2017 Kia Sorento UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
My engine has given out on me on several occasions.
The horn on my Kia became very faint causing a safety risk as it was so quiet, that it was no longer a viable safety tool. At 57,711 miles. On 5/13/21 I paid a local certified mechanic to replace the horn. (I was informed there were actually 2 horns). My vehicle was purchased 10/8/16. Since it was under warranty, in June 2021, I provided KIA the receipt to get reimbursed for the horn replacement. After 5 months of my persistent communication with KIA, they denied reimbursement. Early on one of the KIA emails asked for proof of payment (which I provided) and it also stated reimbursements can take up to 60 days. I have the defective horns in my possession.
While driving with headlights in "Auto" mode the lights turn off randomly and stay off for up to 30 seconds. This can cause crash especially while driving at night on unlit roads and highways. This happened many times in 2018 soon after I purchased the car. I brought it to be serviced by Kia several times and it appeared that they had finally fixed the problem. However, over the years it has reoccurred many times and now happens frequently again. I know earlier versions of Kia have been recalled for this same problem but when my car was being serviced they said that my model did not have a recall for this problem. I have seen many complaints online for this same problem. This is a very dangerous issue and needs to be addressed in a Recall!!!
Oil coming out the exhaust
The contact owns a 2017 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while his wife was approaching at slow speeding into a carport when she depressed the brake pedal but the vehicle accelerated independently and crashed into the back wall of the carport. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The air bags did not deploy. The contact stated not one sustained any injuries or seek medical attention. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was still at the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 15,322.
When set in AUTO, the headlights will flicker, or turn on and off without reasonable changes in light or conditions that would cause this to occur. This happens at night or dusk, making it difficult to see the road, obstacles and other hazards, as well as making the vehicle difficult to see for other traffic. Adjusting the lighting manually on the stick switch to an ON position appears to restore functionality. This puts the driver and passenger at risk as well as other vehicles. I have not been able to have this reproduced by a dealer or service center. No inspection of the stick switch or electrical components has occurred however the lights have been confirmed to work otherwise by a service center. No warning lights or other indicators occur.
On multiple occasions, my headlights will change randomly. I keep my headlights on auto always. Last night (07/15) at 1130pm being the most recent incident, I was driving on a completely black road (no street lights for several miles) and my lights just shut off on me. Yesterday (07/15) this happened at least 6 times throughout the day, day and night. This has happened at least 20 times Since May 2021. I took my vehicle to the dealership but I was told they were unable to find the issue.
Steering began sticking at about 55K miles. Got worse over time. Causing difficulty with accurate lane changes or straight steering. Car has electric motor assisted power steering. Found multiple similar cases on line where solution was to replace entire steering column assy. Took car in to dealer (Peoria Kia, Peoria AZ) 15Oct2021. Dealer said had to replace entire column assy- steering. Was covered by 3rd party extended warranty on car, 2 months later, steering stopped working completely. We were able to get the car to the side of the street and stop. Had car towed back to Peoria Kia. They now report broken steering gear, which appears to be related to previous repair. Solution pending back ordered parts. Work order for first repair attached.
The paint off of my Kia Sorento is starting to peel off. I have seen videos where this flies off while driving in large and smaller pieces that can obstruct the drivers view or distract them while driving. If it were raining, it could damage the windshield while the wiper blades are running and the paint chips fly up on them. The vehicle is now more susceptible to rust causing the vehicle to be unsafe.
On 10/03/2021 I was driving on the freeway, when I heard a pop then a thumping sound. After pulling over, we discovered that the engine splash guard had come undone (again!!!) There were no indicators in the vehicle that this was about to happen. There was no debris on the freeway to have caused the shield to come undone. I believe that there is a definite manufacturing defect in this particular part, as this has occurred multiple times, always while driving on the freeway, and never with any associated cause. The only thing that I think is happening is that the bolts/shield are poorly executed and cannot withstand the wind speed when being driven (I was going around 70 MPH)
DRIVING AT ABOUT 75 MILES PER HOUR AND SUDDENLY THE HOOD POP OPEN FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO STOP ON TIME AND PREVENT SOMETHING MAJOR HAVE TO NOTE THAT THERE WAS NO TOO MUCH TRAFFIC.
