2013 Kia Sorento
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 981 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 4th highest complaint count among 23 Sorento model years with reports.
Of the 2013 reports, 23 involved a crash and 44 involved a fire. 33 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
981 reports, newest first.
Structure, May 29, 2013
REAR RIGHT DOOR HANDLE ASSEMBLY FELL APART WHEN MY WIFE WAS OPENING THE DOOR TO PLACE GROCERIES ON REAR SEAT. THIS INCIDENT HAS NEVER HAPPENED TO ME ON THE DIFFERENT CARS I HAVE OWNED. *TR
Power train, Engine, May 26, 2013
MY HUSBAND AND I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE ON 5/25/13. WE HAD THE CAR FOR 2 HOURS AND WERE DRIVING HOME WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WHEN HOLDING THE GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR, THE CAR WOULD NOT GO. THE RPM'S DIDN'T MOVE EITHER. THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON AS WELL. I GOT THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED IT OFF AND WHEN I TURNED IT BACK ON AND PUSHED THE GAS PEDAL DOWN, THE RPM'S MOVED AND WHEN I PUT IT IN GEAR, THE CAR MOVED DOWN THE ROAD AGAIN. MY HUSBAND THEN TOOK OVER DRIVING AND THIS HAPPENED TO HIM FOUR TIMES. THE LAST TIME THAT IT DID THIS, IT TOOK TURNING THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTING IT THREE TIMES BEFORE IT WOULD EVEN GO DOWN THE ROAD. WE ARE HOPING TO RETURN THIS CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND GET OUR TRADE IN BACK AND WILL NOT GET A KIA EVER AGAIN . *TR
Power train, Seats, May 15, 2013
I PURCHASED MY CAR ON MAY 8, 2012. APPROXIMATELY 2 MONTHS LATER, I BEGAN HAVING TROUBLE WITH A LOUD THUMPING NOISE IN THE FRONT END WHEN ACCELERATING. THIS THUMPING WAS MOST NOTICEABLE AT LOWER SPEEDS. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER ON SATURDAY, JULY 21, 2012. I CALLED ON TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2012 AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY ARE STILL TESTING MY VEHICLE TO DETERMINE WHAT WAS WRONG. I FINALLY HEARD FROM THE DEALER ON THURSDAY, JULY 26, 2012, AND WAS TOLD THAT MY NEW CAR REQUIRED A NEW TRANSMISSION, THAT IT WAS ON ORDER AND MY CAR WOULD BE READY BY WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 1, 2012. MY VEHICLE WAS READY FOR PICK UP ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 4, 2012. THE CAR WAS RUNNING FINE. I HAD A REGULAR MAINTENANCE CHECK AT 5,477 MILES, OIL AND FILTER CHANGE, ETC., ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2012. ON MONDAY, MARCH 4 2013, I AGAIN BEGAN TO HEAR THE THUMPING NOISE, NOT LOUD, BUT IT BECAME LOUDER AS THE WEEK PROGRESSED. I TOOK MY CAR BACK TO THE DEALER ON SATURDAY, MARCH 9, 2013, INFORMED MY SERVICE ADVISOR THAT THE THUMPING NOISE WAS BACK, AND THAT THE LUMBAR WAS NOT WORKING ON THE DRIVER'S SEAT. I WAS INFORMED THAT I HAD TO LEAVE MY CAR, SO THAT THE TECHNICIAN CAN LOOK AT IT ON THE FOLLOWING MONDAY. I RECEIVED A CALL ON TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2013 AND WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR WOULD NEED A TRANSFER CASE, WHICH HAD TO BE ORDERED AND THAT MY CAR WOULD BE READY IN ONE WEEK. I RECEIVED A FROM THE DEALER ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2013 INFORMING ME THAT MY CAR WAS READY TO BE PICKED UP, AND THAT THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE LUMBAR SUPPORT, AS THE TECHNICIAN TESTED IT AND COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG, AND THAT THE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE DUE AT THE TIME WAS ALSO PERFORMED HOWEVER, THERE IS STILL AN ISSUE WITH THE LUMBAR IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT, THE MOTOR WORKS, BUT THE LUMBAR BAR DOES NOT EXPAND OR CONTRACT FOR SUPPORT. *TR
