NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2012 Kia Sorento. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
PRIOR TO THE DATE OOF 05/24/2019, I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP IN WHICH I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE TO ASK TO SET UP AN APPOINTMENT BECAUSE MY CAR WAS BURNING OIL. THIS WAS IN JUNE 2018 AND AT THAT TIME I WAS INFORMED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH MY VEHICLE AND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL OUT ON THE ENGINE I HAD IN MY VEHICLE. PRIOR TO THIS APPOINTMENT I HAD ONE OF MY GOOD FRIENDS CALL DOWN AND EXPLAIN TO THE MECHANIC WHAT HE EXPERIENCED WITH MY VEHICLE, AS HE WAS A MECHANIC HIMSELF. I ENDED UP PAYING A BILL THAT DAY FOR SOME MINOR THINGS. IN THE BEGINNING OF 2019 I GOT AN OUL CHANGED AND BY MARCH WE HAD TO ADD BOUT 3 QUARTS. IN APRIL 2019 I NOTICED OVER THE COURSE OF ABOUT 6 WEEKS I PUT 2 QUARTS IN MY CAR. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT AND INFORMED THE SECRETARY ON THE PHONE ABOUT IT BURNING OIL. MY FATHER ENDED UP TAKING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT DAY WHILE I WAS MEETING HIM THERE WITH HIS VEHICLE. BY THE TIME I ARRIVED MY VEHICLE WAS ALREADY DONE BEING SERVICED. HOWEVER I STILL MANAGED TO SPEAK WITH THE MECHANIC IN WHICH HE INFORMED ME MY ENGINE WAS ON RECALL AND COULD ONLY BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE IF THE CAR MADE A KLINKING SOUND OR I DROVE MY CAR TO THE POINT MY ENGINE SEIZED. I WAS TOLD THIS IS THE ONLY WAY THE ENGINE WOULD BE FREE OF CHARGE. TO ME AND MY FATHER THIS DIDNT SEEM SAVE AS I TRAVEL SEVERAL MILES THROUGHOUT A COUPLE OF MONTH SPAN. THERE ARE TIMES IN WHICH I REACH AREAS THAT THERE IS NO SERVICE. I ALSO OFTEN TIMES HAVE MY DAUGHTER WITH ME IN WHICH WORRIES ME. SIMILAR SITUATION HAPPENED IN APRIL 2012, 14 MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT THE KIA SORENTO. I WAS DRIVING 4 HOURS TO GO BACK HOME WHEN MY VEHICLE STARTED BLOWING COLD AIR. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN ALL MY CARS LIGHTS WENT ON AND MY VEHICLE FROZE UP. MY CAR STARTED TO SMOKE. LOOKING UNDER THE HOOD MY OIL CAP WAS GONE. I ENDED UP GETTING ANOTHER ONE HOPING MY VEHICLE WOULD RUN. IT WAS TOWED AND I ENDED UP BUYING A NEW ENGINE.
WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE BECAME VERY SLUGGISH AND THE ENGINE WAS CHUGGING. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO OVER 25 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP & I WAS INFORMED THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BUT KIA WILL NOT COVER THIS. UPON PICKING THE CAR UP WITH A TRAILER, MY SON-IN-LAW DISCOVERED THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO OIL IN THE ENGINE. AFTER ADDING 5+ QUARTS, IT STILL WAS NOT FULL (THE CAR IS NOT DUE FOR AN OIL CHANGE FOR ANOTHER FEW HUNDRED MILES). THERE IS SUCH BAD KNOCKING IN THE ENGINE WHEN IT IS RUNNING THAT IT CANNOT BE DRIVEN.
2012 KIA SORENTO, HAD ISSUE WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT BLOWING. ASKED DEALERSHIP TO FIX IT. THEY SAID PRONGS NEEDED TO BE SPREAD. THE LIGHT BLEW AGAIN. TOOK IT BACK IN AND THEN THEY REPLACED THE HARNESS. THEY FORGOT TO MENTION THERE WAS AN ISSUE AND MADE IT SOUND LIKE THEY DID ME A FAVOR FIXING IT FOR FREE. FAST FORWARD A YEAR AND I START HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE BRAKE LIGHTS. THEY TELL ME THAT THEY WILL DIAGNOSE FOR $150 AND IF IT IS THE WIRING HARNESS IT WILL COST ME AN ADDITIONAL $300. IT WAS THE WIRING HARNESSES THEY DIDN'T CHARGE ME FOR THE DIAGNOSE BUT IT STILL COST $250. I TOLD THEM THAT IT WAS THE SAME ISSUE AS THE HEADLIGHT. THEY DIDN'T CARE BECAUSE I DIDN'T BRING IT IN EVERY TIME THE BULBS BLEW TO PAY $20 TO REPLACE THE BULBS. GOT IT REPAIRED 5/2019 NOW THE BRAKE LIGHT IS OUT AGAIN.
