2008 Kia Sorento Electrical System Problems

My 2008 Kia Sorento parked inside a garage for 2 days, not running, not idling, without the key in the ignition, all of a sudden cut fire by itself, consuming the entire engine compartment and part of the front seat, and also caused substantial damage to the the garage. Filed a claim with Kia which denied responsibilities. The incident occurred in December 26, 2025, and was waiting for Kia decision before further action

My ABS sent codes saying there's moisture in the ABS Module,Brake Light Switch may malfunction are cause Accidents due to malfunction of Brake Lights...

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.

Even after having the ESC and relay box replaced the vehicle has become much worse. It's shuts down my accelerator pedal and won't move I have to shut it off completely for it to reset its extremely unsafe and is now affecting my job. And the ability to take car of my son. And Kia wants to charge me $200 plus for a diagnosis when it clearly keeps shutting down the vehicle and the esc off light is on. I even replaced the accelerator pedal assembly $180 and it did not fix the problem please help. Also this has been an on going issue since August 2020 and even after running diagnostic on it. I keep getting the run around from everyone stating a different issue each time.

RECEIVED INTERIM NOTICE FROM KIA DATED 4/8/2020 THAT THE HECU ASSEMBLY CONTROLLING THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE, AND THAT IT CAN CAUSE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT FIRE IF "MOISTURE" ENTERS THE HECU, EVEN IF THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF AND PARKED. MY LOCAL KIA DEALER HAS NOT RECEIVED THE REQUIRED PARTS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. IT IS NERVE WRECKING WHILE I'M DRIVING, PARKING OUTSIDE AND NOT KNOWING WHEN THIS WILL BE RESOLVED. THIS IS MY ONLY VEHICLE!!! I HAVE CONTACTED KIA AND ALL THEY EXPLAIN IS THAT THEY ARE WORKING ON THE REMEDY BUT THAT PARTS ARE NOT YET AVAILABLE. PLEASE PROVIDE UPDATE AS TO WHEN KIA WILL BE RESOLVING THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU!!! *TR

THE MANUFACTURER HAS ISSUED A RECALL REGARDING A REMEDY ON HECU REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT. THEY ARE ASKING US TO PARK OUR CAR AWAY FROM OTHER VEHICLE BECAUSE THE RECALLED CAR MAY GET IN FIRE. HOW THE OTHER PEOPLE MAY KNOW TO PARK AWAY FROM MY DEFECTIVE CAR. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE FOR ME AND FOR OTHER PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY. THIS IS THE ONLY CAR I HAVE AND I HAVE TO USE IT EVERY DAY. IF KIA IS NOT ABLE TO FIX THE RECALL ,THEY MUST PROVIDE ME WITH A SUBSTITUTE CAR UNTIL THEY CAN REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PART. *TR

MY LEFT TAIL LIGHT IS OUT. I HAVE GONE TO THE MECHANIC, CHANGED THE LIGHT BULB BUT NO FIX. I WAS ADVISED THERE WAS SOME SORT OF SHORT HAPPENING FROM KIA THROUGH A RECALL LETTER. SINCE I'VE RECEIVED THE LETTER NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. I WAS TOLD NOT TO DRIVE THE CAR AND TO PARK IT AWAY FROM OTHER CARS IN CASE OF IT CATCHING FIRE. I LIVE IN THE BAY AREA AND DO NOT HAVE THE LUXURY OF PARKING IT AWAY FROM OTHER CARS, THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE. I NEED TO KNOW WHEN THEY'RE GOING TO FIX THIS? I CAN'T MOVE AROUND WITHOUT MY CAR AND I ALSO FEAR FOR MY NEIGHBORS ASSETS IF THIS CAR WOULD TO IGNITE AS THE RECALL STATES. PLEASE HELP AND ADVISE ON WHAT CAN BE DONE TO SOLVE THIS ISSUE PROMPTLY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SORENTO. WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD. THE CONTACT SCHEDULED A DIAGNOSTIC APPOINTMENT WITH BOB MOORE KIA NORTHWEST (7340 NORTHWEST EXPY, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73132, (405) 720-3800) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

