NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2013 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
I have a 2013 Kia Sorento. The color is Pearl White and the paint is peeling off in several areas of the vehicle. The paint started peeling about 4 or 5 yrs ago and is getting worse. I have contacted Kia dealership and they claim there is nothing they can do. From every thing I have researched this is a known problem and stems from a paint defect. If it is a paint defect it should be covered by the manufacturer. Also the black trim around the windshield and driver /passenger door mirrors have severe deterioration. I will include photos.
MY VEHICLE HAS GONE INTO "LIMP" MODE TWICE ON THE INTERSTATE AND TWICE IN LOCAL TRAFFIC WITHOUT WARNING. THE LAST TIME WAS YESTERDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2018. THAT MEANS THAT I LOSE ALL POWER TO ACCELERATE BEYOND A LOW LIMIT. IF I PULL OVER AND RESTART THE MOTOR, IT RUNS NORMALLY FOR SEVERAL HUNDRED MILES AND THE MIL LIGHT GOES OFF. ACCORDING TO THE DTC CODES, I HAVE A FAULTY THROTTLE BODY AND THROTTLE ACTUATOR SENSOR, HOWEVER THEY WERE CHECKED AND SHOWN TO BE WORKING NORMALLY. I SEARCHED FOR VEHICLES WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT THE PROBLEM LIES WITHIN THE COMPUTER. THERE WAS EVEN A KIA ECU UPGRADE PART NUMBER SUPPLIED AS THE FIX. WHEN I CONTACTED SEVERAL KIA SERVICE DEPARTMENTS, I WAS TOLD THAT THEY NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A PART NUMBER. I ALSO CONTACTED CUSTOMER SERVICE AT KIA HEADQUARTERS. THEIR RESPONSE WAS TO TAKE MY VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSIS. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM - TO SUDDENLY LOSE POWER WHILE TRAVELING ON A CONGESTED HIGHWAY. I TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF MY CAR. IT HAS ABOUT 22,000 MILES, WITH OIL CHANGES EVERY FOUR MONTHS. *DT *JB
APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR AGO I PAID DEALER TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE DRIVER SIDE REAR DOOR HANDLE. TODAY PASSENGER SIDE REAR DOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF IN HAND WHILE OPENING DOOR (SAME AS PREVIOUS). NOW UNABLE TO OPEN REAR DOOR FROM OUTSIDE OF CAR
THE ENGINE SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A SIDE STREET AFTER TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY FRO 150 MILES. KIA HAD A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST THE ENGINE AND INCREASED THE WARRANTY TO 10YR OR 120K MILES. MINE SEIZED AT 126K MILES. KIA REFUSED TO FIXED IT AND IT WOULD COST 5K FOR A REBUILT ENGINE OR 12K FOR NEW ENGINE.
CAR COMPLETELY STOPPED ON ROAD WHILE RUNNING TWICE WITH NO WARNING LIGHTS WHAT SO EVER. BOTH TIME THE CAR TURNED OFF AND UPON INSPECTION IT HAD NO OIL DESPITE REGULAR MAINTENANCE. FIRST TIME THE CAR TURNED OFF, I WAS TOLD IT WAS DUE TO SLUDGE/DEBRIS IN ENGINE THAT CAUSED A GAS SENSOR FAILURE (DESPITE REGULAR MAINTENANCE). RECOMMENDATION WAS TO CHANGE THE OIL VERY OFTEN TO CLEAR ANY POTENTIAL REMAINING SLUDGE SO WE HAVE BEEN CHANGING OIL EVERY 2K. DESPITE OF THIS, CAR TURNED OFF AGAIN (AGAIN NO WARNING LIGHTS) ON THE HIGHWAY RAMP ACCELERATING TO ENTER THE HIGHWAY AFTER FILLING THE GAS TANK. THIS TIME THE ENGINE HAS NOW APPARENTLY CEASED. THIS SET OF ISSUES ARE DESCRIBED BY 100S OF PEOPLE ON THE INTERNET AND MIRROR THE ISSUES FOUND IN THE FWD 2013 ENGINES, SO IT IS PUZZLING WHY THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS CAR'S ENGINE.
CAR BURST INTO FLAMES WITHOUT ANY WARNING.