ENGINE SIEZED WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE ALL THE MAINTENANCE RECORDS. IT WASN'T LEAKING OIL OR BURNING ANY. I HAD IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC, HE AGREED THEIR WAS NO LEAK BUT THE OIL WAS LIVE SLUDGE AND IT CAUSED THE CAR TO SEIZE. IT HAD BEEN LESS THAN 4000 MILES SINCE I'LL HAD BEEN CHANGED.
WHILE MY VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON THE HIGHWAY GOING OVER 70MPH MY ENGINE SHUT OFF, MY SPEEDOMETER DROPPED FROM 70 TO 40 CAUSING THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME TO HAVE TO PULL INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC (TWO LANE ROAD GOING DOWN MOUNTAIN) TO AVOID SLAMMING INTO MY VEHICLE. PRIOR TO THIS OIL, CHECK ENGINE, AND FOUR WHEEL DRIVE LIGHTS ALL BEGAN TO FLASH. PULLED OVER, SHUT OFF VEHICLE AND VEHICLE STARTED AFTER SOME STRUGGLE. DROVE WITH HAZARDS ALL THE WAY HOME. BEFORE THIS MY VEHICLE WOULD LOSE POWER WHILE DRIVING. MY RPMS WOULD DROP AND HITTING THE GAS DID NOTHING. EVERY TIME VEHICLE STARTS MAKING KNOCKING SOUND BEFORE RATTLING AND STALLING OUT. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN MOTION EVERY SINGLE TIME IT LOSES POWER, OR THE ENGINE STALLS OUT. IMMEDIATELY PURCHASED CAR FAX TO SEE ALL OPEN RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE. THIS IS ONE OF THE MAJOR ONES. ENTIRE REPLACEMENT OF ENGINE. KIA REFUSES TO REPLACE MY ENGINE AND ONLY KEPT MY VEHICLE IN THE SHOP FOR 56 MINUTES BEFORE TELLING ME IT WAS READY FOR PICK UP. WHEN ENGINE IS ACTING UP, REMOVING MY FOOT FROM THE GAS DOES NOT SLOW THE VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS AND UNPREDICTABLE.
MY CAR WAS DRIVING PERFECTLY AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN STARTED CHUGGING, DRIVING EXTREMELY ROUGHLY, AND MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I THOUGHT IT MIGHT HAVE TO DO WITH THE RECALL ON ENGINES LIKE MINE SO I TOOK IT TO A KIA DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT AND EXPLAINED MY CONCERN AND THE THE RECALL IN QUESTION HAD BEEN CLEARED BECAUSE IT HADN'T DONE ANYTHING AT THE TIME BUT NOW I WAS CONCERNED THAT WAS THE ISSUE. THEY RAN MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND TOLD ME IT WAS THE IGNITION COILS AND THE FUEL INJECTOR AND THAT IT WOULD COST ME ABOUT $800 BUT THEY WOULDN'T ACKNOWLEDGE MY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE RECALL OR SHOW ME WHAT THE CODES WERE. I TOOK IT TO AUTOZONE TO HAVE THEM RUN THE CODES SO I COULD SEE WHAT THEY WERE AND IT WAS JUST THE IGNITION COIL AND CYLINDER 4 MISFIRING AND NOT THE FUEL INJECTOR AT ALL. I GOT THE IGNITION COILS AND SPARK PLUGS REPLACED BUT IT'S STILL RUNNING ROUGH AND CYLINDER 4 IS STILL MISFIRING AND MY CAR EVEN STALLED OUT ON THE INTERSTATE WHILE I WAS IN THE LEFT LANE. MY CAR IS ONLY 6 YEARS OLD WITH 151,000 MILES ON IT. IT DROVE LIKE A DREAM WHEN I GOT IT AND I'VE TAKEN CARE OF IT REALLY WELL EVER SINCE. I'M AFRAID THIS ISSUE IS OUT OF MY HAND AND HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE CURRENT RECALL OR POSSIBLY ANOTHER ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED.
