WHILE MY VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON THE HIGHWAY GOING OVER 70MPH MY ENGINE SHUT OFF, MY SPEEDOMETER DROPPED FROM 70 TO 40 CAUSING THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME TO HAVE TO PULL INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC (TWO LANE ROAD GOING DOWN MOUNTAIN) TO AVOID SLAMMING INTO MY VEHICLE. PRIOR TO THIS OIL, CHECK ENGINE, AND FOUR WHEEL DRIVE LIGHTS ALL BEGAN TO FLASH. PULLED OVER, SHUT OFF VEHICLE AND VEHICLE STARTED AFTER SOME STRUGGLE. DROVE WITH HAZARDS ALL THE WAY HOME. BEFORE THIS MY VEHICLE WOULD LOSE POWER WHILE DRIVING. MY RPMS WOULD DROP AND HITTING THE GAS DID NOTHING. EVERY TIME VEHICLE STARTS MAKING KNOCKING SOUND BEFORE RATTLING AND STALLING OUT. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN MOTION EVERY SINGLE TIME IT LOSES POWER, OR THE ENGINE STALLS OUT. IMMEDIATELY PURCHASED CAR FAX TO SEE ALL OPEN RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE. THIS IS ONE OF THE MAJOR ONES. ENTIRE REPLACEMENT OF ENGINE. KIA REFUSES TO REPLACE MY ENGINE AND ONLY KEPT MY VEHICLE IN THE SHOP FOR 56 MINUTES BEFORE TELLING ME IT WAS READY FOR PICK UP. WHEN ENGINE IS ACTING UP, REMOVING MY FOOT FROM THE GAS DOES NOT SLOW THE VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS AND UNPREDICTABLE.
2012 Kia Sorento complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2012 record →
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR FLASHED ON AND OFF. THE ENGINE OIL WAS CHECKED AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS NO OIL INSIDE THE ENGINE. FOUR QUARTS OF OIL WERE ADDED TO THE ENGINE. APPROXIMATELY FOUR MONTHS LATER, WHILE AT SONS KIA (100 SONS DR, MCDONOUGH, GA) FOR SERVICE, THE MECHANIC REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE ENGINE. IN ADDITION, AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE, A BURNING ODOR WAS PRESENT OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
MOTOR JUST ALL OF LOCKED UP WITH NO WARNING I WAS DRIVING AND ALL OF SUDDEN I HEAR THE FANS START BLOWING LOUDLY I PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE CAR OFF AND IT HASN'T STARTED SINCE, NOW I'M WITHOUT VEHICLE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V907000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ENGINE). WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE CENTER CONSOLE. THE CONTACT DROVE TO HER JOB AND EXTINGUISHED THE SMOKE WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO KIA OF DULUTH (LOCATED AT 1701 W MICHIGAN ST, DULUTH, MN 55806, (866) 722-4542). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000. * (RECALL RELATED INCIDENT) TS
TOOK 2012 SORENTO IN FOR ENGINE/BEARINGS RECALL AT 92K MILES (WHICH INCLUDED AN OIL CHANGE BY DEALERSHIP). NEXT OIL CHANGE AT 98K THERE WAS APPRX 1 QUART OF OIL LEFT. NEVER BURNED OIL PRIOR TO THIS RECALL CHECK. THOUGHT DEALERSHIP MADE MISTAKE. I USUALLY CHANGE THE OIL EVERY 5K MILES. OIL WAS CHANGED AND CHECKED AGAIN AT 2,500 MILES, IT WAS 4 QUARTS LOW. NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE EVER DISPLAYED. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP, PERFORMED OIL CONSUMPTION TESTS (4), CONSUMING ABOUT 1 QUART EVERY 500 MILES. KIA DEALERSHIP TOLD ME UNLESS IT DISPLAYS THE P1326 FAULT CODE, THERE IS NOTHING THAT KIA WILL DO - I CAN FILE A CLAIM WITH KIA AFFAIRS, IF I WANT. IT IS BURNING SO MUCH OIL, THAT IF OIL WAS CHANGE EVERY 7,500 MILES AS RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE -- THERE WOULD BE NO OIL LEFT IN ENGINE. IT IS BURNING OIL -- THERE IS NO OIL LEAKING. ENGINE WILL FAIL, IT'S A MATTER OF WHEN - HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. A TICKING TIME BOMB. HOPE IT DOESN'T FAIL WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE....OR CATCH FIRE.
