2012 Kia Sorento
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 880 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 5th highest complaint count among 23 Sorento model years with reports.
Of the 2012 reports, 21 involved a crash and 77 involved a fire. 36 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Service brakes, hydraulic, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, control unit/modulePark outsideSep 25, 2023
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup, Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014 Sorento, and 2010-2011 Rondo vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the HECU fuse, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed November 14, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2024 through June 18, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC284.
Campaign 23V652000 on NHTSA.gov
EngineDec 2, 2020
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2013 Sorento, 2012-2015 Forte and Forte Koup, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, 2014-2015 Soul, and 2012 Sportage vehicles. An engine compartment fire can occur while driving.
An engine compartment fire increases the risk of injury.
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine compartment for fuel and/or engine oil leaks, perform an engine test and make any repairs, including engine replacement, as necessary, free of charge. In addition, Kia dealers will update the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) software, free of charge. The recall began January 27, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC200.
Campaign 20V750000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasoline, delivery, hoses, lines/piping, and fittingsDec 19, 2018
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Optima, 2012-2017 Sorento and 2011-2018 Sportage vehicles that previously received an engine replacement under recall number 17V-224, warranty, or the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) Product Improvement Campaign. The high pressure fuel pipe that connects to the fuel pump outlet may have been damaged, misaligned or improperly torqued during the engine replacement procedure, possibly causing a fuel leak.
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Kia has notified owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pipe, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC172.
Campaign 18V907000 on NHTSA.gov
Engine and engine cooling, engineMar 31, 2017
Kia Motor Company (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Optima, 2012-2014 Sorento and 2011-2013 Sportage vehicles. Machining errors during the engine manufacturing process may cause premature bearing wear within the engine.
Bearing wear may result in the engine seizing, increasing the risk of a crash.
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine assembly, and replace the engine if necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 20, 2017. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC147.
Campaign 17V224000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, automatic transmissionOct 6, 2015
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Kia Sorento vehicles manufactured October 19, 2009, to January 31, 2013. In the affected vehicles, if excessive force is applied to the gear shift lever, the brake-shift interlock mechanism may chip or crack allowing the transmission being able to be shifted out of "Park" without the brakes being depressed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection."
Without requiring the brake to be pressed, the vehicle may be unintentionally shifted out of Park, allowing it to roll, which may result in a crash.
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake-shift interlock mechanism, free of charge. The recall began on November 9, 2015. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC124.
Campaign 15V626000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: engine
475 reports, newest first. Show all
Engine, Apr 19, 2017
BOUGHT MY SORENTO BRAND NEW. HAVE HAD FOR 5 YEARS AND HAVE 1 YEAR LEFT ON LOAN. I HAVE RECORDS OF TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP AND HAD SEVERAL COMPLAINTS OF HEARING RATTLE LIKE A PAINT CAN.. YET THEY BLEW ME OFF. GAVE ME POOR EXCUSES FOR REASONING AND STATED THIS WAS NORMAL SOUND.. I FELT THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE YET BELIEVED THE TECHNICIAN OVER MY CONCERNS.. NOISES CONT FOR COUPLE YEARS YET NOTHING GOT WORSE. THEN SHE. I WAS AT 128 K MILES KIA SENDS OUT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY LETTER AND I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER TO GET AN UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS ISN'T A NORMAL SOUND AND THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG YET THEY BELIEVED A ENGINE FLUSH WOULD GET RID OF CARBON BUILD UP AND ALL WOULD BE GOOD.. AFTER PAYING OUT OF POCKET FOR THIS NOTHING CHANGED AND I GOT LITTLE TO NO ASSISTANCE W THE NEW DEALER I TRAILED. I DON'T TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE BC I HAD NO OPTIONS. NO MONEY LEFT TO FIX MY CAR IN WHICH CAST ME MONTHLY... REPAIRED ALL THINGS NEEDED BY THE KIA BOOK AND AS REQUIRED BY SERVICING W FUEL ADDITIVES AS RECOMMENDED YET NOW I HAVE A COMPLETE BLOWN ENGINE. STILL OWE AND NOW FIGHTING TO GET KIA TO HELP ME. THE RECALL LETTER ISN'T OUT YET THERE IS EXPECTED A RECALL.. I NOW HAVE 141K MILES AND NEED HELP.. I'M LUCKY THAT WE WERE NOT HURT.. OUR ENGINE BLEW IN THE MOUNTAINS.. TOOK ME AAA.. 150 BUCKS AND 6HRS TO GET HOME W FRIENDS ASSISTANCE..
