2011 Kia Sorento Complaint Log

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON A 2 LANE ROAD WITH PEOPLE BEHIND ME. MY CAR MADE A SOUND LIKE A ROCK ROLLING AROUND IN AN EMPTY WATER BOTTLE THEN ALL THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS TURNED ON AND THE ENGINE DIED. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER WITH A GREAT DEAL OF STRENGTH APPLIED TO THE STEERING WHEEL. I CALLED KIA IMMEDIATELY AND THEY HAD IT TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP WITHIN THE HOUR. THE DEALERSHIP IS NOW CLAIMING I HAD A COOLANT LEAK WHICH CAUSED THE CAR TO OVERHEAT BUT I HAD NO INDICATIONS PRIOR THAT THE CAR WAS OVERHEATING. THEY SAID THIS IS PROBABLY NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY SINCE ITS A LEAK AND IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DISCOVERED EARLIER. *TR

DURING EARLY MORNING STARTUP, VEHICLE ACCELERATED PAST 3000 RPM FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 SECONDS. AFTER DECELERATION, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED TO DRIVE, A LOUD THUMP WAS HEARD AND A FORWARD THRUST WAS FELT. NO FORWARD MOTION OCCURRED BECAUSE OF BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSION. *TR

REAR SUN ROOF EXPLODED. TRAVELING ALONG I-4 ABOUT 55 MPH WHEN THERE WAS A LARGE GUN SHOT SOUND SO WE LOOKED AROUND FOR ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT MIGHT HAVE MADE THE NOISE BUT THERE WAS NO CAR WITHIN 50-60 YARDS BEHIND OR IN FRONT. THEN WE HEARD SOMETHING RUMBLING ON ROOF WHICH WAS GLASS. LUCKILY THE ROOF WAS INTACT BUT THE VERY SIDES OF THE GLASS ROOF WERE BREAKING UP IN A LONG SLENDER LINE. NOW AFTER A FEW MILES GETTING HOME THE CENTER IS STARTING TO BREAK UP. THE CAR HAD BEEN PARKED IN THE GARAGE FOR 7 WEEKS WHILE I WAS IN THE UK AND ONLY TOOK IT OUT OF GARAGE. I HAVE BEEN IN THE UK MOTOR TRADE 50 YEARS AND NEVER SEEN GLASS GIVE WAY LIKE THIS. IT APPEARS AS IF SOMEBODY TRIED TO PUSH THE TWO SIDES OF THE CAR INWARDS CAUSING THE ROOF TO EXPLODE. THERE IS NO OTHER DAMAGE AT ALL AND NO DEBRIS HIT MY ROOF. UPDATED 1/7/14*CN UPDATED 01/09/14*LJ UPDATED 01/09/14

THE SEAT BELT LIGHTS WILL FLASH AND THERE IS A CLICKING SOUND IN THE LEFT SIDE B-PILLAR GOING DOWN THE ROAD WITH ALL THE PASSENGERS BUCKLED IN. THE HEADLAMPS WILL FLASH ON AND OFF AFTER DARK AND NOW THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT WILL NOT LIGHT EVEN IF THERE IS A PASSENGER IN THE CAR. I RETURNED THE CAR TO THE KIA DEALER IN CHATTANOOGA TN. AND THEY SAID IF THEY CAN'T DUPLICATE THE ACTION THEY CAN'T FIX IT. I CALLED KIA CORP. AND THEY ALSO STATE THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE OWNERS MANUAL STATES IF THE SEAT BELT LIGHT IS FLASHING THEN THE SEAT BELTS ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. *TR

DRIVER ON SIDE-STREET TRIED TO CUT ACROSS MAIN ROAD DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME CAUSING ME TO SWERVE TO AVOID HER. MY KIA SORENTO THEN HIT A BRICK WALL AND A 2,000+ POUND CAST IRON ENTRANCE GATE. NONE OF MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED! THAT IS WHY I BOUGHT THE CAR, FOR SAFETY FOR MY NEW FAMILY. BY THE LOOKS OF THE DAMAGE AND WHERE THE IMPACT WAS, THE OFFICERS AND I WERE ALL SURPRISED THAT AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. HAD I HAD A PASSENGER OR WAS NOT WEARING MY SEATBELT, THERE COULD HAVE BEEN SOME SERIOUS INJURY AS A RESULT OF THE IMPACT. PICTURES CAN BE FURNISHED TO DOCUMENT THE IMPACT AND DAMAGE TO THE 2011 KIA SORENTO LX AWD. *TR

SIGNIFICANT SIDE IMPACT ON FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR, BUT SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PASSENGER'S SEAT WAS BROKEN, AND PASSENGER RECEIVED BROKEN RIBS, PUNCTURED LUNG, FRACTURED VERTEBRAE. VEHICLE WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS. *TR

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT ON A COUNTY ROAD, LOUD CLICKING NOISE CAME FROM DASHBOARD, SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT FLASHED ON AND OFF, AND HEADLIGHTS FLASHED OFF ALL AT THE SAME TIME. HEADLIGHTS REMAINED OFF FOR 1-2 SECONDS, CAME BACK ON, AND WENT OFF AGAIN, AND ON AGAIN. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST A DOZEN TIMES SINCE THEN WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, AND ALSO A FEW TIMES DURING THE DAYTIME (I HEAR THE CLICKING AND SEE THE SEAT BELT INDICATOR LIGHT). MECHANICS AT KIA DEALERSHIP SAID THEY "COULD NOT DUPLICATE" AND MADE NO ATTEMPT TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THIS HAPPENS MORE OFTEN WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED (60-70 MPH). IT HAS ALSO HAPPENED TWICE AFTER STOPPING THE CAR AND SHUTTING OFF THE IGNITION. IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN AND MAKES ME AFRAID TO DRIVE AT NIGHT! *TR

