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.
I purchased my 2016 KIA Sorento in October of 2018. Oil changes and everything has always been up to date along with regular maintenance. I never had any issues with it then in April 2022 I was driving to work and had complete engine failure with only 88k miles on it. The first obstacle was reaching KIA corporate. Would call several times a day just to be on hold for 30 plus minutes and sometimes over an hour. After speaking to several different people, they advised there was nothing to they could do, and I would have to pay for it out of pocket due to them saying they sent a piece of paper to the fist owner in June/July 2018 and then another one to me the end of 2019 or 2020. They were unsure of when it was sent to me and there was no proof that I received it. With my hands being tied since still owed money on it I went ahead and paid the $5700 to have my engine replaced. Fast forward I finally got my car back the end of July and two days later realized my heat no longer worked (worked before car went in to have engine replaced). Here it is over two weeks later, and I still do not have my car back. I have to call the dealership for an update and when I do call them, they have no clue who I am or why I am calling. Even though throughout this whole process with engine have only spoken to 1 service rep. KIA-??s customer service across the board is very poor. I called the dealership today and they said they finally heard back from corporate again to try and run more tests and they will follow up with me by EOB I am not holding my breathe.
I was driving on freeway and all of a sudden my car stopped. The engine blew, I had no oil in car; the oil light didn-??t come on. I had recently changed the oil. We kept oil changes up to date every 3000 miles. Called Kia, they said they couldn-??t help us. What can we do?
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the vehicle would not immediately start after pressing the start button. After finally starting the engine and while driving 35 mph, the engine suddenly shut off and could not be immediately restarted. After restarting the vehicle, the check engine and traction control warning lights remained illuminated. The cause of the failures was not yet determined. The local dealer was notified of the failures. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 181,000.
The engine is making a hammer noise when you try to get past 2000rpm. Which has to do with the piston rod system. This will be to be towed if being inspected. This is currently causing engine failure and could blow the engine if it was still on the road. It has been replicated by several people now. And there was not early symptoms just the noise out of no where.
- Atlantic, IA, USA
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There has been an ongoing issue nationwide with the Kia Sorento-??s engines. I have been dealing with a burning oil issue and engine issue for months. I spent over $800 a few months ago on the oil issue that is still no better today. The engine, Kia is fully aware that there is an issue with the engine however will not state is is a recall as then they will be accountable to replace it. I have been told this by both my local dealership and the warranty company. Two weeks ago my Sorento broke down out of state. It had to be towed back to MA. I was told by the dealership that there are about 12 cars with the same issue in front of mine. It will be several weeks before I can expect any type of resolution. I am without a car and Kia will not pay for a rental until the adjuster comes out. This is very disheartening as I am a single mother on a very fixed income. I cannot afford to rent a car and I absolutely need transportation asap. They say it is an issue with the piston in the engine. I really need my car prioritized or need a rental paid for by KIA. I should also be reimbursed for the issue of which I was charged $800+. I was just told Saturday the 6th of August they would look at my car today the 11th, by the manager, it still has not been looked at, we were also told that if we were to pursue legal action they would not work on it at all. I even purchased the warranty and still nothing. Kia of Burlington MA Pleas help!
The engine consumed the oil prior to the recommended regular oil change without any warning or indication. This has resulted in the need for a total engine replacement uncovered by Kia.
I was driving on the highway going 70 mph when my 2016 Kia Sorento 3.3L lost power and could not accelerate. I had to navigate to the side of the highway carefully and got my car towed to the closest Kia Dealership. Upon their investigation, it was a blown head gasket that required the whole engine to be replaced. I am the 2nd owner of the car and bought the car in late 2019 with 45, XXX miles on it and it currently only has 66, XXX miles. I was not covered under warranty as it expires once you pass 60,000k miles. Estimation from Kia would cost close to $10K with a new engine/labor. Contacted Kia Consumer to see if they can help and was denied. Now stuck with a dead car trying to figure out what I can do.
