2011 Kia Sorento Complaint Log

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, SHE HEARD A POPPING NOISE AND THE REAR WINDSHIELD SHATTERED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY WERE IN THE PROCESS OF DIAGNOSING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 33,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

PLACING THE CAR IN REVERSE RESULTED IN A LOUD "CLUNK" FELT IN THE TRANSMISSION AREA. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE DROVE NORMALLY FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME (ABOUT 4 MINUTES). AFTER ENTERING A HIGHWAY AND BEGINNING TO ACCELERATE TO MERGE WITH TRAFFIC, THERE WAS A MUCH LARGER "CLUNK" FORM THE TRANSMISSION AREA, FOLLOWED BY A METALLIC WHINING/WHIRRING NOISE FORM THE SAME AREA, AND LOSS OF SPEED. THE ENGINE REMAINED RUNNING, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. I PULLED THE CAR OFF THE MAIN ROAD, AND HAD A DIFFICULT TIME GETTING THE CAR INTO THE "PARK" GEAR SO I COULD TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. KIA ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE CAME AND TOWED THE VEHICLE TO A KIA DEALERSHIP FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION. *TR

DRIVING HOME ON RAINY DAY WHEN SUNROOF SHATTERED OUT OF NOWHERE. DID NOT RUN OFF THE ROAD NOR DID I HEAR ANYTHING HIT THE VEHICLE. I HEARD ONE LOUD POP AND NOTICED SUNROOF VISOR SAGGING SIGNIFICANTLY. CANNOT PROVE SOMETHING DIDN'T HIT IT, BUT DID NOT FIND ANY EVIDENCE OF SOMETHING HITTING THE SUNROOF. CONTACTED KIA TO SEE IF ANY OTHER CASES HAD BEEN REPORTED WITH KIA REPRESENTATIVE STATING THAT SHE DID NOT BELIEVE THERE IS ANYTHING WRONG WITH THEIR VEHICLES, BUT SHE ALSO STATED THAT SHE DID NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES TO LOOK BACK AND SEE IF THERE WAS ANOTHER REPORT. SHE ALSO DECLINED TO LET ME SPEAK WITH HER SUPERVISOR ON THIS MATTER. DUE TO SAFETY PURPOSES, I BELIEVE KIA NEEDS TO LOOK INTO THIS POSSIBLE ISSUE. IF THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ANYONE ELSE, PLEASE CONTACT KIA AND NHSTA IN ORDER TO HELP CORRECT THIS POSSIBLE PROBLEM. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *TT

THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE/PARK AT INTERMITTENT TIMES. THE VEHICLE MUST BE PUT INTO NEUTRAL, TURNED OFF, AND RESTARTED IN ORDER TO SHIFT INTO PARK/REVERSE. THIS HAS OCCURRED ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE NEAREST KIA DEALER. THE SERVICE TEAM STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM AND DID NOTHING TO CORRECT THE ERROR. *TR

I WAS IN A THREE CAR ACCIDENT IN WHICH I REAR ENDED A STOPPED VEHICLE AT 40MPH. UPON LOOKING AT KIA'S OWN WEBSITE AND THE OWNER'S MANUAL FOR THE 2011 KIA SORENTO, I CAN SEE THAT THE IMPACT TOOK PLACE ON THE AIRBAG SENSOR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY & THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT & FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO 'LOCK'. THIS RESULTED IN MY 92 YEAR OLD GRANDMOTHER HITTING THE DASH WITH HER FACE, AND I AS THE DRIVER, HIT MY HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL SUSTAINING A CONCUSSION & WHIPLASH. I AM STILL SUFFERING SEVERE PAIN THAT I HAVE TO BE MEDICATED FOR WITH NARCOTICS, AND SHORT TERM MEMORY LOSS. MY GRANDMOTHER, LUCKILY ONLY SUSTAINED FACIAL BRUISING. *TR

I HAVE A 2011 KIA SORENTO. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE "PUSH BUTTON START" WOULD NOT START. ONCE, IT STARTED I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. BUT, THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING MORE OFTEN. TODAY AFTER SEVERAL HOURS IT STILL WILL NOT START. I WILL HAVE TO HAVE IT TOWED IN THE MORNING AND DEAL WITH THE SAME ISSUE AGAIN. ALSO ON SEVERAL OCCASIONSI WAS UNABLE TO TAKE MY CAR OUT OF DRIVE AND PUT IT IN PARK. I HAD TO PUT MY EMERGENCY BRAKE ON AND SHUT OFF THE CAR AND RESTART IT. *TR

THIS IS MY WIFE'S VEHICLE, BUT GIVEN THE ISSUE SHE IS AFRAID TO DRIVE IT..... DRIVING UP HILL WITH MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL AT 50 MPH. MY VEHICLE LOST POWER ( AS IF I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKE ) MY BODY WENT FORWARD AND WAS STOPPED BY THE SEATBELT. MY HEAD WHIPPED DOWNWARD. THEN THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. MY HEAD AND BODY SLAPPED BACK INTO THE SEAT. IT WAS SO ABRUPT AND VIOLENTLY. IT WILL SCARE YOU TO DEATH. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MANY TIMES OVER THE LAST YEAR TO COUNT. I HAVE TRIED TO DOCUMENT THE EVENTS IN A JOURNAL BECAUSE THE DEALER HAS BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE IT ONLY ONCE. SOME DAYS IT CAN HAPPEN UP TO 3 TIMES A DAY FOR WEEKS ON END. SOME TIMES I CAN DUPLICATE IT DRIVING UP HILL AND SOMETIMES NOTHING. THE WORST TIMES ARE WHEN MERGING INTO TRAFFIC OR WHEN SOMEONE IS FOLLOWING TO CLOSE BEHIND ME. MY FEAR IS THAT I WILL HURT ANOTHER MOTORIST OR A PASSENGER IN MY VEHICLE. A TERM CALLED " LIMP MODE " HAS BEEN SAID TO ME. WHERE THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS TO A HI GEAR TO PROTECT IT FROM DAMAGE. MY VEHICLE STILL DOES THIS AT LEAST ONCE EVERY OTHER DAY. I HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALER 14 TIMES. THE TRANNY WAS REPLACED A YEAR AGO AND A BACKFIRE CODE WAS FOUND RECENTLY. A COMPUTER SOFTWARE UPDATE THAT DIDN'T HELP WAS THE LAST THING DONE IN OVER A YEAR, UNLESS YOU COUNT PAYING FOR RENTAL VEHICLES DOING SOMETHING. THERE IS ALSO A SUSPENSION/STEERING ISSUE. A HARD PULLING LEFT/RIGHT AND BUMP STEER. THE VEHICLE WILL PULL THE STEERING WHEEL OUT OF YOUR HAND IN TURNS AND VEERS AS IT HITS BUMPS. *TR

