NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2011 Kia Sorento. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
AT 103,000 MILES, MY 2011 KIA SORENTO HAD CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE WITH NO WARNING. IT WAS DEEMED TO BE AN INTERNAL ENGINE FAILURE, KNOWN BY KIA, HOWEVER THEY REFUSED TO INCLUDE MY VIN IN THE RECALL. I PAID 2700 FOR A REPLACEMENT THROUGH THE KIA DEALERSHIP. 2 YEARS LATER, AT 1240,000 MILES, THE SECOND ENGINE FAILED. AGAIN, NO WARNING LIGHTS, SIMPLY DRIVING FORWARD AT 60MPH WHEN IT STOPPED. KIA REFUSES TO COVER ANYTHING AGAIN.
MY VEHICLE'S AIRBAG SENSOR COMES ON AND DOESN'T GO OFF .
ENGINE STARTED CLICKING AND SMOKING WHILE IN MOTION GOING 70 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE. MY ENGINE BLEW AT 158,000 MILES. I HAD NORMAL REGULAR MAINTENANCE. MY MECHANIC DID REGULAR OIL CHANGES.
MY PEARL WHITE PAINT IS PEELING IN SHEETS ON THE REAR QUARTER PANEL ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AND IS COMING OFF ALL ALONG EACH SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD AND IN SPOTS ALL ALONG THE CAR.
PLEASE BE ADVISED THIS IS IN ADDITION TO THE FUEL TANK CORROSION PREVIOUSLY REPORTED. THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE IS EATEN UP WITH RUST. IT IS AFFECTING THE UNIT BODY AS WELL AS SEVERAL STRUCTURAL MEMBERS OF THE VEHICLE. HAVE SPOKEN WITH KIA AND THEY REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE AS IT IS AFFECTING THE ENTIRE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE VEHICLE.
LEFT BLINKER IS FAST AFTER REPLACEMENT AND DIM. RIGHT HEADLIGHT REPLACED AND WORKS TEMPORARILY IF YOU UNPLUG IT ABS PLUG IN.
WHEN TURNING ON THE LIGHTS TO DRIVE AT NIGHT, THEY WILL GO OUT WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN I TURN ON THE HIGH BEAMS, THE SAME THING HAPPENS. AFTER THIS BACK AND FORTH, THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY UNTIL THE NEXT NIGHT. I CANNOT DRIVE THE CAR AT NIGHT NOW. MY MECHANIC IS RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE AND THERE IS A RECORD OF THIS PROBLEM ON LINE. I HAVE NOT HEARD ABOUT A RECALL YET.
ONE DAY HEARD UPPER MOTOR TAPPING SOUND.ASSUMED LOW IN OIL.WE HAVE HAD REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND WERE DO FOR ANOTHER SHORTLY.WE HAVE NEVER HAD TO ADD FLUIDS.DROVE THE CAR AROUND THE BLOCK TO GET OIL WARM.CHECKED OIL .FOUND ENGINE COMPLETELY OUT IF OIL!! CAR DOES NOT LEAK.NO ENGINE INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON.THE VEHICLE HAS NO PROBLEM TELLING ME IT NEEDS AIR!! BUT A CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE THAT IT DOESN'T INDICATE!! FILLED ENGINE TO MANUFACTURED SPECS.ENGINE HAS NO POWER!! TOP OF ENGINE TAPPING BOTTOM OF ENGINE KNOCKING. JUST FINISHED PAYING FOR CAR WITH ONLY 90K MILES.
DOORS FAIL TO OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE. HEADLIGHT WIRING HARNESS WILL MELT WIRING FOR THE LIGHT BULB AND KILL THE LIGHTBULB. DRIVER SEAT FEELS LOOSE, HOWEVER THE BOLTS ARE AS TIGHT AS THEY WILL GO.
THE ISSUE I AM HAVING IS THAT THE ENTIRE LIGHTING SYSTEM WILL SHUT OFF WHEN DRIVING. ITS SPONTANEOUS WHEN IT DOES IT BUT IT SOMETIMES COMES BACK ON. THIS CAUSES ME TO BE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT NIGHT WITH NO WAY OF SEEING OR OTHERS TO SEE ME. TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WHEN THEY REPLACED MULTIPLE PARTS ON THE VEHICLE.