ENGINE IS CONSUMING A LARGE AMOUNT OF OIL THIS HAS OCCURRED AROUND THE ENGINE GOING OVER 90,000 MILES. IN SPEAKING WITH THE KIA DEALERSHIP, THEY STATE IT IS COMMON FOR AN ENGINE OF THIS AGE TO BURN OIL. THE ENGINE BURNS ABOUT A QUART EVERY 500-600 MILES. THIS SEEMS EXCESSIVE.
CAR WAS RUNNING FINE, NO WARNINGS. STARTED ENGINE AND IT WOULD NOT START. HAD CAR TOWED. WAS TOLD THE ENGINE WAS 'LOCKED UP'. IT IS 2012 SORENTO HOWEVER IT IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN AND ALL THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATORS, INCLUDING THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR, ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE BLEW UP AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 72,000.
ENGINE IS CONSUMING A LARGE AMOUNT OF OIL. WE HAD TAKEN THE CAR INTO THE DEALER TO CORRECT A RECALL AFFECTING THE ENGINE OIL. THE DEALER SERVICED THE VEHICLE, THEN THE VEHICLE STARTED BURNING OIL. WE TOOK IT TO A DIFFERENT DEALER WHO REFERRED US TO THE CONSUMER AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT. CONSUMER AFFAIRS SENT IT TO THE ESCALATION DEPARTMENT. THE ESCALATION DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDED THAT WE GO TO A JUNK YARD AND GET A USED ENGINE. THEY TOOK NO RESPONSIBILITY. WE HAVE KEPT THIS CAR SERVICED BUT WE WERE TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE CAR NEEDS A NEW ENGINE TO THE TUNE OF $9,000.
THE RETRACTABLE SUNROOF SHATTERED WITHOUT WARNING AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY CHILD. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNING SIGNS OR DAMAGE. THE GLASS FELL IN ON US, MOSTLY MY DAUGHTER IN THE BACK SEAT. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE KIA DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THIS HAD HAPPENED TO OTHER VEHICLES, BUT SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO SINCE KIA HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL YET.
MY 2012 KIA SORENTO KEEPS GOING THOUGH OIL IT'S NOT BURNING IT AND IT'S NOT LEAKING SO WHAT HAPPENING TO IT ?
OUR 2012 KIA SORENTO STARTED HAVING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS AS ALL THE OTHER MOTORS THAT WERE ON RECALL FOR BAD BEARINGS. I NEVER GOT A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. IT WOULD DIE RANDOMLY ON ME. ONCE DIED ON ME ON THE FREEWAY WITH ME AND MY 5YR OLD. LUCKILY I WAS NOT AROUND ANYONE OR IT COULD HAVE BEEN VERY TRAGIC. I LOVED THAT CAR, AND NOW IT'S JUST SITTING AT KIA DEALERSHIP COLLECTING DUST AND NOT BEING USED WITH LESS THAN 100K MILES ON IT. THIS IS NOT A OWNER ISSUE. THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. EVEN THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS BAD BEARING AND IT SHOULD BE COVERED. YET WE CAN'T GET THIS ISSUE FIXED BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO HELP US, AND YET HAVE ALL THESE BAD REVIEWS ON NOT WANTING TO HELP OUT THEIR CUSTOMERS. SO IT'S JUST SITTING AT THE DEALERSHIP ROTTING AWAY BECAUSE WE REFUSE TO PAY FOR A MANUFACTURING DEFECT.
THE ENGINE SEIZED UP. WE HAVE MADE REGULAR OIL CHANGES ON THE CAR. THERE WAS FOUND TO BE METAL SHAVINGS IN THE OIL, WHICH IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. IT IS 2012 WITH 88,861 MILES ON IT. IT WOULD NOT START SO WE HAD TO TOWED TO LIBERTYVILLE KIA DEALER. THE SERVICE CENTER SAID THAT THERE SHOULD NOT BE ANY METAL SHAVINGS IN THE OIL PAN WITH THE REGULAR SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE
I WAS DRIVING FOR ABOUT 45 MINUTES ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR STARTED TO DECELERATE. I HAD JUST ENOUGH FORCE TO GET IT TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD SAFELY. NO WARNING LIGHTS OR ISSUES PRIOR TO THIS OCCURRENCE. THE RADIO WAS STILL ON BUT I COULDN'T GET THE ENGINE TO TURN OVER TO DRIVE. IS THERE A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE??? MY MECHANIC COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. IT STARTED RIGHT UP AND HE DROVE IT FOR AWUITE A BIT TO BE SURE.