TAKATA RECALL ON BACK LOCKS. LOCK JAMMED ON BACK DOOR. DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK FROM INSIDE OR OUT.. HAVING PROBLEMS WITH KIA DEALERSHIP HONORING A RECALL THAT I THIN SHOULD INCLUDE MY VEHICLE. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR FRONT LOCKS A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO THAT WAS REPAIRED. NOW THE BACK LOCKS ON THE BACK DOOR IS DOING THE SAME THING. THIS IS A DANGER TO MY GRANDCHILDREN WHO SITS IN THE BACK OF MY CAR. THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ALSO MALFUNCTIONING. I HAVE ASKED KIA CHECK THE AIR BAG, BUT TOLD MY VIN NUMBER IS NOT ON THE LIST. AND THAT MY LOCKS ARE NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. THESE ARE ALL MANUFACTURING PROBLEMS AND SHOULD BE TREATED AS SUCH.. THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION MOST OF THE TIME WHEN THE AIR BAG LIGHT "OFF" APPEARS.. THE VEHICLE WAS /IS STATIONARY WHEN THE BACK DOOR LOCK ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WILL NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK, ALTHOUGH RESONDS TO KEY PAD SOUND AS THOUGH UNLOCKED, THE DOOR REMAINS LOCK. ALSO, WHEN DOOR IS UNLOCKED ON THE INSIDE, DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. CAR IS STATIONARY.
DRIVING FINE, CAME TO A STOP SIGN, STOPPED, PUSH ACCELERATOR AND ENGINE REVVED TO HIGH RPMS BUT DID NOT MOVE. VEHICLE BEGAN TO MOVE BUT LACKED POWER. ABOUT 150 YDS UP THE ROAD, ALL DASHBOARD LIGHTS CAME ON AND VEHICLE SHUT DOWN, LEAVING VEHICLE HALF WAY IN THE ROAD ON A STEEP, BLIND HILL. 37 DEGREES OUTSIDE- VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. FOUR YEAR OLD CHILD IN THE CAR AS WELL
I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND MY SUNROOF EXPLODED. IT SOUNDED LIKE A GUNSHOT. SOME GLASS FELL INTO THE CAR AND LARGE CHUNKS WERE THROWN BEHIND ME INTO TRAFFIC.
WHILE DRIVING ENGINE OIL LAMP LIGHTS AND SINCE I WAS LESS THAN 2000 YARDS FROM HOME, I COSTED INTO DRIVEWAY. ENGINE OFF, I LIFTED HOOD AND CHECKED OIL AND IT SHOWED NOTHING. LOOKING BEHIND CAR, I NOTICE OIL ALL OVER BACK OF CAR REAR AND SOME ON ROAD AND DRIVEWAY. FILLED OIL AND RESTARTED ONLY TO SEE OIL BEING PUMPED SEEMINGLY OUT OF REAR MAIN AND FRONT OF TRANS. TOOK TO NEAREST DEALER WHO FIXED PROBLEM UNDER 50K WARRETEE. IT WAS OIL SENDING SWITCH LOCATED UNDER INTAKE MANIFOLD. SEAL BETWEEN METAL BODY OF SWITCH AND ELECTRIC CONNECTION OF SAME BLOW OUT. SEEMS LIKE EPOXY DID NOT HOLD. LESS THAN 17 K MILES LATER, SAME THING HAPPENS ON HIGHWAY EXIT RAMP HAD TOWED 85 MILES BACK TO LOCAL AREA SINCE KIA COULDN'T FIND MECHANIC TO WORK ON IT DURING HUNTING SEASON. 1500 DOLLARS LATER AFTER SHOWING MECHANIC LINKS TO THE OIL LEAK FIX... THEY FIX AGAIN THE SAME OIL SENDING SWITCH. SOME PEOPLE HAVE HAD IT REPLACED 3 TO 4 TIMES. CANADA HAS THIS PART AS A RECALL. WHY NOT THE USA YES I PAID FOR IT AS WARRANTEE EXPIRED DUE TO 5 YEARS.
I BOUGHT MY 2013 KIA SERENTO IN NOVEMBER OF 2017. I HAD IT FOR 33 DAYS AND THE ALTERNATOR WENT OUT. I CALLED KIA IN JOPLIN AND THEY TOLD ME TO BRING UP THERE. ONCE I ARRIVED, AND I SET FOR OVER HALF THE DAY, THEY TELL ME THAT MY KIA IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND IT WAS GOING TO COST ME $1000. AFTER HAVING IT REPLACED THE RADIO SHUTS OFF AND ON BY IT'S SELF AND NOW THE FLAT TIRE LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME. THE RADIO TURNS ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING AND TURNING. PLEASE HELP ME WITH THIS. I AM TOLD THAT THERE IS NO RECALLS ON MY CAR.
My pearl white paint is and has been delaminating for 3 years now especially on the passenger side pillar!!
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT RESUMED DRIVING TO HER RESIDENCE USING THE HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS OF THE HEADLIGHTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 121,000.
PASSAGERS HEADLIGHT CONTINUED TO GO OUT; HAVE REPLACED WIRING AND BULB 4 TIMES. THE DEALERSHIP HAVE ALSO REPLACED THE WIRING . AT THIS POINT , I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.. THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE HEADLIGHT WITH THE KIA 2013 SORENTO.