WILL INTERMITTENT TURN ON DURING DRIVING AND STAY ON. IF YOU STOP AND TURN OFF CAR AND THEN RESTART MAY OR MAY NOT RETURN ON. CAR AS A BIT OF A SHAKE TO IT SOME TIMES. HAD CRUISE CONTROL NOT TURN ON. ELECTRICAL SEEMS WACKY IN THE VEHICLE. ALSO HAD IT BEEN STUCK IN PARK OR TIMES COULD NOT MOVE THE SHIFTER TO PARK OR REVERSE. SERIOUSLY NEEDS TO BE REVIEWED. ALL THESE ISSUES HAPPEN INTERMITTENT AND NEVER WHEN NEAR THE KIA DEALERSHIP. VEHICLE 90% OF THE TIME HAS BEEN WONDERFUL, HOWEVER THERE ARE ISSUES THAT NEED INVESTIGATED AND CORRECTED FOR EXAMPLE ALL THE ABOVE I HAVE LISTED. *TR

A BANG/THUD HAPPENS WHEN GAS IS APPLIED. SOUND APPEARS TO BE COMING FROM LEFT FRONT ENGINE AREA. CUSTOMER SERVICE REP RODE WITH ME BACK IN 2013, HEARD SOUND, BUT LATER STATED IT WAS "NORMAL". INVOICE STATES NO PROBLEM FOUND. THE CAR WAS RECENTLY TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP FOR THE SAME ISSUE, ONLY ITS LOUDER NOW, WITH NO SOLUTION. I AM GETTING MORE FRUSTRATED. THERE IS CLEARLY SOMETHING WRONG WITH THIS VEHICLE. I PLAN TO TRY ANOTHER DEALERSHIP.

WHEN I PRESS ON OR LET OFF OF THE BRAKE THERE IS A POPPING NOISE. MY EX ALSO HAS A 2012 SORENTO AND HERS DOES THE SAME.

2011 KIA SORENTO. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO THE AUTO FUNCTION OF THE HEATER/AC NOT WORKING. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE AUTO FUNCTION WORKED FOR ANOTHER SIX MONTHS, AND THEN IT STOPPED WORKING AGAIN. THE DEALER REPAIRED IT FOR THE SECOND TIME. SHORTLY AFTER, IT STOPPED WORKING AGAIN. THE DEALER KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS, TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE CONSUMER AND IT WAS WORKING, BUT WAS TOLD IT WASN'T FIXED AND WOULD CONTINUE TO STOP WORKING.

IN LATE 2013 MY DRIVER SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE.THEN THE DRIVERS SIDE BACK DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OR OUT. THEN THE PASSENGER DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE.WE GOT THIS FIXED BECAUSE MY MOTHER IS ELDELY AND NEEDED TO BE ABLE TO EASILY OPEN HER DOOR. THIS WAS A COST OF 600.00. TO FIX THE BACK DOOR THEY WERE GOING TO CHARGE AN ADDTIONAL 600 OR MORE DEPENDING ON IF THEY BROKE THE DOOR PANEL , WE WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THAT AT OUR OWN COST TODAY MY PASSENGER BACK DOOR STOPPED OPENING FROM THE OUTSIDE. MY SON HAS TO CLIMB OVER THE SEATS TO LET HIS BROTHER IN. WHAT IF THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT IN WATER OR A FIRE AND MY CHILDREN WERE UNABLE TO OPEN THEIR DOORS .THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. THIS IS NO DOUBT A SAFETY CONCERN.

PROBLEMS WITH REMOTE KEY FOB,WONT LOCK VIA REMOTE KEY FOB.VEHCILE WON'T LOCK VIA KEY. VEHICLE WON'T START VIA KEYLESS PUSH BUTTON START WITHOUT KEY FOB IN THE CONSOLE RECEPTACLE. WITH VEHICLE RUNNING,IF KEY IS REMOVED-VEHICLE REMAINS RUNNING AND WON'T SOUND BELL OR SHUTOFF ENGINE SAME PROBLEM IN SUMMER/2012 DEALER REPLACED BATTERY THEN,WITH 22,500 MILES ON VEHICLE. AT DEALERSHIP NOW 9/14/13 WAITING FOR FIX WITH 35,500 MILES ON KIA SORENTO. DEALERSHIP SAYS THERE IS ALSO SOME KIND OF ECM REFLASH THAT IS DUE FOR MY VEHICLE,NOW. STILL WAITING 2HRS NOW. *TR

