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 horn on my Kia became very faint causing a safety risk as it was so quiet, that it was no longer a viable safety tool. At 57,711 miles. On 5/13/21 I paid a local certified mechanic to replace the horn. (I was informed there were actually 2 horns). My vehicle was purchased 10/8/16. Since it was under warranty, in June 2021, I provided KIA the receipt to get reimbursed for the horn replacement. After 5 months of my persistent communication with KIA, they denied reimbursement. Early on one of the KIA emails asked for proof of payment (which I provided) and it also stated reimbursements can take up to 60 days. I have the defective horns in my possession.
On 10/03/2021 I was driving on the freeway, when I heard a pop then a thumping sound. After pulling over, we discovered that the engine splash guard had come undone (again!!!) There were no indicators in the vehicle that this was about to happen. There was no debris on the freeway to have caused the shield to come undone. I believe that there is a definite manufacturing defect in this particular part, as this has occurred multiple times, always while driving on the freeway, and never with any associated cause. The only thing that I think is happening is that the bolts/shield are poorly executed and cannot withstand the wind speed when being driven (I was going around 70 MPH)
While driving with headlights in "Auto" mode the lights turn off randomly and stay off for up to 30 seconds. This can cause crash especially while driving at night on unlit roads and highways. This happened many times in 2018 soon after I purchased the car. I brought it to be serviced by Kia several times and it appeared that they had finally fixed the problem. However, over the years it has reoccurred many times and now happens frequently again. I know earlier versions of Kia have been recalled for this same problem but when my car was being serviced they said that my model did not have a recall for this problem. I have seen many complaints online for this same problem. This is a very dangerous issue and needs to be addressed in a Recall!!!
- Mandeville, LA, USA
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The contact owns a 2017 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while his wife was approaching at slow speeding into a carport when she depressed the brake pedal but the vehicle accelerated independently and crashed into the back wall of the carport. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The air bags did not deploy. The contact stated not one sustained any injuries or seek medical attention. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was still at the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 15,322.
When set in AUTO, the headlights will flicker, or turn on and off without reasonable changes in light or conditions that would cause this to occur. This happens at night or dusk, making it difficult to see the road, obstacles and other hazards, as well as making the vehicle difficult to see for other traffic. Adjusting the lighting manually on the stick switch to an ON position appears to restore functionality. This puts the driver and passenger at risk as well as other vehicles. I have not been able to have this reproduced by a dealer or service center. No inspection of the stick switch or electrical components has occurred however the lights have been confirmed to work otherwise by a service center. No warning lights or other indicators occur.
On multiple occasions, my headlights will change randomly. I keep my headlights on auto always. Last night (07/15) at 1130pm being the most recent incident, I was driving on a completely black road (no street lights for several miles) and my lights just shut off on me. Yesterday (07/15) this happened at least 6 times throughout the day, day and night. This has happened at least 20 times Since May 2021. I took my vehicle to the dealership but I was told they were unable to find the issue.
In July 2019 as I was driving, the engine splash shield became loose on the drivers side of my vehicle and started dragging along the road. When I took my car to the dealer I was told that it wasn't covered under the warranty and that I must have driven over something to make it loose. I had NOT driven over anything. I ended up purchasing bolts to replace the loose portion of the splash shield. Then, in January 2020, as the car was driven again, the splash shield came completely off the vehicle. Again, there wasn't any object run over, it just came off. In July 2020, we had the splash shield replaced, as the serpentine drive belt had snapped and gotten caught in the engine. In May 2021, the bolts in the splash shield again came out, and the shield was dragging on the ground. Again, didn't hit any objects or run over anything. Replaced the missing bolts. Our safety was compromised when the shield came off completely and flew into traffic as we were driving. This was also a risk for other people. Then, due to the shield not being in place, and something caused the drive belt to snap and wrap up into the engine was a major safety concern, as I could have lost control of the car. The vehicle was inspected by the dealership, and also by another mechanic. There were no warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms other than what I described above.
The paint off of my Kia Sorento is starting to peel off. I have seen videos where this flies off while driving in large and smaller pieces that can obstruct the drivers view or distract them while driving. If it were raining, it could damage the windshield while the wiper blades are running and the paint chips fly up on them. The vehicle is now more susceptible to rust causing the vehicle to be unsafe.
On May 18,2021 my Kia Sorento SXL AWD V6 caught on fire for unknown reason. I was driving with windows open sunroof open and cruise set. Not a single warning light or any weird sounds at all. A car pulled up yelling at me that my car was on fire to pull over off the interstate. I saw nor smelled any smoke anywhere but then I saw a cop had someone pulled over so I figured it would be safe since I was an alone female and it was car of males yelling at me to pull over. As soon as I got out and walked to the front of the car there was still no smoke but flames and what I assumed was plastic dripping from the entire underneath. At this time flames shot out from all around the hood and up the windshield as it instantly shattered. As I ran for my life as stuff kept exploding the state trooper had already called for help so fire department arrived in less then 3 min but my car was gone in less than 45 seconds after I stepped out. I am mentally and physically hurt but luckily only a burn the size of a quarter on my wrist but due to shock while watching my car burn and explode my legs gave out and I sat down hard so 5 days after the fire my legs have recovered from running up an incline for my life but my back pain has only increased. But insurance only covers injuries from the car so running from exploding cars and getting injured is not their problem. Just like Kia allowing all of us Sorento owners to drive our family and loved ones around on a bomb waiting to blow at any moment isn-??t their problem either. I have now seen at least 8 2017 Sorento sxl unexplained fire complaints all ending in total loss while only looking on this site and one other site. I have pictures and videos of the fire and how close I was to being in the car as u can see my hoodie laying in front of the car on fire too. Fire started on passenger side of motor just like the defect they supposedly fixed in 2014. If anyone else especially the grandchildren that can-??t get themselves out of would have died
Driving at about 75 miles per hour and suddenly the hood pop open fortunately I was able to stop on time and prevent something major have to note that there was no too much traffic.