ON 01/24/2019 AT APPROXIMATELY AROUND 6:00 I WAS ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A U TURN ON E. BEARESS AVE IN FRONT OF MORT ELEM SCHOOL IN TAMPA FLA WHEN MY 2008 KIA SORENTO CUT OFF THEN COULD NT GET IT TO COME AS I WAS TURNING THE KEY SO I HAD AND OFFICER BEHIND HELP ME PUSH IT OUT THE ROAD AS GOT IT LET THE HOOD UP WE NOTICE IT WAS ON FIRE ON THE DRIVER SIDE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS DISPATCHED THEY CAME OUT ASSESS THE DAMAGE TOOK PICTURES AND RULED OUT FJRE DUE TO ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS THEY UNHOOKED THE BATTERY TO PREVENT FURTHER FIRE VIN# IS. (XXXX) CAN PROVIDE FIRE REPORT BUR NOT AT THE MOMENT PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

WHEN IT'S HUMID OUTSIDE OR THERE IS ANY KIND OF MOISTURE IN THE AIR MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON ALONG WITH THE ESC LIGHT. THE CAR SEEMS BOGGED DOWN AND WONT GO ABOVE 2000 RPM. IT TAKES 15 MINUTES JUST TO GET THE CAR UP TO 50 MPH AND THATS WITH THE GAS PEDDLE PUSHED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. IT DOES IT MAINLY WHEN I'M DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHICH IS SCARY. IT LOOSES MOST OF ITS ACCELERATION POWER

SUNDAY SEPT 9TH AT AROUND 9 - 9:30 AM I SMELLED SMOKE AND WALKED AROUND THE HOUSE AND SMELLED THAT IT WAS COMING FROM THE GARAGE. WHEN I OPENED THE DOOR I SAW FLAMES UNDERNEATH THE CAR AND SMOKE AND FIRE ON TOP OF THE HOOD. I CALLED THE PALM BAY FIRE DEPARTMENT WHEN THEY GOT THERE THEY PUT THE HOSE ON THE CAR UNTIL THE FIRE WAS OUT THEY HAD TO CUT THE HOOD IN ORDER TO FINISH PUTTING OUT THE FIRE. THEY FIRE MARSHALL CAME AND INSPECTED THE VEHICLE IT COULD HAVE BEEN AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. WHEN I CALLED KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE THEY GAVE ME A CLAIM NUMBER AND THEY TOLD ME WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE KIA DO FOR YOU . THE CUSTOMER SERVICE AGENT SAID THEY WILL GIVE THE CLAIM TO THE RIGHT DEPARTMENT AND THEY WILL GET BACK TO ME IN 3 TO 5 BUSINESS DAYS. THIS HAPPENED WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE AND IT HADN'T BEEN TURNED ON SINCE FRIDAY . THIS VEHICLE WAS A 2008 SORENTO WITH LESS THAN 90,000 MILES IT WAS IN GREAT CONDITION ALSO.

THE ELECTRONICAL PARTS OF THE IGNITION SWITCH WENT OUT AT THE SAME TIME THE BATTERY AND THE STARTER DID . THEN ON TOP OF MY ESC RANDOMLY COMING ON AND EVERY TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED IT MADE IT TO WHERE I COULDN'T GO ABOVE 5 MILES HAVE TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND THEN RESTART IT MULTIPLE TIMES JUST SO I CAN DIVE HOME THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE I HAVE HAD HE VEHICLE NOVEMBER 2016

I DROVE MY 08 KIA SORENTO HOME AT ABOUT 730 AM. I WORK NIGHT SHIFT AND WENT TO SLEEP AND WAS WOKEN UP AT 945 BY EMS TO MY CAR UP IN FLAMES. IT WAS SHOWING NO SIGNS OF ANY PROBLEMS, NOT RUNNING HOT, NOTHING. IT WAS PARKED FOR ABOUT AN HOUR WHEN IT WENT UP IN FLAMES. THE FIRE CHIEF WAS ON THE TRUCK THAT DAY AS HE HAD ORIENTEE'S, AND SAID THE FIRE STARTED BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL/DASH AND THAT IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL ENGINE FIRE WHICH IS STATED ON MY FIRE REPORT. I CONTACTED KIA THEY TOLD ME IT WAS NO WAY IT WAS THEIR PROBLEM AND HAD TO BE A USER ERROR. I HAVE PHOTOS BUT MY COMPUTER WOULD NOT LET ME UPLOAD THEM FOR A REASON.