PASSENGER HEAD LIGHT KEEP BURNING OUT AS SOON AS I REPLACE IT IT SMELLS LIKE WIRES ARE BURNING AND WHEN I DRIVE ANY BUMPS WILL MAKE THE HEAD LIGHTS FLICKER
THE PAINT (PEARL WHITE) ON THE VEHICLE ON THE SURFACE ABOVE THE WINDSHIELD IS DELAMINATING/PEELING. TWO DIFFERENT BODY SHOPS TOLD ME THAT IT WAS DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT.
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while, driving at an undetermined speed at night and making a turn the headlights became inoperable without warning for a few seconds. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 120,000. The VIN was not available.
Paint is chipping really bad. Rust spots
HAVE TO REPLACE BRAKES AND ROTORS 2-3 YEAR;. BRAKE CALIPER TWICE; REPLACE HEADLIGHTS AND TAILLIGHTS SEVERAL TIMES PER YEAR; BACK DOOR WON'T OPEN FROM INSIDE OR OUT.
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR IT WILL LOSE POWER AND COMPLETELY SHUT OFF IT HAS HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY, ON REGULAR STREETS, AND WHEN GOING UP HILLS.. I AM NOT ABLE TO DO ANYTHING EXCEPT HOPE THAT NO ONE HITS ME AND I CAN GET IT PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND HOPE IT WILL START AGAIN. NOW THE CAR STARTED MAKING A WHINING NOISE AND HAS COMPLETELY DIED AND HAD TO BE TOWED BECAUSE IT WILL NOT START AGAIN. EVERYTHING IS GOOD BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, STARTER, RELAYS/FUSES.
THE RIGHT REAR PASSENGER DOOR HAS LOCKED IT'S SELF SHUT FOR NO APPARENT REASON AND THE KIA DEALERSHIP HAS STATED THAT IT'S A SENSER THAT'S GOING TO COST $300.00 TO GET IT OPEN
DEALER SAID FUEL TANK HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO PITTING AND CORROSION. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE SECTION OF THE TANK THAT IS SHOWING SIGNS OF CORROSION AND LEAKING ARE INSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. SPECIFICALLY UNDER THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. VIDEO IS AVAILABLE AND WE WILL BE ADVISING DEALER TO RETURN THE DAMAGED FUEL TANK TO US.
MY VEHICLE SHUT OFF DOING 70 MPH ON INTERSTATE AND THE DASH LIGHTS ALL FLICKERED
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT UNDISCLOSED SPEEDS AND ATTEMPTING TO TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION, THE VEHICLE WOBBLED WITH AN ABNORMAL SOUND COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BATTLEGROUND KIA (2927 BATTLEGROUND AVE, GREENSBORO, NC 27408, (336) 295-1542) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND BUSHINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE 99,200.
I'VE REPLACED THE DRIVER SIDE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT 4 TIMES IN 2 MONTHS AND THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT TURN SIGNAL TWICE DURING THE SAME SPAN. THERE SEEMS TO BE A SHORT AS THE HEADLIGHT WILL WORK UNTIL I USE THE TURN SIGNAL WHILE THE HEADLIGHTS ARE ON. THE HEADLIGHT BURNS OUT AND THEN THE TURN SIGNAL ONLY FLASHES WHEN THE SWITCH FOR THE HEADLIGHTS IS OFF.
MY DOOR HANDLE OR DOOR LATCH WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE ON MY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR AND ALSO MY LEFT BACK DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE OR INSIDE. IT IS DANGEROUS FOR AND MY KIDS. ALSO, MY HEADREST HAS FALLEN OFF. I HAVE ISSUES WITH MY LIGHTS, THEY WILL NOT WORK FOR THE INTERIOR.
DOORS WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED FOR MY VEHICLE.