2011 KIA SORENTO EX 3.5 ENGINE SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE HAS RANDOMLY CHANGED IN THE WAY ITS FEELS SAFE WITH ROUGH INSTABILITY IN MY SUSPENSION COMPONENTS.MY BRAKES FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON A RANDOM BASIS AS WELL AS WHEN CAR IS PARKED WILL RANDOMLY CLICK IN MY GEAR SHIFT MECHANISM AND WILL FAIL TO LOCK WHEN CAR IS PARKED AND SHUT OFF IT WILL CLICK WHEN BRAKES ARE DEPRESSED.MY FRONT LIGHTS HAVE DIMMED AND BOTH BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE BURNED OUT CONSISTENTLY AS WELL AS MY STEERING WHEEL HAS FAILED WITH ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS RANDOMLY.CAR HORN IS INOPERABLE AND MY CRUISE CONTROL STOP FUNCTIONING. MY ALTERNATOR BURNED OUT ON ME AND MY CAR HAS HISTORIAL PROOF OF CONSISTENT MAINTENANCE WITH CAR FAX REPORT IN HAND .MY GAS MILAGE HAS SINCE DECREASED. MY SUSPENSION FEELS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND REALLY BAD ON BUMPS AND AVERAGE ROAD CONDITIONS ARE ALSO VERY UNPLEASANT SO I HAVE PARKED IT UNTIL IT'S FIXED FOR ACTIVE RECALLS AND OTHER POTENTIAL MANUFACTURER DEFECTS

THIS 2011 KIA SORENTO LX IS A V6, KEY START WITH 13,000 MILES PURCHASED NEW IN DECEMBER 2010. THE PROBLEM STARTED AS A CLICKING NOISE OCCURRING BETWEEN REVERSE AND DRIVE. THEN THE CLICKING BECAME MORE NOTICEABLE WHEN I PUSHED ON THE BRAKE. IT DID NOT HAPPEN EVERY TIME BUT ENOUGH TO BE ANNOYING AND CAUSING CONCERN OF WHAT THE NOISE MEANT. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY ASKED ME TO SHOW THEM THE PROBLEM. THE NOISE WAS ESPECIALLY LOUD BETWEEN NEUTRAL AND DRIVE. THEY REPLACED A DEFECTIVE SHIFTER. THIS FIXED THE CLICKING. *KB

A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO I TOOK MY 2011 KIA SORENTO IN BECAUSE I FELT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION. WHEN I DRIVE IT, IT FEELS LIKE IT IS NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY. THE RPM'S WOULD GO UP TOO HIGH BEFORE IT WOULD SHIFT GEARS. IT IS AN AUTOMATIC. THEY SAID THEY DROVE IT BUT DID NOT FEEL ANYTHING AND GAVE IT BACK TO ME. TODAY I DROVE IT AND WHEN I WENT TO PUT IT IN PARK IT WOULD NOT GO BEYOND NEUTRAL. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND TOOK IT IN. THEY WERE VERY VAGUE ABOUT WHAT IT COULD BE AND JUST SAID THEY HAVE HAD SEVERAL COME IN WITH THIS PROBLEM. IT CONCERNS ME THAT MY TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT. I SEE WHERE THERE HAVE BEEN INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE 2011 KIA SORENTOS FOR TRANSMISSION FAILURE. HAVE YOU ENCOUNTERED ANY HAVING THE PROBLEM OF BEING ABLE TO SHIFT OUT OF DRIVE? *TR

TRANSMISSION BROKEN FOR 4TH TIME. VEHICLE TOWED FOR 4TH TIME. ONE NEW TRANSMISSION INSTALLED IN NOV 2010. ON 04 AUG 2011, WHILE AT BANK, MULTIPLE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND VEHICLE, WITH MY SPOUSE, A US NAVAL VETERAN AND (DISABLED), WHEN SHE COULD NOT PUT VEHICLE IN PARK, NEUTRAL, OR REVERSE. AS SHE SAT CRYING FOR THE 4TH TIME THE VEHICLE HAS LET HER DOWN, SHE GOT THE ATTENTION OF 2 WOMEN WHOM CAME OVER AND NOTED THE PROBLEMS AND TOOK PHOTOS FOR WHEN THE DEALERSHIP "CROWN KIA" IN TYLER TEXAS SAYS "WE CANT DUPLICATE YOUR CONCERN." WE ARE NOW WRITING OUR SECOND DEMAND LETTER AND WILL TAKE KIA TO CIRCUIT COURT TO GET OUR MONEY BACK AND GET AWAY FROM THIS DANGEROUS VEHICLE THAT HAS LEFT MY WIFE STRANDED FOR THE 4TH AND LAST TIME DUE TO GROSS NEGLEGENCE AND VIOLATION OF THE MAGNUSSON MOSS WARANTY ACT AND THE STATE OF TEXAS LEMON LAWS. THE CRUISE CONTROL HAS BROKEN 3 TIMES AND IS STILL BROKEN. THE VEHICLE HAS PULLED TO THE RIGHT SINCE PURCHASE. THE KIA SORENTO HAS LEFT MY SPOUSE STRANDED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS INCLUDING AN OUT OF STATE TRIP TO FT. BRAGG NC WHILE ATTEMPTING TO VISIT ACTIVE DUTY SON HOME FROM IRAQ. AND THE ICING FOR ALL POTENTIAL/FUTURE KIA OWNERS, THIS IS OUR 7TH KIA. YES, THIS IS HOW KIA REWARDS CUSTOMER LOYALTY. *TT

