This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made abnormal sounds with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer, and the dealer informed the contact that the vehicle was out of warranty. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the engine made abnormal knocking sounds before the vehicle stalled. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact was unable to veer to the side of the road. The vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the engine rod bearing had failed. The dealer and the manufacturer informed the contact that they could not assist as the original owner failed to complete an unknown software update on the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 96,000.
I own a 2016 Kia Sorento. When the incident happened I was far away from home on a way to a weekend conference. I was driving in the left lane on a very busy 3-lane highway at high speed while the engine suddenly lost power, slowed down and started shaking. There were no warning lights beforehand until after the failure. The check engine turned on at the time when the failure occurred. The oil pressure light did not came on. Oil was checked prior to the trip because the car had been using excessive oil for the past several months. I had to refill the oil every week. I had the Knock Sensor Detection Software installed a few months before and I had the engine oil pressure switch/sensor replaced as well but it didn-??t fix the oil consumption issue. The incident on the highway put myself and others at risk as I had to cross three lanes to the right shoulder (there was no left shoulder) while others (including large tractor trailers) were passing me at a very high speed; I was moving slowly at 30/35 MPH because the car lost power and didn-??t accelerate. It became a traffic hazard. It was a very frightening experience as I could have caused an accident and get myself and others injured. The car eventually stalled. It was a Friday evening -?" I contacted a local Kia dealership but they said that they were closing for the day and couldn-??t help me. They said that they were backed up and weren-??t sure if they could look into the car the next day either, even if I left it there. I had the car towed to a mechanic and then to another KIA dealer closer to my home. I waited for nearly two weeks to get an appointment at the dealership to have the car diagnosed. I have been told that the car needs an engine replacement at my cost (approximately $10,000). This was my only "reliable" vehicle used for a daily commute and longer travel until the engine failure incident. The car has been at a dealership for weeks waiting to be repaired.
While driving out of state, my 2016 Sorento, the steering wheel totally stopped working.Terrifying experience! When we returned from trip I took it to a mechanic who told me the electric steering column was bad and had to be replaced. That was over $2,000. Then thought I had oil leak but was told this GDI engine burns oil fast & I have to add a quart every wk so it won-??t run out. Kia needs to recall! Not fair to put our lives in jeopardy
While driving my 2016 Kia Sorrento northbound on I25, I was accelerating up a small incline on the highway, going 76 miles an hour, and all the sudden my car lost power and was not gaining speed. I was in the left lane, with cars behind me and on the right of me and my engine seemed to die out. I lost power and was unable to proceed, putting me in a seriously dangerous and potentially fatal position. No engine lights came on, no warning of anything wrong with the engine, the oil, nothing. I made my way to the shoulder of the highway and called for assistance. I turned off the car as it seemed to be overheating. Two days before my trip I had just changed my oil and had an all points inspection on the car. I restarted the car after a few minutes but was unable to gain any power. After several hours, I was able to get a tow to the nearest town. The mechanic shop, Leesbergs in Socorro, New Mexico, had my car for two weeks. They recreated my situation and also did not get any warning notifications in the car. In short, I was told I needed a new engine and that there was nothing they could do to repair the car. Now I am told that a new engine, for a six-year-old car, is going to cost me almost $6,000, while I still over $10,000 on this car. I maintain my automobiles religiously, and repair anything that needs to be repaired. I am at a huge loss on this lemon! I am financially unable to take this car to anyone else to work on and cannot afford a new engine. I am at a loss and still have to pay my monthly payments. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. The car is available for inspection at any time. It is in Santa Fe, NM. I may be reached at 505-670-3505. Thank you. Valerie Anaya-CdeBaca
- Las Cruces, NM, USA
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One afternoon when I started my Sorento (with Lambda Engine around 85,000 miles) I heard a loud tapping sound in the engine and saw the check engine light on. I took it in for an oil change and to get an opinion on the tapping sound at Jiffy lube. They told me I had no oil in the vehicle. They also noted no oil leaks and sludge in the engine. I took it in to the kia dealership the next day and they told me my timing chain was damaged and that I would need a new engine. I thought I was covered under the "special" 20 year warranty I had on the vehicle. My warranty claim was DENIED due to "improper maintenance"; not having sufficient oil change records and sludge being found under the valve cover. During my previous oil change 6 months & 8700 miles ago there were no issues with the engine. I also use premium synthetic oil. No oil lights had ever gone off, only the check engine light prior to taking it to a mechanic. I have also had safety issues over the last 5 months where my vehicle failed to accelerate while on the highway. The car would function as normal after stopping and cutting the car off and back on.