In July 2019 as I was driving, the engine splash shield became loose on the drivers side of my vehicle and started dragging along the road. When I took my car to the dealer I was told that it wasn't covered under the warranty and that I must have driven over something to make it loose. I had NOT driven over anything. I ended up purchasing bolts to replace the loose portion of the splash shield. Then, in January 2020, as the car was driven again, the splash shield came completely off the vehicle. Again, there wasn't any object run over, it just came off. In July 2020, we had the splash shield replaced, as the serpentine drive belt had snapped and gotten caught in the engine. In May 2021, the bolts in the splash shield again came out, and the shield was dragging on the ground. Again, didn't hit any objects or run over anything. Replaced the missing bolts. Our safety was compromised when the shield came off completely and flew into traffic as we were driving. This was also a risk for other people. Then, due to the shield not being in place, and something caused the drive belt to snap and wrap up into the engine was a major safety concern, as I could have lost control of the car. The vehicle was inspected by the dealership, and also by another mechanic. There were no warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms other than what I described above.
VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY PARKED IN DRIVEWAY. REAR LIFT GATE WAS ACTIVATED BY OWNER WITH KEY FOB. GRANDCHILD RAN UNDER THE LIFT GATE. OWNER PULLED CHILD FROM REAR LIFT. GATE BRUSHED CHILD'S BACK AND CONTINUED TO CLOSE . OWNER THEN PLACED SEVERAL INAMINATE OBJECTS UNDER REAR OF CAR PROTRUDING FROM CARGO HOLD AND ENGAGED THE LIFT GATE. GATE CLOSED EACH TIME UNRESTRICTED TRAPPING THE OBJECT. CALLED KIA REPORTED PROBLEM.
I WAS DRIVING TO MY HOUSE FROM MY CABIN AFTER TWO HOURS OF DRIVING I WAS AT A STOPLIGHT AND THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON SO I DECIDED TO KEEP GOING AND TAKE THE NEXT EXIT TO SEE IF I NEEDED OIL..BUT I NEVER MADE IT. MY SON THANKFULLY ROLLED HIS WINDOW AND WAS LIKE MOM THE CAR IS ON FIRE, I THEN TRIED TO PUT THE BREAKS ON BUT THEY DIDN'T WORK SO WE SLOWLY COASTED DOWN TO ABOUT 10-20 AND I WAS LIKE GET OUT. SO HE JUMPED OUT THE MOVING,ON FIRE CAR. HE SUFFERED FROM ROAD RASH. LONG STORY SHORT BY THE FLAMES WERE SO BIG ON THE DRIVES SIDE THAT MY SENSES FINALLY CAME TOGETHER AND SLAMMED THE CAR IN PARK TO STOP IT AND I CRAWLED OUT THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. BY THE TIME THE FIREMEN CAME TO PUT OUT THE FIRE THE CAR WAS BASICALLY TO THE FRAME.
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY, WHICH WAS WELL PAVED, NO CONSTRUCTION IN THE AREA AND NO SEMI-TRUCKS NEARBY. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE LANE TRAVELING AT 70 MPH, WHEN I HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION WHICH SOUNDED LIKE A GUN SHOT. THE SOUND WAS SO LOUD, I THOUGHT I WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING AT A HIGH SPEED. FRIGHTENED, I GLANCED AT MY REARVIEW MIRROR AND SEEN MY REAR WINDOW WAS INTACT. THIS IS WHEN I SEEN PIECES OF GLASS FLYING BACK TOWARDS THE CAR BEHIND ME. I FINALLY REALIZED THAT IT WAS MY SUNROOF THAT HAD EXPLODED. I SLOWED DOWN AND MOVED OVER TO THE SLOW LANE. THE DRIVER THAT WAS BEHIND ME, PULLED ALONGSIDE ME IN DISBELIEF AS TO WHAT HAD JUST OCCURRED. AFTER REALIZING I WAS OK, HE CONTINUED ON HIS WAY. I PULLED OFF AN EXIT AND PARKED ON A STREET AND PHOTOGRAPHED THE SHATTERED SUNROOF. IT WAS IN THAT MOMENT I WAS THANKFUL MY WIFE AND KIDS WERE NOT IN THE CAR WITH ME OR THAT I WAS UTILIZING THE SUNROOF. IF THIS WAS THE CASE, THE GLASS COULD HAVE CAUSED SEVERAL INJURIES OR LED TO A MULTIPLE VEHICLE CRASH ON THE FREEWAY DUE TO THE GLASS FALLING DOWN ON TOP OF ME. AFTER TAKING SEVERAL PHOTOGRAPHS, I CALLED MY INSURANCE COMPANY WHO STATED I COULD FILE A CLAIM OR SEE IF THE DEALERSHIP WOULD TAKE CARE OF THE ISSUE. I DROVE TO THE DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AT, AND EXPLAINED THE TRAUMATIC EVENT THAT HAD JUST OCCURRED. THE KIA DEALERSHIP JUST INFORMED ME THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO AND COMPARED IT TO ME DRIVING OFF THE LOT AND RUNNING OVER A NAIL WITH MY TIRE. THIS RESPONSE WAS VERY FRUSTRATING AND I EXPLAINED TO THEM THIS WAS AN ISSUE THAT IS COMMONLY REPORTED ONLINE. AGAIN, I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO AND FOR ME TO FILE A CLAIM WITH MY INSURANCE. THIS WAS A SCARY SITUATION TO EXPERIENCE AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A RECALL OF THIS VEHICLE TO FIX THE ISSUE OR INFORM CONSUMERS BEFORE IT HAPPENS SO IT DOES NOT CAUSE ANY FUTURE INJURIES OR DEATHS.