SUA July 3, 2020, driver was exiting a Kroger fuel station located at 7380 Spout Springs Road, Flowery Branch, Georgia 30542 in the subject 2011 Kia Sorento SUV vehicle. Suddenly and without warning, the subject Kia vehicle began accelerating without throttle input from the driver. The Kia Sorento then struck the rear of a 2014 RAV 4, pushing it across the street and into a Waffle House parking lot. The 2011 Kia Sorento continued accelerating and gained significant speed before striking a nearby curb and fencing, colliding with an embankment of a retention pond, and ultimately coming to rest in the base of the retention pond. The injured driver was transported from the scene by ambulance, where they began receiving the first portion of many treatments for her injuries. Driver believes they are victim to a runaway throttle control malfunction that caused a sudden uncommanded acceleration (SUA). Manufacturer notified. NHTSA has received 54 Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs), aka U.S. consumer complaints to DOT, regarding Vehicle Speed Control problems with the 2011 Kia Sorento; including NHTSA ID No. 10473983: On August 19, 2012, in Iowa/Missouri, state police footage showed Lauri Ulvestad’s, 47, of Ames, Iowa, 35-minute ride of terror after the accelerator of her Kia Sorento jammed, causing her to careen down a highway at speeds up to 120 miles per hour for 59 miles. The accelerator in this other 2011 Kia Sorento SUV became stuck. A dash-camera video captured by the Missouri State Highway Patrol officers who soon began following her shows the 35 minutes of terror that Ulvestad endured as her car traveled 59 miles at speeds as high as 115 mph. Apparently Kia "technicians were unable to duplicate the issue and this appears to be an isolated incident," per the South Korean company’s statement. "KMA will continue to investigate and analyze the facts of this situation." Source: ABC News. Petition for Defect Investigation. Special Crash Investigation.
AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON FOR NO REASON AND WILL NOT SHUT OFF. I DID TROUBLESHOOT ACCORDING TO THE MANUAL THAT CAME WITH MY VEHICLE. THE LIGHT STILL DID NOT SHUT OFF. MY GUESS IS THAT IT HAS MALFUNCTIONED. LOOKING ON LINE OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME YEAR KIA ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY WHEN IT CAME ON AS WELL AS WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND CITY STREETS.
The clear paint is peeling off. My paint began peeling in a tiny spot, it looked like a tiny chip of paint the size of a piece of rice but rapidly began peeling all over.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER SON WAS DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO RETRIEVE A FAULT CODE OR DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE REMAINED WITH THE MECHANIC FOR TWO DAYS AFTER WHICH THE VEHICLE STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE RESIDENCE. A DAY LATER WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER BUT RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND PULLED TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT OCCASIONALLY. ADDITIONALLY, THE VEHICLE LOSS POWER WITH THE ABS AND EMERGENCY AUTOMATIC BRAKING WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL FAILED TO OPERATE AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000.
I WAS LEAVING MY MOM HOUSE AROUND TEN O'CLOCK AT NIGHT. AS I WAS FIVE MINUTES AWAY FROM MY APARTMENTS MY CAR MADE A LOUD SOUND AND STARTED TO SLOW DOWN. I STOP MY CAR AND PUT IT UN PARK AND I SEEN SMOKE COMING FROM INSIDE THE HOOD. I GET OUT THE CAR AND GRAB MY SON AND , I KNOCK ON SOMEONE'S DOOR FOR HELP AND AFTER THAT FIRE STARTS. I CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THEY CAME IN ABOUT 3-5 MINUTES AND THEY FORCED MY HOOD OPEN DUE TO MY HOOD LATCH MISSING . AFTER THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT I FOUND PIECES OF METAL ON THE GROUND FROM MY KIA.
Hello I would like to report that my 2011 Kia Sorento driver side door wont open from the outside and has been this way for almost a year it will cost me almost 400.00 to get this fixed myself that's a lot of money when I didn't break this ; however I looked online and this is a nationwide issue with this vehicle. This isn't safe and I just want Kia to do a recall to fix this issue I have to climb over seats to unlock from outside and I just wish they would recognize that this is definitely a world wide issue and not to overlook it. Thank you for taking the time to listen and or read what I've wrote.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH SEVERAL UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ACTIVATED THE PARKING BRAKES TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED OUT OF THE ROADWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT REACHED OUT TO THE DEALER WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED HOWEVER, THE DEALER WENT OUT OF BUSINESS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 148,000.
MY CAR TURNED OFF ON ME TWICE WHILE DRIVING IT ON THE STREETS, ALL LIGHTS WENT BLACK.THERE WAS CARS BEHIND ME, I WAS SCARED ON GETTING HIT. DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS A SMART JUNKING BOX CAUSING THE PROBLEM SINCE SOME CABLES HAS CORROSION. THEY HAVE BEEN RECALL ON THAT AND THEY DON'T WANT TO TAKE CARE OF IT. THEY SEND ME A PICTURE OF THE PROBLEM, AND I SEE NO CORROSION. NOW I'M SCARED DRIVING MY CAR AND NOT KNOWING WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. ESPECIALLY WHEN HAVING MY KIDS WITH ME AND DRIVING AT NIGHT, IF THAT CAR TURNS OFF, IT CAN CAUSE A HORRIBLE CRASH. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR FAILED TO OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE HOWEVER, OPENED FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD TO CLIMB OVER THE DRIVER'S SEAT TO OPEN THE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 144,000.
