MyCarTSB

2012 Kia Sorento Transmission Problems

49 owner-reported transmission complaints from NHTSA data

49
Complaints
1
Recalls
6
Crashes
Jan 2017Dec 2015
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Transmission Recalls (1)

RECALLCampaign #15V626000

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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."

Fix: 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.

Owner Complaints (49)

highPOWER TRAIN
Filed: Sep 2025

Your accelerator pedal didn't respond when pressed, and your traction control and ABS warning lights came on. Your vehicle then stalled and entered limp mode (reduced power mode), forcing you to drive it home slowly. A diagnostic scan showed multiple fault codes related to your vehicle's braking and traction control systems. The issue likely involves your vehicle's electronic brake and traction control modules or their sensors.

NHTSA #: 11689440
mediumPOWER TRAIN
Filed: May 2023

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that after shifting into reverse(R) and parking the vehicle, the vehicle was then shifted into neutral; however, the vehicle reversed instead. The driver quickly shifted the vehicle into a drive; however, the vehicle stalled. The contact then shifted the vehicle into the park(P) then turned off the vehicle. The contact was able to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was towed to the dealer to be diagnosed and the contact was informed that the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage 75,000.

NHTSA #: 11519815
mediumPOWER TRAIN
Filed: Aug 2021

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving at an unknown speed, there was an abnormal knocking noise detected. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that there was plenty of fluids in the vehicle however, the rod bearings needed to be replaced. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 81,000.

NHTSA #: 11429401
mediumPOWER TRAIN,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,ENGINE
Filed: Mar 2021

CAR STALLS OUT WHILE DRIVING THEN I HAVE TO PULL OVER AND RESTART IT AND IT HAS A JERKING TO IT WHEN THIS HAPPENS

NHTSA #: 11404770
mediumPOWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
Filed: Jan 2021

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE UNDER NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS THE TACHOMETER WILL DROP TO ZERO AND THE CAR WILL START TO SPUTTER AND STALL. THIS OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY SOMETIMES WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY SOMETIMES AT STOP LIGHTS OR STOP SIGNS. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 142K MILES AND HAS HAD THE CAM SENSORS REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIP BUT IS STILL HAVING ISSUES THAT THEY DON'T WANT TO TRACK DOWN.

NHTSA #: 11386997
mediumPOWER TRAIN
Filed: Jun 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ROLL FORWARD WHEN THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION, WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V626000 (POWER TRAIN). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GUNTHER KIA (1900 S STATE RD 7, FORT LAUDERDALE, FL 33317) TO BE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE SAME DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE RECALL REPAIR WAS A ONE-TIME FREE REPAIR. NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER HOWEVER, THE PHONE NUMBER PROVIDED WAS FOR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000.

NHTSA #: 11327938
mediumPOWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE
Filed: Nov 2019

HAD TWO MOTORS REPLACED. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER CRUMBLED WHEN MECHANICS REPLACED MOTOR NOW WANT TO CHARGE ME 3000 WHY WOULD THIS CRUMBLE AND SHOULD BE REPLACED AS ENGINE PROBABALY DAMAGED IT MAY HAVE EVEN CAUGHT FIRE AND DIDN'T KNOW

NHTSA #: 11279442
mediumPOWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
Filed: Aug 2019

LAST JULY MY HUSBAND HAD CHANGED MY BRAKES AND THEN WENT FOR A TEST DRIVE JUST TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING WAS WORKING PROPERLY. WELL, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING. CALLED KIA AND HAD IT TOWED THERE(UNREIMBURSED) REPLACED ENGINE TOLD THEM THAT SOMETIMES THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HESITATE TO SHIFT INTO GEAR. KIA SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. NOW, A YEAR LATER STILL TRANS PROBLEM. TOOK TO MASTER MECHANIC THAT HAS A TRANS SHOP AND THAT HAS BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR OVER 40 YEARS. HE SAID IT NEEDED A SOFTWARE UPDATE FROM KIA FOR A HARD TRANSMISSIKN SHIFT. CALLED KIA THEY SAID THEY HAD TO "RESEARCH PROBLEM", BUT HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING. ALSO, MY CAR SHUTS OFF IF I HAVE TO DO A HARD BRAKE EVEN AFTER MY ENGINE BEING REPLACED. ALSO, MY GAS LID WONT OPEN, MY MIRRORS HAD STOPPED MOVING AND MY WINDOWS ALL STOPPED WORKING. HAVING MAJOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH FUSE BOX. APPARENTLY SOMETHING IS NOT GROUNDED CORRECTLY KIA AND IS SHORTING OUT ALL MY FUSES. BUT I HAVE TO PAY ALL THIS MONEY TO HAVE A CAR THAT IS BARELY THAT OLD HAVE SO MANY PROBLEMS. IF I COULD SUE THEM FOR DAMAGES UNDER LEMON LAW I WOULD. VERY UPSET AND SCARED TO DRIVE CAR AND I HAVE A TEN YEAR THAT IS ALWAYS IN THE CAR WITH ME. PLEASE INVESTIGATE

NHTSA #: 11242679
mediumPOWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
Filed: Aug 2019

DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE OR IN TOWN, I LOSE ALL POWER WITH NO WARNING OTHER THAN A JERK THAT FEELS LIKE I HAVE BEEN HIT IN THE REAR. THEN IT GOES DEAD. I CRANK IT BACK UP AND IT RUNS FOR A WHILE THEN REPEATS. I TOOK TO KIA DEALERSHIP AND LEFT IT TODAY, BUT THEY ARE SAYING IT IS NOT PART OF A RECALL, AFTER KIA CORP. TOLD MY FATHER LAST WEEK THAT IT WAS A RECALL ON THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE. IT IS THERE NOW TO BE CHECKED 1ST THING IN THE MORNING.

NHTSA #: 11241882
mediumPOWER TRAIN
Filed: Jul 2019

FOLLOWING AN OIL CHANGE AND MULTI-POINT INSPECTION, THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT CUSTOMER ADVISOR INFORMED ME THAT THE KIA TECHNICIAN REPORTED THAT THE RIGHT FRONT AXLE ON MY KIA 2012 SORENTO IS LEAKING AND LOOSING GREASE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. FURTHERMORE, SHE TOLD ME THAT THIS PROBLEM TENDED TO OCCUR AFTER A NUMBER OF MILES HAD BEEN INCURRED ON KIA SORENTOS.