2 DAYS AGO WHILE DRIVING HEARD LOUD SOUND, WHOA, COULD NOT DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED IT. THIS MORNING IN MY GARAGE STARTED FOR DAILY DRIVE, WHEN I PUT CAR FROM PARK TO REVERSE WAS LOUD CLUNK SOUND. PUT BACK IN PARK DID THIS 3 OR 4 TIMES LOUD CLUNKING WITH JOLTING SEEM TO LUNGE FORWARD. VIOLENT SOUND AND FEEL. NO WARNING LIGHTS ARE ILLUMINATED.MY HUSBAND GOT IN CAR, HE EXPERIENCED THE SAME. I CALLED KIA SERVICE, THEY TOLD ME TO CALL ROADSIDE FOR TOW. HE TOLD ME THEN IT WOULD BE A 1 DAY JOB. HE SEEMED FAMILIAR WHAT I DESCRIBED. TOWED TO DEALER, THEY CALLED ME LATER OF COURSE THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. WE EXPLAINED OVER THE PHONE IT HAS TO BE SOMETHING DUE TO LOUD SOUNDS, CLUNKING METAL SOUND, COULD NOT PUT IN GEAR. THEY KEPT THE CAR OVER NIGHT, TO TRY AGAIN IN THE MORNING, THEY ARE CONTACTING KIA MANUFACTURING FOR ADVICE. NOW I AM READING ALL THESE COMPLAINTS, SOME SOUND EXACTLY LIKE MY EXPERIENCED. I HAVE NO RECALL LETTER OR NOTIFICATIONS. FROM KIA LOSING FAITH IN KIA AND AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE. *TR

STARTED VEHICLE 7AM. SHIFTED FROM P TO R. ENGINE REVVED ON ITS OWN. SHIFTED BACK TO P. OBSERVED CLUNK SOUND FROM TRANSMISSION. SHIFTED BACK TO R AND OBSERVED CLUNK SOUND. REVERSED TO STREET. SHIFTED TO D. VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN WITHOUT DEPRESSION ACCELERATOR TO 20 MPH. PULLED OVER. SHIFTED TO P. TURNED OFF IGNITION. RESTARTED VEHICLE. CLUNK SOUND OR SUDDEN ACCELERATION NOT OBSERVED. *TR

WHILE PULLING INTO PARKING SPACE, CAR BECAME NON-RESPONSIVE TO GAS PEDAL INPUT, BUT BRAKES SILL WORKED. HILL ASST AND ETC LIGHTS LIT UP ON DASH, CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT PAST NEUTRAL. TURNED CAR OFF AND ON AND WAS ABLE TO SHIFT TO PARK. CAR STARTED NORMALLY AFTER BEING SHUT OFF. *JB

WHILE DRIVING OUT OF A PARKING LOT AT ABOUT 10 MPH THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN AND ALL THE DASH LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. I TURNED THE KEY OFF AND ON AND THE CAR RESTARTED, DROVE REST OF DAY WITHOUT INCIDENT. CAR STALLED A SECOND TIME TWO DAYS LATER. *JB

WHEN STARTING VEHICLE, ENGINE REVS UP & WON'T STOP UNTIL VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF. THIS HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY & HAS CONTINUED TO BE A PROBLEM FOR THE LAST 3 YEARS. I HAVE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM SEVERAL TIMES TO MY KIA DEALERSHIP WHERE ALL REGULAR MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN SERVICED SINCE I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN 2010. THEY STATE THEY HAVE NOTED THIS PROBLEM BUT SINCE IT DOESN'T HAPPEN ALL THE TIME, NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. *TR

AROUND THE FIRST OF THIS MONTH I ATTEMPTED TO OPEN MY DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE AND WAS UNABLE TO. I THOUGHT IT WAS THE LOCK ITSELF, BUT AFTER INVESTIGATING A LITTLE FURTHER I REALIZED IT IS THE DOOR HANDLE ITSELF. I ALSO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS WITH MY FUEL DOOR. SOMETIMES IT OPENS WITH THE PUSH BUTTON AND SOMETIMES IT DOES NOT. KIA HAS LOOKED AT THIS AND WAS NOT ABLE TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. *TR

VEHICLE HAD TRANSMISSION SENSOR FIXED IN DECEMBER 2012. VEHICLE WAS JERKING AND WOULD NOT GET INTO GEAR. SUPPOSEDLY FIXED. THIS TIME MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT WITH A FRIEND ON A TWO WAY ROAD, THE VEHICLE STOPPED..COLD...THANK GOD NO ONE WAS HURT. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN UNABLE TO GET INTO GEAR THE LAST FEW MILES. THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT TO COOL AND SHE WAS DRIVING IT TO THE DEALER. NOW BEING TOLD AT 33,000 A NEW TRANSMISSION IS BEING ORDERED. THE CAR APPARENT, STARTS IN THIRD GEAR. STILL UNDER WARRANTY, BUT THE CAR STOPPED DEAD. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A FATAL ACCIDENT HAD SOMEONE BEEN BEHIND HER. PEOPLE MUST BE WARNED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER SHIFTING INTO REVERSE, THE GEAR ERRONEOUSLY SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND FAILED TO RESPOND TO ACCELERATION ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. THE VIN WAS NOT UNAVAILABLE.

