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.
While driving 40mph+, steering appears to "stick" and driver has to make a more forceful jerk with the steering wheel to "unstick" the steering. Driver ends up over compensating for stuck steering and is jerking the car on the road. Steering appears to not "stick" as much when going under 40mph. Steering sticks more often going around bends or small turns on the open road.
The contact owns a 2017 KIA Sorento, which he purchased new. The contact stated within the last few months that after driving the vehicle the highway or expressway for an extended period (approximately 60 mins to 90 mins), the steering wheel would bind when turning on the road to change lanes or maintain the vehicle on the road. This binding occurs in the turning position without warning. The contact had initially taken the car to the dealership (Gunther KIA), where he purchased the vehicle as new. The service adviser told him because the steering wheel has electronic components, the problem could occur when the battery needed replacement. The contact agreed to have the battery replaced; however, the binding of the steering wheel re-occurred. After the second failure, the vehicle was returned to the dealership-??s service dept. They performed a software update on the car. Unfortunately, a couple of days after the second repair, the same failure recurred for the third time. The contact had taken the vehicle back to the dealership, where a case was filed and opened; however, after a few days in their possession, the dealership could not diagnose or duplicate the failure. At one point, the master adviser at the dealership told the contact that he himself had the same experience with his own Sorrento. And he learned to deal with it and said to the contact (car owner) should learn to deal with it because the dealership would not give him a new vehicle. The contact replied by stating that he didn-??t want a new car; he wanted his car fixed because he fears for his family-??s, and grandchildren-??s safety. The adviser also mentioned that a recall should happen, but the manufacturer has never issued one. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. As a result, the vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 43,490.
power steering sticks when driving causing you to constantly over correct to keep the car going in a straight line. This leads to erratic driving as you are weaving back and forth on the road to keep the car going straight. There are many complaints on the internet of this problem with most dealers saying they don't see a problem and others replacing the steering column.There should be a recall to fix this problem while under warranty, any problem with a cars steering down a road should be fixed as this is a safety issue.
This is an ongoing condition of the vehicle that my mechanics were unable to address. The steering wheel sticks in the straight ahead position and requires unexpected force to make small corrections to the car's direction. This mostly happens at highway speeds or at lower speeds on long straightaways. The mechanics informed me this was not an uncommon condition and suggested that I report it to Kia and to the NHTSA.
Steering is sticky and has play during highway speeds. Driver must constantly adjust to keep vehicle aligned. Power steering after sticking point over corrects vehicle. This is very dangerous.
- Des Peres, MO, USA
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On some occasions the steering was not smooth, as if it stuck just a little and I would have to lightly jerk it. This was always highway. Then about a week ago my oil light flickered and I mean only a second and then again on the way home. When I checked my oil, there wasn't a drop on the dipstick and it looked to have a little burnt oil on very tip. It was also very hard to get the oil cap on to add oil. I had to add 3 quarts! why did my oil light come on before this and why did it not stay on" my car is a 2017 Kia Sorento and has only had maintenance at the dealer where it was bought. I was shocked when I looked online and saw this was an issue for years. Why isnt someone making Kia accountable" I cant afford to pay upfront for repairs and when courts decide years later maybe we'll get reimbursed, they don't wait on their payments for the vehicles.
Engine burns up oil very quickly way before 3,000 miles and there are no alerts that the oil is low. Steering gets "stuck" at times for brief amounts of time and needs to be readjusted in the road. This happens on straight highways and in curve. Windshield wiper fluid function does not work.
While the vehicle is in motion a red warning light appears in the shape of a steering wheel and the steering becomes very stiff. This happens intermittently after putting it to gear and driving forward or backing out and it has also happened while highway driving. Luckily these incidents have happened while driving straight and occurs for a short duration. It is concerning from a safety standpoint. I brought it in to a Kia dealership and it has something to do with the electronics in the steering column. They have no recall listed and it is very expensive to replace outside the 50K basic mileage warranty which ours is since we tend to put a lot of highway miles on our vehicle. It isn't too much over though and we take very good care of it. I would find it very hard to believe it that is caused from wear and tear but more likely to be a manufacturer defect.
The steering on my Sorento ex feels 'sticky' and unsafe. Whenever driving, whether in the city, on the highway, or in a neighborhood, it feels as though the steering wheel is constantly getting stuck for half of a second and needs consistent readjustment. The problem is especially evident when driving around a turn, but it is very noticeable even while driving on a straight road or highway.
Steering is sticky, forcing driver to rotate steering wheel in an exaggerated way to correct the issue. Door handle cover on passenger rear side broke within 6 months of owning the car.
When the vehicle is driving straight the steering will feel like it hesitates slight movements and then releases causing me to over steer. Almost like the electronic steering is intermittent. To the point where I will end up in the other lane slightly and continually have to counter steer the vehicle.
Steering wheel is hard to turn left / right, it feels like its stuck and will not release free, then you have to pull it back. Its scares me on the highway. I took it to the dealer and they didn't find anything wrong. This feeling goes on and off
Driving down interstate going around an onramp and the steering wheel locks up, traction control light comes on and another light comes on and feels like there is no power steering. I pull over to the side of the road. I turn off the vehicle for a few minutes and turn back on while calling the dealership and it resets the lights and codes. I have had this happen since I have bought this in 2017. The last 2 times have been 1 month apart. This will happen while driving and it is a safety issue while driving straight and while turning.