WE WERE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY FROM NC TO VA AND THE SUNROOF EXPLODED. WE PULLED OVER BECAUSE WE WERE UNSURE WHAT CAUSE SUCH A LOUD NOISE ONLY TO SEE THE SUNROOF SHATTERED. IT WAS CLEAR NOTHING HAD CAUSED IT AND IT JUST EXPLODED ON ITS OWN. WE IMMEDIATELY TOOK PICTURES, CONTACTED KIA AND FILED OUR CLAIM WITH THEM. THEY'VE FINALLY COME BACK SAYING THAT SINCE THEY CAN'T ASCERTAIN THE CAUSE OF THE DAMAGE TO THE SUNROOF THEY'RE CAN'T TAKE RESPONSIBILITY.
MICHELIN PREMIER TIRES HAVE BEEN SHREDDING ON EACH TIRE, AT EVERY TREAD. TIRES ALSO MAKE HUMMING NOISE AND YOU CAN FEEL A ROUGHNESS IN THE RIDE. TIRES HAVE BEEN DOING THIS SINCE CAR PURCHASE. DEALER CONTACTED MICHELIN BUT THEY SAID NO RECALL AND ONLY OFFERED PRORATED DISCOUNT ON NEW TIRE PURCHASE.
JULY 20, 2019: CAR FIRE: DRIVING BACK FROM NEW JERSEY SHORE (65 MPH), 11:00 AM, 96 DEGREES, SORENTO ENGINE MADE A NOISE, AND I COULD SMELL SMOKE AND SAW WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. I GRABBED MY DAUGHTERS AND EXITED THE VEHICLE WATCHING THE ENTIRE SUV, AND ALL THE CONTENTS FROM OUR TRIP GO UP IN FLAMES IN LESS THAN 12 MINUTES. VERY TRAUMATIC FOR THE GIRLS AND ME.
MY CAR STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. EVERYTHING HAPPENED SO FAST, ONE SECOND THE CAR BROKE DOWN, NEXT SECOND CARS BEHIND ME ARE SLAMMING THE BRAKES AND SCREAMING AT ME. GOING TO TAKE MY CAR IN FOR MAINTENANCE LESS THEN ONE MONTH OF PURCHASING IT.
THE DOOR WOULD NOT CLOSE. THE LOCK WAS TRIGGERED SOMEHOW ONLY THE BACK PASSENGER DOOR. I COULD NOT UNLOCK OR CLOSE THE DOOR. IT HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 3 TIMES. MY SON WAS SITTING IN THE BACK SEAT AND THE DOOR WOULD NOT CLOSE AFTER HE GOT IN.
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, SUNNY DAY TODAY. I HAD MY 6 MONTH OLD BABY IN HIS CAR SEAT, WHEN I HEARD A HUGE EXPLOSION. AT FIRST I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. I LOOKED UP AND THE SUNROOF HAD EXPLODED. IT SOUNDED LIKE WHEN GLASS IS PUT INTO A FIRE THEN EXPLODES. MY SON WAS COVERED IN TINY PIECES OF GLASS. I LOOKED ONLINE AND DISCOVERED THIS HAS HAPPEN TO AROUND 150 OTHER DRIVERS SINCE 2012, BUT KIA HAS ISSUED NO RECALL OR WARNED ITS DRIVERS. THE EXPLOSION ALONE WAS ENOUGH TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, AND MY SON COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED. I HOPE KIA WILL TAKE RESPONSIBILITY SO NOTHING LIKE THIS HAPPENS TO ANYONE ELSE.