SEAT BEAT LIGHT REMAINED ON AFTER REPAIR.
OUR FAMILY WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AND THE VEHICLE STARTED MAKING A LOW CLICKING NOISE. WE GOT OFF ON THE NEXT EXIT AND THE CAR JUST TURNED OFF. NO SIGNALS OR LIGHTS TURNED ON. AFTER INSPECTION FROM THE DEALERSHIP IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE ENGINE ROD BEARING HAD BLOWN OUT AND MADE A HOLE ON THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD APPROXIMATELY 72K MILES ON IT. HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN. RECALLS FOR OTHER KIA SORENTO HAVE BEEN ISSUED BUT NOT MY 2013 KIA. FOR THIS REASON THE ENGINE AND PARTS WAS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. ENGINE WAS BACKORDERED FROM NOVEMBER AND CAME IN AT THE END OF MARCH.
ON 11/22/2018 MY KIA SORENTO CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. TOTAL LOSS
VEHICLE IS CONSUMING AN INORDINATE AMOUNT OF OIL AND EXPERIENCING A LOSS OF POWER.
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE MY 2013 KIA SORENTO BEGAN KNOCKING AND LOST OF ACCELERATE POWER AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE.
HEADLIGHTS BURN OUT, REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES AND EVEN BURNS OUT SAME DAY, SOME PART OF HEADLIGHT, LIGHTBULB ATTACHMENT ALSO MELTED AND WAS REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. BROUGHT CAR TO DIFFERENT MECHANICS REGARDING ISSUE AND ALL REPLY ITS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE WITH MANY KIA SORENTOS, BUT WHEN YOU CALL KIA THEY SAY ITS NOT THEIR PROBLEM. ALSO, DRIVER HEATED SEAT STOPPED WORKING, MECHANICS UNABLE TO FIND ISSUE SAID IT WAS ELECTRICAL SHORT, THEN SEAT WENT ON BY ITSELF AND WAS UNABLE TO TURN IT OFF, SEAT BECAME SEVERELY TOO HOT TO DRIVE CAR. LIGHTS BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING, SOMETIMES WHILE CAR WAS JUST TURNED OFF, PARKED IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE AND EVEN ONCE RIGHT AWAY AT THE MECHANICS. AND MOST RECENTLY, ISSUE WITH BATTERY. REPLACED BATTERY AFTER CAR WOULDNT START, STILL HAD ISSUES, REPLACED ALTERNATOR, STILL HAD PROBLEMS. REPLACED CONNECTORS. ITS RIDICULOUS. AND LIGHTS STILL GO OUT AND MELT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE ENGINE EXPLODED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT PIECES OF THE ENGINE SHOT OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. NEITHER A POLICE NOR A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DENNIS DILLON KIA (9501 W FAIRVIEW AVE, SUITE B, BOISE, ID 83704, (208) 314-3403) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA SORENTO. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED, WHICH WAS A SAFETY CONCERN. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000. THE VIN WAS INVALID.
I'VE HAD ISSUES WITH MY HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2013 KIA SORENTO. TOOK MY TRUCK TO THE DEALERSHIP BACK IN JUNE OF 2018 AND WAS TOLD IT WOLD BE ABOUT $650 FOR A NEW HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY BECAUSE IT WASN'T COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND IT WASNT APART OF KIA'S RECALL, THAT WAS FOR THE DRIVER HEADLIGHT. NOW I'M HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH MY PASSENGER HEADLIGHT. THE HEADLIGHT WIRES ARE MELTING CAUSING THE LOW BEAMS TO GO OUT. I HAVE TO BUY NEW HEADLIGHTS BULBS EVERY TWO WEEKS. I AM WORRIED THIS IS GOING TO CATCH FIRE EVENTUALLY. THE LIGHTS WILL GO ON AND OFF. SOMETIMES I HAVE ONLY MY DRIVER LIGHTS AND SOMETIMES I HAVE BOTH THEN IT JUST GOES OUT.LAST WEEK, OCTOBER 21- 27, I HAD DRIVEN TO WORK AND HAD ONLY ONE LIGHT. NO ONE COULD FIX IT. I HAD TO DRIVE HOME FROM MY JOB WITH MY EMERGENCY LIGHTS ON. AND I HAD ONLY ONE HEADLIGHT I WAS RAN OFF THE ROAD TWICE. THE LIGHT ISSUE, MELTING WIRES, IS AN ONGOING ISSUE.
THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND WAS TURNING ONTO AN OFF RAMP AND THE CAR HAVE PUT A LOUD SCREECH AND ALL THE LIGHTS FLASHES ON AND THE CAR DIED. IT WOULDN'T TURN OVER AND I HAD TO GET IT TOWED TO MY HOUSE BECAUSE IT WAS A SATURDAY. MONDAY I CALLED KIA AND THEY SAID HAVE IT TOWED TO US AND WE WILL LOOK AT IT. THIS HAS BEEN A RECURRING PROBLEM SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR JUST LESS THAN 2 YEARS AGO. LAST TIME IT WENT TO KIA IT COST ME $1500. THIS SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE ENGINE WARRANTY OR NATION WIDE LAW SUIT THAT'S GOING ON.
AT 37,342 MILES THE RIGHT SPRING COIL BROKE AND SHREDDED MY TIRE WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET. I AM GRATEFUL THIS DID NOT OCCUR ON A FREEWAY. THE COST TO REPLACE THE COIL, STRUT , AND TIRE WAS ALMOST $1,000. I CALLED KIA CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS AND WAS OFFERED NO RELIEF BECAUSE I WAS PAST THE BASIC WARRANTY PERIOD OF 5 YEARS.
SUDDENLY DEVELOPED A CYCLIC KNOCKING IN THE ENGINE ESPECIALLY AT START UP AND INITIAL ACCELERATION. WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN ENGINE SEIZED AND CAR SHUT DOWN.
HEADLIGHTS WIRES ARE MELTING CAUSING THE LOW AND HIGH BEAMS TO MELT AS WELL. I HAVE TO BUY NEW WIRING HARNESS AND HEADLIGHTS EVERY TWO WEEKS. I AM WORRIED THIS IS GOING TO CATCH FIRE EVENTUALLY. THE LIGHTS WILL GO ON AND OFF. SOMETIMES I HAVE ONLY HIGH BEAMS, OR LOW BEAMS, SOMETIMES ONE OF EACH, BUT NEVER ALL WORKING, THEN THEY WILL JUST TURN OFF. THIS PAST WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2018 I HAD DRIVEN TO CHURCH AND HAD ONLY ONE LIGHT, AN HOUR LATER I WENT TO GET IN MY CAR AND I HAD NO LIGHTS AT ALL. NO ONE COULD FIX IT. I HAD TO DRIVE HOME FROM MY CHURCH WITH MY EMERGENCY LIGHTS FLASHING. I WAS RAN OFF THE ROAD NUMEROUS TIMES AND ALMOST RAMMED IN THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE. IT WAS MYSELF AND MY 10-YEAR-OLD SON IN THE VEHICLE. THE LIGHT ISSUE, MELTING WIRES, IS AN ONGOING ISSUE.
AS I WAS TRYING TO PARK I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND APPLY THE BREAK AND PUT IT DOWN INTO DRIVE AS I DROPPED IT TO DRIVE I HEARD A LOUD BANG. ONCE THE BANG HAPPEN THE FRONT LEFT DRIVER'S TIRE SEIZED UP CAR STARTED ACCELERATED BUT WE'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE THE RIGHT TIRE FACING FORWARD THE LEFT TIRE FACING 45 TO THE WEST. AFTER FURTHER EXAMINATION IT LOOKS LIKE THE AXLE HAD BEEN RIPPED RIPPED FROM THE TRANSMISSION AS THERE WAS NOTICEABLY TRANSMISSION FLUID ON THE AXLE
MY HEADLAMPS HAVE GONE OUT UNEXPECTEDLY SEVERAL TIMES CAUSING A SAFETY ISSUE. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO REPLACE WHAT I BELIEVED TO BE A BLOWN BULB I FIND THE BULB IS FINE AND THE SOCKET OR HARNESS DOES NOT KEEP A GOOD CONNECTION. THE BULB WILL COME ON AND OFF WITH VIBRATION. I HAD THE WIRING AND/OR HARNESS REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES.
MY ENGINE OIL IS DISAPPEARING. THE DEALER HAS CHECKED TWICE AND FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF LEAK OR SIGNS OF BURNING OIL. AFTER 2000 TO 2500 MILES THE ENGINE IS COMPLETELY OUT OF OIL WITH NO OIL LIGHT STAYING ILLUMINATED. THE OIL LIGHT BLINKS FOR A SECOND AND GOES OFF AND WOULD BE VERY EASY TO MISS. I FEEL THAT THIS IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE NON COLLISION FIRE ISSUE THAT THIS SAME ENGINE IS HAVING. IF I WERE TO NOT SEE THE OIL LIGHT BLINK, THE CAR COULD BE DRIVEN HOME AND HAVE A MAJOR FAILURE. ALL MAINTENANCE EXCEPT ONE OIL CHANGE HAS BEEN DONE BY TWO LOCAL KIA DEALERS AND AT PROPER INTERVALS. I HAVE OWNED THE CAR SINCE NEW.