MOTOR JUST ALL OF LOCKED UP WITH NO WARNING I WAS DRIVING AND ALL OF SUDDEN I HEAR THE FANS START BLOWING LOUDLY I PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE CAR OFF AND IT HASN'T STARTED SINCE, NOW I'M WITHOUT VEHICLE
ENGIN STOPPED IN THE HIGHWAY DIDN'T START AFTER THAT. ALL THE SERVICES DONE IN THE DEALERSHIP. NOTHING WRONG EXCEPT ENGINE FROZEN. DEALER TRIED TO START CRANK MANUALLY BUT DIDN'T TURN. I WENT THROUGH THE DEALER FOR NESSASORY HELP BUT FAILED. STILL THE CAR SITTING IN GARAGE IN MY HOUSE SINCE THAT. I GOT ALL THE PROOFS OF THE SERVICES AND THE BLACK AND WITE PRINT OUTS OF THE DEFECTS WHICH MENTIONED. DEALER DIDN'T HELP ME AND I AM STILL TRYING TO FIND A LAWYER TO GO AGAINST THE COMPANY FOR THE REFUSAL FOR FIXING MY VEHICLE.
CAR WAS RUNNING FINE, NO WARNINGS. STARTED ENGINE AND IT WOULD NOT START. HAD CAR TOWED. WAS TOLD THE ENGINE WAS 'LOCKED UP'. IT IS 2012 SORENTO HOWEVER IT IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN AND ALL THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATORS, INCLUDING THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR, ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE BLEW UP AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 72,000.
ENGINE IS CONSUMING A LARGE AMOUNT OF OIL. WE HAD TAKEN THE CAR INTO THE DEALER TO CORRECT A RECALL AFFECTING THE ENGINE OIL. THE DEALER SERVICED THE VEHICLE, THEN THE VEHICLE STARTED BURNING OIL. WE TOOK IT TO A DIFFERENT DEALER WHO REFERRED US TO THE CONSUMER AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT. CONSUMER AFFAIRS SENT IT TO THE ESCALATION DEPARTMENT. THE ESCALATION DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDED THAT WE GO TO A JUNK YARD AND GET A USED ENGINE. THEY TOOK NO RESPONSIBILITY. WE HAVE KEPT THIS CAR SERVICED BUT WE WERE TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE CAR NEEDS A NEW ENGINE TO THE TUNE OF $9,000.
MY 2012 KIA SORENTO KEEPS GOING THOUGH OIL IT'S NOT BURNING IT AND IT'S NOT LEAKING SO WHAT HAPPENING TO IT ?
THE RETRACTABLE SUNROOF SHATTERED WITHOUT WARNING AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY CHILD. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNING SIGNS OR DAMAGE. THE GLASS FELL IN ON US, MOSTLY MY DAUGHTER IN THE BACK SEAT. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE KIA DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THIS HAD HAPPENED TO OTHER VEHICLES, BUT SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO SINCE KIA HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL YET.
VERY DISAPPOINTED IN MY KIA SORENTO. AT 90000 MILES IT STARTED MAKING A KNOCKING SOUND AND WHEN I TOOK IT IN TO GET IT CHECKED OUT. I WAS TOLD IT HAD BEARINGS WEAR AND WOULD NEED A NEW ENGINE. AFTER RESEARCHING I FOUND THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM BUT THE ENGINE I HAVE IS NOT RECALLED. HOPEFULLY YOU GUYS GET MORE COMPLAINTS ON THIS BECAUSE IT'S RIDICULOUS THAT A CAR NEEDS A NEW $6000 ENGINE AT 90,000 MILES. I CAN'T AFFORD THAT I WAS RECOMMENDING KIA TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND NOW SINCE THIS HAPPENED I WOULD NEVER AGAIN BUY OR RECOMMEND A KIA CAR EVER.
THE AIRBAG LIGHT WILL NOT TURN OFF ON THE DASHBOARD. I HAVE NOT BEEN IN ACCIDENT OR ANYTHING. I TURNED MY CAR ON LIKE NORMALLY AND THE AIRBAG LIKE CONTINUED TO STAY ON INSTEAD OF TURNING OFF ONCE YOU ARE BUCKLED AND STARTED DRIVING.
AT APPROXIMATELY 120K MILES, WE RANDOMLY CHECKED THE OIL PRIOR TO TAKING A ROAD TRIP AND NOTED THE DIP STICK WAS DRY. THE CAR WAS DOWN SEVERAL QUARTS OF OIL. NO OIL LIGHT EVER CAME ON. SINCE THEN THE CAR HAS BEEN EVALUATED BY MORE THAN ONE MECHANIC WITH NO LEAKS FOUND. THE CAR HAS HAD ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AS RECOMMENDED SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED. IT REQUIRES A QUART OF OIL ABOUT EVERY 500-700 MILES.