VEHICLES RANDOMLY DOES NOT WANT ACCELERATE. SEEM MOST OFTEN ON TURNS IN TO ON COMING TRAFFIC BUT NOT ALWAYS. SOME TIME'S IT IT WILL DO IT JUST GOING FORWARD. I HAVE ALMOST BE CREAMED TWICE BECAUSE OF THIS. TOOK IT TO DEALER. THE SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THIS HAS ALSO HAPPEN TO FIANCEE. THIS DANGEROUS AND UNACCEPTABLE.AND SO WHERE DO I GO FROM HERE?
WHILE DRIVING(60MPH) ON I10 WEST BOUND IN NEW ORLEANS, LA AT AROUND 7:45PM ON APRIL 18TH, 2018 THE SUNROOF OF MY 2017 KIA SORENTO EXPLODED. IT WAS A CLEAR EVENING AND ONLY A FEW CARS AROUND ME ON THE HIGHWAY. TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICES PARTS ASSOCIATE "IT WAS ROCK" AS IF HE WAS TRAINED TO AUTOMATICALLY SAY THAT WITHOUT EVEN LOOKING AT THE VEHICLE.
I'M REPORTING ON A SUNROOF THAT EXPLODED WITHOUT ANY APPARENT REASON. ON DECEMBER 29, 2017, MY WIFE AND I WERE RETURNING HOME FROM A TRIP IN OUR 2017 KIA SORENTO. (MILEAGE AT TIME OF INCIDENT WAS ABOUT 16,080) IT WAS PURCHASED NEW IN DECEMBER 2016. THE TIME WAS AROUND 10 AM, IT WAS RAINING AND ABOUT 37. THE HIGHWAY WAS BARE AND WET AND IN GOOD CONDITION ' NO POTHOLES OR ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE. WE WERE TRAVELING NORTH ON HIGHWAY 95 JUST NORTH OF LEWISTON, ID. THE POSTED SPEED IS 65 MPH AND THAT WAS THE SPEED I WAS TRAVELING. THERE WERE NO CARS WITHIN AT LEAST A HALF MILE IN FRONT OF US. THERE WERE NO CARS IN THE OPPOSITE LANES. THE UPHILL LANE WE WERE TRAVELING IN IS ACROSS FROM THE HILLSIDE WHICH IS ACROSS THE HIGHWAY TO THE WEST. THE HIGHWAY IS FOUR LANES WITH A MEDIAN AND JERSEY BARRIER. TO THE EAST OF THE LANE WE WERE TRAVELING IN, THE TERRAIN IS HILLY BUT NOT STEEP AND DOES NOT HANG ABOVE THE ROAD. (THIS IS TO ESTABLISH THAT THERE WERE NO AREAS WHERE A ROCK COULD RANDOMLY FALL OFF A HILLSIDE, BOUNCE UP AND FALL ONTO THE SUNROOF PANEL.) AT ABOUT 10:05, THERE WAS A TREMENDOUS NOISE AND INSTANTLY THERE WAS AN INITIAL RUSH OF AIR OUT OF THE CAR AFTER WHICH SOME BITS OF GLASS SHARDS CAME DOWN ON US. I COULD HEAR LARGE CHUNKS OF GLASS MOVING ALONG THE ROOF TOP TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND THE NOISE OF A SUDDENLY OPEN TOP. THE LINER WAS OPEN SO THERE WAS NO PROTECTION FROM THE GLASS OR THE ELEMENTS. I PULLED OVER AS SOON AS I SAFELY COULD TO INSPECT THE DAMAGE. I CLOSED THE LINER TO KEEP THE RAIN OUT, GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND STOOD ON THE DOOR JAMB TO GET A CLOSER LOOK. THE GLASS WAS POOCHED UP AROUND THE HOLE WHICH WAS ABOUT 2 FEET IN DIAMETER IN THE CENTER OF THE PANE. (THE PANE THAT SHATTERED WAS THE ONE THAT RETRACTS AND IS RIGHT ABOVE THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS.) WE LOOKED AROUND FOR GLASS AND THERE WERE JUST TINY BITS IN THE FRONT AREA.
ASSIST EMERGENCY BRAKING/FORWARD COLLISION SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK TO IDENTIFY, WARN OF POTENTIAL IMPACT, AND DOES NOT APPLY EMERGENCY BRAKING FOR ANOTHER VEHICLE OR PEDESTRIAN AT ANY SPEED AS DESCRIBED IN 2017 KIA SORENTO MANUAL. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT DISPLAY ANY WARNING THAT THE SYSTEM IS NOT IN OPERATION.
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Quick Summary
The 2017 Kia Sorento has 56 UNKNOWN OR OTHER complaints on file. 1 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.