AS I CAME OFF AN EXIT FROM THE HIGHWAY, AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT 90 MINUTES, FOR NO APPARENT REASON THE CAR JUST STOPPED RUNNING. THE TACH DROPPED TO O, AND I HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO AVOID GETTING HIT BY THE VEHICLES BEHIND ME. I TRIED TO START THE CAR AND THE CAR WOULD NOT EVEN TURN OVER. I CALLED MY INSURANCE COMPANY, ARRANGED FOR A TOW TO MY MECHANICS GARAGE, ONLY TO HAVE HIM TELL ME THAT THE MOTOR JUST CEASED. AGAIN NO WARNING FROM THE VEHICLES WARNING LIGHTS OR ANYTHING. IT JUST DIED RIGHT THERE.
HEADLIGHTS SO DETERIORATED THAT AT NIGHT MUST RUN HIGH BEAM JUST TO SEE ROAD.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ALOHA KIA OF MAUI (89 E WAKEA AVE, KAHULUI, HI 96732) AND REPAIRED SEVERAL TIMES REGARDING THE FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE WEIGHT SENSOR FOR THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ENTIRE SEAT ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,250.
ENGINE RECALL. LATELY I BEEN HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE UNDER THE HOOD OF MY VEHICLE ALSO I HEARD KNOCKING NOICE FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE WHEN I START THE CAR AS WELL. IT COMES N GOES I HEAR IT ONCE IN A WHILE MAINLY IN THE MORNING WHEN I FIRST START THE CAR. I HEAR IT ANY OTHER TIME ONCE IN A WHILE. N I SEE LATELY THERE LEAKAGE COMING THREW THE EXHAUST PIPE AS WELL. I TOOK IT TO MY MACHANIC N HE ADVISED ME TO REPORT TO THE DEALER SINCE IT CAN B A POSSIBLE RECALL
MY KIA'S ENGINE SEIZED UP ON THE HIGHWAY WHILE DRIVING I HAVE NOT EVEN OWNED IT FOR A YEAR. I STILL OWE QUITE A BIT ON THIS AND CAN NOT SEEM TO GET ANY HELP FROM MY LOCAL KIA DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED IT. I LOST MY JOB BECAUSE OF THIS AND CANNOT TRY TO FIND ANOTHER ONE WITH OUT MY VEHICLE - IT IS CAUSING GREAT DISTRESS TO MY FAMILY. I CANNOT AFFORD TO BY ANOTHER VEHICLE OR PURCHASE AN ENGINE. I REALLY NEED HELP AND GUIDANCE WITH THIS ISSUE. I WAS TOLD KIA WAS THE BEST WITH CUSTOMER CARE AND VEHICLE RELIANCE. SOON I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO MAKE PAYMENTS ON MY VEHICLE WITH OUT A JOB. PLEASE HELP ME WITH THIS PROBLEM I DO NOT KNOW WHERE ELSE TO TURN. THANK YOU
LOSING OIL..NO INDICATOR LIGHTS COME ON. THEY TELL ME I HAVE DROP OIL PAN AND AND GET NEW SEAL. WHY DOESNTINDICATOR COME ON? .HAVE APPOINTMENT MARCH 4TH AT DEALER TO HAVE THIS FIXED. SOUNLD NOT HAVE TO AY FOR IT. INDICATOR LIGHT DO NOT WORK.NOW MY ENGINE KNOCKS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, A KNOCKING NOISE OCCURRED COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NAPLETON'S MID RIVERS KIA (LOCATED AT 4955 VETERANS MEMORIAL PKWY, ST PETERS, MO 63376, (636) 206-4284) FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST WAS PERFORMED. THE DEALER STATED THAT IF THE ENGINE CONSUMED OIL, IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: [XXX]. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,276. *TR THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIRS UNTIL THE ENGINE SEIZED. *JS PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *JS
THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND IT BEGAN KNOCKING. IT WAS PULLED OVER ALMOST IMMEDIATELY (WITHIN A MILE). OIL WAS CHECKED AND ALTHOUGH IT HAD REGULAR SERVICE, IT REGISTERED LOW. AFTER ABOUT A HALF A QUART OF OIL WAS ADDED, THE OIL REGISTERED AT PROPER LEVEL. WHEN TRYING TO RE-START THE ENGINE IT FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE AND WOULD NEED A COMPLETE ENGINE REPLACEMENT. PRICE QUOTED WAS $15,000! THEY CLAIMED THIS WAS DUE TO THE ENGINE NEEDING TO BE REPLACED WITH A SMALLER BLOCK (THEY DON'T MAKE THE 3.5 L ANYMORE) AND THE MODIFICATIONS THAT IT NEEDED. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED USED, HAD 125,054 MILES ON IT AND HAD NO WARNING PRIOR TO THE INITIAL KNOCKING THAT OCCURRED ON THAT DAY.
