2013 Kia Sorento Seats Problems

Your driver's seat has broken welds connecting it to the base frame, and it's currently being held together with zip ties. This is a structural failure that needs proper repair. The seat will need to be re-welded or replaced to restore safe and proper operation.

The heated seats were turned on high. It was cold outside. Two hours later the occupant got out of the car and discovered blisters on leg from seat heat. Several large blisters from burns. The seat should not be hot enough to burn someone and cause blisters

Currently The KIA described above has a right rear seat that is not safely usable. The seat back does not smoothly unlatch from the upright position. When jiggling succeeds in unlatching the seat back allowing the seat back to go to the fold down position the latch jambs in that position. This jamming prevents rear seat passengers from safely riding in this seat or making use of the seat back to secure a child care seat. A Technical Service Bulletin issued by KIA describes the safety issue. I quote the bulletin. "The bulletin provides information related to some 2011-2013MY Sorento (XMa) vehicles, produced from October 26, 2009 to November 5, 2012, which may exhibit a concern related to the second row seats being inoperative or difficult to release. It is important to note that some amount effort is required to fold the 2nd row seats. To correct this condition, follow the service procedures outlined in this TSB 093( Rev 1, 08/22/2013). I refer to the table below for detailed information on each concern and the associated service procedure". To date I have approached my area Kia dealership and contacted Kia's Customer service 800 number but my concerns have fallen on deaf ears. It appears to me that lives and health could best be protected by considering this unsafe and common condition for a recall.

THE ENGINE HAS AN OIL LEAK AND NOW A CRACKED 4TH CYLINDER CAUSING A $638 BILL AT THE MECHANIC TO KEEP THE CAR RUNNING AT BARE MINIMUM. THE ENGINE WAS A RECALL REPLACEMENT AND I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE PART OF THE 12/2/2020 RECALL. THIS IS CAUSING HARDSHIP FOR MY FAMILY.

2 FRONT HEATED SEATS OVERHEATING. STARTED OVER 1 YEAR AGO. TAKEN IN TO KIA FOR CHECK, NO PROBLEM FOUND. OVERHEATING CONTINUED WHILE DRIVING OVER THE PAST YEAR. TAKEN FOR KIA SERVICE THIS WEEK. CORROSION IN WIRING OF PASSENGER SEAT. SEVERAL REPAIRS MADE TO DRIVERS SEAT. NO FIRE, BUT WAS A CONSTANT CONCERN.

THE LEVERS ON BOTH MY MIDDLE SEATS DO WORK, SO I CAN'T LAY MY SEATS DOWN OR GET IN THE THIRD ROW.

REAR SEAT STUCK. REAR PASSENGER SEAT LEVER HAS ALWAYS BEEN A LITTLE HARD TO ACTIVATE TO RAISE OR LOWER THE SEAT. IT TOOK A COMBINATION OF PULLING THE LEVER AND GIGGLING THE SEAT TO GET IT TO ENGAGE. THAT LITTLE TRICK RECENTLY STOPPED WORKING AND MY REAR PASSENGER SIDE SEAT IS NOW PERMANENTLY STUCK IN THE DOWN POSITION. I DID AN INTERNET SEARCH ON A WAY TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND FOUND MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS WHICH INDICATES THAT THIS IS A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM WITH KIA SORRENTOS. THEY'LL WARRANTY THE POWER TRAIN FOR 100,000 MILES BUT THIS SEAT ONLY MADE IT FOR ABOUT 50,000 MILES.

I PURCHASED MY 2013 KIA SORENTO IN 2014 WITH 15,000 MILES. THE 2ND ROW PASSENGER SEAT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FROM DAY ONE WITH GETTING STUCK IN THE DOWN POSITION. THE SEAT IS NOW COMPLETELY INOPERABLE AND PERMANENTLY STUCK/LOCKED DOWN AFTER I MOVED IT IN THE DOWN POSITION.

THE 2ND ROW RIGHT SIDE SEAT IS STUCK IN THE DOWN POSITION. IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN TOUGH TO MOVE UP AND DOWN BUT I THOUGHT IT WOULD GET BETTER AS WE USED IT. THAT SURE DIDNT HAPPEN! AS A FAMILY THAT USES THE 3RD ROW QUITE OFTEN I AM VERY UPSET TO SEE THAT THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE! THIS DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE AN EASY FIX AS SOME HAVE HAD THE WHOLE CHAIR REPLACED.