LOSING 1 QUART OF OIL EVERY 1000 MILES. STARTED AT 80,000 MILES. TAKEN TO DEALER. WE ARE DOING OIL LOSS TEST. SAID THIS IS NORMAL. NO WAY THIS IS NORMAL. STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY DON'T WANT TO FIX. ON TEC SAID JUST DRIVE TO ENGINE LOCKS UP IS ONLY WAY KIA WILL FIX. THAT WOULD BE NICE GOING DONE THE ROAD AT 70 MPH.I HAVE SEEN A LOT OF PEOPLE ONLINE COMPLAINING ABOUT SAME THING. SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THESE ENGINES. NO SMOKE OR DRIPPING ON GROUND. ALL THE PEOPLE ONLINE ARE SAYING THE SAME THING.
SUDDENLY AT 95000 MILES ENGINE STARTED TO USE OIL BUT IT'S NOT BURNING IT OR ANY LEAKING FROM ENGINE. I HAVE TO CHECK OIL WEEKLY AND WILL NEED A QUART EVER 800 TO 1000 MILES. AFTER READING MANY POSTS ON THIS SUBJECT ALL ARE HAVING THE EXACT SAME ISSUES AS WE ARE. KIA WILL NOT TAKE OWNERSHIP FOR THIS PROBLEM AND TERRIBLE ENGINE DESIGN. THEY NEED TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS ISSUE.
I WAS DRIVING FOR ABOUT 45 MINUTES ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR STARTED TO DECELERATE. I HAD JUST ENOUGH FORCE TO GET IT TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD SAFELY. NO WARNING LIGHTS OR ISSUES PRIOR TO THIS OCCURRENCE. THE RADIO WAS STILL ON BUT I COULDN'T GET THE ENGINE TO TURN OVER TO DRIVE. IS THERE A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE??? MY MECHANIC COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. IT STARTED RIGHT UP AND HE DROVE IT FOR AWUITE A BIT TO BE SURE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V907000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ENGINE). WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE CENTER CONSOLE. THE CONTACT DROVE TO HER JOB AND EXTINGUISHED THE SMOKE WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO KIA OF DULUTH (LOCATED AT 1701 W MICHIGAN ST, DULUTH, MN 55806, (866) 722-4542). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000. * (RECALL RELATED INCIDENT) TS
HEADLIGHTS SO DETERIORATED THAT AT NIGHT MUST RUN HIGH BEAM JUST TO SEE ROAD.
ENGINE RECALL. LATELY I BEEN HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE UNDER THE HOOD OF MY VEHICLE ALSO I HEARD KNOCKING NOICE FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE WHEN I START THE CAR AS WELL. IT COMES N GOES I HEAR IT ONCE IN A WHILE MAINLY IN THE MORNING WHEN I FIRST START THE CAR. I HEAR IT ANY OTHER TIME ONCE IN A WHILE. N I SEE LATELY THERE LEAKAGE COMING THREW THE EXHAUST PIPE AS WELL. I TOOK IT TO MY MACHANIC N HE ADVISED ME TO REPORT TO THE DEALER SINCE IT CAN B A POSSIBLE RECALL
AS I CAME OFF AN EXIT FROM THE HIGHWAY, AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT 90 MINUTES, FOR NO APPARENT REASON THE CAR JUST STOPPED RUNNING. THE TACH DROPPED TO O, AND I HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO AVOID GETTING HIT BY THE VEHICLES BEHIND ME. I TRIED TO START THE CAR AND THE CAR WOULD NOT EVEN TURN OVER. I CALLED MY INSURANCE COMPANY, ARRANGED FOR A TOW TO MY MECHANICS GARAGE, ONLY TO HAVE HIM TELL ME THAT THE MOTOR JUST CEASED. AGAIN NO WARNING FROM THE VEHICLES WARNING LIGHTS OR ANYTHING. IT JUST DIED RIGHT THERE.
SUNROOF EXPLODED WHILE I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON FEBRUARY 18, 2019. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS OCCURRED WITHIN 2 YEARS. I HAVE CALLED KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY HAVE BEEN GIVING ME THE RUN AROUND.