NHTSA #: 11240336
mediumPOWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE
Filed: Feb 2019

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.

NHTSA #: 11176439
mediumPOWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Feb 2019

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.

NHTSA #: 11174900
mediumPOWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
Filed: Oct 2018

I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR MY VEHICLE. I WAS DEPLOYED FROM 2013-2015 AND DIDN'T HAVE A PHYSICAL ADDRESS AND I WOULD LIKE TO GET THE ISSUE FIXED.

NHTSA #: 11143412
mediumPOWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
Filed: Aug 2018

CAR REPAIRED BY RECALL DUE TO NOISES IN THE MOTOR. MOTOR CHANGED. NOISES CONTINUED. CAR BROKE DOWN IN THE HIGHWAY. LOST POWER AND IT WAS IN FUMES AND SMOKE. LIVES IN DANGER. CAR TOWED TO KIA SERVICE IN LIBERTYVILLE , IL. STAFF INDICATED THAT PISTONS BLEW UP.. WHOLE MOTOR CHANGED AGAIN. AFTER THREE WEEKS CAR DID NOT WORK AT AND.. BROKE IN THE NIGHT WHILE MY WIFE WAS GOING TO TAKE CARE OF AN EMERGENCY CALL TO A HOSPITAL. KIA TOWED AGAIN. MOTOR CHANGED THIRD TIME. AT SERVICE SINCE JULY 19, 2018. IT HAS BEEN PROMISED TO BE DELIVERED TO ME AGAIN TOMORROW WEDNESDAY 8/14/208. FAMILY AND MYSELF AFRAID TO RIDE THE KIA SORENTO AGAIN. CAR WITH NOISES SINCE 2016. THEY HAVE BEEN USING REBUILT PART TO CHANGE THE MOTOR. CURRENT MILES 82,000.

NHTSA #: 11119874
mediumPOWER TRAIN
Filed: Jul 2018

CAR CAN SHIFT OUT OF PARK WITHOUT BREAKS BEING ENGAGED. I CAN MOVE MY GEAR SHIFT INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE WITHOUT PUSHING MY BREAK. THIS INCLUDES WITH MY CAR RUNNING OR NOT.

NHTSA #: 11114995
mediumPOWER TRAIN,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Jul 2018

MY VEHICLE IS CONSUMING OIL. EVERY 1000 MILES I AM HAVING TO TOP IT OFF TO KEEP IT FROM RUNNING DANGEROUSLY LOW AND SEIZING UP. THERE IS NO INDICATION OF A LEAK SO IT IS AN INTERNAL PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE IS ALSO SLUGGISH UPON ACCELERATION. SOMETIMES THE RPM GAUGE IS A ZERO WHEN I AM DRIVING AT 40 PLUS SPEEDS.. PRESENTLY I AM THE KIA DEALER IS CONDUCTING AN OIL COMSUMPTION TEST. I WILL UPLOAD RESULTS.

NHTSA #: 11112218
mediumPOWER TRAIN,ENGINE
Filed: Apr 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN EXTREMELY LOUD AND ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE AND ENGINE INDICATORS ILLUMINATED, AND THE VEHICLE DROVE ROUGHLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND 15V626000 (POWER TRAIN), BUT THE CONTACT HAD NOT RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA #: 11084913
mediumPOWER TRAIN,AIR BAGS,SEATS
Filed: Apr 2018

HELLO, I AM 2ND OWNER @51,000 K WITH NO KNOWN ACCIDENTS TO THIS SUV. FROM 51,073K I DISCOVERED THE 2ND ROW SEAT LATCH WAS FAULTY AND I COULDN'T FOLD THE SEAT DOWN. I HAD THE LATCH REPLACED AND IT WAS FINE AND ONLY USED IT ABOUT EIGHT IMES. THEN @ 68,000K FOUND IT WAS USING/ BURNING OIL. THE REPAIR COST QUOTED FOR THIS IS $3,600. EVER SINCE I'VE HAD TO ADD UP TO FOUR QUARTS OF 5W20 BETWEEN OIL CHANGES. AT 85,000K THE SAME SEAT LATCH QUIT WORKING AGAIN. I WAS QUOTED $110 FOR THE REPLACEMENT LATCH AND BOOK INSTALL CALLS FOR 3.1 HOURS EQUALLING CLOSE TO $340. ALSO FROM 87,000K TO CURRENT (116,007K) THERE HAS BEEN A SLURRY OF SEEMINGLY RANDOM ODDITIES: A) THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAS HAD FIVE GLITCHES. MOMENTS LASTING LESS THAN 40 SEC. WHERE ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS FLASH AND CHIMES SOUND, COMPLETELY OUT OF THE BLUE. IT HAS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING, WHILE PARKED BUT RUNNING AND WHEN STARTING AFTER GETTING FUEL. B) THE IGNITION SWITCH STICKS OCC. WHICH SOUNDS THE 'KEY IN' CHIME AND PREVENTS DOORS FROM LOCKING. C) THERE IS AN INSANE AMOUNT OF AIR FLOW COMING IN AROUND THE DOOR HINGE AREAS, CENTER CONSOLE/ ARM REST AND BENEATH THE SEATS; FRONT AND BACK. TEMPORARY FIX, IN THE IA WINTERS MY CHILDREN AND I HAVE BLANKETS OVER OUR LAPS AND BEHIND OUR LEGS...AND THE EXTRA WINTER GARM IS STRATEGICALLY PLACED TO TRY AND BLOCK AIR FLOW. D)THE MOTOR MAKES A PING/ KNOCK, METAL ON METAL SOUND @69K. FRESH TO 72HR OIL ITS FINE.E) THE DRIVER AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON @115,996K. I DROVE TO TOWN, 7.4 MILES, THE LIGHT WAS OFF, NOTHING WRONG. I PARKED, LEFT SUV RUNNING AT THE GAS, RAN INSIDE TO GRAB COFFEE AND DOUGHNUTS, CAME OUT LESS THAN FIVE MINS LATER AND SAW THE LIGHT ON. STAYED ON AFTER I BUCKLED. THANKFULLY IT'S NOT FLASHING, JUST ON, AS OF 7:36AM ON 3/31/18. PLEASE HELP. I'M ONE ADULT TRYING TO CARE FOR TWO KIDS. MY CHILDREN AND OTHER DRIVERS NEED BETTER SAFETY THAN THIS. THANK YOU

NHTSA #: 11082346
mediumPOWER TRAIN,SERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Jan 2018

WHEN YOU ARE SLOWING DOWN FROM ANY SPEED GREATER THAN 20 MPH TO MAKE A STOP, WHILE PRESSING THE BREAK THERE IS A CLICKING SOUND COMING FROM GEAR SHIFTER AREA. EVERY TIME WHEN UNDER APPRO 10 MPH THIS CLICKING HAPPENS. THIS HAPPENS EVERY DAY SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT IT.