EVERY TIME I GET AN OIL CHANGE THERE'S NO OIL IN MY CAR THERE IS ALSO NO LEAK AT ALL I'VE ALWAYS GOT MY OIL CHANGE EARLY OR ON TIME
THE ENGINE BEGAN CONSUMING NOTICEABLE AMOUNTS OF OIL AROUND 80,000 MILES. CONFIRMED NO LEAKS OR DEFECTS WHERE PRESENT WITH MECHANICS & DEALERSHIP. AT 100,00 MILES THE ENGINE BURNS OFF 4-5 QUARTS IN LESS THAN 1000 MILES. THIS REQUIRES CONSTANT MONITORING, RISK OF ENGINE FAILURE, & HIGH COST OF MAINTENANCE.
REAR SEAT STUCK. REAR PASSENGER SEAT LEVER HAS ALWAYS BEEN A LITTLE HARD TO ACTIVATE TO RAISE OR LOWER THE SEAT. IT TOOK A COMBINATION OF PULLING THE LEVER AND GIGGLING THE SEAT TO GET IT TO ENGAGE. THAT LITTLE TRICK RECENTLY STOPPED WORKING AND MY REAR PASSENGER SIDE SEAT IS NOW PERMANENTLY STUCK IN THE DOWN POSITION. I DID AN INTERNET SEARCH ON A WAY TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND FOUND MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS WHICH INDICATES THAT THIS IS A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM WITH KIA SORRENTOS. THEY'LL WARRANTY THE POWER TRAIN FOR 100,000 MILES BUT THIS SEAT ONLY MADE IT FOR ABOUT 50,000 MILES.
THE 2ND ROW RIGHT SIDE SEAT IS STUCK IN THE DOWN POSITION. IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN TOUGH TO MOVE UP AND DOWN BUT I THOUGHT IT WOULD GET BETTER AS WE USED IT. THAT SURE DIDNT HAPPEN! AS A FAMILY THAT USES THE 3RD ROW QUITE OFTEN I AM VERY UPSET TO SEE THAT THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE! THIS DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE AN EASY FIX AS SOME HAVE HAD THE WHOLE CHAIR REPLACED.
WAS DRIVING AROUND 70 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE ENGINE LOCKED UP, THANKFULLY WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. SMOKE CAME FROM THE HOOD. HAD AAA TOW MY CAR TO LOCAL MECHANIC ZEILKES, WAS ADVISED ENGINE WAS BLOWN. BEARING WENT BAD. CLEARLY ALL THE SIGNS FROM RECALLED MOTORS, BUT MINE WAS NOT ON LIST. KEPT REGULAR OIL CHANGES BUT WAS TOLD OUT OF LUCK. STILL PAYING ON MY SUV TO DATE (2020). AND NOT FIXED. WITH 4 KIDS. HAD TO PURCHASE A CHEAP LITTLE VEHICLE TO GET AROUND, WHICH WE HOPE WILL LAST TILL I'M PAID OFF. JUST THANKFUL MY KIDS WERE NOT IN THE CAR AND IT WASN'T BUSY! BUT COME ON KIA YOU CLEARLY HAVE AN ISSUE! *TR
TAKARA RECALL, MONDAY SEPTEMBER 17,2018 MY KIDS READ BRIGHT TO A KIA DEALERSHIP FOR AN OIL CHANGE BEFORE LEAVING FOR A TRIP THE FOLLOWING DAY. TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 18,2018 WERE LEFT FOR OUR TRIP FROM MISSOURI TO FLORIDA FOR A VACATION. MY CAR HAD ONLY 63,700 MILES ON IT. WE GOT INTO MISSISSIPPI AND STOPPED FOR GAS. A FEW MILES DOWN THE ROAD I HEARD A NOISE IN THE ENGINE, WE STOPPED TO SEE IF MAYBE WE HAD JUST GOT BAD FUEL AND TREATED IT FOR THAT AND CHECKED THE OIL, ALL SEEMED FINE EXCEPT FOR THE NOISE IN THE MOTOR. WE GOT 5 MORE MILES DOWN THE ROAD AND MY ENGINE MADE A VERY LOUD GRINDING NOISE RIGHT BEFORE OUR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND MY HUSBAND FELT PARTS FALLING INTO THE OIL PAN AND WE LOST ALL POWER IN THE VEHICLE AND WE WERE BARELY ABLE TO PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY. WE SAT IN A DITCH IN THE MIDDLE OF MISSISSIPPI IN THE 92 DEGREE HEAT WITH MY LITTLE SISTER IN THE VEHICLE AND DECIDED TO TRY AND GET A TIE TRUCK. 