I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2011 KIA SORENTO FROM KIA. I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY FAMILY AND SUDDENLY I FELT LIKE I HIT A BRICK WALL AND A MY SORENTO RPM GUAGE JUMPED TO 6000 RPM. I PULLED OVER AND LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD FOR ANY VISUAL DAMAGE WHICH I COULD NOT FIND, I THEN PROCEEDED TO PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE AND I NOTICED THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT FROM 1ST GEAR. AGAIN I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY I YEAR OLD. I CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANT FOR THE 1ST TIME IN MY LIFE AFTER OWNING OVER 20 NEW CARS. MY CAR WAS TOWED AND MY FAMILY WAS STUCK OUT OF TOWN WITH NO VEHICLE FOR TWO DAYS. THE DEALER LOOKED AT MY CAR AND SAID THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. OF COURSE NOT! I CALL KIA CORP AND THE JUST TOOK MY NAME AND PROVIDED ME WITH A CASE #. WHAT ABOUT BEING STRAINDED WITHOUT A CAR FOR 2 DAY AND LUCKLY I HAD FAMILY NEAR BY FOR A PLACE TO STAY. I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE DEALERSHIP INFORMING ME THAT KIA HAD ISSUED A TRANSMISSION SOFTWARE UPGRADE, SO AFTER THE UPDATE MY CAR WAS DRIVING LIKE NEW AGAIN. THAT'S WHEN I NOTICED ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER ON MY WAY TO WORK I FELT THAT SAME FEELING LIKE HITTING A BRICK WALL. THE DEALER STILL HAS NOT ADDRESSED THE CONCERN AND THEIR ONLY SOLUTION IS A SOFTWARE UPDATE. THIS WILL BE MY SECOND KIA THAT I HAVE OWNED AND THE LAST!!!! 6YR 100,000WARRANTY IS NOT WORTH THE DRAMA. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *TT

2011 KIA SORENTO SX STEERING CONSTANTLY WANDERS YOU THE RIGHT, NO REPAIR. WANDERS OFF ROAD IF I DON'T CATCH IT WANDERING. *TR

WHEN COMING TO A STOP AT A LIGHT OR STOP SIGN, USUALLY ON A SLIGHT DOWNHILL SLOPE, THE VEHICLE ENGINE DIES COMPLETELY. IT USUALLY HAPPENS AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BE DRIVEN FOR 10-15 MINUTES, PARKED FOR 10-15 MINUTES THEN DRIVEN AGAIN FOR TEN MINUTES. ONCE IT DIES I AM ABLE TO START IT UP RIGHT AWAY. IT IS A PUSH START "KEY" AND THE CAR DIES AFTER I APPLY THE BRAKES AND AM VERY NEAR TO A COMPLETE STOP. THIS HAS HAPPENED WITHIN A FEW MONTHS OF PURCHASE AND OCCURS RANDOMLY, EVERY FEW MONTHS. IT HAS HAPPENED SIX TO TEN TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR. I HAVE BROUGHT IT INTO THE DEALER AT LEAST THREE TIMES AND THE COMPUTER COMES BACK WITH NO CODES. THEY CAN'T REPLICATE IT AND DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO FIX. TODAY, THE DEALER INSTALLED A MONITOR FOR ME TO USE FOR TWO WEEKS TO SEE IF IT HAPPENS AND WE CAN CAPTURE THE INFO IN REAL TIME. KIA MANUFACTURER CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS ABOMINABLE. I AM TRYING TO GET A FIELD TECHNICIAN TO LOOK AT IT AND COMMUNICATE WITH THE DEALER. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, CAR SUDDENLY JOLTED LIKE I HIT SOMETHING. IT JERKED VERY HARD AND DECELARATED. THE RPMS ALSO WENT UP MUCH HIGHER LIKE IT SHIFTED TO A LOWER GEAR. PULLED ONTO SHOULDER OF ROAD AND TURNED CAR OFF. SAME THING HAPPENED 2 DAYS PRIOR WHILE CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET AT 71 MPH. FIRST TIME, WAS ABLE TO RESTART CAR AND CONTINUE THE 20 MILE DRIVE TO WORK. TODAY, CAR WOULD NOT RESTART AND HAD TO HAVE TOWED. WHEN ARRIVED AT DEALERSHIP, CAR STARTED WITHOUT ISSUES. SERVICE MANAGER SAID THEY HOOKED UP THE DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER AND THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH CAR. THE TECHNICIAN DROVE THE CAR ABOUT 30 MILES AND WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE PROBLEM.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE ESC AND DBC LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD UNTIL CRASHING INTO A TREE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE SUFFERED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS PENDING AN INVESTIGATION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT AN ENGINEER WOULD BE SENT TO EXAMINE THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE EXPRESSWAY, WITHOUT WARNING, THERE WAS A CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE CAUSING ONE OR TWO OF THE CONNECTING RODS TO BLOW THROUGH THE OIL PAN AND START A FIRE FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE TO THE BACK UNDERNEATH THE CARRIAGE. THE FLAMES CAME UP THE SIDES AND BACK OF THE CAR. NEEDLESS TO SAY IT WAS EXTREMELY FRIGHTENING. LOOKING AT THE DAMAGE OF THE CAR I NEVER EXPECTED THEM TO ATTEMPT TO REPAIR THIS CAR YET THEY DID. THE CAR WAS DOWN FOR ALMOST TWO MONTHS, THE SECOND ENGINE AND POWER STEERING FAILED BEFORE WE EVEN DROVE THE REPAIRED CAR OFF THE LOT. KIA STILL DID NOT WANT TO DO ANYTHING BUT REPAIR THE CAR AGAIN. THEY SAID, "THESE THINGS HAPPEN THATS WHY YOU HAVE A WARRANTY". THESE THINGS HAVE NEVER HAPPENED TO ME OR ANYONE I KNOW IN THE 30 YEARS I HAVE BEEN DRIVING. YOU BUY A NEW CAR TO AVOID SUCH PROBLEMS. THE CAR HAS NOW BEEN RETURNED TO ME AND IT IS STILL NOT RIGHT. I JUST TOOK IT IN FOR THEM TO BLOW OUT THE VENTS AND FILTERS. THERE WAS STILL REMNANTS OF THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER COMING OUT WHEN YOU TURNED ON THE AIR. THIS CAR IS DEFECTIVE AND SHOULD HAVE A SALVAGED TITLE. I WAS FORCED TO PUT IN A LAW SUIT. *KB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUSE BOX PANEL UNDER THE DRIVER SEAT DETACHED COMPLETELY, EXPOSING THE WIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER THREE DIFFERENT TIMES FOR THE SAME FAILURE AND THE FUSE BOX PANEL WAS REPLACED EACH TIME. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE DEFECT WAS A MANUFACTURING FLAW. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000.