Power train, May 14, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND TRANSFER CASE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 480. *TR
Tires, Wheels, May 13, 2013
WHILE DRIVE AT SLOW SPEEDS OF ABOUT 5 TO 10 MPH THERE IS A TICKING/SQUEAKING FROM THE RIGHT FRONT. IT GOES AWAY AT HIGHER SPEEDS. I HAVE BEEN IN TO THE DEALER 4 TIME, REPORTED IT TO KIA CORP. AND THE REGIONAL OFFICE CALLED TO TELL ME THEY ARE AWARE OF THE NOISE, IT IS A PART ISSUE, THAT OVER 30% OF THIS MODEL MADE IN 2013 HAVE THE PROBLEM AND THEY ARE WORKING ON A SOLUTION. THAT WAS SEVERAL DAYS AGO. IF THEY KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM THEN THEY SHOULD BE MADE TO RECALL THE CARS AND REPLACE THE PARTS IN QUESTION. *TR
Power train, May 7, 2013
AFTER 10 DAYS AND 500 MILES OF USE THIS NEW VEHICLE WAS EXHIBITING SIGNS OF TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. WE NOTICED LOSS OF POWER, SHAKING ON TAKEOFF AND SIGNIFICANT NOISE COMING FROM THE POWER TRAIN WHILE DRIVING; THIS AFFECTED THE DRIVABILITY AND SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE. WE TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY INFORMED ME OF THE FACT THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AND TRANSFER CASE BECAUSE IT WAS FAULTY. FOR SOME REASON THEY DID NOT PUT A NEW ONE IN THE CAR BUT RATHER A RE-MANUFACTURED ONE. (A REAL MYSTERY IF YOU ASK ME) THEY SAID IT WAS INDUSTRY STANDARD. BUT IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE THEY ARE HIDING SOMETHING.I HOPE SOMEONE LOOKS INTO THIS BECAUSE WHILE WE ARE GLAD NOTHING SERIOUS HAPPENED. IT WAS SCARY FOR US SINCE WE HAVE 4 CHILDREN AT ALL TIMES IN THE CAR. *TR
Engine, Apr 27, 2013
THIS CONTACT IS REPORTING ABOUT 2013 KIA SORENTO. I WAS DRIVING SLOWLY AND I HEARD A NOISE. IT SOUNDED LIKE A RUBBING OR POPPING NOSE. I CALLED AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT. I ALSO COMPLAINED ABOUT THE STALLING I FELT WHEN I WAS DRIVING 20-30 MILES AN HOUR. THE MECHANIC STATED YES I NOTICED THAT BUT I THINK IT IS THE ECO SYSTEM WHICH SAVES GAS. I SAID CANT WE TURN IT OFF? HE STATED HE DID NOT KNOW. HE ORDERED THE PART (STRUT TOP BEARING) FOR THE POPPING SOUND, GAVE ME THE NOTE HE WROTE, AND IT DID NOT SAY A WORD ABOUT THE STALL..HOWEVER, WHEN I DROVE OFF THE LOT AND FIGURED OUT HOW TO TURN OFF THE ECO SYSTEM THE CAR STALLED WORSE, IT FEEL T AS IF THE CAR WAS HAVING ISSUES SHIFTING IN TO GEAR. THIS IS SO AWFUL, I AM PAYING 26,000 DOLLARS FOR THIS CAR AND IT IS MY FIRST CAR AND HERE I AM HAVING ISSUES ALREADY... IT ALSO FEELS LIKE IT IS VEERING TO SIDE TO SIDE WHEN I DRIVE IT, BUT THE MECHANIC STATED HE WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *TR
Visibility/wiper, Apr 17, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO CORRECTLY DETERMINE HOW FAR AWAY THE VEHICLE BEHIND HIM WAS. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT ALMOST CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE APPEARED FURTHER AWAY THAN IT ACTUALLY WAS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE MIRROR WOULD NOT BE REPLACED, AS IT WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 4,000.