DRIVER SIDE DOOR CAN NOT BE OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE.NOT WITH KEY FOB OR WITH THE KEY.CAR HAS 46,000 MILES ON IT. IT IS LIGHTLY USED.DEALER SAYS IT WILL COST 413.00 TO REPAIR.AFTER LOOKING ON LINE, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM.CANT UNDERSTAND WHY THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL ON IT. *TR
ROD BARRING SEIZURE ON MY NON-GDI THETA II ENGINE. KIA IS REFUSING TO COVER THIS, IN LIEU OF THE RECENT CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT SETTLEMENT. 2011 SORENTO'S ARE SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED IN THE SETTLEMENT, EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE NEVER EQUIPPED WITH THE GDI VERSION. *TR
ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING SEVERAL DAYS BEFORE CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO KIA. STAFF STARTED ENGINE AND SAID IT NEEDS A NEW ENGINE WITHOUT LOOKING AT IT FURTHER. TOOK ELSEWHERE FOR A SECOND OPINION. KNOCK SUBSIDED SOME AFTER ADDING ADDITIONAL ENGINE OIL (NO HISTORY OF LEAKS OR OIL USE). ENGINE THEN THREW A ROD THROUGH THE OIL PAN AS THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING APPROX 40 MILES PER HOUR ON A 4 LANE STREET. .FORTUNATELY, MY 17 YEAR OLD SON WAS ABLE TO REACT TO THE TOTAL ENGINE/POWER LOSS AND WAS ABLE TO SAFELY GET THE VEHICLE PULLED OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD INTO A TURN LANE. KIA ACKNOWLEDGES THEY HAVE BEEN HAVING MANY IDENTICAL ISSUES WITH VARIOUS ENGINES, BUT THIS SPECIFIC ENGINE WASN'T INCLUDED UNDER THE RECALL. SEEMS VERY STRANGE THAT THIS ENGINE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUES AS OTHER KIA ENGINES, BUT THIS SPECIFIC ENGINE ISN'T COVERED... KIA IS AGREEING TO COVER APPROXIMATELY 1/2 OF THE ESTIMATED $6,000 REPAIR BILL. ENGINE HAD APPROX 120,000 MILES ON IT. *TR
SC098XM RECALL HAS BEEN COMPLETED ON MY VEHICLE BUT THE SITE SAYS 'INCOMPLETE'. HOW CAN I GET IT CHANGED? I AM MILITARY STATIONED IN ITALY, I'M GOING TO SHIP THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE STATES BUT ALL RECALLS MUST BE COMPLETED FOR THAT TO HAPPEN. *TR
DRIVERS DOOR WILL NOT OPEN THROUGH OUTSIDE HAVE TO CLIMB THROUGH PASSENGER DOOR.THIS COULD BE DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE WITH MY WELL BEING AS I COULD BE PULLED FROM CAR WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ENTER..I AM ALMOST 60 AND THIS IS VERY HARD ON ME TO CLIMB FROM PASSENGER SIDE TO DRIVERS SIDE ESPECIALLY IN THE RAIN OR DARK PARKING LOT WITH ALL THE CRIME GOING ON THESE DAYS. *TR
THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AND WILL NOT GO OFF. THERE IS NOTHING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND IT DOES NOT GO AWAY WHEN TURNING THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON. THIS MEANS THAT+S THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IN THE CASEBOOK OF AN ACCIDENT WHICH IS A HAZARD. *TR
WHILE MAKING A TURN BOTH HEADLIGHTS GO OUT WHILE TURN SIGNAL IS ON. THEN AFTER MAKING TURN THEY COME BACK ON. DOESN'T HAPPEN ALL THE TIME INTERMITTENT AND RANDOM. VERY DANGEROUS. *TR
I STARTED THE CAR IN THE DRIVEWAY,SHIFTED INTO REVERSE , LIFTED MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE ,THE CAR STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARDS AND A LOUD BAM(LIKE I HIT SOMETHING IN THE DRIVEWAY). I GOT OUT TO CHECK AND THERE WAS NOTHING. I PULLED FORWARD AND STOPPED FOR A SECOND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON. I SHIFTED INTO REVERSE AND BACKED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND DROVE AWAY AND EVERYTHING WORKED NORMALLY. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME SEVERAL TIMES IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS. IT HAS ALSO HAPPENED TO MY WIFE. I HAVE ALSO HAD TWO INCIDENTS WHEN AFTER STARTING THE CAR I COULDN'T SHIFT OUT OF PARK. IT JUST WOULDN'T MOVE. THE SHIFTER WAS JUST STUCK THERE. TURNED THE CAR OFF SEVERAL TIMES AND IT FINALLY LET ME SHIFT INTO REVERSE.