45 MINUTES TO AN HOUR LATER WE FINALLY GOT ONE THERE AND WHEN HE TRIED TO START MY CAR IT WOULD CRANK AND FIRE BUT DID NOT SOUND WELL SO WE IMMEDIATELY SHUT IT BACK DOWN. WE GOT THE KIA TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD US OUR MOTOR WAS COMPLETELY DONE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NOW WE ARE STILL WAITING FOR A CALL BACK TO SEE HOW LONG THE MOTOR WILL BE ON BACK ORDER AND WHEN WE WILL GET OUR CAR BACK. I DON'T EVEN KNOW NOW IF I WANT TO PUT MY CHILD BACK INTO THIS VEHICLE FOR FEAR THAT IT COULD HURT OR EVEN KILL US. MY HUSBAND IS A 3 TIME LIVER TRANSPLANT PATIENT AND A KIDNEY TRANSPLANT PATIENT FROM BIRTH UNTIL RECENT. THIS WAS NOT A VERY GOOD SITUATION TO HAVE HIM IN IN THAT KIND OF HEAT IN THE MIDDLE OF A STATE WE DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT. LUCKILY WE HAD JUST STOPPED AT A GAS STATION SO HE HAD SOME WATER TO DRINK. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST OR LAST INCIDENT WITH THIS VEHICLE AND A RECALL NEEDS TO BE PUT OUT A.S.A.P BEFORE SOMEONE IS HURT OR KILLED.
TWICE MY VEHICLE HAS LOST POWER. I AM DRIVING NORMAL SPEED DOWN THE INTERSTATE WHEN THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE ACCELERATION DROPS DRAMATICALLY WITH NO WARNING. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS ON AN INTERSTATE WHEN YOU SPEED DROPS FROM 70 TO 40 WITH NO WARNING. HAVE HAD IT FIXED ONCE AND IT HAS HAPPENED AGAIN.
WIRING/HARNESS FOR LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT MELTED AND CAUSES THE HEADLIGHT TO FLICKER OR COMPLETELY SHUT OFF CAUSING A DANGEROUS VISIBILITY CONDITION. THIS CONDITION HAS HAPPENED ON THE VEHICLE PREVIOUSLY 2014/2015 AND WAS CORRECTED UNDER A WARRANTIES REPAIR AND IS DOCUMENTED IN THE VEHICLE HISTORY. THIS OCCURED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE AT DIFFERENT TIMES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THERE WAS A BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER FENLY KIA (5325 WEST SAHARA AVE LAS VEGAS, NV 89146) WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATED THE FAILURE. APPROXIMATELY 3 WEEKS LATER AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, A WHINING NOISE WAS PRESENT AND SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,500.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING, THE CHECK ENGINE, OIL, AND BATTERY SENSORS SUDDENLY ILLUMINATED. AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE AND TURNING THE ENGINE OFF, THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER (KIA OF ABERDEEN, 4702 SW DR, ABERDEEN, TX 79606) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE SEIZED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000.
ENGINE HAD BEEN MAKING A NOISE (HUMMING AND GRINDING) WHEN VEHICLE WAS OPERATING BETWEEN 40MPH AND 60 MPH. BROUGHT TO KIA DEALER WHO STATED IT WAS THE NEW TIRES WE BOUGHT FROM MEINEKE. BROUGHT VEHICLE TO MEINEKE WHO SAID IT WAS NOT THE TIRES. WAS DRIVING VEHICLE AND WHILE EXITING HIGHWAY THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AND HAD TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD UNDER 0 POWER. VEHICLE WOULD NOT START EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS STILL BATTERY POWER. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MEINEKE WHO TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE ENGINE. WE HAD AN OIL CHANGE DONE IN MAY 2018 AT THE MILFORD CT KIA AND WAS NOT DUE FOR ANOTHER OIL CHANGE UNTIL OCTOBER 2018. THE VEHICLE HAD APPROXIMATELY 800 MORE MILES TO REACH THE 3000 MILE MARK FOR AN OIL CHANGE ALSO. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO MILFORD KIA WHO IS STILL EXAMINING THE ISSUE. KIA STATED THEY WOULD CHECK WITH KIA MOTORS TO ASCERTAIN IF THIS ISSUE IS COVERED BY A CURRENT ENGINE RECALL FOR 2013 KIA SONATAS.