Engine, Apr 4, 2013
WE BOUGHT THE 2013 KIA SORENTO IN SEPTEMBER 2012 WITH 140MILES ON IT. WE'VE HAD NO ISSUES TILL THIS YEAR MY WIFE HAD HER 1ST STALL IN MID JANUARY WHILE AT A STOP SIGN. SHE NEVER MENTIONED IT TO ME UNTIL IT HAPPENED A SECOND TIME IN FEBRUARY. IT FINALLY HAPPENED TO ME DURING THE SECOND WEEK IN MARCH ON A SATURDAY I WAS BRINGING MY SON TO BASEBALL PRACTICE I PULLED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY DROVE TO THE END OF THE STREET AND STOPPED AT THE CORNER BUT WHEN I PRESSED ON THE GAS THE CAR DIDN'T MOVE. IT TOOK ME A FEW SECONDS TILL I NOTICED IT HAD STALLED IT WAS SO QUICK AND SILENT I DIDN'T HEAR OR FEEL IT STALL. I PUT IT IN PARK THEN STARTED IT AND IT'S BEEN FINE TILL TODAY WHEN MY WIFE WENT TO PICK UP OUR KIDS FROM SCHOOL. SHE WAS DRIVING SLOWLY ON THE SIDE STREETS NEXT TO THE SCHOOL LOOKING FOR A PARKING SPACE WHEN IT JUST DIED. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IF THIS HAPPENS AND CAUSES AN ACCIDENT OR EVEN A FATALITY KIA WILL HAVE A SERIOUS LAW SUIT ON THEIR HANDS. I'M BRINGING MY KIA TO THE DEALER ON APRIL 18, 2013 BUT WHEN I SPOKE TO THE SERVICE GUY ON THE PHONE TODAY HE MENTIONED IF THERE ARE NO CODES THERE'S NOT MUCH TO GO ON TO DETERMINE A PROBLEM. *TR
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Apr 4, 2013
AT AN IDLE, THIS VEHICLE RUNS ROUGH AND SHAKES. IT FEELS AS THOUGH IT WILL STALL. I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE HAPPENING WITH A NEW CAR. I TOLD THE MECHANIC AT MY FIRST MAINTENANCE CHECK, AND HE ACTED AS IF IT WOULD GET BETTER WITH AN OIL CHANGE. IT SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE. I COMMUTE 120 MILES A DAY FOR WORK, AND I HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR 5 MONTHS, IT HAS 9000 MILES NOW. NOW THE RADIO WILL NOT TURN ON? THIS CONCERNS ME THAT MAYBE SOMETHING ELECTRICAL IS MALFUNCTIONING. *TR
Engine, Apr 3, 2013
ENGINE STARTED MAKING A LOUD NOISE, CHECKED OIL TURNED ENGINE OFF AND ON AGAIN AND NOISE CONTINUED. DROVE HOME APPROX 150 MILES FROM VISITING OUR SON AT COLLEGE. AFTER ARRIVING AT HOME ENGINE STILL MADE NOISE. TOOK INTO DEALER THE FOLLOWING DAY AND TODAY WAS INFORMED WE ARE NEEDING A NEW SHORT BLOCK ENGINE AND IT'S ON BACKORDER FOR A WEEK AND A HALF. NOT A HAPPY CUSTOMER, SINCE I AM MAKING CAR PAYMENTS AND DON'T HAVE THE VEHICLE. IT WORRIES ME WHAT IS YET TO COME WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE REASON WE PURCHASED IT TO BEGIN WITH WAS THE WARRANTY, BUT HAD WE KNOWN WE'D BE USING IT 7 MONTHS INTO OWNING THIS KIA I WOULD HAVE NEVER PURCHASED IT TO BEGIN WITH. I DO WANT TO SAY THE DEALERSHIP WE ARE DEALING WITH ARE EXTREMELY HELPFUL WITH A LOANER CAR, ALTHOUGH IT'S A SEDAN AND NOT WHAT I PURCHASED. SO THEY ARE DOING THEIR PART AND I APPRECIATE THAT FACT. *TR
Power train, Engine, Mar 17, 2013