I WAS READIND DOWN BEARESS AVE IN TAMPA FLA IAS I WAS RIDING MY TRUCK WENT INTO FLAMES AS SOON AS I LEFT MY HOME AT THE TIME NOT EVEN A HALF MILES THE HILSS COUNTY SHERIFF DID LET THE HOOD UP ATTEMPTED TO PUT THE FIRE OUT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT MY INSURANCE DID COVER CAUSE I IHAD PIP THE TOW TRUCK CAME AND PUT. THEFIRE OUT THE CAUSE WAS ELACTRIC BATTERY BURNED UP CABLES ETC

I WAS IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT 8/18/17 TOSSED BACK AND FORTH LIKE A RAG DOLL MY AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY ON IMPACT UNTIL THE 4TH TIME AND I WAS KNOCK OUT UNCONSCIOUS. DON'T RECALL MY SEAT BELT WORKED I RECALL BEING TOSSED BACK AND FORTH BACK AND FORTH AND TOOK MY LAST BREATH. THIS IS MY 3 TIME DOING THIS. IT WAS MOVING I WAS HIT IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR

EXITING A STRIP CENTER TO CROSS 2 LANES OF TRAFFIC AND MAKE A LEFT TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC, I ACCELERATED IN A SAFE GAP ONLY TO FIND MY VEHICLE HAD ALMOST NO ACCELERATION. I WAS NEARLY IN A SIDE IMPACT COLLISION IF NOT FOR THE EXCELLENT AWARENESS AND REACTION OF THE OTHERS ON THE ROAD. I PULLED IMMEDIATELY INTO A PARKING LOT TO TRY TO FIND OUT WHAT HAD HAPPEN. AT THIS TIME MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THE ESC OFF LIGHT WERE ON. THEY WERE NOT WENT I STARTED THE TRIP FROM MY HOUSE ABOUT 1 MILE AWAY. I SHUT THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED AND THE ESC OFF LIGHT WAS NO LONGER THERE, BUT THE CHECK ENGINE WAS. THE NORMAL POWER HAD BEEN RESTORED BACK TO MY CAR. I DROVE TO AN AUTO PARTS SHOP AND HAD THEM PULL CODES ON THE VEHICLE. IT RETURNED 2 CODES: 1. P2138 (THROTTLE/PEDAL POSITION SENSOR/SWITCH "D"/"E" VOLTAGE CORRELATION, 2. P2106 (THROTTLE ACTUATOR CONTROL SYSTEM - FORCED LIMITED POWER). I ASKED THEM TO CLEAR THE CODES AND THEY DID. MY DRIVE HOME TRIGGERED NO LIGHTS. AFTER A MONTH THE SAME ISSUE HAPPENED AND I CLEARED THE CODES ONCE AGAIN. IT NOW HAPPENS 6 MONTHS TO YEAR MOSTLY WHEN THE TEMPERATURE GET REALLY WAR (USUALLY JULY). I GOT ON THE INTERNET TO RESEARCH THE ISSUE AND WAS AMAZED TO FIND HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE HAVING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. ALL WERE THE SAME STORY OF SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED LOSS OF POWER, BOTH LIGHTS ON, NEAR ACCIDENTS, FEAR FOR ONE'S SAFETY. LITERALLY HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS. THERE WERE MANY POSTS OF THOSE THAT WENT TO DEALER OR CALLED KIA WITH EITHER EXORBITANT REPAIR COSTS, LACK OF CONCERN, AND NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE ISSUE. FOR MOST, THE PROBLEM WAS NEVER COMPLETELY SOLVED WITH DEALER REPAIRS AND INTERMITTENTLY HAPPENS. THIS IS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM AND PEOPLE WILL DIE, OR MOST LIKELY ALREADY HAVE. TOO MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM NOT TO HAVE A RECALL FOR KIA OWNERS AND THEIR CHILDREN'S SAFETY. PLEASE HELP.