Purchased with about 17,000 miles. On way home from dealer (70 mph flat, mostly straight highway) I noticed that the steering wheel seemed to get stuck when it hadn't been adjusted for several seconds, almost as if the power steering would turn off. After using quite a bit of force to turn the wheel, the power steering seemed like it would wake up again, causing me to over-correct. After I became familiar with the issue on the highway, I noticed it would also happen at slower speeds. The dealer said they are familiar with the issue and are doing a series of software updates that they said will correct this issue. They are not replacing any equipment.
I purchased I used 2017 Kia Sorento fwd in September of 2019. The vehicle is great except the more I drove it, the more I noticed the steering was very sensitive. It has a stick just at the top as well. I feel that this can cause a safety issue especially when taking curves as the need to constantly adjust feels necessary or could cause on over correction while driving. The more research I did, I have found many people to have this same issue with no recall. It is an electronic problem in the steering column. I feel that Kia needs to address this issue. The problem with just having the steering column replaced is that it's going to be the same part. The need to design a new one for safety reasons.
Steering becomes notchy when going straight. At highway speeds and around town. Problem is occasional, maybe once a week, but is very distressing when it happens. The car starts to wander to one side or the other and when I try to smoothly correct, the steering wheel feels 'stuck'. with a little effort, it releases and over corrects. Now I'm heading off the other side of the road. Effort - over correct - effort - overcorrect and so on. Not sure if this is related, but when turning corners in town, the front end seems to jump several times when gassing out of the turn - most notable when going uphill and on right turns. Sometimes can feel the jump ( or maybe a slip ) when accelerating straight from a stop. Feels like something binding in the front - like if you drive a 4WD truck on dry pavement with the front axle engaged. Car only has 41,000 mi on it and has been doing both for over a year. Have appt tomorrow at Kia dealer, but not too confident they will be able to replicate the notchy steering, but should be able to feel the front end jump.
Driving down the highway the steering will lock up and then you have to pull it back and then it wants to go the other way. Have to fight it bad when it's warn or hot outside. Have reported it to my dealer shop and nothing has been done because there no recall. Could case accident then who is at fault. Kia!!!
I bought this car a few weeks ago, and when I test drove it, I did not feel what I feel almost on a daily basis now. It happens more so when going 40 mph or more and can feel it on the straightaways. The steering wheel feels like it gets locked or stuck and it takes more force to straighten the car out. I can never get the car to go perfectly straight as it veers to one side of the line and when I try to correct it, the stickiness allows for it to over correct which causes me to veer to the other side. I am constantly trying to keep my car going straight and it's a struggle and frustrating and I feel like I can never have just 1 hand on the wheel. We bought this car for the 3 row seating and liking to travel with family and a new baby on the way. I feel like this is very unsafe and needs to be looked at but when taken to the dealer all we get back is "cannot replicate customer complaint." Some days are better than others, like it engages and disengages. I have had my husband, mom, dad, and mechanic from carmax all feel the same thing as I do, so I know it is not just in my head (as I thought before when I got it back from Kia).
I lost power steering three times. The power steering light went on each time. On two of the occasions the vehicle was towed to the local dealer. It was towed to modesto Kia and paso robles Kia, both in California. In modesto, 1/18, I was told it was a dirty battery cable that the car had reset itself and there were no more problems with the power steering. Nine days later on 1/27, it went out again in cambria, ca. This time I was driving but was able to move to a safe place. The Kia dealership in paso robles said when the car arrived the light was off and there were no issues with the power steering. I was told they would put miles on the car in an effort to recreate the problem. That afternoon as it was set to be driven by the technician the light went on and power steering was lost. I was told the technician saw a problem in the fuse box, he fixed it and the car was able to be driven. I was told there was nothing else they could do. The service manager was rude and unsympathetic. My concerns were not validated or acknowledged, needless to say, I very upset because I was afraid to drive the car. Especially, given the fact that what they said they did to fix the problem did not make any sense to me. I know there is a problem with the vehicle and further investigation by both dealers may have discovered it but they went with the first thing they found. There are other complaints for the same reason. I truly felt unsafe. Driving the vehicle and because of that, I felt I had no other choice but to purchase another vehicle. The Sorento is unsafe and someone is going to get hurt. I pray you will investigate this issue and with this car specifically. I also have a Kia customer care case no; 13527008
Around 32,000 miles the car began to develop a sticky, notched feeling in the steering particularly while on the highway. It seems to happen most often after the car has remained going straight for a period of time, with no need for steering adjustment. Then suddenly adjustment becomes jerky. Sometimes the wheel feels sticky at the onset of moving it, requiring more force, which leads to too much lane shift, other times it moves freely just a little, but the car doesn't move until the wheel again becomes sticky and moving it results in overcompensation. It's difficult to describe, it feels almost like you are driving in a rut and can't at first get out of it with just the normal amount of steering usually required to move the vehicle and so have to turn the wheel harder, except you are not in a rut. The overcompensation is particular worrisome on snowy and icy highways where a sudden shift can lead to a slide. It's possible the problem is happening around town as well, but because the roads are curvy and I'm making turns, I'm already making large steering wheel adjustments so it's less noticeable.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Casper, WY, USA