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH WHEN I HEARD A NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE A GOLF BALL HITTING THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR, IT WAS ACTUALLY MY TIRE POPPING. IT WENT FLAT ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. I TOOK THE FLAT IN TO BE REPAIRED AND THEY COULDN'T REPAIR IT, I HAD TO BUY NEW ONE FOR $235, KIA WOULDN'T WARRANTY IT. MY CAR ONLY HAS 5000 MILES ON IT. I DIDN'T RUN OVER ANYTHING OR HIT A POT HOLE OR CURB, IT JUST POPPED. *KB

MY 2011 KIA SORENTO IS STUCK IN THE DRIVE POSITION. THIS HAS OCCURRED ON AND OFF FOR A FEW MONTHS BUT WAS ALWAYS ABLE TO MANIPULATE THE BRAKE, AND KEY TO GET THE CAR TO SHIFT. TODAY I LEFT FOR WORK, MADE A QUICK STOP AT THE STORE AND MY KIA WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO PARK. I WAS AE TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL. I TURNED THE CAR OFF APPLIED THE ER BRAKE GOT WHAT I NEEDED. RETURNED TO THE CAR AND STARTED IT. WAS STILL UNABLE TO SHIFT TO P, OR R. I WAS IN NEUTRAL AND LUCKILY ON A SLIGHT SLOPE SO THE CAR ROLLED BACK ENOUGH TO AVOID HITTING THE BUILDING. PLACE THE CAR IN DRIVE AND WENT ON TO WORK. WHEN I ARRIVED AT WORK THE CAR STILL WOULD NOT GO IN TO ANYTHING BUT N AND D THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT AND DOWN SLOP LIGHT CAME ON AND WOULD NOT GO OFF. AFTER A WHILE MY HUSBAND WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR IN PARK. I THEN LEFT FOR AN APPOINTMENT AND THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF P. GIGGLED THINGS AROUND AND FINALLY WAS ABLE TO BACK UP AND DRIVE. WHEN I ARRIVED AT MY APPOINTMENT THE KIA WOULD NOT GO INTO R OR P AND IT REMAINED THAT WAY. I HAD TO PLACE THE CAR IN NEUTRAL APPLY ER BRAKE. AFTER WORK I WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE GEAR SHIFT ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO GET IT TO GO INTO REVERSE. I HEARD LOUD CLUNKING NOISES. BACKED UP SLOWLY AND CAREFULLY. PUTTING THE CAR INTO DRIVE I HEARD MORE LOUD NOISES. I THEN PROCEEDED TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR AND LEFT IT FOR THEM TO CHECK IT OUT. I'M EXTREMELY AGGERVATTED THAT I HAD TO LEAVE MY CAR UNLOCKED ALL DAY WITH THE KEY IN THE EMISSION AND ER BRAKE APPLIED. I HOPE THIS HELPS WITH THE INVESTIGATION OF THE BAD TRANSMISSIONS IN THE KIA. *TT

DRIVING AT ABOUT 45 MPH, DRY, CLEAR CONDITIONS. FOR NO APPARENT REASON, HEARD A LOUD THUD AND FELT A SHARP JARRING. THERE WAS NO COLLISION, NOR DID I HIT ANYTHING IN THE ROAD. TRANSMISSION IMMEDIATELY WENT INTO SAFETY OR "LIMP" MODE. DEALER COULD NOT DIAGNOSE PROBLEM. VEHICLE RESET WHEN RESTARTED. *KB

I WAS DRIVING 70MPH ON A 4 LANE HIGHWAY. I WAS CHANGING LANES FROM THE 2ND LANE TO THE LEFT MOST LANE. THE CAR INFRONT ON ME DECELERATED AT A QUICK PACE, SO I HAD TO MAKE MY LANE CHANGE A LOT QUICKER. AT THIS POINT, THE DRIVER-SIDE FRONT TIRE POPPED AND I LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR. IT VEERED QUICKLY LEFT AND BOUNCED OFF THE CENTER DIVIDE. IT THEN TRAVELED ALL THE WAY TO THE RIGHT MOST LANE OF THE HIGHWAY AND CAME TO A STOP. I BELIEVE I DID NOT TOUCH THE BRAKES OR THE ACCELERATOR DURING THIS ENTIRE ENDEAVOR. OTHER CARS DID NOT HIT ME. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY BEING FIXED THROUGH MY INSURANCE COMPANY. *TR

VEHICLE HAS 5000 MILES ON IT AND IT IS VERY WELL CARED FOR AND GARAGE KEPT. THE STEERING WHEEL COATING BEGAN TO PEEL, WHICH LEADS TO HANDS SLIPPING ON THE WHEEL AND THE LAYERS CONTINUE TO PEEL. NOTE: THIS INVOLVES A KIA SPORTAGE. THE KIA CHOICES DO NOT ALLOW FOR THIS MODEL. *TR

THIS PROBLEM OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY ABOUT ONCE PER MONTH. WHEN ENTERING TRAFFIC AT AN INTERSECTION FOLLOWING A COMPLETE STOP, THE CAR BEGINS TO MOVE MOMENTARILY WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS DEPRESSED. IT THEN LOSES POWER OR COASTS FOR APPROXIMATELY 2-3 SECONDS BEFORE POWER IS RESUMED. DURING THE TIME PERIOD OF COASTING, THE VEHICLE IS IN THE LINE OF TRAFFIC AND SUBJECT TO BEING INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE SITUATION. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AT LEAST 6 TIMES FOR CORRECTION OF THE PROBLEM. SINCE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON AND NO COMPUTER ERROR CODES ARE RECORDED, THE DEALER IS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE EXACT CAUSE AND REFUSES TO "THROW A PART AT IT". THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED TO KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE WITH NO SUGGESTION AS TO WHAT MAY BE FAILING. KIA IS EITHER UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO SHARE INFORMATION ABOUT SIMILAR PROBLEMS THAT MAY BE RECORDED IN THEIR DATABASE. THEIR ONLY RESPONSE IS TO TAKE THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER TO SEE IF THEY CAN DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE REAR SUNROOF EXPLODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLE BUT NOT PER THE WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND A CLAIM WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000. UPDATED 08/31/11 *BF UPDATED 09/09/11*JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HESITATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT ONCE THE VEHICLE RESPONDED, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE, BUT REPLACED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ASSEMBLY AS A TEMPORARY REMEDY. THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO LODGED A COMPLAINT AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD CONTACT HIM AT A LATER DATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 15,000. THE CONSUMER HAS SINCE TRADED THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 02/01/12