SHORTLY AFTER THE ANALYTIC CONVERTER LIGHT CAME ON, THE ENGINE STARTED SURGING AND THEN DIED WHEN I SLOWED FOR A TURN. I PUT THE CARE IN PARK, RESTARTED THE ENGINE, PUT IT IN DRIVE AND IT DIED AGAIN. I TRIED AGAIN WITH PARK, RESTART AND THEN DROVE INTO A PARKING LOT. I FOUND RECALL SC106 ON LINE BUT THE DEALER CAN'T FIND THIS FOR MY VEHICLE.
MY WIFE AND I HAVE BEEN DRIVING THIS VEHICLE FOR OVER 2 YEARS NOW. ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO, THIS BANGING NOISE STARTED WHICH FELT LIKE WE HIT SOMETHING OR AN OBJECT THE ROAD (JUST ONE BIG BANG NOISE). THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED WE TOOK IT THE AAA AND THEY SERVICED IT AND MADE SOME REPAIRS TO IT AND REPLACED SOME PARTS. THE NOISE WENT AWAY AND NOW (FEB 2019), I AM DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 60 MILES PER HOUR AND IT CAME BACK AND HAPPENED THREE TIMES ALREADY. UPON RESEARCHING THE CAUSE OF THIS ISSUE, I AM HERE ON THIS SITE TRYING TO FIND ANSWERS FOR THESE ISSUES. NOW, I DO NOT WANT OUR CAR TO CATCH FIRE SINCE I'VE READ A FEW PEOPLE WERE EXPERIENCING THIS HORRIFYING PREDICAMENT. WHAT ARE WE TO DO? WILL KIA TAKE CARE OF THIS ISSUE BEFORE SOMETHING WORSE HAPPENED? IT SEEMS TO BE CASE WITH THESE RECALLS, SOMETHING TERRIBLE HAS TO HAPPEN.
I TOO HAVE THE PROBLEM OF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT COMING ON OUT OF THE BLUE; NO ACCIDENTS.
LOSING OIL..NO INDICATOR LIGHTS COME ON. THEY TELL ME I HAVE DROP OIL PAN AND AND GET NEW SEAL. WHY DOESNTINDICATOR COME ON? .HAVE APPOINTMENT MARCH 4TH AT DEALER TO HAVE THIS FIXED. SOUNLD NOT HAVE TO AY FOR IT. INDICATOR LIGHT DO NOT WORK.NOW MY ENGINE KNOCKS
MY 20 YEAR OLD SON WAS DRIVING HIS 2012 KIA SORENTO ON THE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED TO MAKE A KNOCKING NOISE AND LOST ACCELERATION (HE WAS PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL, BUT IT FELT LIKE IT WASN'T DOING ANYTHING.) THE KNOCKING NOISE CONTINUED AND GREW LOUDER. WE TOOK THE CAR TO A NEARBY GARAGE, AND THE MECHANIC WHO LOOKED AT IT SAID THE CRANK BEARING WAS BAD AND THE ENGINE WAS SHOT. HE SAID REPLACING IT WOULD $5,000 OR MORE. HE SAID REPAIRING LIKELY WOULDN'T BE AN OPTION BECAUSE HE HAS SEEN OTHER KIAS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, AND THE ENGINES WERE FULL OF METAL PIECES. AFTER RESEARCHING, I LEARNED OF THE RECALL FOR 2012 KIA SORENTOS FOR THIS VERY REASON, BUT MY SON'S VIN ISN'T LISTED, AND IT OBVIOUSLY SHOULD BE. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 86,000 MILES AND HAS BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY. IT WAS MY HUSBAND'S VEHICLE BEFORE, SO WE KNOW IT HAS HAD REGULAR MAINTENANCE SINCE THE BEGINNING. EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE HAS STAYED IN THE SAME HOUSEHOLD, IT IS NOW IN MY SON'S NAME SO THE WARRANTY DOESN'T APPLY. PLEASE ADD THIS VEHICLE TO THE RECALL! I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING IN WRITING FROM THE MECHANIC, BUT THE VEHICLE IS STILL THERE AND I CAN GET THAT IF NEEDED.