SUNROOF EXPLODED WHILE I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON FEBRUARY 18, 2019. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS OCCURRED WITHIN 2 YEARS. I HAVE CALLED KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY HAVE BEEN GIVING ME THE RUN AROUND.
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN MY CARS ENGINE SEIZED UP. I LOST ALL CONTROL OF THE BREAKS AND POWER STEARING AND IT WAS SMOKING AS I COASTED TO THE SHOULDER. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR SEATS OUT OF THE BACK AND LET IT COOL DOWN SOME BUT THE ELECTRIC IN IT WAS NOT WORKING SO IT WOULDNT TURN OVER. IT LEFT ME STRANDED A LITTLE OVER AN HOUR FROM MY HOUSE WITH 2 INFANTS. I HAD IT TOWED HOME AND CHANGED THE BATTERY IN IT TO SEE IF IT WOULD TURN OVER AND IT DID. WHEN I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR RUNNING AGAIN THERE WAS A KNOCKING IN THE ENGINE AND THE CAR WOULD STALL IF I PUT THE CAR IN GEAR AND PRESS THE GAS. WHEN I CALLED KIA THEY TOLD ME MY VIN WASNT COVERED IN THE ENGINE RECALL SO IM FILING A COMPLAINT.
HEADLAMP OUT AND UPON INSPECTION THE PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT SOCKET MELTED. SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN A FAILURE OF THE SOCKET AS THE WIRING CHECKED OUT FINE. HAD TO REPLACE WITH NEW SOCKET. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
SHORTLY AFTER THE ANALYTIC CONVERTER LIGHT CAME ON, THE ENGINE STARTED SURGING AND THEN DIED WHEN I SLOWED FOR A TURN. I PUT THE CARE IN PARK, RESTARTED THE ENGINE, PUT IT IN DRIVE AND IT DIED AGAIN. I TRIED AGAIN WITH PARK, RESTART AND THEN DROVE INTO A PARKING LOT. I FOUND RECALL SC106 ON LINE BUT THE DEALER CAN'T FIND THIS FOR MY VEHICLE.
TAKATA RECALL - OCS MAT PASSENGER FRONT SEAT- AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY AND NO ONE WAS SITTING IN THE SEAT - KIA SAID IT IS NOT A DEFECT HOWEVER I SEE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. THEY WANT TO CHARGE $1950.00 TO FIX IT.
MY WIFE AND I HAVE BEEN DRIVING THIS VEHICLE FOR OVER 2 YEARS NOW. ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO, THIS BANGING NOISE STARTED WHICH FELT LIKE WE HIT SOMETHING OR AN OBJECT THE ROAD (JUST ONE BIG BANG NOISE). THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED WE TOOK IT THE AAA AND THEY SERVICED IT AND MADE SOME REPAIRS TO IT AND REPLACED SOME PARTS. THE NOISE WENT AWAY AND NOW (FEB 2019), I AM DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 60 MILES PER HOUR AND IT CAME BACK AND HAPPENED THREE TIMES ALREADY. UPON RESEARCHING THE CAUSE OF THIS ISSUE, I AM HERE ON THIS SITE TRYING TO FIND ANSWERS FOR THESE ISSUES. NOW, I DO NOT WANT OUR CAR TO CATCH FIRE SINCE I'VE READ A FEW PEOPLE WERE EXPERIENCING THIS HORRIFYING PREDICAMENT. WHAT ARE WE TO DO? WILL KIA TAKE CARE OF THIS ISSUE BEFORE SOMETHING WORSE HAPPENED? IT SEEMS TO BE CASE WITH THESE RECALLS, SOMETHING TERRIBLE HAS TO HAPPEN.