THE CAR WAS TAKEN IN FOR A RECALL AND I WAS TOLD IT PASSED THE TEST , FOR NOW, BUT I NEED TO CONTINUE TO BRING IT IN PERIODICALLY FOR CHECKS. THEREFORE THE CAR IS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS AND THE ENGINE COULD SEIZE WHILE DRIVING. NO ONE SHOULD BE FORCED TO DRIVE A CAR LIKE THAT AND THE RECALL IS NOT COMPLETE BUT YET THEY REFUSE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. IF THE CAR WAS SAFE, THEN IT WOULDN'T HAVE TO CONTINUE TO BE CHECKED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. KIA KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE MOTOR AND REFUSES TO FIX IT AND INSTEAD IS MAKING PEOPLE CONTINUE TO BRING THE CAR IN FOR FUTURE CHECKS. THE PROBLEM COULD STILL OCCUR WITHOUT ANY WARNING AS THEY KNOW THE ENGINE IS DEFECTIVE. THEY ARE USING DECEPTIVE PRACTICES AND PUTTING PEOPLES LIVES AT RISK. I AM STUCK WITH AN UNSAFE CAR AND IF I SELL IT, I WOULD HAVE TO DISCLOSE THAT TO THE NEW BUYER, TO DO OTHERWISE WOULD BE VERY WRONG, ALTHOUGH KIA DOESN'T SEEM TO THINK SO. I WAS QUOTED AN AMOUNT MUCH LOWER THAN THE TRADE IN VALUE BECAUSE OF IT.
KIA SORENTO 2013 2ND ROW SEAT (PASSENGER SIDE) STUCK DOWN, THIS IS THE 2ND TIME I HAVE HAD IT FIXED. I BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW IN 2012, AND IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN DIFFICULT TO OPERATE, LEVER SOMETIMES WOULD FEEL STUCK. I WOULD HAVE TO SOMETIMES PRESS ON THE SEAT TO MAKE THE LEVER WORK, OR SHAKE THE SEAT WHILE PULLING ON THE LEVER. FIRST TIME IT BROKE WHILE TRYING TO PUT THE SEAT DOWN IT WOULD NOT GO DOWN AND FELT LIKE THE LEVER WAS NOT ENGAGED HAPPENED AT HOME DECEMBER 2015. I HAD IT FIXED ON FEB 11 2016 AT THE DEALERSHIP, AND IT WAS CONSIDERED UNDER WARRANTY. IT BROKE AGAIN A MONTH AGO AUGUST 2018 WHILE I WAS PARKED AND TRYING TO PUT THE SEAT BACK UP, IT WOULD NOT GO BACK UP. THE LEVER WOULD MOVE BUT IT DID NOT ALLOW THE SEAT TO GO BACK UP. I BROUGHT IT IN FOR AN ESTIMATE ON SEPT 6 2018. THE ESTIMATE SAYS "NEEDS LEVER, CABLES AND HINGES") $500 PARTS AND $300 LABOR. I SEE THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL KIA OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND WONDERING IF KIA IS RECALLING IT.
HEADLAMP WIRE HARNESS MELTED. LEFT LOW BEAM HEADLAMP BULB AND CONNECTOR WAS BURNT/MELTED. I PAID THE DEALERSHIP TO FIX THIS. I AM CONCERNED IT IS A FIRE HAZARD, AND ALSO A SAFETY HAZARD IF IT GOES OUT AGAIN.
KIA REFUSES TO REPLACE THE KNOWN DEFECTIVE ENGINE. MY HUSBAND TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE SC147 RECALL AND WAS TOLD IT PASSED, "FOR NOW" BUT IT WOULD HAVE TO CONTINUE TO BE CHECKED. KIA KNOWS THE ENGINE IS DEFECTIVE AND HAS PLACED MYSELF AND MY FAMILY IN AN UNSAFE AND POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING SITUATION AND I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE DRIVING IN A CAR WHERE THE ENGINE COULD SEIZE AT ANY TIME WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE BECAUSE KIA KNOWS THE ENGINE IS DEFECTIVE BUT IS WAITING FOR IT TO FAIL THE TEST. THAT IS WRONG AND IT COULD HAPPEN PRIOR TO A PERIODIC RECHECK AND NO ONE IN THEIR RIGHT MIND WOULD FEEL COMFORTABLE DRIVING A VEHICLE LIKE THAT AND KIA IS USING DECEPTIVE PRACTICES BY REFUSING TO REPLACE THE ENGINE THAT IS KNOWINGLY DEFECTIVE. NOT ONLY THAT, BUT IN ORDER TO SELL THE VEHICLE ,WHICH WE NOW WANT TO DO BECAUSE WE DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN IT, WE WOULD HAVE TO INFORM THE POTENTIAL BUYER OTHERWISE IT WOULD BE NEGLIGENT NOT TO. A TRADE IN VALUE WAS GIVEN TO US THAT WAS WAY BELOW THE TRADE IN VALUE AND IT IS BECAUSE OF THE OPEN RECALL.