NHTSA #: 11063839
mediumPOWER TRAIN
Filed: Dec 2017

I HAPPENED UPON THIS WEBSITE AND DISCOVERED THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL FROM OCTOBER, 2015 AND I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED. I READ TO FILE A COMPLAINT IF I HADN'T BEEN NOTIFIED.

NHTSA #: 11054024
mediumPOWER TRAIN
Filed: Jun 2017

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE IS LOCKED IN 4TH GEAR WHILE IN DRIVE. CAN NOT MANUALLY SHIFT UP OR DOWN.

NHTSA #: 11001619
mediumPOWER TRAIN,ENGINE
Filed: Jun 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE MOTOR SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN AND WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE SERVICED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND 15V626000 (POWER TRAIN), BUT THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RECEIVE THE REMEDY AND PARTS FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MEDVED KIA (11201 W INTERSTATE 70 FRONTAGE RD N, WHEAT RIDGE, CO 80033, (303) 421-0100). THE CONTACT WAS WAITING ON A RESPONSE FROM THE MANUFACTURER TO PROVIDE A REMEDY FOR THE TWO RECALL REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD RESPOND, BUT THE CONTACT HAD NOT RECEIVED THE REPAIRS SINCE JUNE OF 2016. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA #: 11000841
mediumPOWER TRAIN,ENGINE
Filed: Jan 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

NHTSA #: 10940101
mediumPOWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
Filed: Jul 2016

THE VEHICLE GROSSLY LOST POWER AND CAME TO A NEAR STOP WHICH ALMOST CAUSED COLLISION WITH VEHICLES TRAVELING AT SPEED LIMIT BEHIND ME. WHILE TRAVELING NORMALLY AT THE POSTED 55 MPH SPEED THE VEHICLE SLOWED IMMEDIATELY TO NEARLY MOVING. THIS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES WHICH I REPORTED TO THE KIA DEALER EACH TIME. THE DEALER DID NOT CORRECTLY DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM UNTIL AFTER THE THIRD REPORT.

NHTSA #: 10887898
mediumPOWER TRAIN
Filed: May 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A RANDOM PROGRESSING FAILURE IN WHICH THE VEHICLE RANDOMLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE PCM MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO MANUFACTURER RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V626000 (POWER TRAIN). THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE SAFELY DRIVEN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA #: 10865244
mediumPOWER TRAIN
CrashFiled: Dec 2015

ON AUGUST 23, 2015, A 2012 KIA SORENTO WAS PARKED ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND STATIONARY AFTER BEING INVOLVED IN A MINOR ACCIDENT. WITHOUT THE DRIVER'S KNOWLEDGE AND WITHOUT THE DRIVER TAKING ANY INTENTIONAL ACTION, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED OUT OF PARK AND INTO NUETRAL OR REVERSE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO MOVE BACKWARDS. AS IT MOVED BACKWARDS, IT KNOCKED OVER AND DRAGGED THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE, WHO AT THE TIME WAS STANDING NEXT TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE THEN STRUCK A PERSON STANDING BEHIND THE VEHICLE, PINNING THAT PERSON BETWEEN THE VEHICLE AND ANOTHER VEHICLE, RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURIES. THE CAUSE OF THIS INCIDENT APPEARS TO BE RELATED TO NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 15V626 FOR 2011-2013 KIA SORENTO VEHICLES INVOLVING WIDESPREAD FAILURE OF THE BRAKE-SHIFT INTERLOCK MECHANISM.

NHTSA #: 10811773
mediumPOWER TRAIN
Filed: Dec 2015

LETTER FROM SENATOR FISCHER ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT ASKING FOR ASSISTANCE WITH HIS 2012 KIA SORRENTO RECALL ISSUES AND CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT AS DESCRIBED IN THE ATTACHED EMAIL; ATTN: BRANDI MCCASLIN DIRECT RESPOND TO CONSTITUENT SERVICES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE NEAREST DEALER WAS THREE HOURS AWAY. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED COMPENSATION FOR TIME AND FUEL EXPENSES TO GET TO THE DEALER. RECALL # 15V626000. *JB

NHTSA #: 10826161
mediumPOWER TRAIN
CrashFiled: Dec 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE EXITING THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY INDEPENDENTLY CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO A FRONT GATE. THE CONTACT ENTERED THE VEHICLE AND DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM CONTINUING TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED LEG AND KNEE INJURIES THAT NEEDED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V626000 (POWER TRAIN). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE WAS 106,927.

NHTSA #: 10810148
mediumPOWER TRAIN,ENGINE
Filed: Nov 2014

VEHICLE BEGAN LEAKING OIL, OIL LIGHT CAME ON. REFILLED WITH OIL TO TRY AND FIND THE LEAK WITHOUT SUCCESS. MECHANIC FOUND A BAD OIL PRESSURE SWITCH. THE OIL POOLED UP IN A VALLEY IN THE ENGINE. THIS VALLEY HAD A MANUFACTURED HOLE IN THE TOP OF IT AND THAT'S WERE THE OIL WAS DUMPING OUT ONTO THE GROUND. MADE IT APPEAR THAT IT WAS A REAR MAIN SEAL LEAK. *TR