MY 20 YEAR OLD SON WAS DRIVING HIS 2012 KIA SORENTO ON THE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED TO MAKE A KNOCKING NOISE AND LOST ACCELERATION (HE WAS PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL, BUT IT FELT LIKE IT WASN'T DOING ANYTHING.) THE KNOCKING NOISE CONTINUED AND GREW LOUDER. WE TOOK THE CAR TO A NEARBY GARAGE, AND THE MECHANIC WHO LOOKED AT IT SAID THE CRANK BEARING WAS BAD AND THE ENGINE WAS SHOT. HE SAID REPLACING IT WOULD $5,000 OR MORE. HE SAID REPAIRING LIKELY WOULDN'T BE AN OPTION BECAUSE HE HAS SEEN OTHER KIAS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, AND THE ENGINES WERE FULL OF METAL PIECES. AFTER RESEARCHING, I LEARNED OF THE RECALL FOR 2012 KIA SORENTOS FOR THIS VERY REASON, BUT MY SON'S VIN ISN'T LISTED, AND IT OBVIOUSLY SHOULD BE. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 86,000 MILES AND HAS BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY. IT WAS MY HUSBAND'S VEHICLE BEFORE, SO WE KNOW IT HAS HAD REGULAR MAINTENANCE SINCE THE BEGINNING. EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE HAS STAYED IN THE SAME HOUSEHOLD, IT IS NOW IN MY SON'S NAME SO THE WARRANTY DOESN'T APPLY. PLEASE ADD THIS VEHICLE TO THE RECALL! I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING IN WRITING FROM THE MECHANIC, BUT THE VEHICLE IS STILL THERE AND I CAN GET THAT IF NEEDED.
ALL THIS HAPPENED ON CHRISTMAS DAY, 2018. MY FAMILY AND I WERE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE TO VISIT FAMILY FOR THE HOLIDAY, WHEN THE ENGINE OUT OF NO WHERE MADE A SQUEAKING NOISE AND THEN STARTED KNOCKING. IT WAS LIKE I IMMEDIATELY LOST A LOT OF POWER OF THE ENGINE AND IT WAS HARD TO STEER OFF THE ROAD. IT DIED AND WHEN RESTARTED IT WAS KNOCKING AND BARELY WANTED TO GO. WE DROVE IT 4 MILES TO THE EXIT AND PARKED IT AT A BK FOR THE NIGHT. WE GOT IT TOWED BACK TO OUR HOUSE 40 MILES AWAY. INITIALLY HAD THOUGHT THE TIMING CHAIN BUT LATER FOUND OUT IT THAT THE WHOLE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IT HAD METAL FLAKES AND SHAVINGS ALONG WITH PROBLEMS WITH THE CAMSHAFT. WE WERE TOLD BY KIA THAT OURS WAS NOT INCLUDED AND THAT THE WARRANTY EXTENSION WAS ONLY FOR ORIGINAL OWNERS. I AM THE SECOND OWNER AND PURCHASED THE CAR IN 2012. THE VEHICLE IS JUST OVER 100K MILES.I STILL OWE ABOUT $8000 LEFT ON THE CAR. ENGINE REPLACEMENT QUOTES ABOUT $3000 BUT I FEAR PUTTING IN A NEW MOTOR THE SAME PROBLEM COULD EVENTUALLY HAPPEN AGAIN.
I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED WITH 98K+ MILES ON IT FROM STEVENS CREEK SUBARU. THEY DID NOT DISCLOSE ANY RECALLS NOR ANY ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE. THIS WEEK, I BEGAN HEARING A CLICKING NOISE IN THE GEAR SHIFT CONSOLE EVERY TIME I BRAKED. ITS SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING HITTING PIECE OF PLASTIC. IT HASN'T CHANGED THE PERFORMANCE OF THE CAR THAT I CAN EASILY TELL. HOWEVER, THIS EVENING, MY MAINTENANCE LIGHT CAME ON AND IS NOT TURNING OFF. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THE CAR WAS SERVICED BEFORE I DROVE OFF THE LOT, BUT GIVEN IT DIDN'T EVEN HAVE WASHER FLUID, I'M NOT CONVINCED IT WAS SERVICED PROPERLY. I'M ALSO NOTICING THAT THE VEHICLE DOESN'T SHIFT EASILY WHEN I AM NEEDING TO PICK-UP SPEED WHEN ENTERING THE HIGHWAY. THE SHIFT TRANSITION ISN'T SMOOTH. ANOTHER ISSUE IS THE HEAT FEATURE ON THE DRIVER SEAT DOES NOT WORK - IT WORKED A WEEK PRIOR WHEN I TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE.