I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED WITH 98K+ MILES ON IT FROM STEVENS CREEK SUBARU. THEY DID NOT DISCLOSE ANY RECALLS NOR ANY ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE. THIS WEEK, I BEGAN HEARING A CLICKING NOISE IN THE GEAR SHIFT CONSOLE EVERY TIME I BRAKED. ITS SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING HITTING PIECE OF PLASTIC. IT HASN'T CHANGED THE PERFORMANCE OF THE CAR THAT I CAN EASILY TELL. HOWEVER, THIS EVENING, MY MAINTENANCE LIGHT CAME ON AND IS NOT TURNING OFF. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THE CAR WAS SERVICED BEFORE I DROVE OFF THE LOT, BUT GIVEN IT DIDN'T EVEN HAVE WASHER FLUID, I'M NOT CONVINCED IT WAS SERVICED PROPERLY. I'M ALSO NOTICING THAT THE VEHICLE DOESN'T SHIFT EASILY WHEN I AM NEEDING TO PICK-UP SPEED WHEN ENTERING THE HIGHWAY. THE SHIFT TRANSITION ISN'T SMOOTH. ANOTHER ISSUE IS THE HEAT FEATURE ON THE DRIVER SEAT DOES NOT WORK - IT WORKED A WEEK PRIOR WHEN I TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE.
I WAS DRIVING MYSELF AND MY BROTHER SOUTHBOUND ON THE 101 FREEWAY NEAR TEMPE, AZ ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2019 AT APPROXIMATELY 10:20AM WHEN WE SUDDENLY HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION OVER OUR HEADS AND SAW GLASS RAINING DOWN THROUGH THE OVERHEAD VISOR AND OFF THE BACK OF THE CAR. STUNNED AND SHOCKED, I CAREFULLY MADE MY WAY ACROSS THREE LANES OF BUSY MORNING TRAFFIC TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND INSPECT THE DAMAGE. THE ENTIRE SUNROOF HAD SHATTERED, LEAVING JAGGED GLASS PARTICLES OVER THE TOP AND INSIDE THE SUNROOF MECHANISM, AS WELL AS INSIDE MY CAR. I'M GRATEFUL MY TWO CHILDREN WEREN'T SITTING IN BACK OR THEY MAY HAVE BEEN CUT BY THE SPRAYING GLASS! WE HAD BEEN TRAVELING AT AVERAGE HIGHWAY SPEEDS, DURING A COOL, CLOUDY DAY. IT WAS ABOUT 55 DEGREES AND THERE WAS NO SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITY OR DEBRIS ON THE ROAD THAT MORNING. I NEVER NOTED PRIOR DAMAGE TO THE ROOF AND WAS TRAVELING WITH THE SUNROOF COMPLETELY SHUT THAT MORNING. THIS WAS AN ABSOLUTELY TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE THAT VERY WELL COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. I'M FURIOUS TO FIND SO MANY REPORTS OF THESE INCIDENTS OCCURRING! RECALLS MUST BE MADE AND A BETTER SOLUTION NEEDS TO BE IN PLACE!
TAKATA RECALL - OCS MAT PASSENGER FRONT SEAT- AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY AND NO ONE WAS SITTING IN THE SEAT - KIA SAID IT IS NOT A DEFECT HOWEVER I SEE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. THEY WANT TO CHARGE $1950.00 TO FIX IT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO REMAIN IN THEIR HEADLIGHT SOCKETS. THE HEADLIGHTS WERE LOOSE AND HANGING OFF THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT'S WIFE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BE SERVICED AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENTIRE FRONT HEADLIGHT COMPONENT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED TO REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
I HAVE REPLACED THE PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM LIGHT MULTIPLE TIMES BECAUSE OF IT BURNING OUT PREMATURELY. I BOUGHT ANOTHER BULB TO HAVE IT REPLACED AND THE OLD BULB WAS STILL GOOD. THE NEW BULB WAS PUT IN TO VERIFY THAT WASN'T THE ISSUE. THE AUTO PARTS STORE CHECKED THE FUSES AND ALL ARE OK.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE ENGINE MADE A KNOCKING NOISE AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO JEFF WYLER SPRINGFIELD AUTO MALL (937-783-7030, LOCATED AT 1501 HILLCREST AVE, SPRINGFIELD, OH 45504). THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.