Engine, Apr 18, 2017
LAST YEAR MY CAR STALLED AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP AND WE WERE TOLD IT WAS THE ALTERNATER (WHICH WAS REPLACED AT THIS TIME) MY CAR SINCE THEN HAS HAD OFF AND ON TIMES WHERE IT WOULD START TO STALL BUT NOT SHUT OFF AND IT HAS BECOME MORE FREQUENT OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS. THERE IS A RECALL FROM KIA COMING OUT IN MID MAY FOR THIS PROBLEM WHICH HAS CAUSED SERVERAL ACCIDENTS IN OTHER CARS, AND WE HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP AND CUSTOMER RELATIONS THAT I WOULD HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE RECALL TO COME OUT BEFORE ANYTHING CAN BE DONE SINCE THEY CANNOT FIND WHERE IT IS COMING FROM WHILE IT HAS BEEN IN THERE POSSESSION MULTIPLE TIMES AND THE KNOCKING THAT CAN BE BARELY HEARD IS "WITHIN REASON". I WAS ALSO TOLD BY THE KIA CUSTOMER RELATIONS THAT IF MY ENGINE DIED BEFORE THE RECALL THEN THEY WOULD REPLACED IT. I TOLD THEM MY MAIN CONCERN IS I HAVE FOUR CHILDREN THAT I DRIVE AROUND WITH AND DON'T WANT TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT DUE TO MY ENGINE DYING WHILE DRIVING AND THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO ANOTHER DEALER TO HAVE THEM CHECK IT OUT, WHICH I WILL BUT I AM PUTTING THIS IN IN THE MEAN TIME.
Suspension, Service brakes, Engine, Apr 10, 2017
MY ENGINE SEIZED UP WHILE IN MOTION. THE FRONT END POPS DURING BRAKING, AND A BOLT HEAD BROKE OFF THE AWD HOUSING.
Engine, Apr 7, 2017
I USED MOBILE ONE 5W30, I USED KIA OIL FILTERS (2 GENERIC), I HAD 44,516K MILES ON IT ON AUGUST 7, 2014. I DID 8 OIL CHANGES. MY CAR WAS RUNNING PERFECTLY FINE. NO WHITE OR BLACK SMOKE, NO DASHBOARD LIGHTS, NOT SLUGGISH, NOTHING AND THE ENGINE SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY DOING ABOUT 65 WHEN I HEARD A FLUTTERING NOISE THAT VERY QUICKLY TURNED INTO A KNOCKING NOISE. I COULD BARELY PULL OVER WITHOUT ALMOST GETTING HIT TWICE. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID I NEVER DID ANY OIL CHANGES AND THERE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20K MILES WORTH OF SLUDGE IN MY ENGINE. MY OIL WAS CHANGED AROUND MARCH 7, 2014. KIA MOTORS DOWN RIGHT REFUSED TO EVEN LOL AT IT. I HIRED AND ATTORNEY WHO WROTE A DEMAND LETTER AND 4 MONTHS LATER THEY DOWN RIGHT REFUSED TO FIX IT UNDER THE WARRANTY. MY CAR SAT IN MY DRIVEWAY FOR OVER 15 MONTHS. I REPORTED THIS TO NHTSA BACK IN LATE 2012 EARLY 2013. I WORE A LETTER TO THE OWNER OF THE DEALERSHIP AND SHE PUT A USED ENGINE IN IT AND PAID FOR HALF. NEEDLESS TO SAY I'M HAPPY I HAVE MY CAR BACK BUT I DON'T TRUST IT. I HAVE THE TOP OF THE LINE SX AWD AND I ALSO ADDED THE AMBIENT LIGHTING AND TINTED THE FRONT WINDOWS. I LOVE MY CAR BUT FEEL I SHOULD BE COMPENSATED FOR THE SHEAR HELL AND HUGE FINANCIAL BURDEN IT HAS CAUSED MY FAMILY. I'VE HAD IT BACK SINCE NOVEMBER 12, 2016 AND THE FINANCIAL BURDEN IS STILL HAUNTING MY FAMILY.