I WAS PARKED IN A PARKING SPOT, PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT, WHEN I TRIED TO PUT IT IN DRIVE IT WOULDN'T SHIFT PAST NEUTRAL. IT HAS DONE THIS SIX TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR SINCE THE FIRST INCIDENT BUT HAS BECOME MORE FREQUENT. THIS LAST TIME, THE SAME THING OCCURRED EVERY TIME I PARKED (FOUR TIMES IN ONE DAY). ALSO THE ESC AND DBC LIGHTS COME ON WHEN THIS HAPPENS. I FINALLY DECIDED TO CALL THE DEALERSHIP AND SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT BECAUSE ON THIS SAME DAY, AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE ESC AND DBC LIGHTS CAME ON AND STAYED ON UNTIL I PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. *TR

I CAME TO A STOP, SUDDENLY THE DASH LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING, AND THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. I TURNED THE KEY A COUPLE OF TIMES BUT NOTHING HAPPENED, I TURNED OFF THE RADIO AND THEN TURNED ON MY EMERGENCY FLASHERS. I THEN PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND TURNED THE KEY AGAIN. THIS TIME THE CAR STARTED AND I DROVE IT HOME. TWO DAYS LATER THE SORENTO WAS TAKEN TO THE SHOP. POSSIBLE REASON GIVEN ON THE WORKORDER FOR THE STALLING/SHUTTING DOWN WAS THAT THE GAS TANK HAD BEEN OVERFILLED. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO TOLD MY HUSBAND THAT THIS PROBLEM HAD BEEN REPORTED IN OTHER VEHICLES AND SHOULD BE SOLVED BY THE BRAKE SWITCH RECALL, SERVICE BULLETIN 13V114000. HE EXPLAINED THAT THE ENGINE CONTROL SYSTEM RECEIVES A SIGNAL FROM THE BRAKE SWITCH FOR THE STARTING PROCESS AND, IF THE SIGNAL IS NOT RECEIVED, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START. BECAUSE OF THE FAULTY BRAKE SWITCH, HE STATED THAT IT COULD INTERRUPT THE OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE BY SENDING AN ERRONEOUS SIGNAL TO THE ENGINE CONTROL SYSTEM, ACTIVATING THE "NO START" PROCESS. EVEN WITH THE VEHICLE RUNNING, THIS WOULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO CUT OUT. HE FURTHER STATED THIS RECALL REPLACEMENT OF THE BRAKE LIGHT SIGNAL SWITCH SHOULD CURE THAT PROBLEM. AFTER RUNNING A COMPLETE DIAGNOSTIC CHECK ON THE VEHICLE, THE SERVICE REP SAID THERE WERE NO STORED CODES IN THE ENGINE CONTROL MEMORY INDICATING A FAULT. SINCE SHUTTING THE MOTOR OFF DUE TO AN ERRONEOUS SIGNAL THAT THE BRAKE WAS NOT ENGAGED IS NOT A SET FAULT CODE, THIS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN RECORDED. ALSO, THE REP STATED THAT IF A FAULT HAD OCCURRED, IT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN IN PLACE LONG ENOUGH TO RECORD A FAULT CODE. THOUGH HE DID GIVE THESE ANSWERS VERBALLY, THEY WERE NOT SPECIFICALLY INDICATED ON THE SERVICE INVOICE, AND THIS CONNECTION WAS NOT LISTED ON THE RECALL NOTICE FOR THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. IS THIS KIAS OFFICIAL POSITION THAT THE BRAKE SWITCH RECALL FIXES THE ENGINE SHUTDOWN? *TR

WHILE DRIVING MY 2011 KIA SORENTO IT JUST LOST POWER, IT WOULD NOT GO FORWARD BUT THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING AND ALL THE DASHBOARD IDIOT LIGHTS LIT UP. I WAS IN A PARKING LOT WITH NO ONE BEHIND ME OTHERWISE I WOULD HAVE BEEN REAR-ENDED IF THIS HAPPENED DRIVING ON THE ROAD OR HIGHWAY. THE CAR WOULD NOT GO AND THERE WAS NO STEERING RESPONSE. I TURNED OFF THE KEY TO KILL THE ENGINE AND THEN RESTARTED THE CAR. THE CAR STARTED AND I WAS ABLE TO GET TO MY DESTINATION AND PARK. I CHECKED THIS PROBLEM ONLINE BY SEARCHING KIA SORENTO STALLING AND FOUND A DOZEN OR MORE VIDEO'S FROM PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE THAT I JUST EXPERIENCED. SOME OF THE DRIVERS FOUND THAT IF YOU USE THE CAR IN THE MANUAL SHIFT MODE THE STALLING DID NOT SEEM TO HAPPEN. THIS IS A REAL POTENTIAL DISASTER. YOU LOOSE POWER AND HAVE NO WAY OF MOVING THE CAR TO GET OUT OF THE WAY WHEN YOU ARE IN TRAFFIC ON A HIGHWAY...LIKE RIDING IN A 'DEATH WISH CAR'. THE VIDEO'S ALSO STATING THAT THEY EXPERIENCED THE STALLING MANY TIMES AND ONCE IT STARTED IT GOT WORSE. THEY ALSO STATED THAT KIA DEALERSHIPS WERE OF LITTLE HELP SINCE THEY NEED TO REPRODUCE THE STALLING AND SINCE IT'S JUST RANDOM THAT IS NOT EASY. THE VIDEOS WERE TAPED WHEN THE ISSUE WAS ACTUALLY TAKING PLACE AND SHOWED THE TACH AT ABOUT 15 RPM'S ALL THE ENGINE LIGHTS LIT BUT NO STEERING RESPONSE OR POWER TO MOVE THE CAR. I AM HOPING THIS CAN BECOME A RECALL AND KIA WILL FIX THIS STALLING PROBLEM AND KEEP THE PEOPLE IN THESE KIA SORENTO'S SAFE! IF THIS IS A COMPUTER PROBLEM THEN THERE SHOULD BE AN ERROR LOG TO SHOW WHEN THE CAR LOST POWER FOR NO REASON. KIA NEEDS TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THIS DEFECT AND FIX THIS POTENTIAL DEADLY PROBLEM. *TR