NHTSA #: 10658815
mediumPOWER TRAIN
CrashFiled: Oct 2014

MY 10-YEAR OLD SON, WITHOUT MY KNOWLEDGE, WAS PLAYING IN OUR 2012 KIA SORENTO ONE SUNDAY AFTERNOON. IT'S THE PUSHBUTTON START TYPE AND HE DIDN'T HAVE THE KEY FOB. THAT WAS IN THE HOUSE. REGARDLESS, WITHOUT THE CAR STARTED AND WITHOUT HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE, HE WAS ABLE TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE OUT OF PARK AND INTO NEUTRAL. BECAUSE THE SORENTO WAS PARKED ON AN INCLINE, IT BEGAN TO COAST BACKWARD DOWN THE DRIVEWAY. OUR SON TRIED TO PUT THE SUV BACK INTO PARK. BECAUSE IT WAS MOVING, HE WAS UNABLE TO DO THIS. SO, IN A PANIC, HE JUMPED OUT OF THE TRUCK AND TRIED TO STOP IT BY GETTING BEHIND IT AND TRYING TO SLOW IT DOWN. HE WAS UNSUCCESSFUL AND ENDED UP BEING CRUSHED BETWEEN THE SORENTO AND A TREE IN THE YARD. THIS RESULTED IN A HUGE LACERATION IN HIS KNEE, SERIOUS BRUISING TO HIS LUNGS, 4 CRACKED RIBS AND A CRACKED PELVIS. HE SPENT NEARLY 3 WEEKS IN THE HOSPITAL INCLUDING 10 DAYS IN THE PEDIATRIC INTENSIVE CARE UNIT AT CHILDREN?S HOSPITAL. AFTER THE INCIDENT, I TRIED TO RECREATE WHAT HAPPENED. I WAS ABLE TO SHIFT IN AND OUT OF PARK WITHOUT MUCH FORCE AT ALL. THIS IS WITHOUT A KEY FOB IN THE CAR, WITHOUT THE CAR BEING ON, WITHOUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, AND WITH THE DRIVER?S SIDE DOOR OPEN. OUR SON WAS VERY SERIOUSLY INJURED, BUT THIS COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE. *TR

NHTSA #: 10650090
mediumPOWER TRAIN,ENGINE
Filed: Aug 2014

WHILE IN REGULAR TRAFFIC WHEN GAS IS APPLIED, CAR WILL START TO MOVE FORWARD THEN ACT AS THOUGH THE MOTOR HAD BEEN TURNED OFF. IF YOU ADD MORE PRESSURE TO GAS PEDAL NOTHING HAPPENS, THAN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR WILL LURCH FORWARD AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED AS IF YOU HAD PUSHED THE GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR. THIS CONDITION HAS HAPPENED AS LEAST 40 OR MORE TIMES IN 14K MILES. THIS CONDITION HAPPENED AT LEAST 6 TIMES WHILE ON VACATION IN NV. WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN FROM A DEAD STOP, THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD, ALMOST CAUSING ME TO HAVE A HEAD-ON COLLUSION WITH ANOTHER DRIVER. I REPORTED THIS CONDITION TO KIA WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENED DURING SERVICE, AND THEY SAID THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. THE LAST TIME I REPORTED IT WHEN CAR WAS IN FOR SERVICE, KIA, KEPT MY CAR. THAT WAS ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO AND SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD TWO CALLS FROM THE KIA FACTORY, TELLING ME THEY WERE LOOKING INTO THIS ISSUE AND IF I HAVE ANY QUESTIONS I WAS TO GIVE THEM A CALL. THE PHONE NUMBER I WAS GIVEN WAS 1-800-333-4542 EXT. [XXX] AND MY CASE # IS [XXX]. AS TODAY AUG 4, 2014, KIA STILL HAS MY SORENTO AND I'M DRIVING THEIR LOANER CAR. " ALSO" MY WIFE WILL NOT DRIVE OUR CAR UNTIL THIS PROBLEM IS CORRECTED IN FEAR IT MIGHT HAPPEN TO HER. SHE WAS A PASSENGER IN A BAD ROLLOVER ACCIDENT AND HAS BECOME FEARFUL OF ANY CONDITION THAT'S OUT OF THE ORDINARY WITH A CAR. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA #: 10618792
mediumPOWER TRAIN,SERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Jul 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY SHIFTED INTO PARK. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT EXCESSIVE FORCE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO SHIFT INTO PARK ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. ADDITIONALLY, WHILE EXITING, THE VEHICLE ATTEMPTED TO ROLL AWAY AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,000.

NHTSA #: 10615421
mediumPOWER TRAIN,WHEELS
Filed: Jul 2014

FOR SEVERAL WEEKS A NOTICEABLE CLUNK IN REAR AXLE. OBVIOUS AT INITIAL START AND UPON DECELERATION FROM SPEEDS ABOVE 30. WHEN DECELERATING RIGHT AT 30MPH A CLICK AND CLUNK OCCUR. TOOK IT IN TO DEALERSHIP IN BRADENTON, FLORIDA, SUNSET KIA. THEY KEPT VEHICLE OVERNIGHT. I EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM WAS NOT NORMAL AND HAD ONLY RECENTLY BEGUN BUT WAS CONCERNED SINCE A MECHANIC FRIEND THOUGHT IT INVOLVED REAR AXLE. I INFORMED THE KIA SERVICE REP THAT A LONG TRIP THROUGH DANGEROUS WESTERN US MOUNTAINS WAS TO BEGIN SOON AND IT MUST BE SAFE. THAT DAY THEY CALLED AND SAID THEY DID TEST DRIVE COMPARING IT WITH ANOTHER CAR TEST DRIVEN AND BOTH DID SAME THING. THEY CONCLUDED THE CAR WAS "OPERATING AS DESIGNED." THE NEXT DAY WHEN I PICKED IT UP AND STRESSED THIS WAS NOT "AS DESIGNED" BECAUSE IT JUST BEGAN TO ACT UP I WAS TOLD THAT THE TECH FOUND "SUBTLE MOVEMENT OF EITHER TRANS MOUNTS OR DRIVE AXLES." THIS WAS ALSO NOTED ON MY RECEIPT FROM KIA. MY GOD THEY ADMITTED THE PROBLEM THEN WOULD NOT REPAIR IT! WHEN PRESSED AS TO THE SAFETY OF THIS CONDITION I WAS INFORMED BY DUSTIN HOFFMAN "WELL THE AXLE COULD FREEZE UP BUT JUST PULL OVER." I PRESSED "HOW CAN YOU DO THAT SAFELY ON A HIGHWAY DOING 70?" UNBELIEVABLE!!! WHEN PRESSED ABOUT HOW THEY COULD LET ME, GIVEN MY STATED PLANS, LEAVE IN A POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN THE REPLY WAS SIMPLY "THE TECH FOUND IT TO BE OPERATING AS DESIGNED." I NOTED MY OBJECTIONS ON THEIR BILL AND MY COPY. I ALSO NOTED THE TECH ONLY DROVE THE VEHICLE .02 TENTHS OF A MILE ACCORDING TO THE TRIP ODO. THE ONLY THING THEY FINALLY SAID WAS "THE TECH STARTED A SERVICE LINE." WHATEVER THAT IS. *TR