Engine, Mar 30, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THE CHECK ENGINE AND THE CHECK OIL SENSOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. AFTER RESTARTING, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF A SECOND TIME. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.
Engine, Mar 3, 2017
RECEIVED LETTER FROM KIA 'EXTENDING' THE WARRANTY TO 120,000 MILES TO COVER CONNECTING ROD PROBLEM THAT COULD RESULT IN ENGINE FAILURE. SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER RECEIVING LETTER AND CAR AT 147K THE ENGINE FAILED FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, KIA DEALER SAID IT WAS FAILED CONNECTION ROD. NOW KIA DENIES CLAIM SINCE PAST 120K. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL!! VERY UPSET THAT KIA KNEW OF DEFECT AND IS NOT WILLING TO TAKE OWNERSHIP.
Engine, Mar 3, 2017
COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE. WHILE PASSING A LARGE TRUCK ON A NARROW TWO LANE HIGHWAY THE ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN MIDWAY THROUGH THE PASS. MOMENTUM ALLOWED THE CAR TO COMPLETE THE PASS, BUT DUE TO THE SPEED AND WITHOUT POWER STEERING IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. FORTUNATELY I WAS FAMILIAR WITH THE ROAD AND ABLE TO MAKE IT SAFELY TO A PULL OFF. MY LOCAL REPAIR GARAGE DETERMINED THE ENGINE IS SEIZED, WITH METAL FRAGMENTS IN THE OIL. HAVE MADE MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO CONTACT THE DEALER WHERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED. TO DATE, NO RESPONSE. CAR IS CURRENTLY NOT DRIVABLE.
Engine, Mar 2, 2017
VEHICLE WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, READY TO GET OFF OFF RAMP WHEN VEHICLE STARTED RUNNING ROUGH AND TURNED OFF, ON 2-28-17 IN THE MORNING. WE TOWED IT TO THE KIA SERVICE. THEY DIAGNOSED SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE AND THAT IT HAS TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 84K MILES AND THE OIL CHANGES HAVE BEEN DONE EVERY 3 TO 4 K. THEY REQUESTED ALL THE OIL SERVICE RECORDS.
Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Feb 18, 2017
ENGINE FAILURE ENGINE STOPPED IN MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY TRAVELING AT 55 MPH STRAIGHT HIGHWAYPUT FAMILY IN DANGER 2016 JUNE OIL LEAKING ALL OVER GROUND AND ELECTRICAL FAILURE PUSHED CAR TO SIDE OF HIGHWAY .140000 MILE PAST WARRANTY KIA REFUSE TO FIX.
