10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
47,222 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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.

2008 Kia Sorento brakes problems

brakes problem

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2008 Kia Sorento Owner Comments

problem #15

Mar 102015

Sorento

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I have to push the brake pedal almost to the floor to stop the car. This vehicle has been like this for quite some time now.It's not master cylinder as that has been looked at serval times.I just don't know if the car brakes just won't work one day.I find this to be a huge safety issue.There was a class action suit for a defect with ABS control module is this the problem with the brakes?

- Sebastian, FL, USA

problem #14

Sep 282022

Sorento

  • 129,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Kia Sorento. The contact stated upon reversing out of his garage, the brake pedal was depressed and emitted an abnormal sound. The ABS and the electronic stability control warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where the recall repair of NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V114000 (Exterior Lighting) was completed; however, the dealer informed the contact that the failure persisted, and he needed to pay a diagnostic fee to determine the cause of the failure. The contact stated that the recall remedy failed to correct the safety failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 129,000.

- Orlando, FL, USA

problem #13

May 152022

Sorento

  • miles
I bought my sorento used and the airbag light is lit on the front dash in both where the guages are and under the stereo. It doesnt matter if someone is in the seat or not. I found that there was a recall years ago so when i called Kia they told me that my vehicle had been repaired and I told them it must not have been or the repair didnt work. They then told me the date of repair. Crazy thing is they were saying it had been repaired a year before the recall was announced. I said really. Knowing Kia aint gonna pay for a repair that hadnt been part of a recall yet. Now with the newest recall its saying the brakelights might not come on when applied. But with my Sorento the brakelights wont turn off. No matter what you do even when you take the key out and lock the doors, the brakelights remain on. Right when this started the ESC OFF light on the dash came on. The brakelights stayed on so much it apparently fried my battery. I got another battery and replaced the brakelight switch and started it up and it immediately wont idle correctly. It had idle fine before the brakelight issue.

- Gray Court, SC, USA

problem #12

Jan 162018

Sorento

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The starter burned out and the starter relay is sticking. It started sticking and making funny noises around mid October or beginning of November 2017 and acutally burned out December 8, 2017 and was replaced December 9, 2017. Now the starter went out again January 16, 2018. Also I had my driver side brake light bulb replaced around July or August 2017 and now the same driver side brake light is out again.

- Richardson, TX, USA

problem #11

Sep 262016

Sorento

  • 122,000 miles
The contact owned a 2008 Kia Sorento. While driving approximately 35 mph approaching a traffic light, the brake pedal was applied and the vehicle suddenly surged at a high rate of speed. The contact crashed into the preceding vehicle, which caused that vehicle to crash into a third vehicle. The driver side air bag deployed with extreme force. The contact sustained injuries to the head, neck, and a whiplash. The contact was also injured by the seat belt. Medical attention was required. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a yard and destroyed. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 13V114000 (exterior lighting, service brakes, hydraulic). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 122,000.

- Averill Park, NY, USA

problem #10

Mar 182015

Sorento 6-cyl

  • miles
The contact owns a 2008 Kia Sorento. While driving various speeds, the brake pedal was depressed and the brake lamp failed to illuminate. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the brake lamp switch ground wire was replaced. The failure persisted. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 13V114000 (exterior lighting, service brakes, hydraulic). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unavailable. Updated 02/05/16 updated 4/23/18

- Albemarle, NC, USA

problem #9

Feb 122015

Sorento

  • 69,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Was driving at a 35 mph speed when I tried to break and instead the vehicle accelerated causing me to hit the vehicle I front of me. It was at the shop for repair for a week the breaks where checked. 2 hours after the car was out the shop I was turning when instead of breaking it accelerates again causing the veh to loose control and hit the curb. I only had the sub for 3 months and nearly cause accidents 3 times... also on the highway the brakes won't work I have to press on the brake pedal very hard and still takes a long time to brake. The vehicle is not safe at all.

- Houston , TX, USA

problem #8

Sep 132014

Sorento 6-cyl

  • 116,000 miles
I have had nothing but problems with my 2008 Kia, first it was the front rotors replaced three times within 3 mos. After multiple diagnoses to figure out the problem. I have had acceleration problems, I just put $800 in new rotors and tires and fuel/air induction services. Then the other day driving 45 mph the vehicle started to shake, making a thud thud thud noise in the front end, felt like I had a flat tire, I pulled over, no flat tires. I started driving again and it happened again, worse than the first time it sounded like a helicopter in my vehicle and it vibrated and while slowly driving it felt like it was gliding. I was afraid the wheels were going to fall off, I took it to the dealer immediately and they called me later with the diagnoses of a carrier bearing coming apart, the carrier bearings are not able to be replaced alone, the whole drive shaft has to be replaced as in this model it is all one piece. To replace the drive shaft it will cost $1100 to replace. I declined the repairs I can not afford that, especially after all the money I have had to invest in this vehicle just to keep it running. I feel Kia should stand behind their products, I will never buy another Kia. Thank you for your time in this matter.