NHTSA #: 10607679
mediumPOWER TRAIN,ENGINE
Filed: Jun 2014

MY KIA SORENTO STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF ROAD WHILE CROSSING A STOP SIGN. THE ENGINE SHUTOFF AND ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE PANEL LIGHTED ON. THIS HAS NOW HAPPENED THREE TIMES. LAST TWO TIMES WE WENT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THERE ARE NOT ERROR CODES SAVED IN KIA SO THEY DON'T HAVE A PROOF THAT THIS CONDITION HAPPENED. THIS IS VERY SERIOUS. WE WERE LUCKY THAT THIS HAPPENED ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS WITH NO TRAFFIC. I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR BACK BY PUTTING IT IN PARKING BRAKE AND PRESSING THE START BUTTON AGAIN. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL OTHER POSTS WITH THE SIMILAR PROBLEM. I HOPE THIS IS THOROUGHLY INVESTIGATED AS DEALERSHIP IS NOT READY TO ACKNOWLEDGE OR TRY TO EVEN RE-CREATE THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA #: 10596302
mediumPOWER TRAIN,ENGINE
Filed: Mar 2014

MY 2012 KIA SORENTO COMPLETELY STALLED IN A PARKING LOT. I HAD JUST GOTTEN OFF THE HIGHWAY(SPEEDS OF 55-60) PULLED INTO MY JOBS PARKING LOT AND ALL THE LIGHTS ELECTRONICS STAYED ON BUT THE BRAKES LOCKED UP, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND THE CAR WOULD NOT DRIVE. PUT THE CAR IN PARK AFTER A FEW MINUTES AND IT TURNED ON FINE. NOW ITS AT THE DEALER AND THEY CAN NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND THE CAR IS DRIVING FINE. THEY CLAIM NO CODES ON DIAGNOSTICS AND SEE NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR AFTER TEST DRIVING IT. THERE WERE NO REPAIRS DONE ON THE CAR BECAUSE NOTHING COULD BE FOUND. THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE AND A WORRISOME ONE. LETS GET ON KIA ABOUT THIS TO SOLVE THE ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA #: 10574904
mediumPOWER TRAIN
Filed: Oct 2013

FOLLOW-UP: NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10544920 AFTER A SINGLE CONVERSATION WITH KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS, I WAS TOLD TO IMMEDIATELY CONTACT A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC. I CHOSE A NEW "CLOSER" DEALERSHIP THAT WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. STATED I HAD A KIA CASE #, I ARRIVED AND IN A LITTLE OVER AN HOUR, MY VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, THAT IS GREAT JOB ON THE TECHNICIANS PART, BUT THERE WAS NO DISCUSSION ABOUT WHETHER THIS IS A CHRONIC ISSUE OR NOT AND NO DISCUSSION OTHER THAN, THE "PIN WHICH HOLDS THE VEHICLE IN PARK WAS BROKEN". SOME BACKGROUND: I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE JULY OF 2011, HAD THE FIRST SHIFTER ASSEMBLY REPLACED DUE TO "BROKEN PART" IN MARCH OF 2012, NOW IN SEPT OF 2013, I HAD THE SHIFTER ASSEMBLY REPLACED AGAIN. BEFORE LEAVING THE PARKING LOT, I CALLED KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS AGAIN AND WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED TO SPEAK TO THE NEXT LEVEL UP KIA CONSUMER REP, BUT WHAT I WANTED WAS TO MAKE SURE MY VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE OFF THE LOT (MY CHILDREN REFUSE TO GET IN THE VEHICLE FEARING FOR THEIR SAFETY). THAT EVENING I RECEIVED A CALL AND THE GENTLEMAN WAS NICE AND APOLOGETIC, BUT NOT HELPFUL AND NOW MY CASE IS RESOLVED. I MENTIONED THE MULTIPLE SHIFTER ASSEMBLY REPLACEMENTS AND IF THERE IS A CHRONIC PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD I WOULD RECEIVE A FOLLOW-UP CALL, BUT NEVER DID. SEEMS LIKE A CHRONIC ISSUE THAT KIA NEEDS TO RESOLVE OR SOMEONE WILL SERIOUSLY GET INJURED IF NOT ALREADY. SO FAR, IT MIGHT BE EASY TO DETERMINE, BUT I AM NOT EVEN 30% SATISFIED WITH THIS VEHICLE AND IT WILL BE THE LAST KIA I EVER PURCHASE AND IT IS SAFE TO SAY THAT I DO NOT RECOMMEND THE BRAND TO ANYONE EITHER. I FEEL FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE A NEWER VEHICLE WITH A WARRANTY, BUT IF I HAD THE OPTION TO GET RID OF IT, I WOULD TODAY. SO FAR OVER THE 2 YEARS I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE, I HAVE HAD IT TO A DEALERSHIP FOR AT LEAST 6 DIFFERENT NON-RECALLED ISSUES AND HAVE LOST OVER 4 DAYS WORTH OF PAY...FRUSTRATING! *TR