Power train, Engine, Jan 6, 2017
I NOTICED THAT UPON STARTING , MY KIA LET OUT BLUE SMOKE. I SAW NO WARNING LIGHTS, NO OIL ON THE GROUND, NO INDICATION OF A SERIOUS PROBLEM OTHER THAN THE SMOKE. I HAVE A LITTLE OVER 95,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND A 100,000 MILE WARRANTY I MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO SERVICE THE CAR AND HAVE IT LOOKED AT. EVERYTHING WAS RUNNING FINE AND DRIVING FINE. THREE DAYS LATER, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. NO OTHER INDICATORS WERE PRESENT. I DROVE THE CAR A SHORT DISTANCE AND IT SEIZED UP WHILE I WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 45 MPH. I CHANGED THE OIL ON A REGULAR BASIS & DID THE NORMAL SERVICE WORK. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE CAR AND SAID IT NEEDED A NEW ENGINE AND REAR END. THE REAR END WOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BUT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT. I DID NOT HAVE MY RECEIPTS FOR OIL CHANGES. I AM TRYING TO GET KIA TO HONOR THE WARRANTY. THEY WILL COVER THE REAR END BUT NOT THE ENGINE AT THIS POINT. *TR
Engine, Dec 29, 2016, fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE ABRUPTLY DECELERATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE ONTO THE ROAD SHOULDER, ATTEMPTED TO CHECK UNDER THE HOOD, AND FOUND THAT THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000. *TR
Engine, Dec 11, 2016
THE ENGINE STARTED BURNING OIL, THE ENGINE HAD 65,707 MILES WHEN WE NOTIFY THE DEALERSHIP WHERE WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. WE ASKED THE DEALERSHIP PEOPLE TO REPLACE THE WHOLE ENGINE AND THEY ONLY REBUILD IT. WE'RE SO UPSET AND NOT SUPPORTED SINCE WE ARE STILL PAYING A LOT OF MONEY FOR THIS VEHICLE AND NOT HAVING GUARANTEE O HOW LONG THIS FIX WILL WORK. *TR
Engine, Dec 9, 2016
CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE, STATIONARY, ENGINE SEIZED UP AFTER OWNING IT FOR 10 MONTHS. 104,000 MILES, OIL CHANGES REGULAR, METAL SHAVINGS IN OIL, NO OIL LIGHTS OR ENGINE LIGHTS ON. *TR
Engine, Nov 16, 2016
DRIVING ON A CITY HIGHWAY AT APPROX 40MPH, ENGINE DIED, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. LOST POWER STEERING ETC. COASTED TO SIDE OF ROAD, CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. HAD TO CALL TOWING COMPANY TO GET IT TO KIA MAIN DEALER. ENGINE HAD COMPLETELY SEIZED (SPUN MAIN BEARING). IT HAS HAD REGULAR MAINTENANCE USING MOBIL 1 SYNTHETIC OIL. ENGINE WAS AT 111,000 MILES AND IS BEING REPLACED UNDER KIA 120K MILE EXTENDED ENGINE WARRANTY.
Engine, Nov 15, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT; HOWEVER, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SOUND FROM THE HOOD. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE HIGHER THAN 50 MPH. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT METAL SHAVINGS WERE LOCATED IN THE OIL, AND THERE WAS CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 107,000.
Engine, Oct 15, 2016
WITHIN THE WEEK BEFORE WEDNESDAY, 10/12/16, BOTH MY WIFE AND I HEARD A "CLICKING" NOISE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. WE NOTIFIED OUR LOCAL AUTO MECHANIC AND THEY, TOO, HEARD THE NOISE BUT WE'RE NOT ABLE TO MAKE ANY DIAGNOSIS. THEN, ON THE DATE NOTED, AFTER ACCELERATING INTO TRAFFIC ON A 4-LANE HWY (HWY 101, SOUTH TOWARD SANTA ROSA, CA), AT A SPEED OF ABOUT 65 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD, ALARMING KNOCKING NOISE IN THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE DID NOT DIE / QUIT, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO BRAKE AND PULL OFF IMMEDIATELY. IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT WE COULD NOT PROCEED SAFELY, SO WE CALLED A TOW TRUCK TO TAKE US BACK TO LAKEPORT. THERE OUR MECHANIC INFORMED US OF THE NEED OF AN ENGINE REPLACEMENT.
Engine, Oct 14, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE ENGINE, THICK WHITE SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS OIL SLUDGE AROUND THE ENGINE AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000.