ON 9-3-12 BOUGHT A NEW 2013 KIA SORENTO WITH THE BASE 4 ENGINE. NEXT DAY NOTICED A VIBRATION WHEN IDLING IN DRIVE. THE CAR SHAKES. NOTIFIED DEALER IMMEDIATELY. DEALER NOTICED CONCERN BUT COULD NOT ADDRESS. NO APPLICABLE SERVICE BULLETIN. IN DECEMBER DEALER NOTIFIED ME OF A POSSIBLE SOLUTION. DEALER INSTALLED A NEW TENSIONER AND ALTERNATOR PULLEY. CHANGES DID LESSON THE VIBRATIONS. BUT AN UNACCEPTABLE VIBRATION STILL EXISTS WHEN IDLING IN DRIVE. THE VIBRATION DISAPPEARS WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS PUT IN N WHEN IDLING IN DRIVE. *TR
Visibility, Mar 9, 2013
MY HUSBAND AND I WERE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY WHEN WE HEARD A LOUD BANG AND FELT THE GLASS FROM THE SUNROOF OF OUR 2013 KIA SORENTO SX FALL ON US AND INTO THE VEHICLE. IT WAS A SUNNY DAY AND ABOUT 50 DEGREES OUTSIDE AT THE TIME. WHILE THE SUN SHADE HAD BEEN PULLED BACK SLIGHTLY TO LET IN SOME SUNSHINE, THE SUN ROOF ITSELF WAS CLOSED. *TR
Service brakes, Feb 17, 2013, crash
I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND TURNING SLIGHTLY TO THE LEFT, I ATTEMPTED TO STOP MY 2013 KIA SORENTO BY PRESSING THE BRAKES BUT IT WOULD NOT STOP. IT CONTINUED TO COAST BACKWARDS WITHOUT STOPPING EVEN THOUGH I CONTINUED TO PRESS BRAKES NUMEROUS TIMES.. THE BRAKE PEDAL ITSELF WOULD NOT GO ALL THE WAY DOWN WHILE I PRESSED DOWN. THE CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN AND THE BACKUP SENSOR DID NOT SOUND AS IT CONTINUED TO BACK INTO MY NEIGHBORS FENCE. NOTE THAT I COULD SEE THE BACKUP CAMERA WAS WORKING BUT HAD NO CONTROL OF CAR STOPPING, ALSO THE CAR WAS PURCHASED ONLY 5 MONTHS AGO. *TR
Engine, Jan 14, 2013
WE PURCHASED 2 KIA VEHICLES ON 12-8-2013, ONE BEING THE 2013 KIA SORENTO AWD 4-CYL-GDI. WE TOOK DELIVERY OF THE VEHICLE AND HAD TO RETURN ON MONDAY TO TURN IN THE OTHER TRADE. WE QUESTIONED THE SALESMAN ABOUT THE ROUGH IDLE AND LOUD NOISE THAT IT MADE AT STOPS BUT HE SAID IT WAS NORMAL AND IT WOULD WORK ITSELF OUT AFTER A BREAK-IN PERIOD. THE NEXT DAY WHEN WE WERE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND THE LIGHTS STATED TO FLICKER, I TOLD MY WIFE TO GIVE IT GAS AND THEN IT STOPPED..UNTIL SHE LET OFF THE PEDAL. WE SUBMITTED AM INQUIRY TO KIA THROUGH THE WEBSITE AND BY THE NEXT DAY WE WERE CONTACTED BY A REGIONAL REP. WE SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT TO BRING IT IN AND THEN I BEGAN RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE...TO WHICH I QUICKLY LOST THAT WARM FUZZY FEELING OF A NEW KIA OWNER! WE LEFT OUR VEHICLE AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR DAYS UNTIL WE HAD ENOUGH, WE WERE FIXING TO HAVE TO PAY A NOTE ON A VEHICLE WE DIDN'T HAVE! WE CALLED AND PICKED OUR VEHICLE BACK UP, WE ARE BEING TOLD THAT THE PARTS ARE ON BACK-ORDER FROM KOREA. WE HAVE BEEN CONTACTED FROM A REP OUT OF GEORGIA NOW AND WE JUST KEEP BEING TOLD TO BE PATIENT. I AM NOT HAPPY AT ALL AS WE PURCHASED TWO NEW VEHICLES AND WE SHOULD NOT BE HAVING TO DEAL WITH THIS. HAD WE LEFT OUR VEHICLE AT THE DEALERSHIP (WHICH IS WHAT THEY WANTED WHILE WE DROVE A NASTY RENTAL) WE BE OUT FOR AT LEAST A MONTH AS THE PARTS AREN'T SCHEDULED TO BE SHIPPED UNTIL THE 21ST OF JANUARY! WE HAVE NO IDEA OF OUR LEGAL RIGHTS IF ANY, AND I DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH MY WIFE AND CHILDREN IN THIS VEHICLE. KIA OFFERS NOTHING MORE THAN A STINKY RENTAL CAR AND PLEASE BE PATIENT....THE SERVICE MANAGER HOWEVER AT THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN WONDERFUL..UNLIKE THE SALES MANAGER! *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Dec 19, 2012