DRIVE SIDE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND NOW STEERING CONTROLS ARE NOT WORKING. KIA DEALER STATED ITS THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE THAT IS FAULTY
WE ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH NOT BEING ABLE TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK AND SOMETIMES NOT BEING ABLE TO PUT THE CAR BACK INTO PARK. I HAVE 2 LIGHTS ON THAT SHOWED UP WHEN THIS STARTED. THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT AND THE DOWN HILNOT BEING ABLE TO SHIFT FROM PARK OR BACK INTO PARK DOESN'T HAPPEN ALL THE TIME WHEN IT DOES WE HAVE TO PUSH A KEY INTO THE LITTLE HOLE BUY THE SHIFTER TO OVERRIDE IT
ENGINE SEIZED UP CAUSING ENGINE FAILURE. VEHICLE MADE NOISE AND STOPPED COMPLETELY. UNABLE TO START. PERSONAL RESEARCH ONLINE-POSSIBLE RECALL SC147.KIA SORENTO BUILT 4/2011-2/10/2014, NHTSA CAMP.ID 17V224000. KIA CONSUMER AFF.STATES THE VEH DOESN'T FALL UNDER THE RECALL.VEH.BROKE DOWN ON 3/20/2020 IN LYNCHBURG,VA. SAME SYMPTOMS AS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL.DEALERSHIP IN LYNCHBURG DETERMINED THE MOTOR "SEIZED" UP CAUSING TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE.KIA HAS DETERMINED TO PAY FOR PARTS ONLY,NOT LABOR.KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS STATED THE WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER DUE TO BEING 2ND OWNER.THE VEH. HAS LESS THAN 43K MILES.NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED UNTIL TIME OF ENGINE FAILURE.VEH. HAS BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY PRIOR TO DATE OF ENGINE FAILURE.IT IS UNKNOWN IF THE DEALERSHIP HAS PERFORMED TESTING VIA SCAN TOOLS EQUIPPED FOR SC147 INSPECTION.RESEARCH THAT I'VE DONE SHOWS THE NOISE TEST CANNOT BE DONE BECAUSE THE ENGINE SEIZED AND CANNOT BE STARTED.WHEN THE VEH ENGINE FAILED, I CHECKED THE OIL AND COOLANT.ALL FLUIDS WERE AT LEVEL AND CLEAN.NO LEAKS APPEARED UNDER VEH.THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION IN THIS MATTER. *TR
TODAY I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE. I STOPPED AT THE GROCERY STORE AND I FINISHED THERE AND I WAS MAKING MY WAY HOME. I GOT ABOUT 3 OR SO MILES AWAY FROM MY HOME AND I NOTICED MY OIL LIGHT WAS ON. SO I PULLED OVER TO CHECK THE OIL AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE. I DIDN'T SEE A NEED TO HAVE IT TOWED THOUGHT IT WAS TELLING ME IT WAS TIME FOR AN OIL CHANGE. I PROCEEDED ONE AND I GOT ABOUT A MILE OR SO FROM MY HOUSE I'M AT A STOP LIGHT AND NOW MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON ALONG WITH MY OIL LIGHT. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT JUST DIED RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE TRAFFIC LIGHT. I CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND HAD IT TOWED. THEY HAD LOOKED AT IT AND FOUND THAT THE ENGINE HAD NO OIL PRESSURE AND THE ENGINE WAS SHOT. I NEEDED A NEW ONE. I STILL OWE MORE THAN THE VEHICLE IS WORTH. SOMEONE NEEDS TO LOOK INTO THIS.