NHTSA #: 10546712
mediumPOWER TRAIN
Filed: Sep 2013

PROBLEM: 7 YEAR OLD WAS ABLE TO PULL CONSOLE SHIFT LEVER ON AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WITHOUT KEYLESS IGNITION OUT OF PARK AND INTO NEUTRAL AND/OR REVERSE (WE DIDN'T TRY PULLING FURTHER DOWN THE SHIFT COLUMN) WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION/VEHICLE TURNED ON. THE VEHICLE ROLLED OUT OF OUR SLIGHTLY INCLINED DRIVEWAY, ACROSS THE STREET AND STOPPED RESTING AGAINST THE CURB ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD (DESPITE MY BEST EFFORTS TO STOP THE HEAVY VEHICLE AND LATER TO FIND OUT THAT THE PARKING BRAKE WAS ABOUT HALF WAY DEPRESSED, BY MY 7 YEAR OLD SINCE THAT WAS AS FAR AS SHE COULD PUSH IT). THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED AFTER RETURNING FROM GROCERY SHOPPING AND THE TAILGATE WAS OPEN ALL THE WAY WITH MY 5 YEAR OLD IN THE REAR CARGO AREA "HELPING" US WITH THE GROCERIES. LUCKILY NO BODY WAS INJURED AND NEIGHBORS HELPED STOP TRAFFIC AS I FRANTICALLY TRIED TO GET MY VEHICLE TO STOP AND MY CHILDREN TO SAFETY. I UNDERSTAND THAT I SHOULD HAVE ENGAGED THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE AND CHILDREN SHOULD NOT PLAY IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT OF A VEHICLE, BUT THIS INCIDENT HAS BEEN REPORTED BY OTHERS (AFTER SEARCHING THIS WEBSITE) AND NO MATTER WHAT AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION VEHICLE SHOULD NOT DISENGAGE FROM PARK, NO MATTER HOW HARD ONE PULLS ON THE SHIFT LEVER WITHOUT THE VEHICLE TURNED ON; A SAFETY MEASURE SINCE AT LEAST 1994 WHEN I FIRST STARTED DRIVING. I SHOULD ALSO NOTE, THAT WHEN THE BRAKE IS APPLIED WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION THERE IS A CLICKING NOISE THAT COMES FROM THE AREA OF THE SHIFTER ON THE CONSOLE, WHICH WAS REPAIRED ABOUT A YEAR AGO UNDER WARRANTY. I INQUIRED AT THAT TIME EXACTLY WHAT THE ISSUE WAS, BUT DID NOT RECEIVE AN ANSWER FROM THE DEALERSHIP'S SERVICE CENTER, ONLY I NOTICED THAT THE ISSUE WAS NO LONGER THERE. NOW THE ISSUE HAD REAPPEARED BEFORE THIS INCIDENT AND I HAVE NOT HAD THE TIME TO HAVE IT FIXED AGAIN, BUT WAS ASSURED THE BROKEN PART DID NOT AFFECT SAFETY, MAYBE.

NHTSA #: 10544920
mediumPOWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
Filed: Aug 2013

I AM BEYOND DISAPPOINTED IN MY 2012 KIA SORENTO. IT ALL STARTED WHEN MY SORENTO BEGAN TO VIBRATE WHEN TRAVELING AT INTERSTATE SPEED, THEN IT JUST LED TO MORE COMPLEX PROBLEMS. I CAN BE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT NORMAL INTERSTATE SPEED OF 70 OR GOING 50 AND IT WILL GO CRAZY MAKING UNUSUAL SOUNDS AND ALL THE LIGHTS START GOING CRAZY. THEN THE WHOLE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF. THIS IS VERY CONCERNING SINCE I HAVE A 2 YEAR OLD AND 1 YEAR OLD IN MY BACK SEAT AND IT ALWAYS SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHEN I AM IN A HIGH TRAFFIC AREA. I PURCHASED THE SORENTO BECAUSE IT IS SUPPOSE TO BE CONSIDERED A FAMILY VEHICLE. THAT'S ISN'T IT. I CAN BE TRAVELING IN TOWN OR WHERE EVER AND WHEN AT A YIELD ENTRANCE WAY I CAN PULL INTO THE MAIN ROAD AND WHAT DO YOU KNOW. THE SORENTO STALLS OUT. IT DOESN'T WANT TO INCREASE SPEED. THIS SAME THING ALSO HAPPENS WHILE I AM SPEEDING UP AS WELL. IT GETS UP TO 5RPM BEFORE CHANGING GEARS. I CAN'T LET OFF OR I WILL GET REAR ENDED. MY SORENTO ALSO HAS A HORRIBLE PULL TO THE RIGHT. I HAVE PUT NEW TIRES, HAD NUMEROUS ALIGNMENTS AND ALL. NOTHING HELPS IT. IT HAS NEVER BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENT WHATSOEVER, BUT IF THESE PROBLEMS KEEP UP THERE SEEMS TO BE ONE IN THE NEAR FUTURE. I HAVE ALSO TOOK IT TO SEVERAL DEALERSHIPS TO GET THE OTHER ISSUES CHECKED OUT BUT I GET THE SAME RESPONSE. "THEY NEVER CAN FIGURE ANYTHING OUT" I HAVE GOT SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE TO DRIVE IT AS WELL JUST TO BE SURE IT WASN'T THE WAY I DROVE. I AM TO THE POINT WHERE I AM TERRIFIED TO DRIVE IT AND ESPECIALLY ALLOW MY CHILDREN TO RIDE IN IT. I'M SURE ALL OF US WITH THE SIMILAR ISSUES ARE NOT IMAGING THINGS. I AM SO FRUSTRATED AND TO THE POINT I WANT TO CONSIDER A LAWSUIT BECAUSE I REALLY DON'T WANT A FATAL WRECK RESULTED FROM THESE MALFUNCTIONS TO FINALLY MAKE SOMEONE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THESE ISSUES. NOT MY FAMILY, YOUR FAMILY, OR ANYONE ELSE'S. PLEASE HELP US! OUR LIVES AND OUR CHILDREN'S LIVES ARE AT RISK! *TR

NHTSA #: 10537397
mediumPOWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
Filed: Jul 2013

WHEN I AM SLOWING DOWN TO AROUND 20 MPH, THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN. NO POWER, AT ALL. *TR

NHTSA #: 10532979
mediumPOWER TRAIN,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,STRUCTURE
CrashFiled: Jul 2013

MY 6 YEAR OLD CHILD GOT INTO THE VEHICLE TO GET A DRINK. SHE HIT THE GEAR SHIFT AND IT WENT FROM PARK TO GEAR AND ROLLED DOWN THE HILL UNTIL COMING TO A STOP BY HITTING A TREE. MY NEIGHBOR TRIED TO STOP THE CAR FROM ROLLING BUT HE COULD NOT GET THE DOOR OPEN BECAUSE IT LOCKED. MY CHILD WAS IN THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR AND THE KEYS WERE NOT IN THE IGNITION. KIA SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT THE CAR SHOULD NOT GO OUT OF PARK UNLESS THE KEYS ARE IN THE IGNITION AND THE BRAKE IS PUSHED. *TR