FOUND THIS ON ANOTHER WEB SITE: WWW.TOPCLASSACTIONS.COM (SEE BELOW FOR DESCRIPTION) VERY INTERESTING: APPARENTLY THIS DEFECT HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE 2002!! WELL IT'S STILL HAPPENING I HAVE THE 2011 6 CYL AWD AND FOUND OUT IT'S STILL A DEFECT IN THE 2012 AND 2013. NOTHING MORE TO SAY BUT 'SHAME ON KIA MOTORS' YOUR LACK OF TAKING OWNERSHIP FOR THIS DEFECT IS JUST DISCUSTING. NHTSA PLEASE HELP US.....LIVES NEED TO BE SAVED; I AM BLEARY EYED READING ALL THE POWERTRAIN DEFECTS FOR THE 2011 KIA SORENTO. THE KIA SORENTO IS PRONE TO CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE, ACCORDING TO A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FILED IN NEW JERSEY. PLAINTIFFS ALLEGE IN THE KIA SORENTO CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT THAT KIA MOTORS KNOWINGLY CONCEALED THAT ITS 2002-2009 SORENTO CROSSOVERS WERE MANUFACTURED WITH A DEFECTIVE ENGINE PART CALLED THE CRANK SPROCKET. THIS ALLEGED ENGINE DEFECT LEADS TO A CATASTROPHIC CHAIN OF EVENTS THAT STARTS WITH SEVERE HEAT BUILDUP, THE RELEASE OF DEBRIS, AND THEN LEADS TO LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, ENGINE FAILURE AND THE POTENTIAL FOR A HAZARDOUS ACCIDENT, ACCORDING TO THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. *TR

CHAPTER 2. NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10519967 THE PROBLEM OCCURRED SATURDAY 6/15, DEALERSHIP CLOSED. CALLED DEALERSHIP THIS MORNING AND WAS ABLE TO BRING THE CAR RIGHT IN. LEFT THE CAR ALL DAY AND THEN RECEIVED THE NEWS, THEY CANNOT REPRODUCE THE INCIDENT. SO OF COURSE NOTHING WAS REPAIRED. SO I DROVE HOME IN THE 'DEATH WISH' CAR AND PRAYED ALL THE WAY HOME. THE CAR IS A 2011 KIA SORENTO 6 CYL AWD MANUFACTURED IN AUGUST 11, 2010. I HAVE SEARCH THE INTERNET NIGHTLY AND I AM FINDING MORE AND MORE PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXACT ISSUE AS I EXPERIENCED. THIS IS MAKING ME SICK KNOWING THAT KIA CORP KNOWS ABOUT THIS DEFECT AND IS NOT TAKING ACTION TO CORRECT THIS POTENTIALLY DEADLY DEFECT. HOW DO WE GET THEIR ATTENTION THAT THIS DEFECT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED. DO WE HAVE TO CHECK OFF THE FATALITY BOX ON THIS FORM BEFORE KIA PAYS ATTENTION TO US. PLEASE IF SOMEONE HAS HAD A GOOD RESULT WITH THEIR DEALERSHIP AS FAR AS GETTING A REPAIR DONE WITHOUT REPRODUCING THE ERROR CODE, PLEASE CONTACT ME WITH THAT INFORMATION. THE LEMON LAW IN MY STATE IS 5 ATTEMPTS AT REPAIRING THE PROBLEM AND NO RESOLVE...I ONLY HAVE 4 MORE TO GO! KIA HELP US PLEASE...THIS DEFECT IS IN YOUR 2011, 2012 AND 2013 KIA SORENTO....SOMETHING IS EXTREMELY WRONG WITH YOUR POWERTRAIN IN THESE CARS. TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THE DEFECT AND SAVE OUR LIVES. *TR

I WAS ATTEMPTING TO PARK MY 2011 KIA SORENTO IN MY GARAGE WHEN THE DOWNHILL ASSIST AND ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL LIGHTS CAME ON. MY CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT BEYOND NEUTRAL. I HAD TO SHUT OFF CAR WHILE IN 'DRIVE' AND TURN BACK ON, WITH MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS, BEFORE I COULD GET IT TO SHIFT TO PARK. HUGE PROBLEM AND HAS OCCURRED FOUR TIMES THE PAST TWO DAYS! I'LL BE CALLING DEALERSHIP FIRST THING MONDAY MORNING. *TR

THE CAR HAD PROBLEMS STARTING AND THE STARTER, ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY WAS FINE. THE DEALER CLAIMS IT WAS A SWITCH AND IT WAS REPLACED. THE PROBLEM KEPT HAPPENING ON OCCASION (2-3 TIMES) IN THE LAST YEAR AND LAST TIME THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY. I BELIEVE THERE IS A BIGGER PROBLEM AND DEFECT. *TR