MY 2008 KIA SORENTO HAS HAD NUMEROUS INSTANCES OF THE REAR TAILLIGHT/SIGNALLIGHT FAILING TO OPERATE CORRECTLY. THE VEHICLE DOES HAVE A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE FOR WHICH IT WAS TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE AND THE DEALERSHIP HAS SINCE WORKED ON THE VEHICLE TO REMEDY THE SITUATION A NUMBER OF TIMES. THEY HAVE SAID AND NOTED THAT IN A PRIOR VISIT THEY REPLACED THE STOPLIGHT SWITCH. HOWEVER THE PROBLEM CONTINUES AND I HAVE BEEN CITED A NUMBER OF TIMES WITH A WARNING FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT. ATTACHED IS ONE OF THE RECEIPTS FROM THE DEALERSHIP NOTING THE RECALL AND PROBLEM. NOW, THE DEALERSHIP IS INSISTING THAT WE SHOULD PAY FOR THE LATEST ATTEMPT TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, ALTHOUGH THE ISSUE HAS NEVER BEEN FIXED WITHOUT A RECURRENCE OF THE ISSUE. THE REAR TAILLIGHT/SIGNAL LIGHT FAILS TO ILLUMINATE.

WE WERE RETURNING HOME FROM THE STORE SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND THE KEY WOULD NOT COME OUT . TWO HOURS LATER WE WERE ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY. IF THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN AN EMERGENCY WE WOULD HAVE BEEN DELAYED BECAUSE WE COULD NOT GET THE KEY OUT. *JS

BACKED OUT OF DRIVEWAY, CHECK ENGINE & ESC OFF LIGHT CAME ON, WOULDN'T ACCELERATE OVER 20MPH. BROUGHT BACK HOME AND PARKED. FEW HOURS LATER TOOK GRANDDAUGHTER TO DENTIST AND ONLY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. DIDN'T GO OFF UNTIL TOOK TO AUTO ZONE ON ASHEVILLE HWY, KNOXVILLE, TN. AFTER PLACING ON DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE AND GIVING A PRINT OUT OF PROBABLE CAUSES, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT OFF. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP ON 7/29 AND WOULDN'T EXCEPT DIAGNOSIS SINCE THEY DIDN'T PERFORM. WAS SHOWING ELECTRICAL AND VALVE PROBLEMS. STATED UNABLE TO REPAIR DUE TO LIGHTS NOT BEING ON WHEN CAR WAS AT THE KIA DEALERSHIP. STATED REPLACED THE PROBLEM WITH RECALL. HOWEVER, NOW STATING MOTOR SEALS NEED REPLACED WHICH IS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. UNSURE IF OTHER ISSUE HAS BEEN RESOLVED DUE TO NO ISSUES SINCE FRIDAY. *TR

CURRENT AND ONGOING PROBLEMS BEGAN JUST A FEW DAYS AFTER RECEIVING A NOTICE OF RECALL FROM KIA REGARDING THE FAULTY/DEFECTIVE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. THE SWITCH WAS FAULTY AND THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH NO BRAKE LIGHTS COMING ON UPON BRAKING AS WELL AS "ESC OFF" AND "CHECK ENGINE" MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHTS APPEARING AND STAYING ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THE VEHICLE WAS PROMPTLY TAKEN TO A KIA DEALERSHIP WHERE THE RECALL SERVICE WAS PERFORMED. REPLACEMENT OF A FAILED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH UNDER THE RECALL CAMPAIGN DID NOT ELIMINATE THE PROBLEMS/CODES THAT BEGAN WHEN THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILED. SHORTLY AFTER THE REPAIR (LESS THAN A MONTH AFTERWARD AND VERY FEW MILES DRIVEN) THE "ESC OFF" AND "CHECK ENGINE" MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHTS APPEARED, STAYED, THEN CAME ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY WITH ENGINE NOT GOING OVER PAST APPROXIMATELY 2,000 RPMS RESULTING IN UNPREDICTABLE VEHICLE BEHAVIOR ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO MERGING ONTO A HIGHWAY/INTERSTATE OR GETTING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE SERVICE ADVISORS GAVE ASSURANCES THAT THE NEW BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH IS NOT DEFECTIVE. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE SERVICE ADVISORS/TECHNICIANS COULD NOT SPECIFICALLY DIAGNOSE WHAT NEEDS REPLACEMENT TO ULTIMATELY SOLVE THIS ONGOING PROBLEM OR IF IT IS RELATED TO THE FAILURE OF THE OF THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. *TR