NHTSA #: 10532081
mediumPOWER TRAIN
CrashFiled: Feb 2013

MY WIFE PARKED CAR IN DRIVEWAY AND OPEN GARAGE DOOR TO TAKE TRASH OUT TO CURB. SHE LEFT THE CAR IDLING AND IN PARK. MY DRIVEWAY HAS SLIGHT INCLINE. IT TOOK HER ABOUT 3 TO 5 MINUTES TO BRING TRASH TO CURB. WHILE APPROACHING THE KIA SORENTO SHE NOTICED IT STARTED ROLLING DOWN THE DRIVEWAY. PANICKING SHE TRIED TO REACH IN AND KILL THE ENGINE. SHE WAS HIT BY DOOR AND KNOCKED HER ONTO THE DRIVERS FLOOR WITH HER FEET OUTSIDE THE CAR. SHE TRIED PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH NO LUCK SLOWING DOWN THE CAR. AS SHE GOT TO THE END OF THE DRIVEWAY THE CARS SPEED HAD INCREASED ENOUGH WHERE SHE COULDN'T HOLD ON ANY LONGER. SHE WAS THROWN FROM THE CAR INTO THE STREET. TAKE ONE STEP BACK NOW. WHEN SHE PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY SHE PUT THE CAR IN PARK ALLOWING HER TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. WHEN I GOT THERE AFTERWARDS NO ONE HAD TOUCHED THE CAR YET AND THE CAR WAS IN NEUTRAL. THE SORENTO HAD TO SLIP OUT OF PARK AND INTO NEUTRAL. REASONING IS BECAUSE 1) IF LEFT IN ANY GEAR OTHER THAN PARK DOOR WOULDN'T OF UNLOCKED. 2) IF LEFT IN GEAR THE CAR WOULDN'T OF STAYED IN ONE PLACE IN THE DRIVEWAY HILL FOR 3 TO 5 MINUTES BEFORE STARING TO ROLL. TRYING TO SEE IF ANYONE ELSE HAS HAD THEIR KIA SORENTO SLIP FROM PARK INTO NEUTRAL! PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE. *TR

NHTSA #: 10497876
mediumPOWER TRAIN
Filed: Jan 2013

I PURCHASED A 2012 KIA SORRENTO WITH 24 MILES ON 12/20/11. 10/24/12-I WAS DRIVING UP A HILL WITH A LINE OF CARS BEHIND ME AND STUDENTS WALKING BEHIND ME MY VEHICLE JUST STOPPED. I WAS FORCED TO BACK DOWN THE HILL. I HAD GONE TO VISIT MY SON IN COLLEGE AND AS SOON AS I GO THERE I HAD TO TURN AROUND AND GO HOME. I WAS 160 MILES FROM HOME AND DIDN'T WANT TO RISK BREAKING DOWN ON THE INTERSTATE IN THE DARK. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP 11/1/12-TRANSMISSION WAS INSTALLED-VEHICLE WAS KEPT A WEEK.OUR FIRST REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION. 1/1/13-MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING AND LOST ACCELERATION. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP. WEEK 1-OUR 2ND NEW TRANSMISSION INSTALLED. WE CALLED ABOUT VEHICLE AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY INSTALLED TRANSMISSION BUT THAT IT STILL WASN'T WORKING CORRECTLY AND THAT THEY WERE SPEAKING WITH THE MANUFACTURE. THEY NEEDED TO PUT IN A 3RD TRANSMISSION. ANOTHER WEEK PAST. END OF WEEK 2-STOPPED IN TO CHECK ON VEHICLE AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY NEEDED TO PUT IN YET ANOTHER TRANSMISSION AND THIS TRANSMISSION WOULD BE COMING DIRECTLY OFF THE MANUFACTURE FLOOR. ONCE COMPLETED THIS WILL BE THE 4TH NEW TRANSMISSION IN THIS VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP HAS HAD THE VEHICLE THIS TIME FOR 27 DAYS AS OF 1/29/12 AND IT'S STILL NOT FIXED. AFTER THE ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION THE FIRST TIME, I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THERE WERE ISSUES WITH TRANSMISSIONS IN THE 2011 KIA SORRENTO. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH THIS VEHICLE.THE DEALERSHIP HAS SPOKEN WITH THE APPROPRIATE PEOPLE AT KIA TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM NUMEROUS TIMES UNSUCCESSFULLY AND I HAVE LOST ALL CONFIDENCE IN THIS VEHICLE. I NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURE AND FILED COMPLAINT. 5 TOTAL TRANSMISSIONS AND OVER 30 DAYS IN THE SHOP..IT'S TIME FOR KIA TO STEP UP AND MAKE THIS RIGHT! *TR

NHTSA #: 10495160
mediumPOWER TRAIN,ENGINE
Filed: Jan 2013

I OWN A 2012 4 CYLINDER KIA SORENTO. I BOUGHT IT NEW IN NOV 2011. HAD IT ABOUT 8 MONTHS AND WAS DRIVING UP A HILL WITH TRAFFIC BEHIND ME AND IT JUST STOPPED....HAD TO LET TRAFFIC AROUND ME AND THEN LET OFF BRAKE TO COAST BACK DOWN HILL UNTIL I GOT TO A PLACE I COULD PULL IN. TOOK IT TO LOCAL DEALERSHIP...TRANSMISSION ISSUES-HAD TO GET NEW ONE...DEALERSHIP KEPT IT OVER A WEEK.LESS THAN 2 WEEKS LATER MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING UP A HILL AND AGAIN SAME TYPE OF PROBLEMS AND WAS TOLD BY DEALERSHIP I NEEDED ANOTHER TRANSMISSION....IT'S BEEN AT DEALERSHIP 1/2 A WEEK AND NOT SURE WHEN I'LL GET IT BACK. *TR