TWO DAYS LATER AFTER BUYING THE CAR WE WERE DRIVING IT DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN I NOTICED THAT THE RPMS ON THE TRUCK WERE GOING TO HIGH AT 70 MPH THE RPM WOULD BE BETWEEN 6 AND 7 SO I DECIDE WHILE DRIVING TO SHIFT IT TO STANDARD SHIFT AND IN THIS PARTICULAR TRUCK THE ODOMETER SHOWS WHAT GEAR I AM IN AND I COULD ALSO SHIFT IT MANUALLY BUT THE TRUCK IS STUCK IN 4TH GEAR AND AT A COMPLETE STOP THE START DOESNT SEEM TO WANT TO GO AT ALL AND NOW IT WANT GO FORWARDS OR REVERSE. IF I TURN LEFT OR RIGHT SIGNALS THE HEAD LIGHTS GO OFF. WHEN I STOPPED AT THE GAS STATION THE PASSBY PERSON SAW THAT IT WAS A LEAK UNDER THE VEHICLE.
ALTERNATOR HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED 4 TIMES IN LESS THAN 2 YEARS... MECHANIC AT PEP BOYS SAID THAT HE HAS SEEN SEVERAL OF THIS YEAR MAKE AND MODEL COME IN FOR THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM...
I WAS DRIVING 35MPH ON A 40MPH STRAIGHT ROAD FROM MY GROCERY STORE TO MY HOME. HALFWAY INTO MY DRIVE, THE HOOD OF MY CAR UNLATCHED AND SMACKED INTO MY WINDSHIELD. IT DID NOT FALL BACK DOWN IT STAYED COVERING THE WINDSHIELD AND I WAS UNABLE TO SEE. I WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO A BUSINESS BY LOOKING THROUGH THE BOTTOM WHERE THE HOOD CURVES. AFTER PULLING OVER I PUSHED THE HOOD DOWN TO ASSESS THE DAMAGE. THE CAR WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE WITHOUT USING A BUNGEE TO SECURE THE HOOD. I THEN DROVE HOME GOING ROUGHLY 15MPH BEHIND A FRIEND DRIVING IN FRONT OF ME. I AM UNSURE OF THE LAST TIME MY HOOD WAS MANUALLY OPENED. ROUGHLY 3-4 WEEKS AGO I TOOK MY KIA INTO THE DEALERSHIP DUE TO A LETTER I RECEIVED TO FIX AN AIRBAG RECALL/WARRANTY. I AM ASSUMING THEY OPENED THE HOOD DURING THIS FIX BUT NOT CERTAIN. I HAVE FILED A CLAIM WITH MY INSURANCE AND CURRENTLY HAVE MY KIA AT A COLLISION BODY SHOP THROUGH THE DEALERSHIP. ATTACHED IS THE ESTIMATE IS GIVEN BY THE INSURANCE BASED ON THE PHOTOS I GAVE THEM. THE BODY SHOP ASSESSED DAMAGE TO MY ROOF AS WELL BUT I DO NOT HAVE THEIR ESTIMATE.
RIGHT SIDED PASSENGER SEATBELT BUCKLE WITH NOT FASTEN/LOCK. CAR WAS STABLE AS WE WERE TRYING TO BUCKLE UP BEFORE WE DROVE.
I HAVE A 2011 KIA SORENTO AND CHECKED TO SEE IF ANY RECALLS HAVE BEEN MADE ON THE MOTOR. NO RECALLS HAVE BEEN ON THE MOTORS. BUT SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE MOTOR SMOKING AND LOSING POWER. I FEEL LIKE KIA SHOULD REPLACE THOSE MOTORS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED, BECAUSE LOSE OF POWER! I WAS DRIVING DOWN A 4 LANE HIGHWAY AND WENT TO CHANGE LANES AND MY CAR WOULD NOT GO. I COULD PUSH THE GAS PEDDLE AND IT WOULDN'T GO ANY FASTER. THANK GOODNESS I WASN'T FAR FROM MY HOME! IT WENT INTO LIMP MODE. SO I HAD TO LIMP IT HOME. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A BAD SITUATION HAD I NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET ON THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY! I'VE TALKED TO SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT HAVE HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING TO THEIR KIA SERENTO. KIA NEEDS TO RECALL THESE MOTORS!
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026