I WAS DRIVING MYSELF AND MY BROTHER SOUTHBOUND ON THE 101 FREEWAY NEAR TEMPE, AZ ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2019 AT APPROXIMATELY 10:20AM WHEN WE SUDDENLY HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION OVER OUR HEADS AND SAW GLASS RAINING DOWN THROUGH THE OVERHEAD VISOR AND OFF THE BACK OF THE CAR. STUNNED AND SHOCKED, I CAREFULLY MADE MY WAY ACROSS THREE LANES OF BUSY MORNING TRAFFIC TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND INSPECT THE DAMAGE. THE ENTIRE SUNROOF HAD SHATTERED, LEAVING JAGGED GLASS PARTICLES OVER THE TOP AND INSIDE THE SUNROOF MECHANISM, AS WELL AS INSIDE MY CAR. I'M GRATEFUL MY TWO CHILDREN WEREN'T SITTING IN BACK OR THEY MAY HAVE BEEN CUT BY THE SPRAYING GLASS! WE HAD BEEN TRAVELING AT AVERAGE HIGHWAY SPEEDS, DURING A COOL, CLOUDY DAY. IT WAS ABOUT 55 DEGREES AND THERE WAS NO SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITY OR DEBRIS ON THE ROAD THAT MORNING. I NEVER NOTED PRIOR DAMAGE TO THE ROOF AND WAS TRAVELING WITH THE SUNROOF COMPLETELY SHUT THAT MORNING. THIS WAS AN ABSOLUTELY TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE THAT VERY WELL COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. I'M FURIOUS TO FIND SO MANY REPORTS OF THESE INCIDENTS OCCURRING! RECALLS MUST BE MADE AND A BETTER SOLUTION NEEDS TO BE IN PLACE!
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE ENGINE MADE A KNOCKING NOISE AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO JEFF WYLER SPRINGFIELD AUTO MALL (937-783-7030, LOCATED AT 1501 HILLCREST AVE, SPRINGFIELD, OH 45504). THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.
TAMARA RECALL: WHILE DRIVING ON BRIARCLIFF WAY IN ATLANTA, GA 30345 ON 8/5/18 GOING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH MY ENGINE MADE A LOUD POP SOUND AND BEGAN SMOKING AND SHUT OFF IMMEDIATELY. I WAS UNABLE TO RESTART CAR; CALLED TOW TRUCK TO TOW CAR TO ED VOYLES KIA DEALERSHIP IN CHAMBLEE GA. THEY DETERMINED IT WAS DUE TO 'BROKEN TONE WHEEL INSIDE ENGINE CAME APART' ; ALLEGEDLY FIXED IT BY REPLACING ENGINE; SINCE SERVICE I HAVE BROUGHT 2012 SORENTO BACK TO ED VOYLES DUE MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REPEATEDLY COMING BACK ON IN WHICH ED VOYLES JUST TURNS IT OFF STATING; 'WE REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON.
I HAVE REPLACED THE PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM LIGHT MULTIPLE TIMES BECAUSE OF IT BURNING OUT PREMATURELY. I BOUGHT ANOTHER BULB TO HAVE IT REPLACED AND THE OLD BULB WAS STILL GOOD. THE NEW BULB WAS PUT IN TO VERIFY THAT WASN'T THE ISSUE. THE AUTO PARTS STORE CHECKED THE FUSES AND ALL ARE OK.