DRIVING ON INTERSTATE AT NIGHT AT 65 MPH LIGHTS FLICKER INSIDE AND HEADLIGHTS. BATTERY WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE HAS ALSO HAD HARD SHIFTING AROUND 20 TO 30 MPH, ALMOST LIKE APPLYING BRAKES ON SLOW DOWN AND AN ENGINE REV WHEN SPEEDING UP. NEXT NIGHT (SUNDAY) VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER WITH NO WARNING WHILE DRIVING ON TWO LANE HIGHWAY AT NIGHT. MADE IT OFF TO A SIDE ROAD, BUT ENGINE STILL RUNNING ROUGH, NO RESPONSE TO GAS PEDAL, COULD NOT SHIFT VEHICLE TO PARK, HAD TO HOLD STOP BUTTON FOR LONG TIME TO FINALLY STOP ENGINE, LIGHTS CAME BACK ON, BUT WOULD NOT START, FINALLY COULD PUT IN PARK. HAULED BACK TO DEALER. SERVICE REPLIES WASN'T ON SCHEDULE WILL MAYBE GET TO IT TODAY. DEFECTIVE ALTERNATOR ON "E" ORDER WILL FIX ALL THE PROBLEMS. WIFE REFUSES TO DRIVE UNSAFE, DEATH TRAP AND THAT SHE WOULD NOT HAD BEEN ABLE TO MANAGE SAFELY IF SHE WOULD OF BEEN DRIVING WHEN PROBLEMS SHUT DOWN THE VEHICLE. *TR
Power train, Engine, Dec 19, 2012
2013 KIA SORENTO 4 CYLINDER. WHILE AT STOP LIGHT ENGINE REVVED UP AND LUNGED FORWARD. APPLIED HARDER BRAKE UNTIL STOP LIGHT TURNED GREEN. VEHICLE AT DEALERSHIP FOR TWO DAYS SO FAR WAITING ALTERNATOR REPLACEMENT. SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATES NEVER HAD TO REPLACE AN ALTERNATOR BEFORE AND NOT IN STOCK, WAITING FOR OVERNIGHT SHIPPING FOR TWO DAYS. DEALER STATES THEY HAVE NO CONTROL OVER DEFECTIVE PARTS, BUT WILL FIX AND SERVICE VEHICLE WHEN PARTS ARRIVE. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Nov 26, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE LUNGE FORWARD AND ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 500.... UPDATED 12/26/12 *BF
Seats, Nov 18, 2012
THE LEVER TO FOLD DOWN THE SECOND ROW SEAT GETS STUCK. IT IS SO HARD TO OPERATE SOMETIMES THAT NO MATTER HOW MUCH FORCE YOU USE THE SEAT BACK LEVER WILL NOT RELEASE. AFTER SERVICING IT 3 TIMES THE DEALER HAS TOLD ME THEY FIXED IT EACH TIME, BUT THE INTERMITTENT PROBLEM IS STILL PRESENT. THEY SAY THE GEAR THAT HOLDS THE SEAT IN PLACE HAS VERY SHARP TEETH AND WAS NOT MANUFACTURED PROPERLY. THEY SAY MANY KIA SORRENTOS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THEY SAY YOU HAVE TO WIGGLE THE SEAT BACK AS YOU TRY THE RELEASE LEVER. THE SAFETY CONCERN IS IF YOU HAVE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE IN AN EMERGENCY THE SECOND ROW SEAT IN THE UP POSITION WOULD PROHIBIT THE BACK SEAT PASSENGERS FROM ESCAPE. THE SEAT IN THE DOWN POSITION WOULD IMPEED THE TWO SECOND ROW PASSENGERS FROM EXITING THROUGH THE PASSENGER DOOR. *TR
Electrical system, Engine, Nov 15, 2012