MY KIA'S ENGINE SEIZED UP ON THE HIGHWAY WHILE DRIVING I HAVE NOT EVEN OWNED IT FOR A YEAR. I STILL OWE QUITE A BIT ON THIS AND CAN NOT SEEM TO GET ANY HELP FROM MY LOCAL KIA DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED IT. I LOST MY JOB BECAUSE OF THIS AND CANNOT TRY TO FIND ANOTHER ONE WITH OUT MY VEHICLE - IT IS CAUSING GREAT DISTRESS TO MY FAMILY. I CANNOT AFFORD TO BY ANOTHER VEHICLE OR PURCHASE AN ENGINE. I REALLY NEED HELP AND GUIDANCE WITH THIS ISSUE. I WAS TOLD KIA WAS THE BEST WITH CUSTOMER CARE AND VEHICLE RELIANCE. SOON I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO MAKE PAYMENTS ON MY VEHICLE WITH OUT A JOB. PLEASE HELP ME WITH THIS PROBLEM I DO NOT KNOW WHERE ELSE TO TURN. THANK YOU
MY DRIVER HEADLIGHT WIRING HARNESS KEEPS OVERHEATING AND MELTS THE HARNESS CASING. I HAVE FIXED THIS ISSUE NUMEROUS TIME. MY DRIVER PASSENGER DOOR HANDLE CAME OFF IN MY HAND.
This vehicle has an oil consumption problem. It has shown on separate oil consumption tests from the dealer, that the vehicle is consuming oil at an abnormal rate. The vehicle does not have any visible oil leaks. I feel unsafe driving this car because in the past, I've experienced shakiness on the freeway and loss of acceleration, which forced me to quickly exit the freeway.
LAST FRIDAY I WAS ON MY WAY GOING TO WORK AND I STOPPED AT THE STOPLIGHT AND WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND I GAVE IT GAS I NOTICED A LITTLE KNOCKING FOR MY ENGINE IN THE FIRST GEAR THE ONCE THE CAR PICKED UP SPEED AND WENT IN THE OTHER GEARS IT GOES SMOOTH ONLY WHEN I COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND FIRST TAKE OFF THE BEARINGS IN MY MOTOR IS KNOCKING
TOOK 2012 SORENTO IN FOR ENGINE/BEARINGS RECALL AT 92K MILES (WHICH INCLUDED AN OIL CHANGE BY DEALERSHIP). NEXT OIL CHANGE AT 98K THERE WAS APPRX 1 QUART OF OIL LEFT. NEVER BURNED OIL PRIOR TO THIS RECALL CHECK. THOUGHT DEALERSHIP MADE MISTAKE. I USUALLY CHANGE THE OIL EVERY 5K MILES. OIL WAS CHANGED AND CHECKED AGAIN AT 2,500 MILES, IT WAS 4 QUARTS LOW. NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE EVER DISPLAYED. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP, PERFORMED OIL CONSUMPTION TESTS (4), CONSUMING ABOUT 1 QUART EVERY 500 MILES. KIA DEALERSHIP TOLD ME UNLESS IT DISPLAYS THE P1326 FAULT CODE, THERE IS NOTHING THAT KIA WILL DO - I CAN FILE A CLAIM WITH KIA AFFAIRS, IF I WANT. IT IS BURNING SO MUCH OIL, THAT IF OIL WAS CHANGE EVERY 7,500 MILES AS RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE -- THERE WOULD BE NO OIL LEFT IN ENGINE. IT IS BURNING OIL -- THERE IS NO OIL LEAKING. ENGINE WILL FAIL, IT'S A MATTER OF WHEN - HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. A TICKING TIME BOMB. HOPE IT DOESN'T FAIL WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE....OR CATCH FIRE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10-15 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMALLY KNOCKING SOUND IN THE ENGINE. WITHOUT WARNING, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS UNABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SOUTH SHORE KIA (1128 SUNRISE HWY, COPIAGUE, NY 11726, (631) 991-3910) AND THEY STATED THAT A COMPREHENSIVE INVESTIGATION WAS NECESSARY TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 12995434. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.
ENGINE SPONTANEOUSLY CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE.
ALL THIS HAPPENED ON CHRISTMAS DAY, 2018. MY FAMILY AND I WERE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE TO VISIT FAMILY FOR THE HOLIDAY, WHEN THE ENGINE OUT OF NO WHERE MADE A SQUEAKING NOISE AND THEN STARTED KNOCKING. IT WAS LIKE I IMMEDIATELY LOST A LOT OF POWER OF THE ENGINE AND IT WAS HARD TO STEER OFF THE ROAD. IT DIED AND WHEN RESTARTED IT WAS KNOCKING AND BARELY WANTED TO GO. WE DROVE IT 4 MILES TO THE EXIT AND PARKED IT AT A BK FOR THE NIGHT. WE GOT IT TOWED BACK TO OUR HOUSE 40 MILES AWAY. INITIALLY HAD THOUGHT THE TIMING CHAIN BUT LATER FOUND OUT IT THAT THE WHOLE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IT HAD METAL FLAKES AND SHAVINGS ALONG WITH PROBLEMS WITH THE CAMSHAFT. WE WERE TOLD BY KIA THAT OURS WAS NOT INCLUDED AND THAT THE WARRANTY EXTENSION WAS ONLY FOR ORIGINAL OWNERS. I AM THE SECOND OWNER AND PURCHASED THE CAR IN 2012. THE VEHICLE IS JUST OVER 100K MILES.I STILL OWE ABOUT $8000 LEFT ON THE CAR. ENGINE REPLACEMENT QUOTES ABOUT $3000 BUT I FEAR PUTTING IN A NEW MOTOR THE SAME PROBLEM COULD EVENTUALLY HAPPEN AGAIN.