We were driving down the road and a rod went through my engine. We have always kept our oil changes up to date and maintenanced our car as soon as it-??s needed it. We called Kia to ask them if we could get this fixed and Kia of Cookeville let us know it was under recall for an engine issue but because our software wasn-??t updated it wouldn-??t be covered. We then called Kia of Knoxville and they said it was covered under the recall but we would need to call a corporation number to see if the cost were covered. The corporation number wasn-??t willing to corporate at all. He preceded to tell us because it wasn-??t brought in there was nothing they could do. We have never received a letter saying we were under a recall. We had no idea. Please help I have 4 kids and no way of transportation for them. My husband just lost his job and I need this fixed free of charge ):
The vehicle has been consuming excessive amounts of oil resulting in the recommendation from the Ourisman Kia Dealership in Chantilly, Virginia that the engine be replaced. The only warning I had that there could be an issue was the oil light occasionally coming on for 3-5 seconds when turning off a highway exit or braking hard, etc. The car has been taken to the dealership 3 times in order to figure out what was going on for this specific issue, but it has been indirectly addressed prior to that. The first time the car was taken it was still under warranty, but the result that the engine needed replacement was not given until after the car was out of warranty. The dealership first performed an oil change and consumption test. I returned after 1000 miles for the results of the consumption test and was told my car was consuming oil and would need a Combustion Chamber cleaning. Once that was completed, I was told it should be fine. The dealership did not communicate to me that I needed to return the car after 1000 miles, but I brought it back after I noticed the oil light was coming on again and it had only been a few weeks since the oil change. I was told that the car was consuming excessive amounts of oil and it would need an engine replacement. The car has also occasionally struggled to accelerate, but I had the Knock Sensor replaced under warranty so it is likely related to the lack of oil. The car is now unsafe to drive as it could have "catastrophic engine failure" according to the dealership service manager. There is no extended warranty or recall, so I have no choice but to spend the quoted $9-10k for an engine replacement or sell the car for next to nothing and start over.
While driving engine completely stopped with myself driving and my 2 year old in the car. No warning lights lit up beforehand until after the failure and after coming to a complete stop smoke could be seen coming from the engine bay underneath the hood. Now the car is disabled and unable to start. Vehicle has not been inspected yet as we are scheduled two weeks out for an appointment with the dealer shop.
The vehicle was running great then without any warning it stalled. I started it back up and the engine began knocking horribly. I got a diagnostic test done at Auto Zone and was told that I had a bad sensor in my engine. I took it in to the dealership and I was told that it had no oil, metal in the engine, and I had to replace it. I checked the oil the previous week and it had oil then.
While driving car, a burning oil smell came thru car and I heard a bubbling noise under the hood. No indicator light came on. I immediately looked at the temp gauge to see it was sitting on hot. I pulled over and looked under the hood to find out that coolant was spitting out. After 45 mins of letting it cool down I checked the engine oil to find none, and the radiator had oil in it. My car is currently at the shop being taken apart.
Car started to overheat and no warning light came on. Found out there was no oil - oil light had not come on either. My car didn-??t notify me that it was overheating and could have blown my engine.
I've had my engine replaced a month after having my car when I first got it about two years ago. I recieved the letter for the current engine recall about feburary of this year. My husband and I was O the highway when the end of March 2022 when my engine started knocking and the oil light came on. I had the car taken to a Kia dealship the next day (which was a Saturday) and the got back in touch with me that following Monday stating it was my engine but I would have to pay out of pocket. I have to pay for because it was at this time I learned I no longer had a warranty on my car. Prior to my husband and I taking this trip I just had my car at the dealership for an oil change. After they changed my oil the tech stated to me that my car was leaking oil and that I had to setup an appt to have it fixed. He didnt offer me the chance to get it fixed right then. About five mins after I left I called the dealership and asked them if I my warranty would cover the cost and that tech stated that he would have to contact them first and get back in touch with me. A week later is when I left to go out of town due to a death in the family. I've also asked them for a loaner car but they didnt have any to lend me and said that my warranty would remiburse me for a rental. Im upset because im still paying on a car that I cant drive and ive gotten this car from a well known dealership whom I thought was genuine to their customers.
2016 Kia Sorento with 123K miles with all recall completed and maintained. We were driving on backroad where all traffic were diverted because of highway 101 closure when the car suddenly have the MIL blinks then stalls and would not start back up again.
I was driving the car at approximately 40 mph. The engine light flashed on briefly. I immediately lost power and had no acceleration. The light went off but the car stopped. The incident put myself and others at risk as I lost power and was in an area where I shouldn't have stopped and it became a traffic hazard. The car is currently at the KIA dealership. There were not prior lights, messages or symptoms prior to the failure. I am the first and only owner with approx 55 k miles. Never had an issue before. Dealership conducted all oil changes and maintenance.
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle lost power and stalled. The contact was able to maneuver the vehicle off the road when the check engine warning light, the oil pressure warning light, and an unknown warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was notified of the failure and the contact was awaiting a call back. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was approximately 87,000.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Wilmette, IL, USA