My car began knocking and then it slowed down. It stalled as I pulled off the road and won't start. I had it towed and the mechanic said there was "glitter in the oil". He called our local Kia dealership, gave them the VIN number and was told there was a recall on my engine. I researched your website and it does not show a recall. I found two other individuals who wrote owner reviews in May and June 2022 who had the same problem.
I was on the interstate going 65 mph and my engine stopped shifting it suddenly decreased in speed and I made it off the interstate barely any power to get safely off the interstate.
The car was running hot. The repair shop was suppose replace the thermostat..We received the car back the same day and it was still doing the same thing.. The repair place told us to put water in it when it cools down and continue on our merry way!! The car ran hot, started smoking and now it won-??t crank
Vehicle lost power on highway going 70mph. Driver was able to safely exit to roadside. Popped hood and oil covering the engine bay. Lots of smoke. Upon further inspection, it appears as though a wrist pin dislodged from connecting arm and went through the front of the engine block. Oil was everywhere and is a fire risk! Also, vehicle only has 107, xxx miles on it. Kia refuses to tow vehicle at their expense to shop even though in speaking with dealership, engine should be covered under Theta II class action suit.
7/3/22, 71,500 miles accrued on vehicle. While operating the vehicle, on an uphill grade after 5.7 miles of driving, sudden and abrupt knocking noise occurred. Knocking was intensified during acceleration. At this time, dramatic loss of power occurred. Attempted to "coast" downhill for the remainder of the trip. After another 2.2 miles, a very loud "bang" noise occurred, the driver in fear part felle from the vehicle. Knocking noise intensified, and the vehicle then stopped responding. Displayed oil pressure, check engine and check battery lights. Violent shaking and vibrating occurred. Driver was able to coast the vehicle off the roadway to the right shoulder for safety so as to not become a traffic hazard. Smoke was visible and heat was felt from the engine bay of the vehicle. Driver of the vehicle was in fear of fire occurring imminently. Vehicle was shut off for safety. After smoke dissipated and engine cooled, a restart was attempted but failed. Vehicle would not respond. Nothing was visible from the top of the engine bay. Vehicle was moved to a local repair shop adjacent to the location where it was stopped. On inspection, the engine block cracked adjacent to the connecting rod producing knocking noise and releasing all oil from the engine block. The local automotive shop confirmed the engine/powertrain failure similar to the previous recall: RQ17-003 NHTSA Recall No. 17V-224 on "GDI" engines. Kia corporate was contacted. Kia has not inspected the vehicle but was informed. Kia replied they would NOT replace or reimburse due to recall only being applied for 2.0 and 2.4 liter engines. This vehicle was fitted with a 3.3 liter "GDI" engine produced in the same facility as reported in RQ17-003 NHTSA Recall No. 17V-224. Local mechanics report the engine may be replaced by the dealer with enough complaining, however, the dealer states "no recalls for this vehicle" and will not take action.