- Chandler, AZ, USA

problem #7

Oct 222008

Sorento

  • 30,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that there was an abnormal increase in braking distance. The contact changed the brakes and rotors but the problem persisted. The manufacturer was notified. The vehicle was still repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 30,000.

- Woodbridge, VA, USA

problem #6

Sep 092011

Sorento 6-cyl

  • 31,072 miles
I was leaving la going over the grapevine on the freeway, after reaching the top I started on the down side of the grade when the brakes went out completely.traffick everywhere barely made it to safety, without hitting two autos in front of me! I was scared to death.the master cylinder $438.58 went out. September 18th2013,5:40am, no power to engine the gas pedal was not working could not go more than 20 miles an hour, I was in traffic and was almost rear ended when it happened all at once.the electric gas pedal went out!. repair cost $430.mileage only43069.

- Carmichael, CA, USA

problem #5

Dec 292008

Sorento 4WD 6-cyl

  • 1,960 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I have a 2008 Kia Sorento that has had the front rotors replaced three times due to warping. I am about to replace them for the fourth time at 79,000 miles. I believe that the brakes on this SUV are inadequate for this vehicle. Kia has informed me that since the SUV is out of warranty it does not feel it has any responsibility. I believe that since this rotor warping problem has happened so many times that it is a design issue with the brakes and should be covered by a recall. I hope enough consumers? complain so that the ntsb does an investigation.

- Clinton, CT, USA

problem #4

Dec 012009

Sorento 6-cyl

  • 9,000 miles
Bought the vehicle brand new and noticed you have to depress the brake pedal all the way down in order for the vehicle to slow down and stop. Spoke to the dealership and they said all Kia Sorento models are like this, you have to press hard down on the brake pedal for vehicle to slow down and finally stop and it takes a while for it to respond. Having owned several vehicles and driving for 15 years, I knew something was wrong with the vehicle braking system but I just dealt with it accepting the answer that Kia Sorento brakes were not going to be as good as other brand brakes (Honda, Toyota, Mazda). I took the vehicle in for regular maintenance and always asked the engineers if they could do something about the brakes and how long it takes to brake (braking distance). I felt unsafe driving this vehicle and ultimately sold after replace brakes and shoe pads. The passenger airbag light was also faulty when an adult would be sitting there and it was not working. There was also a check engine light that would randomly come on as well as the TPMS (tire pressure monitoring system). I took it to the mechanics and Kia dealership and they would just turn off the lights but couldn't explain a reason for these turning on as the vehicle tires and engine were ok. I cannot understand why the braking system was allowed to pass on this vehicle when it was not able to stop at highway speeds in a acceptable time. I hope Kia issues a recall on 2008 Kia Sorento LX models to replace or fix the braking issues because it is very dangerous to be driving on the road and not being able to brake properly.

- Woodbridge, VA, USA

problem #3

Jul 012012

Sorento 6-cyl

  • 60,000 miles
When driving the vehicle on local and highways, the brake does not get activated unless you press the brake pedal all the way down which engages the vehicle in reducing speed but this takes too long. There is no reduction of speed if you press a little or in increments on the brake pedal, the only way the vehicle brakes is you hard press your foot down on the pedal and that takes too long to make it extremely dangerous. When I need to come to a sudden stop the brakes do not engage properly with delay response and I am pressing hard all the way down on the brake pad. I have taken the vehicle to different mechanics and even replaced brake shoes and brake pads, however this problem continues with vehicle taking too long to brake and not braking properly was a problem since I bought the vehicle. I have owned several vehicles in past and am very familiar with car braking systems and the response times needed to brake. The braking system on this vehicle is faulty and is unsafe and does not meet standards to approve this vehicle for safe driving.

- Woodbridge, VA, USA

problem #2

Dec 212006

Sorento 6-cyl

  • 80,000 miles
While driving down road, car was bearly pulling. Noticed smoke on front passenger side of car. Stopped and checked under hood and saw nothing. Walked around car and flames were coming out of wheel area. Had car towed. Had new caliper, rotor, and brake pads put on. Drove about a week. And began doing the same thing. Had car towed to mechanic shop, 4th day there the brakes went totally out. Car crashed through the door of shop and hit pole. Car in still at body shop some parts were hard to find. Still will have to get brakes fixed when I get car this week. I have been without my car since January 2013. This is March 27th 2013.

- Lewisville, AR, USA

problem #1

Sep 112012

Sorento 6-cyl

  • 60,300 miles
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.

- El Cajon, CA, USA

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