KIA SORENTO 2013 2ND ROW SEAT (PASSENGER SIDE) STUCK DOWN, THIS IS THE 2ND TIME I HAVE HAD IT FIXED. I BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW IN 2012, AND IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN DIFFICULT TO OPERATE, LEVER SOMETIMES WOULD FEEL STUCK. I WOULD HAVE TO SOMETIMES PRESS ON THE SEAT TO MAKE THE LEVER WORK, OR SHAKE THE SEAT WHILE PULLING ON THE LEVER. FIRST TIME IT BROKE WHILE TRYING TO PUT THE SEAT DOWN IT WOULD NOT GO DOWN AND FELT LIKE THE LEVER WAS NOT ENGAGED HAPPENED AT HOME DECEMBER 2015. I HAD IT FIXED ON FEB 11 2016 AT THE DEALERSHIP, AND IT WAS CONSIDERED UNDER WARRANTY. IT BROKE AGAIN A MONTH AGO AUGUST 2018 WHILE I WAS PARKED AND TRYING TO PUT THE SEAT BACK UP, IT WOULD NOT GO BACK UP. THE LEVER WOULD MOVE BUT IT DID NOT ALLOW THE SEAT TO GO BACK UP. I BROUGHT IT IN FOR AN ESTIMATE ON SEPT 6 2018. THE ESTIMATE SAYS "NEEDS LEVER, CABLES AND HINGES") $500 PARTS AND $300 LABOR. I SEE THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL KIA OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND WONDERING IF KIA IS RECALLING IT.

MY 2013 KIA SORENTO WITH A THETA 2.4 LITER ENGINE EXPERIENCED COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE AT 63,000 MILES; ON TUESDAY 3/21/17. WHEN MY ENGINE FAILED/HEARD LOUD ENGINE NOISES I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY I-10 NORTH IN TUCSON AZ RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, I HAD TO COAST OVER IMMEDIATELY TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY, VERY DANGEROUS LUCKY NO ACCIDENT. I UNCOVERED IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT KIA THETA 2.4 LITER ENGINE PROBLEMS. SPOKE TO KIA CERTIFIED MASTER TECHNICIAN; MORGAN THAT TOOK APART MY ENGINE FOR WARRANTY EVALUATION. HE SAID THEY HAVE BEEN SEEING THIS ENGINE PROBLEM; IT'S FAILURE OF THE #3 CYLINDER CONNECTING ROD, FEELS IT'S AN ENGINEERING MISTAKE, THE PORT SIZES FOR THE OIL FLOW ARE NOT SIZED PROPERLY, CAUSING INSUFFICIENT OIL FLOW OVERTIME AND COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE. MY ENGINE LOOKED BRAND NEW, THERE WAS NO SLUDGE BUILD UP, AND THE OIL PUMP LOOKED BRAND NEW AS WELL. I HAVE ATTACHED PICTURES FOR PROOF. THERE WERE VERY SMALL BRONZE COLORED METAL FLAKES IN THE OIL PAN; HE SAID IT WAS LIKE PANNING FOR GOLD IN THE OIL PAN. THE METAL FLAKE EROSION DIDN'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT THIS WAS SLOWLY HAPPENING WITH EVERY MILE BEING DRIVEN; THE METAL FROM THE CONNECTING ROD BEARINGS ERODED OVERTIME IN SMALL METAL FLAKES AND COLLECTED IN THE OIL PAN. I HAD PEORIA KIA IN PEORIA, AZ DO MY LAST WARRANTY INSPECTION & MAINTENANCE SERVICE/OIL CHANGE ON MY 2013 KIA SORENTO IN DECEMBER 2016. I ESPECIALLY ASKED THE SERVICE ADVISOR TO CHECK OUT EVERYTHING INCLUDING THE ENGINE BEFORE THE 60,000 MILE SECOND OWNER POWERTRAIN WARRANTY WAS ABOUT TO EXPIRED. KIA KNEW ABOUT THE NUMEROUS PAST WARRANTY CLAIMS ON THIS 2.4 LITER ENGINE, A QUICK OIL ANALYSIS WOULD HAVE SHOWN METAL DEBRIS PARTICULATES IN THE OIL, INDICATING A SERIOUS ENGINE PROBLEM DEVELOPING. THE METAL SHAVINGS COLLECTING IN THE OIL PAN THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DETECTED BEFOREHAND.

THE MIDDLE RIGHT SIDE SEAT IS DEFECTIVE - IT IS STUCK IN THE DOWN POSITION; THE DEALERSHIP SAID A CABLE BROKE AND THEY COULD NOT FIX IT AND IT IS $600 FOR A NEW SEAT. MY DAUGHTER SIMPLY TRIED TO RAISE THE SEAT; NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY. I SEARCHED SALVAGE YARDS TO FIND A REPLACEMENT AND FOUND OUT EVERYTIME A SORENTO ARRIVES AT THE YARD, THAT PARTICULAR SEAT IS SNATCHED UP. I'VE ALSO GONE ONLINE AND FOUND IT TO BE A CHRONIC PROBLEM - THE MECHANISM IS FAULTY AND THERE SHOULD BE A NO-CHARGE FIX FOR IT.