RECALL NOTICE FOR ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING RECALL POWER TRAIN
IN EARLY MAY, THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON MY DASHBOARD CAME ON FOR NO REASON. MY 2013 KIA SORENTO WAS IN PARK. I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP AND HAD THE SERVICE CODE SCANNED. THE CODE CAME BACK SAYING THE PASSENGER-SIDE SEAT MAT AIRBAG SENSOR WAS THE ISSUE. THEY SAID THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND THAT THE MAT COULD MALFUNCTION IF IT GOT WATER ON IT OR IF ELECTRONICS WERE PLACED ON THE PASSENGER SEAT. I INFORMED THE SERVICE CLERK THAT NEITHER SITUATION WAS HAPPENING AT THE TIME OR ANYTIME BEFORE THE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE SERVICE CLERK SAID THAT KIA RECOMMENDED RESETTING THE CODE, AND HE HOPED IT WOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE LIGHT STAYED OFF FOR ALMOST 4 MONTHS. FAST FORWARD TO LAST WEEK. THE DASHBOARD AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN FOR NO REASON. MY CAR HAS NOT BEEN IN ANY TYPE OF ACCIDENT. MY PASSENGER SEAT HAS NOT BEEN IN CONTACT WITH WATER OR HAD ELECTRICAL DEVICES RESTING ON IT. I TOOK MY SORRENTO IN AGAIN AND HAD THEM READ THE CODE. IT CAME BACK WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, THE PASSENGER SEAT MAT. MY CAR IS ONLY AT 83,000 MILES, AND WAS AT 79,000 WHEN THE LIGHT FIRST CAME ON. THEY QUOTED THE REPAIR COSTS AT BETWEEN $1500 - $2000. I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT KIA, TWO TIMES, THROUGH THEIR CUSTOMER COMPLAINT OPTION ON THEIR WEBSITE, BUT THEY HAVE NOT RESPONDED. THEY HAVE HAD AIRBAG-RELATED RECALLS WITH SEVERAL OTHER KIA MODELS OF THE SAME YEAR, BUT THE SORENTO IS NOT INCLUDED. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER A RECALL. SOMETHING IS OBVIOUSLY WRONG WITH THEIR AIRBAGS WHEN THEY GO OUT AT LOWER MILEAGE. IS THERE ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO HELP WITH THIS MATTER? IF I AM HAVING THIS PROBLEM, SO ARE OTHERS. SEVERAL PEOPLE ARE SAYING THE SAME THING ON VARIOUS INTERNET SITES. PLEASE HELP! THEY SAY MY AIRBAGS WILL NOT FUNCTION WITH THE LIGHT ON.
WHILE DRIVING TO TUCSON FROM MESA ON INTERSTATE 10, MY ENGINE STARTED MAKING KNOCKING NOISES AND LOST POWER , THEREBY STALLING BY THE ROADSIDE. IT HAS 89,000 MILES ON AND HAS BEEN METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED WITH REGULAR OIL CHANGES. I TOWED IT TO MY MECHANIC WHO SAID THE VEHICLE HAD SUFFERED A CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE WITH METAL SHAVINGS FROM THE FAILED BEARING ALL VISIBLE ON OPENING THE VALVE COVER. HE SUGGESTED I CONTACT KIA TO SEE IF THIS ENGINE WAS PART OF THE RECALL SC 0147 WHICH IS A RECALL DUE TO THIS KIND OF FAILURE FROM A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. AFTER INVESTIGATING, KIA DENIED MY REQUEST STATING THIS PARTICULAR ENGINE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL AND THEREFORE COULD NOT HAVE SUFFERED THIS SAME DEFECT. THEY REFUSED TO TELL ME WHEN AND WHERE THE ENGINE WAS MANUFACTURED WAS MANUFACTURED, IN MY ATTEMPT TO LINK THE ENGINE WITH THOSE UNDER RECALL, JUST STATING IT WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. I THEREFORE HAVE TO MEET THE COST OF REPLACING A WHOLE ENGINE THAT MY MECHANIC BELIEVES SUFFERED THE SAME MANUFACTURING FAILURES AS THE THE ONES RECALLED. THIS IS NOT FAIR.
AIRBAG LIGHT IS STAYING ON WE WERE TOLD THAT IT IS THE OCD MAT SENSOR FOR THE PASSENGER AIRBAG
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 KIA SORENTO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED RUNNING AND, IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. FROM THE FUSE BOX. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE DEALER (MATT TAYLOR KIA, 2784 N COLUMBUS ST, LANCASTER, OH 43130, (740)-204-6590) WAS CONTACTED TO SCHEDULE A DIAGNOSTIC APPOINTMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000. *TT CONSUMER STATED CAR WAS PARKED WHEN SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF THE CAR. UPDATED 02/01/19*JB