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.
Compotent : Throttle position Sensor Risk\ High level to vehicle occupants Highest to pedestrians Unfortunately, after inspection was TOTALED inforrned us of an investigation currently, by NHTSA regarding throttle components. The insurance adjuster was a forrner mechanic. there wear warning lights on to indicate a problem
While operating my vehicle I experienced sluggishness and power failure. Sorento became disabled on main road while driving to work. Vehicle was towed to the closest Kia dealership where they performed a diagnostic test. Maintenance test and Parts Department revealed the that the power shortage was possibly from a Brake fluid leakage inside the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU). This also caused the engine to seize and the only remedy was a new engine. He also stated that the repair was not covered under warranty due to the open recall that was not completed. I did explain to the repair center that I was never made aware of any on going recalls from the dealer where I purchased the vehicle either by mail, phone call or email as well as from Kia corporate. The parts department provided me with the contact information for Kia Headquarters to assist me. Kia Headquarters provided me with a case number 14188680 and that they would contact the dealer and get back to me. After a couple days with no response, I called back with the case number, however, I got a new customer service rep. who said that nothing has been completed yet. This went on for a couple weeks with me calling to try to get updates and contacting the dealership parts department who said that their headquarters has not contacted the dealership and that according to their policy with Kia corporate the replacement of the engine would be at my expense. The estimated cost was quoted at about $8,000 dollars. I told the parts department at the dealership that I did not understand, how could I be responsible if the engine was a defect and I received no word of a recall from Kia. The parts department response was that is Kia Headquarters policy that they recall had to be completed or Kia was not responsible.
I was told by the dealer that my wheel speed sensor needs replacing. I checked online and Kia issued a recall for this but was told that my VIN# wasn't on the list and I would have to pay for the full repair. I checked a number of online forums and though it seems that Kia has issued a recall but then knowingly removed a number of vehicles by VIN# from recall list. The dealer wants to charge me $310 for the sensor and $270 for the labor. This need to be investigated and the company should cover all vehicles issued as they ran a campaign to cover the wheel speed sensor before corruption then purposely excluded vehicles from getting the repair and now has damage to the sensor.
A few months back, maybe osept/Oct my ABS light, tire pressure light came on (yellow) and I had it checked and they said it was a wheel sensior and its very costly so as of yet it hasnt been fixed. Now yesterday my brake light at the bottom of my dash came on (red) and its a double and said break. I dont know why im having so many problems with this car but it will be my last Kia. I own 2 and both have had problems and I keep both serviced on time and get what is needed done
- Lake Placid, FL, USA
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I purchased this vehicle less than 2 months go. I was driving on the highway and came to a red light. The car jerked and did not want to move when the light turned green. I came to a second red light and the light turned green as I press the gas the car shut off in the middle of heavy traffic. I could not get the car to crank again. I finally got help from someone who help push the car to a near parking lot.
Radio came on by itself, passenger driver side window went down by itself, sometimes my cruise control will work other times I have a hard time getting it to set. The vehicle was in motion on the highway. Engine oil was black even though I just had an oil change
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving 55 mph, the vehicle stalled with the check engine warning light illuminated. Additionally, on several occasions the vehicle hesitated to accelerate above 25 mph with the accelerator pedal depressed. The accelerator pedal was released and depressed and the vehicle accelerated to 50 mph up hill. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the fuel lever limit bolt needed to be replaced. The vehicle was taken to Kia of chattanooga (2136 chapman rd, chattanooga, tn 3742, 423 855-1022) however, the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure of retrieve a fault code due to the check engine warning light not being illuminated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 143,670.
My son was pulled over and the officer said there were no operating rear lights. Noticed that you have to turn them on and off to come on. Then on another day there were no brakes gets lights either. I informed southwest Kia mesquite of the problem. They said that it was the light switch because one of their other models have the same issue and there was a recall on that model. They charged me to fix this saying although it was recalled in their other model the Sorento was not recalled. After they installed they said I should have no problems with the lights and brake lights. They even did another insepction a week or so later (12/20/2019) saying that my car was safe to travel and everything was fine. While on the road trip with my family we noticed that the two main brake lights were not working and the cruise control was not working. We tried turning lights on and off and they still didnt work. Kia has placed my family in danger. We are out of state and have no way of getting the car back to Texas safely. Kia has exhausted all of my money and they have not fixed anything. The car is unsafe. I googled and found thatb a lot of people are driving around with Kia's with no brake lights. They wont own up that something is wring with the Sorento, cruise control system, back and brake lights. My rear lights shut off in the middle of driving. Is Kia waiting for fatalities before they deal with this safety issues with the Sorento" how mucch longer are they going to continue to rip people off and leave them and their families unsafe" I Transport kids as I am a child protective services caseworker and this vehicle is not safe for anyone. Its unfortunate that Kia has exhausted all of my funds that I can't rent nor get another car while out of state for christmas stuck on the road.