I PURCHASED MY 2011 KIA SORENTO APPROXIMATELY 1 YR AGO AND MY INTERIOR LIGHT IN FRONT OVER DRIVER AND PASSENGER COMES ON AND OFF DURING DRIVING. THIS DID IT IN THE BEGINNING THEN STOPPED, NOW IT DOES IT ALL THE TIME WITH THE ILLUMINATING DOOR OPEN SIGN ON DASH. THEY STAY ON MUCH LONGER AND HAPPENS MORE FREQUENTLY. I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE WITH MY GRAND CHILDREN IN CAR, NOT SURE IF SAFE ANYMORE. DEALER NEVER EXPRESSED AT TIME OF PURCHASE THAT THERE WHERE ANY RECALLS FOR THIS VEHICLE. FRONT MAKES NOISE EVERYTIME I PLACE FOOT ON BRAKES, PEOPLE LOOK OVER WHEN I HIT BRAKES. NOT SURE IF THIS IS A PROBLEM AS WELL(RECALL). I AM UNEMPLOYED NOW FOR 15 MONTHS NO MONEY TO FIX THESE PROBLEMS. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THESE ARE PART OF ANY RECALLS. I PURCHASED VEHICLE FROM SANSONE JR., ROUTE 66, NEPTUNE, NJ. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE. *TR

VEHICLE ROLLED DOWN MY DRIVEWAY WHILE IN PARK, WENT ACROSS A TWO LANE STREET INTO THE NEIGHBORS DRIVEWAY ONLY BEING STOPPED BY THEIR VEHICLE PARKED IN THEIR DRIVEWAY. THE KEYS WERE NOT IN THE VEHICLE AND WHEN I GOT TO THE VEHICLE IT WAS IN PARK. AFTER GETTING IN THE VEHICLE YOU COULD PUT IT IN GEAR WITHOUT HAVING THE KEY IGNITION OR YOUR FOOT ON THE BRAKE. *TR

TRAVELING AT 70MPH WITH CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGE, A LARGE "THUD" WAS FELT IN THE CABIN AS IF SOMETHING HAD BEEN HIT. PULL OFF SIDE OF HIGHWAY TO EXAMINE FOR DAMAGE. NO DAMAGE OF ANY KIND WAS NOTED. UPON LEAVING THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THE ACCELERATION WAS SLUGGISH AND AT HIGHWAY SPEED RPM WAS 4500, NOT NORMAL. PULLED OFF THE SIDE IF THE HIGHWAY AGAIN AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. THIS RESET THE CAR. PULL OFF THE SHOULDER AGAIN AND TRANSMISSION OPERATED NORMALLY AGAIN. *TR

I WAS DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 70 AND SUDDENLY THE CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN (SOUNDED AS IF SOMEONE HAD FLOORED THE GAS PEDAL). I TAPPED THE BRAKE AND WHEN I LOOKED AT THE DASH MULTIPLE INDICATOR LIGHTS WERE LIT. AFTER TAPPING THE BRAKE THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN BUT THE ACCELERATOR WOULD NOT WORK. I CAME TO A STOP ON THE SHOULDER- AT THIS POINT THE ENGINE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT AND ENGINE MALFUNCTION LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. I TURNED THE CAR OFF. TRIED TO RESTART AFTER FEW MINUTES AND IT WOULD NOT START. A FEW MINUTES LATER IT DID START BUT SOUNDED BAD. I CONTACTED KIA AND WAS TOLD TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP AND A REGIONAL KIA REP WOULD INVESTIGATE MY VEHICLE (WHAT THAT MEANS, I DON'T KNOW QUITE YET). *TR

STABILITY CONTROL AND DOWNHILL ASSIST LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. ONCE STOPPED, COULDN'T GET THE SHIFTER TO GO INTO PARK. HAD TO TURN VEHICLE OFF AND RESTART. ONCE I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO GET INTO PARK, THE LIGHTS CAME ON AGAIN AND I COULDN'T GET IT TO GO BACK INTO ANY GEAR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL INDEPENDENTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 54,200. *TR

STABILITY CONTROL AND DOWNHILL ASSIST LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. ONCE STOPPED, SHIFTER WOULD NOT GO PAST NEUTRAL. IN ORDER TO GET PAST NEUTRAL, HAD TO TURN OFF ENGINE AND RESTART. *TR

MY LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS KEEP BLOWING OUT, MY REAR WIND SHIELD WIPER DOESN'T LAY ON THE GLASS. THEREFORE, IT DOESN'T CLEAN WELL, THE SEATBELT IN THE MIDDLE ROW KEEPS FALLING IN THE SEAT CRACK MAKING IT HARD TO GET OUT AND BUCKLE UP. MY REAR KIA SYMBOL IS CHIPPING PAINT.

STABILITY CONTROL AND DOWNHILL ASSIST LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. WHEN VEHICLE WAS STOPPED, SHIFTER WOULD NOT GO PAST NEUTRAL. IN ORDER TO GET PAST NEUTRAL, HAD TO TURN OFF ENGINE AND RESTART. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TURNING LEFT, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST ACCELERATION POWER. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS LOW. THE TRANSMISSION WAS FLUID WAS FILLED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS SCHEDULED FOR UNKNOWN REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V258000 (POWER TRAIN). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.