Engine, Oct 12, 2016
10/09/2016 DRIVING HOME FROM BEING EVACUATED BECAUSE OF HURRICANE MATTHEW, WITH MY DAUGHTER, SON-IN-LAW AND GRANDBABY. WHILE GOING DOWN THE HWY 65 MILES PER HOUR, WE HEARD A LOUD NOISE, I FELT A THUMP UNDER MY FOOT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. WE LATER LEARNED IT WAS THE ROD THAT WENT THROUGH THE ENGINE. THANK GOD MY HUSBAND COSTED THE CAR OVER TO THE SIDE, IT WOULD NOT START. WE CALLED FOR HELP FROM A FRIEND THEY PICKED US UP. TOWED THE CAR TO KIA DEALERSHIP IN MYRTLE BEACH. WE HAVE JUST LEARNED THEY ARE NOT GOING TO PAY FOR A NEW MOTOR. THEY HAVE DETERMINED IT WAS NOT THEIR FAULT!! HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE?? WITH ALL THESE COMPLAINTS. WHY IS THERE NOT A CLASS ACTION LAW SUITE?
Engine, Oct 7, 2016
ON MY WAY TO WORK I HEAR A LOUD POP. THEN AFTER THAT I COULD HEAR A KNOCKING NOISE EVERY TIME I ACCELERATED. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT THE CAR AT. I WAS TOLD I HAD A ROD KNOCKING, IF I COULD PROVIDE PROOF OF OIL CHANGES EVERY 7500 MILES THEY WOULD SEE IF KIA WOULD COVER THIS. MY OIL IS CHANGED EVERY 5000 BUT DONE AT HOME NOT A DEALERSHIP OR LUBE PLACE. I DID NOT KEEP MY RECEIPTS OF OIL AND FILTER BOUGHT. THEREFORE I WAS OUT OF LUCK. THEY COULD GET A REBUILT MOTOR FOR $6100 WITH A YEAR WARRANTY. BUT, THEY COULD NOT FIND A USED MOTOR. THE GENERAL MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP WAS SO RUDE TO ME ON THE PHONE AND EVEN USED FOUL LANGUAGE. HE SAID THAT I HAD NEVER SERVICED MY CAR WHICH IS NOWHERE NEAR THE TRUTH.
Engine, Oct 4, 2016
SON WAS DRIVING VEHICLE ON INTERSTATE. STARTED MAKING A NOISE AND THEN STOPPED. HAD IT TOWED. DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS THE BEARINGS ON THE UNDERSIDE OF CRANKSHAFT. 114,000 MILES SO OUT OF WARRANTY. HAD TO REPLACE ENGINE AT COST TO ME OF OVER $7,000.
Engine, Sep 22, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING 80 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A ROD WENT THROUGH THE ENGINE BLOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 144,000.
Engine, Sep 22, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, AN ABNORMAL SOUND WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE ENGINE BLOCK, THE RODS CAME APART, AND THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ENGINE BLOCK WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000.
Engine, Sep 6, 2016
MY CAR SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY (DOING ABOUT 70MPH) BACK IN THE SUMMER OF 2013. LUCKILY, THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC SO I WAS ABLE TO COAST OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY TO RESTART MY CAR (PUSH BUTTON START). THEY SAID IT WAS THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR. ON AUGUST 7, 2014 (44,516K), 8 OIL CHANGES USING SYNTHETIC OIL AND KIA OIL FILTERS (2 GENERIC), MY ENGINE WAS MAKING A FLUTTERING NOISE AND THEN A KNOCKING NOISE.END RESULT, THEY SAID I NEGLECTED MY CAR AND NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. KIA MOTORS OUTRIGHT REFUSED TO FIX MY CAR UNDER THE WARRANTY. EVEN WHEN PROOF OF OIL CHANGES WAS DONE. I HAD NO WARNING WHATSOEVER. NO SMOKE OF ANY KIND COMING FROM THE TAILPIPE, NOT SLUGGISH, NO WARNING LIGHTS, NOTHING. KIA MOTORS NEVER FIXED MY CAR. IT SAT DEAD IN MY DRIVEWAY FOR OVER 15 MONTHS. I FINALLY WROTE A LETTER TO THE OWNER OF THE DEALERSHIP BACK ON JUNE 3, 2015 AND SHE CONTACTED ME IN OCTOBER AND SAID THAT, "IF ANYONE HAS PULL WITH KIA, IT'S ME, I OWN THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY WON'T EVEN TALK TO ME ABOUT YOUR CAR." SHE ENDED UP REPLACING MY ENGINE WITH A USED ONE, GOT IT ALL READY FOR INSPECTION AND PUT NEWER TIRES ON IT SO THAT IT WOULD PASS INSPECTION AND OFFERED TO PAY FOR HALF THE COST ($4200, I PAID $2100). THIS IS A VERY BIG PROBLEM. I AM HEARING OF MORE AND MORE PEOPLE HAVING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE I DID. EVEN ONE PERSON WHO STATED ALL OF THEIR VEHICLES MAINTENANCE WAS DONE THROUGH THE DEALERSHIP AND KIA MOTORS STILL REFUSED TO FIX THEIR CAR UNDER THE WARRANTY. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS. LET'S NOT WAIT UNTIL GOD FORBID SOMEONE GETS KILLED BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE.