Car started making knocking noises from engine and got louder as my husband accelerated. Car then hesitated to accelerated and eventually stalled. This is dangerous!
This vehicle was purchased Dec 1 2018 and the knock sensor failed on the trip back from the dealership. It was replaced and now April 22nd 2019 less than 5 months later it has failed again and left me stranded. The check engine light is flashing and the vehicle is stuck in limp mode. This model is known for this problem and should be added to the recall list.
When I turn a corner, my Kia sputter to get around the corner. This problem has almost caused me to be in a couple of accidents. I advised the dealer before about this problem and was told, "my car is ok". this is not ok. Also, when accelerating, it sounds like the transmission or some other component is slipping. It rpms goes high before decreasing back down to get into next gear. I've expressed this to the dealership as well and was told once they drove my car, "they didn't notice any change". when going up a hill, I have to press all the way down on the gas to get up the hill which causes the RPM to raise and it sounds like it's stuck in a gear or something. These issues needs to be rectified immediately. This is not normal for a car to do this. It frustrates me to tell the dealership what's going on with my car and nothing is being done. I am the one who drives my car everyday and I know when something isn't right. How can a dealership tell you what your saying isn't correct when they don't drive your car everyday? for me to have purchased this car 1 year and 4 months ago with only 2,500 miles on a 2015 Kia, I really shouldn't be having these many problems. It almost make me feel like the odometer was rolled back. Just my opinion.
V6 engine stalls randomly when accelerating into or across traffic.. Kia service dept. Unable to find cause with using electronic testing equipment. Stalling is random and unable to replicate with service dept personnel. A real safety issue.
I was turning into a parking space in a parking garage with my foot just barley on the brake whenthe car accelerated very fast and cause me to hit a concret wall. I tried to stop it but it didn't stop until it hit the wall knocking me almost out of the parking space. This has never happen before since I have had the car.
The contact rented a 2015 Kia Sorento. While driving at approximately 35 mph over railroad tracks, the steering wheel seized and excessive force was required. The contact also stated that the vehicle independently accelerated without warning. The failure caused the vehicle to crash into the post of a billboard. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained a vertebrae, neck, and back injuries and head traumas that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 17,000.....updated 06/21/17 updated 9/11/2017
This Kia was rented from enterprise due to my car being in the shop. I found steering problems with this car as with the braking system already which I found odd as this is supposedly a brand new vehicle. Not only that it races intermittently sometimes more than 10 miles or so & at other it slows down even though the gas pedal is being pressed on. On December 1, 2014 I was driving home after visiting a friend who was returning to Ohio for college. Following the road, I had to cross some railroad tracks to as I was veering slightly left. This Kia steering locked & accelerated to approximately 40 or so miles, went off the railroad tracks & hit the mental posts holding a billboard. I was not drinking at all & was wearing my seatbelt. Airbags did not deploy & due to seatbelt, my back is broken & received major lacerations to my right eye & face. I was transported to 2 trauma units. This Kia Sorento has had steering & power problems since 2013 and unfortunate for me, I thought these issues were fixed & redesigned.....updated 06/21/17 updated 9/8/2017
I was driving my new Kia Sorento on a two lane road. While driving in a passing zone going 50-55 mph, I attempted to pass a truck. My right hand bumped the gear shift to the left (at that time I had no idea that by slightly bumping the gear shift the vehicle went from automatic to manual...there is also a boot over the gear shift that prevents visual confirmation that the vehicle is in a different mode ). while attempting to pass the truck, my vehicle would not accelerate past 55-60 for approximately 11 seconds. I narrowly missed a head on collision with another vehicle. After understanding that the gear shift was bumped into a manual position, I have tried changing my vehicle from automatic to manual at many different speeds then attempting to accelerate. Sometimes the vehicle will accelerate and other times acceleration won't occur for 11 seconds. I have tried similar maneuvers in Cadillac SUVS, Volvo SUVS, and a Subaru SUV and there was no acceleration delay regardless of speed. I feel this is a setup for a deadly situation.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Rockmart, GA, USA