THE DATE ABOVE IS THE FIRST DATE THERE WAS A INDICATION OF A PROBLEM. THE ACTUAL SPEED OF TRAVEL HAS VARIED. THE ISSUE IS RANDOM AND HAS AFFECTED MOST SYSTEMS AT ONE TIME OR THE OTHER. IT HAS NORMALLY BEEN A HEADACHE MORE THAN SAFETY ALWAYS GOING AWAY AFTER SHUTTING THE CAR DOWN AND RESTARTING. TO ME IT BECAME A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO I HEARD A LOUD BANG LIKE I HIT SOMETHING AND THEN MY RPMS INCREASED AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF THE LOWER GEARS. I PULLED INTO A SAFE PARKING AREA, SHUT THE CAR DOWN AND CALLED THE DEALER. AFTER RESTARTING THE CAR THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY, JUST AS IT HAS EVERY TIME NO MATTER WHAT SYSTEM HAS BEEN AFFECTED. THE ISSUES HAVE RANGED FROM A CRUISE CONTROL REFUSING TO ACTIVATE, THE CRUISE CONTROL HAVING ERRATIC BEHAVIOR (OFTEN KICKING IN THE PASSING GEAR WHEN NOT REQUIRED), TOTAL ELECTRONIC PANEL SHUTDOWN (INCLUDING RADIO), TO DOORS LOCKING ON THEIR OWN WHEN OPEN, TO HEADLIGHTS NOT BEING TURNED OFF WHEN THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN AFTER 2-30 SECONDS. THE TRANSMISSION ISSUE HAS BEEN THE MOST SERIOUS. THE CAR SHOULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN SERVICED UNDER A SIMILAR RECALL. I HAVE NOTED SIMILAR COMPLAINTS INCLUDING A SIMILAR TRANSMISSION COMPLIANT ON KIA FORUMS. KIA ITSELF REFUSED TO GIVE THE GO AHEAD FOR A COMPUTER RESET/UPGRADE. MY DEALER DID THIS ON HIS OWN FOR ME AFTER I MADE IT CLEAR THIS HAS GONE TOO FAR. A PERSONAL CONVERSATION WITH KIA WAS NEGATIVE AND WAS NOTHING SHORT OF TALKING IN CIRCLES. I UNDERSTAND THE ISSUE OF TRYING TO TRACED RANDOM PROBLEMS, BUT NOT THE FAILURE TO START AN INVESTIGATION INTO, FOR INSTANCE, POSSIBLE COMPUTER SHIELDING ISSUES MAKING OUTSIDE INTERFERENCE A POSSIBILITY. IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN IF THE COMPUTER UPDATE WORKS, BUT IT IS A ISSUE WHEN A TRANSMISSION SHUTS TOTALLY OR PARTLY DOWN. THE DEALER HAS NEVER BEEN ABLE TO VERIFY MY COMPLAINTS. *TR

I WAS ON VACATION FROM FL AND NEAR SAVANNAH, GEORGIA MY TIRE WENT FLAT. I WENT TO A KIA DEALER IN SAVANNAH. THEY TOLD ME THE TIRE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED AND THERE WAS NO WARRANTY EVEN THO THE TIRE ONLY HAD 21K MILES ON IT. I PURCHASED A NEW TIRE($192). APPROX 700 TIREMILES LATER THE NEW TIRE WENT FLAT. I WENT TO ANOTHER KIA DEALER, THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED A NEW TIRE($174) AND THERE WAS NO WARRANTY, THEY ALSO SAID THEY DIDNT SEE ANY ROAD HAZARD DAMAGE. KIA REFUSED TO HELP AND REFERRED ME TO KUMHO TIRES. KUMHO BLAMED THE DEALERSHIPS FOR NOT FOLLOWING PROPER PROCEDURES. THE DEALERSHIPS REFERRED ME BACK TO KIA. *TT

MY SORENTO WILL HESITATE TO MOVE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED AND THEN SUDDENLY LURCH FORWARD WITH FULL ACCELERATION FOR A BRIEF TIME. THIS IS AN ERRATIC PROBLEM. DEALERS RESPONSE IS TO WAIT UNTIL IT BECOME CONSISTENT -- MY RESPONSE, I MAY BE DEAD BEFORE THAT TIME. CUSTOMER SERVICE RESPONSE IS DRIVER ERROR. MY RESPONSE IS THAT I HAVE DRIVEN FOR DECADES MANY DIFFERENT MODEL AND AGE VEHICLES AND HAVE LOGGED IN APPX 2 MILLION SAFE MILES. MY EXPERIENCE WITH THE KIA IS MY FIRST PROBLEM WITH SUCH AN ISSUE. KIA DENIES ANY PROBLEM WITH THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION ISSUE, HOWEVER A GOOGLE SEARCH TURNS UP NUMEROUS SIMILAR ISSUES. I HAVE NOTED THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED ONLY WHEN MAKING LEFT HAND TURNS SO FAR. *JS

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLIPS ON SHOW UPSHIFTS, INTERMITTENTLY. BEGAN @ 3500 MILES. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. CODE INITIALLY READ AS "TRANSMISSION TEMP LIGHT FLUID". DEALER RESET CODE, COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT RECURRED WITH SAME CODE FOR "TRANSMISSION FLUID TEMPERATURE SENSOR". CONTINUED INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH SLUGGISH UPSTARTS AT LOW SPEEDS AND HARD SHIFTS INTO GEAR. INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DISPLAYING FOR 24 HOURS AND THEN DISAPPEARING WITHOUT STORING CODE. DEALER REPLACING TRANSMISSION @ 4800 MILES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THE TRANSMISSION STARTING SLIPPING WHILE SHIFTING INTO FIRST GEAR. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WAS 7,200. RETURN TO DEALER 8/10/11 TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKING, TOIL LEAKING, TRANSMISSION STILL STICKS. UPDATED 09/14/2011 *LN THE CONSUMER RETURNED TO THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, DUE TO TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKING, AS WELL AS THE GETTING STUCK. UPDATED 12/05/11

WHILE DRIVING DOWN INTERSTATE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DIES AND THE VEHICLE COASTS DOWN THE ROAD W/ SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ILLUMINATED. VEHICLE HAS ONLY 11K MILES ON IT; HAS DONE IT 3 TIMES IN 2 DAYS. ALL KIA SERVICE WOULD DO IS CLEAR THE HISTORY (RESET). *TR