A DAY AFTER I PURCHASED A NEW KIA SORENTO EX GDI 2013 (9/25/2012), I NOTICED THAT IT HAD ROUGH IDLE AT STOP. I TOOK MY CAR TO DEALERSHIP TO FIX THE ROUGH IDLE ISSUE NEXT DAY, HOWEVER AFTER 4 DAYS OF TROUBLESHOOTING BY MECHANIC WITH KIA SUPPORT ENGINEER, THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO RESOLVE IT. TSB#122 (ECM SOFTWARE UPGRADE) WAS ALREAY APPLIED PRIOR TO MY PURCHASE. EVEN TODAY, I STILL HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. MY CURRENT MILEAGE IS 2800 MILES. *TR
Engine, Nov 12, 2012
ENGINE IDLES ROUGHLY. *TR
Power train, Oct 23, 2012
I PURCHASED 2013 KIA SORENTO 2.4 GDI LAST MONTH. IT VIBRATES AND SHAKES AT IDLE SPEED FROM DAY ONE. I WAS TOLD BY SALES PERSON THAT IT WILL STOP AFTER DRIVING FOR FEW MILES. NOW I HAVE 1500 MILES ON IT BUT IT CONTINUES TO VIBRATE AT IDLE SPEED WHETHER IN GEAR OR IN PARK POSITION. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP THEY SAY THERE WAS SOFTWARE UPGRADE FOR CERTAIN MANUFACTURE DATES BUT IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT APPLIES TO ME BASED ON MY PURCHASE DATE. BUT THEY SAY BRING IT IN AND WE WILL CHECK IT. I AM PLANNING TO GO THIS WEEK. SEARCHING THE WEB, IT LOOKS LIKE LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE THIS ISSUE. I HOPE IT BRINGS ATTENTION TO KIA MOTORS AND THEY PROVIDE SOME FIX. *TR
Power train, Engine, Oct 19, 2012
THE VEHICLE SHAKES WHENEVER IT'S IDLING IN DRIVE AND WHILE YOUR BRAKED. . I TOOK TO MY KIA DEALERSHIP WHO SAID THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM TO BRING IT IN. I BROUGHT IT IN THEY HAD IT FOR 20 MINUTES AND SAID ITS ALL SET. WELL LET ME TELL YOU IT'S NOT FIXED! I CALLED AND OLD HE DEALERSHIP AND NOW I HAVE TO BRING IT IN AGAIN. THE VIBRATION ONLY GOES AWAY IF WHEN YOU COME TO A STOP AND PUT THE SHIFTER IN NEUTRAL. *TR
Visibility, Oct 5, 2012
THE FRONT PORTION OF THE PANORAMIC SUNROOF ON MY KIA SORENTO 2013 EXPLODED WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR. I DID NOT SEE ANYTHING COMING TOWARDS THE CAR THAT COULD HAVE HIT THE SUNROOF. THE DAYS WAS APPROX 90 DEGREES AND THE CAR HAD BEEN HOUSED IN AN INTERIOR GARAGE ALL DAY. I HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES, I DID NOT GO THROUGH AN UNDERPASS BEFORE THE INCIDENT, MY SPEED WAS APPROX 50 MPH. THE SUNROOF WAS PARTIALLY OPEN AT THE TIME. THERE WAS A VERY LOUD SOUND THEN SHARDS OF GLASS EVERYWHERE. I PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY AND DID NOT SEE ANYTHING ON TOP OF THE CAR THAT WOULD INDICATE IT WAS HIT BY SOMETHING. I HAD MINOR CUTS AND AFTER CLEARING THE GLASS DROVE IT RIGHT BACK TO THE DEALER. IT'S REPAIRED NOW BUT THOUGHT I WOULD POST SINCE THERE IS AN INVESTIGATION INTO A HYUNDAI MODEL WITH A SIMILAR PROBLEM. *TR
Steering, Engine and engine cooling, Sep 28, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING, HE FELT A SHIMMY THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE OF WHAT EXACT REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 600 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,400. ...UPDATED 10/19/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD IDLE IN A ROUGH MANNER. WHEN AT A STOP. UPDATED 10/25/12