WHILE DRIVING DOWN A VERY BUSY INTERSTATE THE MOTOR STARTED MAKING A LOT OF NOISE AND THEN IT SEIZED UP LEAVING MY FAMILY STRANDED DURING A VERY COLD WINTER NIGHT. WE HAD TO SIT ON THE INTERSTATE AND WAIT ON A TOW TRUCK WHILE HOPING WE DIDN'T GET HIT BY A TRUCK. KIA HAS TOLD US THAT THE OUR MOTOR IS NOT COVERED BY ANY RECAL THAT THEY HAVE FOR THE OTHER KIA SORENTOS, BUT THE RECALL IS FOR THE EXACT SAME THING THAT THEY HAVE A RECALL FOR. I AM INCLUDING PICTURES OF THE MOTOR.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE THAT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000.
AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY THE ENGINE STALLED. AS I MADE MY WAY TO THE SHOULDER AND CAME TO A STOP I NOTICED SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE HOOD. ONCE I CAME TO A STOP I GOT OUT OF THE CAR. AS SOON AS I CAME TO A STOP I GOT OUT. WHEN I CLOSED THE DRIVERS DOOR THE HOOD BURST INTO FLAMES. BY THE TIME THAT THE FIREFIGHTERS GOT THE THERE THE ENTIRE CAR WAS UP IN FLAMES.
RESTRICT OIL FLOW TO THE BEARINGS CAUSING BEARING WEAR. A WORN CONNECTING ROD BEARING WILL PRODUCE A CYCLIC KNOCKING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE. THIS ISSUE HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS ON AND DRIVING IN A CITY STREET AND HIGHWAY
ENGINE HAS ROD KNOCK
VEHICLE HAS STARTED CONSUMING HIGH AMOUNTS OF OIL AS IT PASSED 90,000 MILES. RECEIVED AN OIL LOW LIGHT AND NEEDED TO ADD 3.5 QUARTS OF OIL. TOOK TO A KI DEALERSHIP WHO NOTED THAT THERE WERE NO VISIBLE LEAKS, BUT PLUGS WERE BURNING WHITE. KIA CORPORATE FORCES THE DEALER TO INSTALL KNOCK DETECTION SENSOR UPDATE WHICH VOIDS ALL PREVIOUS ENGINE RECALLS. IN THE PAST, HIGH OIL CONSUMPTION WAS ENOUGH TO LEAD TO ENGINE REPLACEMENT BY PREVIOUS RECALL INFORMATION. NOW HOWEVER KI CLAIMS THAT ONCE THE COMPUTER SYSTEM IS UPDATED ALL PREVIOUS ENGINE RECALLS ARE VOID AND EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION IS NO LONGER A VALID REASON EVEN WHEN COMBINED WITH ENGINE WEAR. A USER MUST NOW HAVE MULTIPLE SENSOR FAILURES OR ENGINE FAILURE, AND EXPECT TO MONITOR OIL EVERY FEW HUNDRED MILES. LOCAL DEALERSHIP SAYS THEIR HANDS ARE TIED DUE TO REQUESTS BY KIA CORPORATION.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, ALL OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE. AFTERWARDS, THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE AND ALL POWER WAS LOST, INCLUDING THE POWER STEERING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE DOWN AN EXIT RAMP OFF THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN PUSHED OFF THE ROADWAY INTO A PARKING LOT. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE ENGINE WAS BLOWN AND OIL SPILLED OUT ONTO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO PARKSIDE KIA (9929 PARKSIDE DR, KNOXVILLE, TN 37922, (844) 755-6461). THE DEALER CALLED BACK THREE WEEKS LATER AFTER THEY ORDERED A NEW ENGINE. THE DEALER WANTED TO CHARGE THE CONTACT OVER $1,400 FOR LABOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AND PROVIDED THE CONTACT WITH THE PHONE NUMBER TO A MENTAL HEALTH FACILITY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.