KEYLESS START WOULD NOT WORK. NOW THIS HAS BECOME A REGULAR PROBLEM. *TR

MY HUSBAND AND I WALKED OUT OF HOUSE ABOUT NOON TODAY (21APR13) AND MY HUSBAND LOOKED AT CAR AND SAID "WTF , LOOK AT CAR". SUN ROOF IS SHATTERED. WE ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT LOCAL KIA WHICH IS 32 MILES AWAY AND THEY ARE CLOSED. CONTACTED OUR INSURANCE COMPANY WHO CAN NOT HELP US OUT UNTIL KIA OPENS ON MONDAY AND THEY HAVE TO SEND US TO A DEALER THAT IS 75 MILES AWAY FROM US FOR THEM TO LOOK AT AND THEN DETERMINE REPAIR COSTS. I LOOKED ONLINE TO CHECK FOR RECALL AND AM STILL SEARCHING ALSO LOOKING TO SEE IF THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH ANYONE ELSE AND FOUND ONE ENTRY FROM 2010. NOT SURE HOW THIS HAPPENED TO A PARKED CAR SITTING IN DRIVEWAY WITH NO TREES AROUND OR LOOSE OBJECTS. HAVE OTHER VEHICLE IN DRIVE WITH NO DAMAGE SO RULED OUT RAIN. HOPING FOR FAIR WEATHER UNTIL WE CAN GET THE CAR TO DEALER (I HOPE IT WILL BE TOMORROW). HAVING A TODDLER WHO LIKES TO HAVE THE VISOR OPEN SO HE CAN LOOK OUT OF SUNROOF WINDOW AT SKY, THE FACT THIS SHATTERED , WHAT IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING AND IT SHATTERED WITH VISOR OPEN AND LITTLE ONE IN CARSEAT? *TR

DRIVING AT 65MPH WITH CRUISE CONTROL SET; WHEN SUDDENLY THERE WAS A VIOLENT JERK/HESITATION, AND AN EXTREMELY LOUD BANG, AS THOUGH I HAD HIT SOMETHING. STOPPED ON SIDE OF THE ROAD, VEHICLE NOT MAKING ANY DIFFERENT NOISE OR RUNNING DIFFERENT, PLACED WITHOUT A PROBLEM INTO PARK. CHECKED AROUND VEHICLE NOTHING OUT OF ORDER, NO FLUIDS RUNNING UNDER VEHICLE, TIRES OK, UNABLE TO LOCATE A PROBLEM. IT SEEMED LIKE A MISS OR SOMETHING WITH THE TRANSMISSION, DIDN'T NOTICE LIGHTS OR ANY THING ABNORMAL ON WARNING SYSTEM. GOT BACK IN CAR AND CONTINUED ON NO ABNORMAL NOISE, SHIFTED WITH OUT INCIDENT, NOT SURE BUT I AM WONDERING ABOUT A TRANSMISSION ISSUE, HOPE IT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE AHEAD STOPPED SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO REAR END OF THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A HEAD INJURY THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT 24,000 MILES AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

WE HAVE PREVIOUSLY HAD 2 TRANSMISSIONS PUT INTO OUR 2011 KIA SORENTO. TODAY WE WERE TRAVELING HOME FROM SAN ANTONIO AND THE DBC INDICATOR AND ESC INDICATOR LIGHTS CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. I PULLED OVER TO SEE WHAT IT WAS AND TRIED TO PUT THE CAR INTO PARK. THE GEAR SHIFT WOULD NOT MOVE. IT DID IT SEVERAL TIMES DURING OUR TRIP. IT ALSO SOMETIMES MAKES LOUD BANG NOISES WHEN PUTTING IT INTO GEAR. I FEEL THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS FAULTY AGAIN. WE HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THESE ISSUES SINCE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. *TR

I BOUGHT MY CAR IN 2011 BY 2013 THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR DOES NOT OPEN AT ALL, DRIVER SIDE WONT OPEN FROM OUT SIDE. THEN 2014 ABS LIGHT ON, CONTROLS ON STEERING WHEEL FOR PHONE, CRUISE AND VOLUME DON'T WORK. SHIFTING TO PARK OR DRIVE ISN'T CATCHING ALL THE TIME, AND DOOR LOCKS CLICK OPEN & CLOSE RANDOMLY. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY CAR.

WHILE DRIVING ANYWHERE ABOVE 35 MPH UPON SLOWING DOWN AND THE CAR DOWNSHIFTING THE CAR JOLTS A LOUD BANG/POP IS HEARD THE CAR LUNGES YOU FORWARD IT'S QUITE VIOLENT I'VE TAKEN TO THE DEALER OVER 10 TIMES AND THEY JUST SAY THEY NOTICE THE POPPING BUT NOTHING IS WRONG THEY ALSO SAID THEY TOOK IT FOR A TEST DRIVE TO TEST THE UNBELIEVABLY HARD DOWN SHIFT . I WATCHED THEM THEIR TEST DRIVE WAS FROM THE FRONT OF THE PARKING LOT TO THE REAR . THEY NEVER WENT ABOVE 25 MPH SO THEY NEVER TESTED THE DOWN SHIFT IT'S HAPPENED FOR A VERY LONG TIME NOW AND THEY JUST KEEP DENYING IT I ALSO HAD THE TOP END OF THE MOTOR GO OUT AT 5000 MILES AND FEEL LIKE THEY ARE JUST AVOIDING IT BEING A LEMON.