LAST FRIDAY I WAS ON MY WAY GOING TO WORK AND I STOPPED AT THE STOPLIGHT AND WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND I GAVE IT GAS I NOTICED A LITTLE KNOCKING FOR MY ENGINE IN THE FIRST GEAR THE ONCE THE CAR PICKED UP SPEED AND WENT IN THE OTHER GEARS IT GOES SMOOTH ONLY WHEN I COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND FIRST TAKE OFF THE BEARINGS IN MY MOTOR IS KNOCKING
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET WHEN THE CAR BEGAN TO MAKE A LOW KNOCKING NOISE THEN IT BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN UNTIL IT CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP, AND WOULDN'T TURN OVER ANYMORE. I HAD TO GET IT TOWED TO THE MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC TOOK A LOOK AT THE CAR AND SAID THAT IT WAS THE MOTOR. I DIDN'T GET ANY WARNING OTHER THAT WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT BEGAN TO MAKE A KNOCKING NOISE AND LIGHTS WENT ON MY DASH, THEN STOPPED. I CALLED KIA SPOKE TO A REPRESENTATIVE, SHE SAID THAT MY CAR DIDN'T QUALIFY. SO I'M STUCK WITH A CAR PAYMENT AND NO CAR.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, ALL OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE. AFTERWARDS, THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE AND ALL POWER WAS LOST, INCLUDING THE POWER STEERING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE DOWN AN EXIT RAMP OFF THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN PUSHED OFF THE ROADWAY INTO A PARKING LOT. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE ENGINE WAS BLOWN AND OIL SPILLED OUT ONTO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO PARKSIDE KIA (9929 PARKSIDE DR, KNOXVILLE, TN 37922, (844) 755-6461). THE DEALER CALLED BACK THREE WEEKS LATER AFTER THEY ORDERED A NEW ENGINE. THE DEALER WANTED TO CHARGE THE CONTACT OVER $1,400 FOR LABOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AND PROVIDED THE CONTACT WITH THE PHONE NUMBER TO A MENTAL HEALTH FACILITY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
KIA RECALL. ON MAY 22, 2014, MY 2012 KIA SORENTO CAUGHT FIRE AND WAS TOTALED. THERE WAS NO EXPLANATION AT THIS TIME, BUT NOW IT IS COMING TO SURFACE THAT THESE VEHICLES ARE SPONTANEOUSLY CATCHING FIRE.
AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY THE ENGINE STALLED. AS I MADE MY WAY TO THE SHOULDER AND CAME TO A STOP I NOTICED SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE HOOD. ONCE I CAME TO A STOP I GOT OUT OF THE CAR. AS SOON AS I CAME TO A STOP I GOT OUT. WHEN I CLOSED THE DRIVERS DOOR THE HOOD BURST INTO FLAMES. BY THE TIME THAT THE FIREFIGHTERS GOT THE THERE THE ENTIRE CAR WAS UP IN FLAMES.
ON THREE OCCASIONS IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, MY 2012 KIA SORENTO, WHILE CRUISING AT THE SPEED LIMIT OF APPX 55 MPH ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY, TOTALLY LOST POWER. DASHBOARD LIGHTS WERE BLINKING, BUT NOTHING ELSE WAS OPERABLE. ON THE FIRST TWO INCIDENTS, I MANAGED TO STEER CAR ONTO SHOULDER. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND TRIED TO START IT AGAIN. AFTER ABOUT 30 SECONDS, CAR RESTARTED. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE NORMALLY AFTER THAT. LATER ON THE EVENING OF THE FIRST INCIDENT, SOMETIME IN 2016, I REPLACED THE BATTERY IN THE FOB AND THOUGHT THAT SOLVED THE PROBLEM. AFTER SECOND INCIDENT (3/5/17), I TOOK CAR TO HERSON'S KIA IN ROCKVILLE, MD. THEY DID A DIAGNOSIS, WHICH REPORTED NO PROBLEMS. AFTER THE THIRD INCIDENT (12/12/18), I TOOK IT BACK TO HERSON'S KIA. THEY CHECKED AND SAW THAT A RECALL PROCEDURE (SC 106) THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN PERFORMED ON AN EARLIER VISIT. THEY AGAIN PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC, WHICH AGAIN REPORTED NO PROBLEMS. THEY BASICALLY SAID THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT IF THEY COULDN'T DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THIS THIRD INCIDENT WAS PRETTY FRIGHTENING BECAUSE THE CAR LOST POWER IN THE CENTER LANE OF A FIVE-LANE HIGHWAY, SO I COULDN'T PULL OVER. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A SITUATION THAT COULD BE LIFE-THREATENING. ALTHOUGH MY WEB RESEARCH FINDS THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MANY OTHER 2010--2013 KIA SORENTOS,, KIA DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS OR KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10-15 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMALLY KNOCKING SOUND IN THE ENGINE. WITHOUT WARNING, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS UNABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SOUTH SHORE KIA (1128 SUNRISE HWY, COPIAGUE, NY 11726, (631) 991-3910) AND THEY STATED THAT A COMPREHENSIVE INVESTIGATION WAS NECESSARY TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 12995434. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, A GRINDING NOISE WAS PRESENT COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND THE OIL CONSUMPTION WAS APPROXIMATELY ONE QUART PER EVERY 600 MILES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KIA OF LAUREL (14921 BALTIMORE AVE, LAUREL, MARYLAND), BUT NO FAILURE WAS LOCATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE) IN 2016 AND THE ENGINE WAS INSPECTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
ENGINE SPONTANEOUSLY CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE.