MY 2011 KIA SORENTO DOWNSHIFTS WHILE AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. IT ALSO GETS STUCK AND WHILE THE RPMS ARE RACING, IT WILL NOT SHIFT UP. THE BLUETOOTH DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY AND AM ONLY ABLE TO MAKE A CALL 30% OF THE TIME. BACKUP CAMERAS AND SENSORS ARE INTERMITTENT. WINDOW WILL NOT WORK. BACK DRIVERS SIDE DOOR FELL OFF HINGES WHILE I WAS DRIVING WITH MY CHILD IN THE BACKSEAT. MY PASSENGER SIDE SEAT OVERHEATED AND WOULD NOT TURN OFF. CAUSING MY CAR TO FILL WITH SMOKE ON THE EXPRESSWAY. MANY ISSUES WITH THIS LEMON! SHIFTER WILL NOT GO FROM DRIVE INTO PARK LEAVING ME STRANDED IN MY CAR. VEHICLE HAS NO POWER....POOR ENGINE. PAINT AND CHROME OF HANDLES ARE COMING OFF. PULLS TO THE LEFT AND ESC LIGHT COMES ON ALL THE TIME. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT CONTROL COVER WAS FRACTURED. THE SEAT COVER PLASTIC BECAME HOOKED ONTO THE CONTACT'S PANTS AND CAUSED HER TO FALL TO THE GROUND, INJURING HER KNEE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHY THE SEAT COVER CONTINUED TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

GOING DOWNHILL IN OUR NEWLY PURCHASED 2011 KIA SORENTO EX V6, REACHING A 4 WAY STOP, OUR ENGINE QUIT. VEHICLE HAD ONLY 175 MILES ON IT AS IT IS BRAND NEW. CAR RESTARTED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. TOOK IT TO DEALER, THEY FOUND NO PROBLEM OR FAULTS REGISTERED ON THE ONBOARD COMPUTER. I HAVE READ OF SIMILAR OCCURRENCES WITH OTHER 2011 KIA SORENTO EX V6. I WILL FILE ANOTHER REPORT IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN. *TR

MY KIA SORENTO 2011 MANUAL TRANSMISSION IS JERKING WHILE WE DRIVING OR COMING OUT OF A FULL STOP BUT THIS IS RANDOM, SHES BEEN AT THE DEALER ON 4 OCASIONS BUT THEY CAN NOT FIGURE OUT WHATS WRONG, THE COMPUTER DID NOT ADVISE OF ANY PROBLEM SO WE CONTINUE USING THE CAR AND MAKE NOTES OF WHEN IT HAPPENS THE DEALER TOLD US WHEN IT HAPPEND MORE OFTEN THEN TAKE HER BACK, SO IF ANYBODY HAS AN IDEA OF WHAT IT CAN BE WE WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU, THANKS. *KB

PURCHASED A NEW SORENTO LX ON 5-2011, 4CYL, FWD, AUTOMATIC. ON THREE OCCASIONS DURING THE FIRST MONTH I OWNED THE VEHICLE, I HAVE EXPERIENCED UNCOMMANDED DOWNSHIFT FROM 6TH GEAR TO 4TH GEAR AT SPEED. TRANSMISSION THEN LOCKS IN 4TH GEAR UNTIL SHUT DOWN AND RESTARTED. VERY VIOLENT EVENT WHEN IT OCCURS, WITH AN INSTANTANEOUS BANG AND CORRESPONDING IMMEDIATE LOSS OF SPEED. *TR

WHILE COMING TO A STOP, THE VEHICLE DOWN-SHIFTED HARD AND THE ENGINE STARTED TO SPUTTER LIKE IT WAS GOING TO CUT OFF. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY FOUND P0748- PRESSURE CONTROL SOLENOID "A" ELECTRICAL FAULT. THEY PERFORMED A REPROGRAM OF TSM PER TSB# TRA038. DROVE OFF LOT AND IT SHIFTED HARD THREE TIMES ON WAY HOME. DEALER SAID IT WOULD TAKE 100 MILES FOR THE COMPUTER TO RE-LEARN MY DRIVING FOR BEST FUEL MILEAGE. DROVE TO WORK (SHIFTED HARD 5 TIMES) AND DROVE TO RUN ERRANDS. WHILE ON ERRANDS THE VEHICLE SHIFTED DOWN HARD AND ENGINE SPUTTERED WHILE SLOWING DOWN IN TRAFFIC. THEN, WHEN RELEASING THE BRAKE AND PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR, THE VEHICLE RPM/ TACH WENT UP BUT THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T GO. AFTER STEPPING BACK ON THE BRAKE AND WAITING 2-3 SECONDS I TRIED TO MOVE AGAIN AND IT DID. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO DEALER DIRECTLY AND WHILE STOPPING TO TURN INTO DEALER IT SHIFTED HARD, ENGINE SPUTTERED AND IT AGAIN WOULD NOT MOVE ( ONLY ENGINE RPM'S TURNED UP). IT DID FINALLY MOVE AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO THE PARKING LOT. NOW THE MANUFACTURER IS REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION BECAUSE TO THEIR ADMISSION THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. NEARLY STRANDED ON A FIVE LANE 35 MPH ROAD COULD BE PHYSICALLY DANGEROUS BUT A HIGHWAY COULD BE FATAL. AN EVASIVE MANEUVER WITH THIS VEHICLE, REQUIRING STOPPING AND STARTING QUICKLY IS NOT AN OPTION IF YOU CAN'T DRIVE DURING NORMAL CONDITIONS STOPPING AND STARTING.