REVERSED CAR FROM MY DRIVEWAY. FELT AS IF I HAD CRASHED INTO SOMETHING (HEARD LOUD GRINDING SOUND). PUT THE CAR INTO DRIVE AND CAME TO STOP. UPON PRESSING THE BRAKES, FELT AS IF THE ABS HAD ENGAGED AND GRIPPED ALL FOUR WHEELS. HEARD LOUD GRINDING SOUND AND CAR JOLTED (AS BRAKES WERE PRESSED). I HAD MY FIVE YEAR OLD AND THREE OLD SONS WITH ME; THEY SCREAMED FROM THE JOLT. I SLOWLY RELEASED THE BREAKS AND APPLIED THE BREAKS AGAIN, AND SAME THING OCCURRED ONLY WITH LESS FORCE. TURNED OFF THE CAR AND CALLED FOR TOWING. ALSO, A HOWLING WHINING NOISE IS HEARD INSIDE THE CAR. THE DEALERSHIP HAD IT FOR TWO WEEKS, AND UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF THE FIELD ENGINEER THEY REPLACED THE TRANSFER CASE. THE HOWLING/WHINING NOISE CONTINUES. THE DEALERSHIP REALLY TRIED TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. THE MANAGER HERSELF TEST DROVE THE CAR AND ALSO HEARD THE WHINING/HOWLING SOUND. I DID CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER, BUT FRANKLY FELT DISAPPOINTED. I HAD ASKED IF ANYONE HAS CALLED IN WITH SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND WAS NOT GIVEN AN ANSWER. I FEEL UNSAFE AND VERY ANXIOUS ABOUT DRIVING THE CAR. THEY DEALERSHIP STATED THE BREAKS WERE FINE, AND THAT NO ERROR CODE WAS DETECTED. I WAS NOT GIVEN A DEFINITIVE ANSWER AS TO WHAT CAUSED THE BREAKS TO BEHAVE THIS WAY OR WHAT IS THE HOWLING NOISE THAT IS OCCURRING. THIS IS THE THIRD MAJOR ISSUE WE HAD WITH THIS CAR. I HAVE AN AWD VEHICLE AND THE CURRENT RECALL ONLY COVERS THE 2WD ISSUE (THAT ALSO HAS THIS HOWLING SOUND). I HAVE READ NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS IN WHICH OTHER 2011 AWD SORENTOS ARE HAVING SIMILAR ISSUES. PLEASE INVESTIGATE; SOMEONE COULD BE SERIOUSLY HURT OR WORSE. *TR

SINGLE CLUNKING NOISE WHENEVER DECELERATING, WHICH WAS VERIFIED BY KIA SERVICE ADVISOR AT NY KIA DEALERSHIP. *TR

AIR CONDITIONING NOT COOLING PROPERLY.DRAIN AND RECHARGE SYSTEM BY DEALERSHIP,STILL NOT COOLING PROPERLY.DEALER ORDERED A NEW COMPRESSOR.DEALER INSTALLED NEW COMPRESSOR AND RECHARGE SYSTEM. *TR

WHILE BRAKING TO SLOW FOR A STOP SIGN, MY 2011 SORENTO TURNED OFF. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY AND THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. WE MOVED CROSS COUNTRY DAY AFTER THE DEALERSHIP RELEASED THE CAR. IN OUR NEW STATE, THE SORENTO SHUT OFF MULTIPLE TIMES, IN MULTIPLE LOCATIONS. IN TRAFFIC, IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, PARKING LOTS, ETC. THE CAR IS ALWAYS MOVING WHEN IT SHUTS OFF. I TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THEY FOUND NO ISSUES. I HAVE NOW, SINCE JANUARY 2013, TAKEN THE SORENTO TO THE DEALERSHIP FOUR TIMES. I AM TAKING IT IN TODAY FOR THE FIFTH TIME, AFTER THE CAR HAS SHUT OFF TWICE THIS PAST WEEKEND. THIS ISSUE HAS OCCURRED MORE TIMES THAN I CAN COUNT. I HAVE HAD A CASE OPEN WITH KIA, BUT THEY CLOSED IT AFTER THE DEALERSHIP COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. ON THREE OCCASIONS, I CAME QUITE CLOSE TO HITTING PEOPLE WHILE TURNING IN PARKING LOTS, BECAUSE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY GOES OUT WHEN THE CAR SHUTS OFF. THIS MORNING, THE CAR SHUT OFF IN A SCHOOL PARKING LOT DURING DROP OFF, WITH KIDS WALKING THROUGH THE LOT. IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED. *TR

I WAS DRIVE EASTBOUND ON I-70 IN COLORADO IN THE MOUNTAINS NEAR THE EISENHOWER TUNNEL AT 2:40PM. THERE WAS NO ONE IN FRONT OF ME ON THE ROAD. TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT. IT WAS APPROXIMATELY 5 DEGREES F. I HEARD A LOUD BANG AND PULLED OVER. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR. THE FRONT SUNROOF ON MY KIA SORENTO EXPLODED OUTWARD. GLASS WAS POINTING UPWARDS. NOTHING HIT MY CAR. IT JUST HAPPENED. GLASS WAS IN A MILLION LITTLE PIECES. LUCKILY THE INSIDE SHADE WAS CLOSED, OTHERWISE GLASS WOULD HAVE FALLEN ALL OVER ME AND MY SON (IN THE BACK SEAT). I CLEANED UP THE GLASS AS BEST AS I COULD. WE CALLED KIA ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE, BUT ENDED UP DRIVING TO THE NEXT TOWN AND GETTING SOME CARDBOARD TO TEMPORARILY KEEP THE WIND OUT, AND DROVE HOME. WE ARE WAITING TO SEE IF KIA WILL COVER IT UNDER WARRANTY. *TR