NHTSA #: 10491765
mediumPOWER TRAIN
Filed: Sep 2012

I OWN A TWO-WHEEL-DRIVE MODEL 2012 KIA SORENTO WITH A 2.4-LITER FOUR-CYLINDER ENGINE AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. IT HAS LOSS OF POWER DUE TO A SUDDEN FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION; AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DOES NOT CHANGE GEARS AND HAS A WHIRRING/WHINING NOISE. THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS CORRECTLY BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR. SHIFTING INTO 3 THE RMPS BEGIN TO INCREASE BEYOND NORMAL LIMITS AND SHIFTING INTO 4TH IS SO DELAYED THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO BE FAILING. AT 35 MPH, THE RPM'S RAMP UP TO 4500 AND CONTINUES TO CLIMB. BY 45 MPH IT CAN BE AS HIGH AS 6500 RPMS. THE SUSTAINABLE RPMS IN THIS VEHICLE ARE CONTINUOUSLY 3500 TO 4500 RPMS AND IS QUITE LOUD. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO MY LOCAL KIA DEALER 4 TIMES. ON TWO OCCASIONS, THEY KEPT IT FOR MORE THAN A WEEK AND ALWAYS TELL ME THAT THIS IS HOW THE VEHICLE IS DESIGNED AND THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. THE 4TH TIME IT WAS IN THE SHOP, ANOTHER 2012 SORENTO WAS BROUGHT IN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. TWICE THIS ISSUE HAS NEARLY CAUSED A WRECK WHEN I WAS PULLING OUT FROM A STOP SIGN, PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR, AND NOT HAVING THE POWER TO GET PAST 35 MPH; PUSHING THE RPMS TO 4500+. TRAVELING UP SMALL GRADES IS DIFFICULT AT BEST LET ALONE TRAVELING STEEPER HILLS/CRESTS AND GRADES. I FEAR THIS WILL CAUSE GREAT DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE OR WORSE, CAUSE A FATAL CRASH WITH ME AND MY CHILDREN. OTHER VEHICLES HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO MY LOCAL DEALER FOR THE SAME ISSUE AND I AM CERTAIN OTHERS ARE HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE. PLEASE REVIEW THIS ISSUE. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA #: 10474187
mediumPOWER TRAIN
Filed: Aug 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 45 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD NO LONGER ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE DEALER COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACT AND STATED THAT IF THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE A FAILURE THEN THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE TO THE CONTACT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

NHTSA #: 10469540
mediumPOWER TRAIN
CrashFiled: Dec 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY WITH THE ENGINE OFF WHEN IT ROLLED BACKWARD AND CRASHED INTO A NEIGHBORING HOME. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BEFORE SHUTTING THE VEHICLE OFF, HE WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT INTO PARK AND SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE WHILE IN DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE POLICE WERE CALLED AND A REPORT WAS FILED AND AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,500.

NHTSA #: 10440119
mediumPOWER TRAIN
Filed: Oct 2011

WHEN STARTING VEHICLE WITH THE START BUTTON, THERE IS A LOUD POPPING SOUND AND THE VEHICLE EITHER WANTS TO LUNG FORWARD OR BACKWARDS IN THE PARK POSITION, TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER THE FIRST TIME, I'M TOLD THAT UNTIL THEY ACTUALLY HEAR THE NOISE THEY CANNOT DETECT WHAT IS CAUSING IT SINCE NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON THEY DID NOTHING SINCE THEY DIDN'T HEAR THE NOISE. TOOK VEHICLE BACK SECOND TIME AS NOW THE SOUND IS GETTING LOUDER AND THE LUNGING IS MORE PROMINENT , AS THE SERVICE MANAGER WAS CHECKING THE VEHICLE IN SHE STARTED VEHICLE AND HEARD THE POP SOUND, SAID KIA PUT OUT AN UPDATE FOR A PART UNDER THE DEALERSHIP RECALL NUMBER SA087 AND THAT OTHER VEHICLE THAT WERE BROUGHT IN FOR THE SAME REASON WERE UPDATED AND THEY HAD NO OTHER VEHICLES COME BACK AFTER THE UPDATES INSTALLED. I WAS RELIEVED TO KNOW THAT FINALLY, SOMETHING WILL BE DONE, UNFORTUNATELY, I RECEIVED THE VEHICLE BACK AFTER THE UPDATE AND IT IS STILL DOING THE SAME THING. IT DOES NOT DO THIS EVERY TIME I START THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER, IT IS PLAYING ON MY NERVES EVERY TIME I GO TO START IT I CLOSE MY EYES AND PRAY IT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN, IT DID AND STILL DOES. I DID FILE A CASE DIRECTLY WITH KIA DIRECT WHEREAS THEY ARE MONITORING IT, I SAW WHERE THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM. YOU PURCHASE A BRAND NEW VEHICLE ASSUMING YOU HAVE PEACE OF MIND AND I AM SCARED TO EVEN GET IN THIS VEHICLE. CALLED THE DEALERSHIP, AND WANTS TO SET UP YET ANOTHER APPOINTMENT, THIS IS A GREAT INCONVENIENCE, BACK AND FORTH ONLY TO BE TOLD THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING. *TR

NHTSA #: 10428112
mediumPOWER TRAIN
Filed: Sep 2011

2012 KIA SORENTO V-6 AWD VEHICLE SURGES EITHER FORWARD OR REVERSE DURING START UP AS IF ITS PARTIALLY IN GEAR. ONCE STARTED IT SEEMS TO BE FINE AND DRIVES NORMALLY. THE ISSUE WAS SPORADIC AT FIRST BUT IS NOW OCCURING ON A DAILY BASIS. THE DEALERSHIP WAS FIRST CONTACTED ON 8/27/11. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN IN ON 9/6/11 BUT WAS NOT FIXED AS THE DEALERSHIP WAS HAVING COMPUTER RELATED ISSUES. I HAVE NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING A RESPONSE FROM THE DEALER SINCE THEN! 9/28/11

NHTSA #: 10428534
mediumPOWER TRAIN
Filed: Aug 2011

I WAS STARTING OFF FROM STOP SIGN AND FELT AND HEARD A LOUD THUD FROM THE ENGINE AREA. IMMEDIATELY THE 2012 SORENTO LOST POWER AND WOULD NOT SHIFT. IT WOULD CONTINUE TO MOVE AT ABOUT 5 MPH. THE ENGINE DID NOT STOP. I STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND RESTARTED BUT WITH THE SAME SYMPTOMS. BEING VERY CLOSE TO THE DEALER, I TOOK IT IN. THE SALES DEPT HAS AGREED TO FIND ANOTHER VEHICLE AND REPLACE THIS ONE. I'M NOT SO SURE... *TR

NHTSA #: 10422390

Other 2012 Kia Sorento Issues