VEHICLE HAS STARTED CONSUMING HIGH AMOUNTS OF OIL AS IT PASSED 90,000 MILES. RECEIVED AN OIL LOW LIGHT AND NEEDED TO ADD 3.5 QUARTS OF OIL. TOOK TO A KI DEALERSHIP WHO NOTED THAT THERE WERE NO VISIBLE LEAKS, BUT PLUGS WERE BURNING WHITE. KIA CORPORATE FORCES THE DEALER TO INSTALL KNOCK DETECTION SENSOR UPDATE WHICH VOIDS ALL PREVIOUS ENGINE RECALLS. IN THE PAST, HIGH OIL CONSUMPTION WAS ENOUGH TO LEAD TO ENGINE REPLACEMENT BY PREVIOUS RECALL INFORMATION. NOW HOWEVER KI CLAIMS THAT ONCE THE COMPUTER SYSTEM IS UPDATED ALL PREVIOUS ENGINE RECALLS ARE VOID AND EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION IS NO LONGER A VALID REASON EVEN WHEN COMBINED WITH ENGINE WEAR. A USER MUST NOW HAVE MULTIPLE SENSOR FAILURES OR ENGINE FAILURE, AND EXPECT TO MONITOR OIL EVERY FEW HUNDRED MILES. LOCAL DEALERSHIP SAYS THEIR HANDS ARE TIED DUE TO REQUESTS BY KIA CORPORATION.
ENGINE HAS ROD KNOCK
RESTRICT OIL FLOW TO THE BEARINGS CAUSING BEARING WEAR. A WORN CONNECTING ROD BEARING WILL PRODUCE A CYCLIC KNOCKING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE. THIS ISSUE HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS ON AND DRIVING IN A CITY STREET AND HIGHWAY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE ENGINE BLEW OUT AND MADE A LOUD NOISE. ALSO, THE BRAKES FAILED. THE CONTACT TEMPORARILY LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, BUT MANAGED TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER. THE ENGINE SPRAYED OIL ALL OVER THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO PARKSIDE KIA (9929 PARKSIDE DR, KNOXVILLE, TN 37922, (844) 755-6461). THE DEALER WANTED THE CONTACT TO PAY OVER $2,000 TO DETERMINE WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ENGINE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE FAULTY ENGINES THAT WERE SHIPPED FROM KOREA; HOWEVER, THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,337.
DOOR HANDLES BROKE OFF, AIR BAG LIGHT IS TURNED ON AFTER REPLACING BATTERY IN CAR, AND CAR WON'T PASS SMOG BECAUSE O2 SENSOR READINESS AND FUEL SYSTEM MONITORS WON'T SHOW READY EVEN THOUGH THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR AND CAR IS NOT PULLING ANY ERROR CODES, BOTH UPSTREAM AND DOWNSTREAM O2 SENSORS WERE REPLACED, AIR FILTERS CHANGED, AND FUEL SYSTEM WAS FLUSHED AND STILL DID NOTHING TO MAKE THE MONITORS SHOW READY
WHILE ACCELERATING AFTER A RIGHT HAND TURN INTO TURN ONLY LANE HEADED FOR HIGHWAY, MY CAR JUST SEIZED UP AND STALLED OUT. I GLIDED TO STOP AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, TURNED IT BACK ON. I ACCELERATED ONTO ON RAMP OF HIGHWAY AND IT SEIZED UP AGAIN COMPLETELY STALLING. WHEN CHECKING OIL LEVELS THERE WAS HAD NONE, MY HUSBAND BROUGHT ME 4 QUARTS OF OIL (ALWAYS FOLLOWED DEALERSHIP PROTOCOL ON OIL CHANGES), TRIED ENGINE AGAIN NOTHING. TOWED IT TO DEALER, THEY REMOVED AND DISSEMBLED THE ENGINE TO FIND POINT OF FAILURE. FOUND #1 AND #4 CONNECTING ROD BEARINGS TO HAVE SPUN AND WELDED THEM SELF TO THE CRANK SHAFT, ALSO FOUND #2 AND #3 TO BE WORN DOWN/CHEWED UP, FOUND BEARING DEBRIS IN THE OIL PAN AND THROUGH OUT THE ENGINE, NEEDED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AND ALL NEEDED SEALS AND GASKETS.
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NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 2012 Kia Sorento → · Every Sorento year → · How the figures are calculated →