Sometime Mid May 2022 I was driving back from Tri City Washington. As I was passing a semi truck I noticed my car was losing some power. I ten was able to to get in front of the semi when I seen a place to pull off. During this time I noticed my dash lights were coming on. Engine light. I was lucky enough to pull off where on a side road in Warden, Washington. My car then ceased and would not start. I had to have it towed in my home town of Moses Lake, Washington to a auto mechanic by my resident. The name is Customs Auto on Broadway. They said it needed to go to a Kia Specialist/Mechanic for repairs. So I then had it towed to Over Turf Kia Dealership in Tri City, WA. where my car has been sitting since the end of May 2022. Nathan from Over Turf said I needed to replace my engine and quoted me at $6300 which is what I owe my bank loan with Wells Fargo. I only had 135,000 miles on it and not sure why all of a sudden my engine ceased. Now I have filed a complaint with NTSB they gave me a complaint #11466956 on Kia and their recalls. I had a recall repair on it September 2017 and had contacted Kia out of Wenatchee, WA where the recall was done. But they are closed down because of the covid. I am lost to what to do at this point. I was given an email address to send an email of pictures or important documents pertaining this problem. I am asking for any direction as to what to do or who to contact. If you need to call me please fill free at [XXX]. Thank You! Sincerely, [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
I reported a complaint on 1/24/2022. I had to replace my engine. I actually had to borrow the money. I went on Kia-Consumer-Assistance-to file a claim for reimbursement. They sent me a denial letter on 6/30/22 stating I did not have the knock sensor detector. Well I would have if I received the notice. I bought my car used. The dealership didn't have any recalls and I did not receive anything until May 2022. Kia emailed me about the knock sensor detector. Although I replaced my engine I had it installed on 6/17/22. How could have known about something that I never received. I didn't even know there was a class action lawsuit until I went on line to find Kia Corporate information. I emailed several people and nit one person emailed back. I was asking for assistance but I guess they delete it but I still have it. I feel like this is an ongoing issue with Kia and they need to reimburse everyone that has had engine failures due to THEIR NEGLIGENCE. Does someone have to be driving and the car turns off and they get hit because of the engine failure. This is a sign of bad business. My reimbursement for the engine needs to be approved. Kia has more than enough money. If they would have tested the GDI engines first before releasing them to the public they probably would not have half the complaints. I think another class action lawsuit should be filed against them. Not only has this impacted me financially but it has impacted me emotionally.
Engine failure at 85,500 miles an hour into a road trip. Just had an oil change on it a few days prior. No warning lights came on before the engine started to rattle at 3000 rpms. Engine still rattles while car is idling.
Wife and I where driving on the highway when we she pointed out a tapping noise. About twenty minutes later our vehicle lost all power. Dumbfounded because no safety function signaled there was any possibility of over heating or oil pressure I pull off and inspect under the hood. When I pulled the dipstick there was absolutely no oil in it and the oil on the dipstick was burnt. I only have 74,000 miles on the thing and the engines blown. And Kia won't help with anything even knowing this is a major issue.
I was driving my 2016 Sorento when I noticed a knocking coming from the engine. I took it to get serviced the next day and the check engine light came on as I was driving to get the oil changed. Mechanic at the oil change establishment checked the code and told me that it said the cam shaft was out of alignment. Their shop refused to work on it because of the difficulty in working with Kia's and their computers. I called my local Kia dealer and they had no idea what the warning was but that it would be 20-25 days before they could look at it. My daughter was driving the car than night and the car stopped in an intersection and starting making a horrible clanking sound. I had it towed to Kia and when they got to it they told me that the engine was blown and it would be $8,000 to $11,000 to repair it. There is an extended warranty on the oil pressure switch, but they assured me that it was not the cause of the malfunction. They told me that it was most likely lack of maintenance on my part or the wrong oil being used. I have owned the car for about a year and a half and had it maintained regularly by a reputable mechanic. I have talked to multiple people and been told that Kia has a real problem with engines blowing up on them.
My family and I own a 2016 Kia Sorrento VIN [XXX] that we purchased from a dealer in August 2017. It was reliable transportation; we were very pleased with it; it was serviced with regular oil changes, maintenance, etc., and had no mechanical issues until early September 2021. The vehicle-??s temperature gauge began to register hot, i.e., way over to the -??H-?? during operation. Our regular mechanic at an AAA-registered auto care center replaced the thermostat, but the car was still overheating. After an expensive but thorough diagnosis from early November through early December 2021, the mechanics -?" including a Kia specialist -?" confirmed that the head bolts were pulling away from the engine block or the source of our problem. After searching the internet, I understand that this is not a frequent occurrence but not uncommon among the same model and year Kia Sorento's with similar mileage. Replacement engines are not available due to supply issues; there was no guarantee of success from our mechanics or the machine shop who could attempt to mill the head/engine block and drill-tap for new bolts; and the entire process was cost prohibitive. Therefore, we elected not to have it repaired. Our Sorrento that is past its engine-drivetrain warranty with 124K miles on the odometer sits in the driveway with a year-??s worth of car payments remaining. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Bowling Green, OH, USA