BOUGHT NEW 2011 KIA SORENTO IN FEBRUARY AND HAVE 11,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE TAKEN IT IN SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE PUSH TO START TAKING A BIT TO START. IT SEEMS AS IF SOMETIMES IT IS NOT GOING TO START. TOOK IT IN AT 8000 MILES AND THEY SAID IT WAS A BRAKE SENSOR AND THE PART WAS ON BACK ORDER. JUST GOT THAT FIXED WITH 11,000 MILES ON IT. TOOK KIA IN THIS WEEK FOR A NOISE IN THE FRONT WHEEL BECAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE THE WHEEL IS GOING TO FALL OFF. PROBLEM WAS NOT FIXED. SAID KIA WAS WORKING TO RESOLVE ISSUE WITH BRAKE PAD BUT THAT IT WAS SAFE FOR ME TO DRIVE AND THAT NOTHING WOULD HAPPEN. NOT TO HAPPY ABOUT MY SERVICE NOT GETTING TAKING CARE OF WHEN I TAKE IT IN. APPARENTLY THEY NEED TO JUST REPLACE OUR CARS IF THEY CAN'T FIX IT. I DON'T APPRECIATE BUYING A $27,000 CAR AND BEING TOLD THAT THEY ARE WORKING ON A SOLUTION. VERY DISAPPOINTED IN MY NEW KIA ALREADY HAVING ALL THESE PROBLEMS AND ONLY 11,000 MILES ON IT. *KB

VEHICLE SUDDENLY DOWN SHIFTS USUALLY AT APPROX. 65 MPH. TIRES SQUEAL SENDING ME LURCHING FORWARD. WHIPLASH! RPM SHOOTS UP TO 6000 AND STAYS THERE UNTIL I EXIT THE HIGHWAY AND SLOW DOWN BELOW 40MPH. THIS HAS HAPPENED 5 TIMES IN THE 4 MONTHS I'VE OWNED THE VEHICLE. ONCE I WAS PULLING INTO TRAFFIC AND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE! I HAD RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC COMING AT ME FROM BOTH DIRECTIONS. DEALER KEEPS SAYING THEY CAN'T REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. MY FAMILY IS GOING TO BE VERY WEALTHY WHEN I DIE IN THIS DEATH TRAP. *TR

BOUGHT MY KIA APPROXIMATELY 1 YEAR AGO ON 05/31/2010 IT IS A 2011 4CYL. WHILE DRIVING (SPEED DOESN'T MATTER) (THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES)THE VEHICLE WILL LOOSE POWER AND ALL GAUGES WILL GO UNFUNCTIONAL, PUSHING ON THE ACCELERATOR WILL NOT PROVIDE RESPONSE, VEHICLE WILL NOT DRIVE BUT ENGINE IS RUNNING. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP ON 05/12/2011 AND DEALERSHIP SAID THEY FIXED IT. HAD VEHICLE HOME FOR LESS THAN 1 WEEK WHEN WE WERE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 75 (ON 05/22/2011) AND VEHICLE AGAIN LOST POWER AND ALL CONTROLS. HAD TO FIGHT VEHICLE WITH NO POWER AND CONTROLS AND ROLLED TO A STOP.....ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING BUT NO CONTROLS OR POWER WORKING....HAD MY 3 KIDS AND MY WIFE....VERY SCARY....VEHICLE HAS A PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE SERIOUSLY ADDRESSED....KIA DOESN'T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING. *TR

POWERTRAIN ISSUE ON MY KIA SORENTO LX 2011, 4L, THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER WHEN I WAS DRIVING THE HIGHWAY WITH ALL MY FAMILY ON IT. THIS CAUSES ME CONCERN BECAUSE WHEN I TRY TO ACCELERATE I HEARD SOME UNPLEASANT, LOUD AND REPETITIVE CLICKING NOISES UNDER MY CAR WHICH EVENTUALLY WENT AWAY AFTER A MINUTE. THIS HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT MY CAR 2 WEEKS AGO. I HAD TO CALL KIA AND WAS ADVISED ME TO GO TO ANY KIA AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WITHIN MY AREA TO GET IT FIX, BUT THEY DIDN'T OFFERED ME AN CAR LOAN OPTION WHILE HYPOTHETICAL REPAIR TAKES PLACE. MY MAIN CONCERN IS ABOUT THE SECURITY OF MY FAMILY AND RISK OF CRASH. ALSO I WAS SHOCKED WHEN KIA REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME MY CAR WASN'T LISTED FOR A RECALL. WHEN I HAVE ALL THE FORE-MENTIONED SYMPTOMS DESCRIBED ON NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V258000. *TR

I FILED THIS REPORT 6/23/11 ON KIA.COM CONSUMER CARE WEBSITE: 2011 SORENTO LX (4CYL AWD) TRANSMISSION HAS LOCKED UP MULTIPLE TIMES. AT 40 MPH DURING ACCELERATION, LOUD BANG FOLLOWED BY SEVERE JERKING, (HARD DOWN-SHIFT), LOSS OF DRIVE (ENGINE CONTINUES TO RUN BUT DOES NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR), COAST TO STOP,PUT IN PARK. FIRST FEW TIMES IT DROVE OKAY AFTER A COMPLETE STOP AND FROM PARK, THIS LAST TIME IT WOULD NOT SHIFT BEYOND 40 MPH. TOWED TWICE TO DEALER BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE ISSUE IN THE MILEAGE THAT THEY DROVE IT. VEHICLE PURCHASED 01/30/10 WITH 24K MILES. MILEAGE AT THE LAST SERVICE WAS 33K. FIRST EVENT 5/17, OCCURS EVERY 4-5 DAYS OR APPROX 200-250 MI. CHK ENGINE LT / TRANSMISSION LIGHT HAVE NEVER COME ON, COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC DOESNT REGISTER ANY ISSUES. THE DEALER WAS VERY NICE BUT WITHOUT KIA'S APPROVAL WOULD NOT KEEP THE CAR LONG ENOUGH TO FIND THE PROBLEM. I ASKED KIA DIRECTLY TO PROVIDE A TECH TO DRIVE THE CAR LONG ENOUGH TO EXPERIENCE THE ISSUE BUT THEY HAVE REFUSED TO AUTHORIZE IT AND HAVE ALSO STATED THAT WITHOUT VERIFICATION THEY WILL NOT APPROVE ANY REPAIRS. I AM VERY AFRAID THAT NEXT TIME IT HAPPENS IT WILL CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I HAVE ALREADY HAD TWO CLOSE CALLS ON THE FREEWAY 6/28: THE SAME ISSUE OCCURRED AGAIN 4 DAYS AGO (6/24) ON A NARROW TWO LANE ROAD WHILE ACCELLERATING AFTER A STOP SIGN (AGAIN ABOUT 40-45 MPH). THIS TIME IT LOST ALL DRIVE AND RPM'S DID NOT GO UP WHEN PUSHING THE GAS PEDAL. PUT IT INTO PARK AND TRIED TWO MORE TIMES BEFORE IT FINALLY DROVE. TODAY 6/28, AT A GAS STATION THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE. AFTER SEVERAL TRIES TO SHIFT INTO ANY GEAR, TURNED IT OFF AND ON AGAIN AND IT DROVE OKAY OUT OF THE STATION BUT 200 YDS LATER AS I WAS ACCELERATING UP THE RAMP TO ENTER I-5 (A 6 LANE FREEWAY DURING EARLY COMMUTE) IT MADE THE SAME LOUD BANG, JERK AND THEN LOST DRIVE, COASTED TO SHOULDER. TURNED ENGINE OFF, WAITED A FEW MINUTES TO RESTART, IT WAS NOT VERY RESPONSIVE BUT I WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE FREEWAY. *TR