Vehicle was stationary parked in driveway. Rear lift gate was activated by owner with key fob. Grandchild ran under the lift gate. Owner pulled child from rear lift. Gate brushed child's back and continued to close. Owner then placed several inaminate objects under rear of car protruding from cargo hold and engaged the lift gate. Gate closed each time unrestricted trapping the object. Called Kia reported problem.
I was driving to my house from my cabin after two hours of driving I was at a stoplight and the oil light came on so I decided to keep going and take the next exit to see if I needed oil..but I never made it. My son thankfully rolled his window and was like mom the car is on fire, I then tried to put the breaks on but they didn't work so we slowly coasted down to about 10-20 and I was like get out. So he jumped out the moving, on fire car. He suffered from road rash. Long story short by the flames were so big on the drives side that my senses finally came together and slammed the car in park to stop it and I crawled out the passenger side door. By the time the firemen came to put out the fire the car was basically to the frame.
I was driving down the freeway, which was well paved, no construction in the area and no semi-trucks nearby. I was in the middle lane traveling at 70 mph, when I heard a loud explosion which sounded like a gun shot. The sound was so loud, I thought I was rear ended by another vehicle traveling at a high speed. Frightened, I glanced at my rearview mirror and seen my rear window was intact. This is when I seen pieces of glass flying back towards the car behind me. I finally realized that it was my sunroof that had exploded. I slowed down and moved over to the slow lane. The driver that was behind me, pulled alongside me in disbelief as to what had just occurred. After realizing I was ok, he continued on his way. I pulled off an exit and parked on a street and photographed the shattered sunroof. It was in that moment I was thankful my wife and kids were not in the car with me or that I was utilizing the sunroof. If this was the case, the glass could have caused several injuries or led to a multiple vehicle crash on the freeway due to the glass falling down on top of me. After taking several photographs, I called my insurance company who stated I could file a claim or see if the dealership would take care of the issue. I drove to the dealership I purchased the vehicle at, and explained the traumatic event that had just occurred. The Kia dealership just informed me there was nothing they could do and compared it to me driving off the lot and running over a nail with my tire. This response was very frustrating and I explained to them this was an issue that is commonly reported online. Again, I was told there was nothing they could do and for me to file a claim with my insurance. This was a scary situation to experience and I would like to see a recall of this vehicle to fix the issue or inform consumers before it happens so it does not cause any future injuries or deaths.
We were driving on the highway from nc to va and the sunroof exploded. We pulled over because we were unsure what cause such a loud noise only to see the sunroof shattered. It was clear nothing had caused it and it just exploded on its own. We immediately took pictures, contacted Kia and filed our claim with them. They've finally come back saying that since they can't ascertain the cause of the damage to the sunroof they're can't take responsibility.
January 17, 2020, I am still under the excessive oil consumption testing. I went to the dealership as they told me to on Dec. 30 2019, I met my 1000 miles, it was down 1 qt. Of oil. The dipstick is 'sealed' to the electric harness, they claim it will not catch on fire. Hopefully it won't. so far with the testing, the oil is down 1 quart every 1000 miles, the engine only holds abt. 5 1/4 quarts of oil. The manufacturer recommends oil change every 7500 miles. The service tech said they are having excessive oil consumption problems with the 2.0 and 2.4 engines, I have a 2.4 engine. This vehicle is scary, I feel unsafe driving it, it may catch on fire. Service tech told me it will take a total of 4 sealed dipstick testing, I have two more to go.
My panoramic sunroof exploded while I was driving on the interstate for no apparent reason. No impact; I saw nothing, witnesses behind me say nothing hit me, I wasn't under an overpass, I wasn't following anyone closely. Driving straight at about 75mph.
I brought my vehicle to the dealership Dec 09 2019 (mileage 56176) as instructed by service tech in order for them to check reason this vehicle is using a lot of oil in between oil changes. Service tech checked oil and found oil was down 1.25 qts. Service tech opened tech line case and sent pictures to Kia. I was instructed to return to dealership to recheck oil level in 1000 miles. Today, Dec. 30 2019, (mileage 57231) I returned to dealership. Oil was down 1 qt. After 1055 miles. If you do the math, engine only holds 5.5 quarts of oil, if I go the entire 7500 miles in between oil change(as per owner manual) I would be out of oil.service tech added 1 qt. Oil and put in a sealed dipstick so I cannot check oil level. How am I to know oil level" I park vehicle in my garage. When I questioned tech about this he said it was on Kia's liability if something were to happen. I would know when the engine is out of oil, the engine will start knocking, and he made the knocking sound on the counter. That is really helping my husband and I comfort level, if someone gets hurt or killed, what does it matter" there are other people on the roads that could be injured or killed if something happens to my vehicle. My vehicle could catch on fire, cause injuries or death to us and / or others. Service tech would not say what Kia is doing about this matter when I asked him. He just said Kia is looking into it. He gave my husband and I the impression he knows what is going on, he said he was not at Liberty to discuss any further. The service tech also stated that it is up to the owners to check their own oil levels. Now I cannot check the oil level, it has a sealed dipstick. He is contradicting himself, make no sense.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Cypress, TX, USA