Engine, Aug 24, 2016
ON MAY 6TH, 2016 I WAS DRIVING TO WORK (BACK ROADS WITH A SPEED LIMIT OF 55 OR LESS), JUST A FEW MILES FROM MY PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT WHEN I HEARD A TICKING/CLICKING TYPE OF NOISE. EACH TIME I PRESSED THE GAS THE NOISE GOT LOUDER AND THE VEHICLE GOT SLUGGISH. I STOPPED AT ONE TRAFFIC LIGHT AND WAS ABLE TO GO THROUGH WITH LITTLE PROBLEM OTHER THAN THE SOUND GETTING LOUDER. AS I STOPPED AT ANOTHER TRAFFIC LIGHT THE CAR STALLED, I WAS ABLE TO TURN IT OVER AND AGAIN GOT THROUGH THE LIGHT BUT THE POWER WAS EVEN MORE SLUGGISH AS I PRESSED THE GAS AND THE NOISE GOT EVEN LOUDER. THE VEHICLE FINALLY DIED AND I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE CURB OUT OF THE WAY OF TRAFFIC. THE ENGINE WAS CEASED BECAUSE A ROD BROKE AN DROVE ITSELF INTO THE OIL PUMP RESULTING IN THE NEED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. THE FIRST REPLACEMENT ENGINE DID NOT WORK PROPERLY THUS THEY HAD TO FIND A SECOND ENGINE TO REPLACE THE REPLACEMENT. I WAS TOLD BECAUSE I WAS NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER THE WARRANTEE DID NOT TRANSFER WITH THE VEHICLE, THE REPLACEMENT AND ALL RELATED EXPENSES COST ME OVER $8,000. AS I HAVE FOUND SO MANY COMPLAINTS HERE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT BROUGHT AGAINST KIA MOTORS. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD HAVE A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE DIES.
Engine, Aug 12, 2016
WHILE DRIVING 70MPH ON THE HIGHWAY THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN NO WARNING LIGHTS, NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS, NO WARNING WHAT SO EVER. WE HAD A NEAR MISS WITH THE PERSON BEHIND US BUT WERE ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. AFTER WAITING 15 MINUTES I WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO START, IT NOW HAS A LOUD CLANK COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND STILL NO POWER. WE WERE STRANDED UNABLE TO DRIVE IT. WE HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT LOOKED AT IT AND FOUND METAL SHAVINGS IN THE MOTOR, SAID HE HAS HAD TO FIX MANY OF THESE ISSUES ON THIS PARTICULAR MOTOR, GDI 2.4 L AND THAT IT IS A MANUFACTURING ISSUE NOTHING WE DID. THE CAUSE WAS FROM METAL SHAVINGS BLOCKING OIL PASSAGE TO THE RODS AND THE ROD BEARINGS WENT OUT CAUSING A CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE WITHOUT WARNING.