RIGHT REAR SEAT IS LOCKED IN THE FOLDED DOWN POSITION. IT WILL NOT RELEASE

SECOND ROW RIGHT PASSENGER SEAT HANDLE TO PUT SEAT DOWN GETS STUCK AND IS VERY HARD TO PUT BACK UP OR LAY IT DOWN TO ACCESS THE THIRD ROW.

THE SECOND ROW SEAT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE THAT IS SUPPOSED TO FOLD DOWN, USE A LATCH TO LET THE 3RD ROW PASSENGERS IN OR OUT OF THE VEHICLE , IS NOT WORKING LEVEL IS LOOSE FEELS LIKE IT IS NOT CONNECTED TO ANYTHING AND THE SEAT IS STUCK IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION. PASSENGERS IN THE 3RD ROW HAVE TO HOOP OUT THE BACK HATCH DOOR.

I HAVE HAD THE SECOND PASSENGER SIDE REAR SEAT LATCH REPAIRED 3X ALREADY. IT IS GOING IN FOR 4TH TIME NEXT WEEK.

REAR SEAT LATCH BROKE IN RECLINED POSITION ,HAS BEEN HARD TO OPERATE SINCE PURCHASED.IN DRIVEWAY WHEN INCIDENT OCCURED

REAR SEAT LATCH MALFUNCTION. THE SEAT IS STUCK IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION. THE LATCH DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. VERY INCONVENIENT WHEN THE WHOLE FAMILY IS IN THE CAR. KIDS FORCED TO ENTER AND EXIT THROUGH TRUNK. ANNOYING!! APPOINTMENT AT DEALERSHIP NEXT WEEK. HOPEFULLY THEY WILL FIX IT FREE OF CHARGE BECAUSE CLEARLY ITS A DESIGN FLAW.

THE SECOND ROW SEAT WILL NOT RELEASE.

THE LEVER TO FOLD DOWN THE SECOND ROW SEAT HAS GOTTEN STUCK SINCE I GOT THE CAR. IT WAS SO HARD TO OPERATE SOMETIMES THAT NO MATTER HOW MUCH FORCE YOU USE THE SEAT BACK LEVER WILL NOT RELEASE. THE DEALER IS TELLING ME THE GEAR THAT HOLDS THE SEAT IN PLACE IS NOT WORKING. THEY SAY MANY KIA SORRENTOS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. NOW THE SEAT IS IN THE DOWN POSITION AND I CAN NOT GET IT BACK UP. THE DEALER TELLS ME IT WILL COST $350 TO HAVE THE LEVER REPLACED EVEN THOUGH IT HAS NEVER WORKED. THE MIDDLE SAFTEY BELT HAS NEVER WORKED EITHER. EVERY TIME I TAKE IT TO THE DEALER THEY SAY IT IS FIXED. WHEN I GET HOME IT DOESN'T WORK.

PASSENGER SIDE 2ND ROW SEAT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO FOLD DOWN SINCE THE FIRST DAY I BOUGHT IT. NOW IT IS STUCK AND WILL NOT FOLD DOWN AT ALL. THE LATCH SEEMS TO BE BROKEN. MY KIDS WERE STUCK IN THE 3RD ROW SEAT UNTIL I COULD REMOVE MY BABY'S CAR SEAT BASE TO LAY DOWN THE DRIVER SIDE 2ND ROW TO LET THEM CLIMB OUT. HAD I BEEN IN A HURRY TO GET THEM OUT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN IMPOSSIBLE TO DO SO.

SECOND ROW PASSENGER SIDE LATCH TO RELEASE SEAT FROM FOLDED DOWN POSITION TO UPRIGHT POSITION STICKS AND IS IMPOSSIBLE TO REPOSITION SEAT BACK. THE SEAT IS NOW PERMENANTLY IN THE FOLDED DOWN POSITION AND I AM UNABLE TO USE THE SEAT.

THE SECOND ROW PASSENGER SIDE SEAT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO FOLD DOWN. I HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP 5 TIMES ALREADY AND IT IS STILL NOT FIXED. I'M ABOUT TO HAVE TO MAKE A 6TH TRIP. THIS CAN BE A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AS MY SON SITS IN THE THIRD ROW AND IF THERE'S AN EMERGENCY IT'S LIKELY HE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO FOLD THE SEAT DOWN TO ESCAPE THE VEHICLE. *TR

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