DISCOVERED SEVERAL DAYS AFTER ALMOST HAVING ACCIDENT, KIA WAS EQUIPPED WITH "SMART BRAKE" WITH NO WARNING FROM DEALER . IF YOU HAPPEN TO HAVE LIGHT PRESSURE ON ACCELERATOR & BRAKE, YOU CANNOT ACCELERATE AGAIN UNTIL YOU TAKE YOUR FOOT COMPLETELY OFF ACCELERATOR PEDAL . I DISCOVERED THIS ABOUT 2 DAYS AFTER PURCHASING VEHICLE AS I TRIED TO ENTER US 19 A 6 LANE HIGHWAY; LUCKY THERE WAS A CENTER TURN LANE OR I WOULD HAVE COLLIDED WITH A 18 WHEEL SAND TRUCK AND A SURE DEATH . TOOK ME SEVERAL DAYS OF DRIVING VEHICLE TO DIAGNOSIS PROBLEM .. I HAVE DRIVEN APPROX 55 YRS AND NO ACCIDENT SO MY METHOD OF DRIVING USING BOTH FEET HAS PROVEN SAFE FOR ME .. I REPORTED THIS TO KIA OF LAGRANGE, GA. AND ""TRIED TO GET THEM TO NOTE THIS PROBLEM ON SERVICE RECORD " AS I FEEL IT DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE ! I WANT THIS ON RECORD IN THE EVENT THIS SAFETY BRAKE CAUSES ME TO HAVE A ACCIDENT .. AND REST ASSURED I WILL FILE A LEGAL SUIT WHICH I ALSO TOLD THIS DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT

EVER SINCE BOUGHT NEW (SORENTO SX 6CYL.) IN APRIL 2011, THERE HAS BEEN A INTERMITTANT ISSUE WITH NO ENGINE RESPONSE FROM STOP FOR 2-3 SECONDS. RPM'S STAY AT IDLE SPEED, THEN IT SUDDENLY TAKES HOLD AND RUNS FINE. ONLY HAPPENS FROM STOP, AND ONLY ABOUT ONCE OR TWICE EVERY 2-3 DAYS. DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM, NO CODES. DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC FROM A STOP. I CANNOT DUPLICATE IT UNDER ANY DRIVING CIRCUMSTANCES. ALSO, IF I APPLY BRAKE DURING THIS "HESITATION" THERE IS NO ENGINE ACCELERATION WHILE I HOLD THE BRAKE. I FEEL SURE IT IS IN THE "FLY BY WIRE" SYSTEM, BUT DEALER HAS NO CLUE. I HAVE TO "FEATHER" THE ACCELERATOR FROM STOP WHENEVER I AM CONCERNED ABOUT ONCOMING TRAFFIC. *TT

I HAVE TAKEN MY 2011 KIA SORENTO IN 3 OR 4 TIMES TO SEE IF THEY CAN FIND OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE SUSPENSION. THEY DID A VISUAL INSPECTION AND SAID ALL LOOKS GOOD. THEY HAVE REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING TO MY VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC AGREED WITH ME, ON THE ROUGH RIDE. THE VEHICLE BOUNCES ALL OVER THE ROAD. KIA DID CHANGE THE SUSPENSION IN OCT OF 2011 ON ALL NEW SORENTOS. WHICH TELLS ME THEY KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE OLD ONES. ALSO IF YOU LOOK ONLINE IT APPEARS A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO BOUGHT SORENTOS IN THE BEGINNING ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE ROUGH RIDE. KIA NEEDS TO DO RECALL ON ALL OLDER MODELS AND UP GRADE THEM. (THIS IS FROM AUTOBLOG.COM: KIA NOTICED THIS RIDE QUALITY ISSUE AND DECIDED TO TAKE THE COSTLIER DFD DAMPERS AND EMPLOY THEM NOT JUST ON THE NEW SX MODEL, BUT ACROSS THE MODEL'S ENTIRE RANGE BEGINNING IN THE FOURTH QUARTER. WHILE KIA OFFICIALS WE SPOKE WITH AT AN ATLANTA PRESS EVENT THIS WEEK STOPPED SHORT OF ADMITTING THAT THE SORENTO'S RIDE QUALITY HAS BEEN AN ISSUE, THEY DID NOTE THAT ONCE ENGINEERS SAMPLED THE DFD SETUP ON THE SX, THEY LIKED THE RIDE SO MUCH THEY DECIDED TO INSTITUTE THE NEW UNITS ON ALL SORENTOS.) *TR

I STARTED THE CAR, PUT IT INTO REVERSE AND AS I WAS BACKING THE CAR GOES OUT OF REVERSE AND INTO NEUTRAL. THE R INDICATOR ON THE DASH DISAPPEARS AND THE CAR REVS REAL HIGH THEN SLAMS INTO GEAR AND LURCHES FORWARD AND MAKES A SOUND AS IF I HAVE HIT SOMETHING. I BOUGHT THE CAR IN OCT 2012 AND THE DEALER DIDN'T DISCLOSE THIS. I'VE HAD IT IN 2XS TO ANOTHER DEALER AND THEY CANT DUPLICATED HE ISSUE. AS TIME GOES ON IT HAPPENS MORE AND MORE FREQUENTLY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE VEHICLE WOULD PULL TO THE LEFT. THE DEALER READJUSTED THE STEERING WHEEL; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE BECAME VERY SENSITIVE WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS MOVED. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS MOVED SLIGHTLY IT HAD TOO MUCH MOVEMENT IN IT. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT STABLE AND IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,800.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SWITCH GEARS WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH. THE CONTACT HAD TO SHUT OFF THE ENGINE TO ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO COOL IN ORDER TO PROCEED WITH DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN IS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT. UPON RESTART, THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS NORMAL. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE FURTHER WHEN PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. A KNOCKING NOISE WAS ALSO HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE, AND THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY JERK BACKWARDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100. A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS INSTALLED 6/29/2011. UPDATED 09/07/2011 *LN *TR