CarComplaints.com Notes: There are just too many engine stalls or shuts down while driving reports to feel good about the Sorento. Especially when those things happen, on average, at just over 32,000 miles. Hopefully things will change.
KIA GM dealer had emailed me about a promotion and I emailed back about the clunking sound when I would back up and then put the KIA into drive. Advised if it got worse I would bring it in unless he advised me otherwise. It got worse with a very audible noise that would stay on the whole time you drove it. It went in that day and KIA advised me it was the transfer case and that it could not be driven until it was fixed - 7 days.
When I talked to the service person, I asked if KIA Sorrento was noted for this problem and he said yes. I asked why it had not been recalled and he advised that the numbers did not yet warrant it. They advised that they provided an upgraded transfer case and that this should solve the problem. When I was picking the vehicle up, I noted to them another problem that I had had a couple of times and asked if the issue could have been this transfer case - I advised them that twice in the almost 3 years that I have had the KIA Sorrento that while driving it and especially when accelerating, it lost power and turned itself off - I also asked if this could be a potential motor problem or from this transfer case. They said that if the transfer case was not working properly the KIA may have been protecting itself and shutting down.
I now see that from reading your site, it may be a different issue. I have emailed the KIA dealership regarding this issue as well so that it is noted on file. I have also had an issue or two when trying to use the air conditioner in the summer.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
KIA GM dealer had emailed me about a promotion and I emailed back about the clunking sound when I would back up and then put the KIA into drive. Advised if it got worse I would bring it in unless he advised me otherwise. It got worse with a very audible noise that would stay on the whole time you drove it. It went in that day and KIA advised me it was the transfer case and that it could not be driven until it was fixed - 7 days.
When I talked to the service person, I asked if KIA Sorrento was noted for this problem and he said yes. I asked why it had not been recalled and he advised that the numbers did not yet warrant it. They advised that they provided an upgraded transfer case and that this should solve the problem. When I was picking the vehicle up, I noted to them another problem that I had had a couple of times and asked if the issue could have been this transfer case - I advised them that twice in the almost 3 years that I have had the KIA Sorrento that while driving it and especially when accelerating, it lost power and turned itself off - I also asked if this could be a potential motor problem or from this transfer case. They said that if the transfer case was not working properly the KIA may have been protecting itself and shutting down.
I now see that from reading your site, it may be a different issue. I have emailed the KIA dealership regarding this issue as well so that it is noted on file. I have also had an issue or two when trying to use the air conditioner in the summer.
- Karen C., Saskatoon, SK, Canada