life at risk. Imagine driving on the highway and all of a sudden this light turning on randomly and your car just losing power. Very unsafe!!
2008 Kia Sorento start-up stalling temperamentally for three weeks. On 9/11/2012 the check engine light and ESC off light appeared, followed with a "putting" engine and limp mode. The car would not accelerate when foot applied to gas pedal. Kia dealership confirmed tps and brake sensor failure and electronic stability control needed reprogramming. (error codes read: P2135, P0638, and P2A00 or P2A03.) Kia published bulletin tsb 044: www.Kia-forums.com/attachments/Kia-carens-rondo-forum/5552D1272512047-engine-racing-stop-tsb-tps.pdf danger aspect: The car seemed drivable, however, the limp mode does not allow the car to accelerate to the speed limit or flow of traffic. Researched many similar complaints -- please issue an investigation for a recall.
We are having problems with our 2008 Kia Sorento. The ESC light, brake light, battery light, check engine light, and ABS lights have come on. I have changed brakes, checked the battery and these lights go off and on. My car has experienced reducing speed when ESC light has come on and started malfunctioning at around 64,000 miles. ABS light and check engine have went off. ESC light is still going off and on. The brake lights have failed on us. I am concerned for my wife's safety to all these defects that are happening, and would like for your help in resolving these issues with Kia. I have read of other people having complaints with the same issues and saw to report this to NHTSA. Furthermore I told Kia of an oil leak I was having and asked if it would be covered under warranty and they failed to answer, and did not fix it. Never had any trouble with the car until I took it to the dealership to have transmission fluid changed and after that is when all the problems started happening. Please help.
I have no rear brake light. The ESC off light comes on in the dash. I can turn on the cruise control but I can't set a speed for cruise control. I have a remote starter that has a safety switch when the brake is pressed turns the remote starter off that isn't working correctly cause there is no signal that the brake has been pressed.
My 2008 Kia Sorento LX loses power & will not accelerate to 60mph. I fear driving my vehicle because I was almost rear ended on 2 separate occasions by an 18-wheeler diesel due to the fact the power is lost upon acceleration attempts. In addition to the loss of power, the check engine & ESC off lights stay illuminated. Like many of the other complaints, I have tried turning my engine off & waiting 10 minutes before restarting the engine to see if that clears the status of the lights but had limited success. The vehicle has been taken to the dealership at least 3 times, while under warranty, for resolution. The dealership has advised that certain sensors have been replaced as well as the gas pedal but yet either has resolved the issue. The dealership even wanted to charge me $2800 for one trip & $1800 on the next. This was totally unacceptable & corporate was contacted immediately. I am currently waiting on a response from them. The brakes on this vehicle as well have been an issue & are another reason for why I fear for the safety of me & my passengers when this vehicle is driven.
The "check engine" light has come on and stays on. Also, the "ESC off" light comes on intermittently. The car is only driven short distances a couple of times a week, however we are afraid to drive it at all because of the reports of power and control failure. The brake lights are also not working, which compounds the problem.
2008 Kia Sorento tps problem causing my vehicle to have no acceleration very dangerous while driving ESC and check engine light come on when problem occurs. Took to local auto zone to see why engine light came on and there code reader said I had 3 different codes wrong with the car which all were related to the tps sensor. This needs to be a safety recall asap.
Bought the car in December of 2008. Problems began with the ESC off light and check engine about a year later. Multiple parts were supposedly fixed and replaced but the lights kept coming on, each time loosing all acceleration sometimes on the highway! a few days ago, driving up a hill, both lights are on, my car stalls out, steering locks and starts rolling down the hill, luckily in a quiet, slow traffic neighborhood. After that my car won't even start. Had to get it towed to the dealership. They have since called corporate... we will see what that does.
We have a 2008 Sorento, purchased in March 2009 (new). Approximately a year and a half ago, only approx 15,000miles, we had our first incident that the ESC off light and check engine light illuminated on the dash, at the same time, power was significantly decreased to the engine. Thankfully, I was driving in my neighborhood and not on the highway. I turned the car off and back on and the ESC off light was now off, but the check engine light remained on for the rest of the day. We didn't think much of it until it happened again, about 2-3 weeks later. This time we took it to the service department. They insisted that they didn't know what caused it and that there was no record in the "computer" of the check engine light being on. We were basically dismissed because they could not even tell that it happened. The third time it happened I was on my way to work, turning onto the entrance ramp of I-95, I lost power and could not accelerate to merge onto the highway. I was furious and frightened of the possible danger of the situation, and called to make a service appointment, this was the 2nd time, which by the time we got there everything was back to "normal" and no record in the computer. I had printed out research for my husband to take with him to show them that other people have had this problem and that the tcm was replaced, however they dismissed him and did something else. It was fine for a while, then happened again (approx Dec. 2010) when my husband was driving down I-95, we lost power while going 65 mph and the ESC and check engine light on. This time, my dad (who used to be a service manager) was available and went to the dealership and had a stern conversation with the service manager expressing his concern for our safety. They supposedly fixed the problem, I'm not sure what they did, and it has been fine for the past 6 months, until the past 2 weeks, the same problem has occurred twice. We also had the passenger airbag off when I am sitting in the seat as well.
Driving 75 mph on highway the ESC off light luminated and check engine light came on. Car lost acceleration and power (went from 75 mph to 10 mph instantly on hwy). Kia replaced the tps sensor and updated ECM module. One year later same event happened repeatedly. Dealer will not fix even with tech bulletin. Tried to contact Kia motors with no return response. At the current time the vehicle will not accelerate. Fastest it will go is 45mph even with acceleration pedal pushed all the way down. When you try to pull out or accelerate the vechicle looses power. Randomly the check engine and "ESC off" light will go off and car will accelerate but once over 65mph will lose all power has almosted caused several wrecks that would have caused an accident from behind. The lack of power is dangerous but not as dangerous as the vehicle losing power on the highway or while trying to pull out from a complete stop. Vehicle has lost power in intersection nearly causing side wreck. Searched on internet and tps seems to be common problem
My 2008 Kia Sorento has 40000 miles and the ESC off indicator, as well as, the check engine light is on. I was driving to church and while driving the acceleration diminished. I am very disappointed, being I just blunt the car a month ago. Yes it is still under warranty, but what about when it is not.... from the looks of it this is a continual problem that should be investigated, before someone life be harmed while driving.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Glendale, AZ, USA