Equipment Problems of Kia Motor Sorento - part 1

Driving down the road and the left rear passenger window exploded. Shatters went everywhere all over the passenger in the back. I went online and looked and this is a hugh issue evidently with some kias. To me this is really serious issues that kia is completely ignoring. Someone will eventually get seriously injured bi the glass exploding like it does.

See all problems of the 2023 Kia Motor Sorento 🔎.

My 2019 kia Sorento suddenly began making loud knocking noises from the engine and immediately lost all acceleration while I was driving with my children in the car. The vehicle would not respond when pressing the gas, and the check engine light came on. This created a terrifying situation because I had no power to merge or move out of traffic, and I had my [xxx], [xxx] and [xxx] children with me. The engine now knocks severely and has almost no power at all. The oil level is full, so this is not due to low oil or lack of maintenance. This appears to be a sudden internal engine failure consistent with known kia engine defects involving rod bearings, timing issues, and loss of compression. I am reporting this because the vehicle is unsafe to drive and put my children at risk. Kia is refusing to cover the engine failure even though this matches the same symptoms seen in other kia engine recalls. I am extremely concerned that this defect could have caused an accident or left us stranded in a dangerous situation. I need this investigated as a serious safety issue. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

See all problems of the 2019 Kia Motor Sorento 🔎.

Warning lights on while driving. The emergency triangle, collison warning, break warning, both turn signals, and departure warning lights were illuminated. We were concerned of causing damage to the vehicle and pulled over. Dealer knows of issues in CA and az with other Sorentos. Dealer said it is due to camera overheating; the camera housing is metal and therefore causes this issue. No known fix and we are apprehesive to drive it. Kia customer care had no information and only said to go to dealer when lights are on so a code can be pulled. I believe the housings need to be replaced if that is the case and if there is a true issue with the vehicle I cannot distignuish between "camera" or mechanical when lights come on.

See all problems of the 2025 Kia Motor Sorento 🔎.

The contact owns a 2016 kia Sorento. The contact stated that after the vehicle was parked and turned off for approximately an hour, the vehicle was restarted and there was a knocking sound coming from the engine compartment. The contact continued driving and the knocking sound increasing in volume and frequency. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic and was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be repaired. The mechanic referred the contact to the dealer for assistance. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was informed that since the vehicle was not repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 22v703000 (trailer hitches); the dealer was unable to repair the engine ffailure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 119,000.

See all problems of the 2016 Kia Motor Sorento 🔎.

The horn isn’t making any noise at all. There were no warning lamps or messages, I didn’t know until I needed to use my horn.

See all problems of the 2024 Kia Motor Sorento 🔎.

I am writing to report a recurring issue with the center navigation and infotainment screen in my 2022 kia Sorento. The screen periodically goes completely black while I am driving. Occasionally, the display glitches before failing, while at other times, it goes dark without any warning. This is particularly concerning when I am relying on the navigation system for directions. I have previously taken the vehicle to the dealer, but they were unable to replicate the issue and therefore have not yet performed a repair.

See all problems of the 2022 Kia Motor Sorento 🔎.

My 2016 kia Sorento rolls out of park; I apparently have a Sorento that is "out of the date range" of the 2016 kia Sorentos that had a recall. This is not acceptable!!!.

Fire at the rear bumper of car.

Coolant empty, found overheating. Coolant refilled. No noticeable leaks. Mechanic found failure of thermostat. Replaced and car found to be overheating again. Coolant leaking into hood covering engine components.

My sunroof exploded.

The pearl white paint on the 2014 kia Sorento has delaminated and is coming off in large sections all over the car.

See all problems of the 2014 Kia Motor Sorento 🔎.

Today, may 12, 2026 at 12:10pm the panoramic sunroof spontaneously exploded. I heard some shacking sounds in the car, right as I was picking up speed on the freeway and then heard a bang above my head. Nothing had hit the car. It sounded like a balloon had popped in my ear. When I stopped the car 5mins later, I could see the glass was getting pushed out from the inside and then broke apart in the sunshade. I am my kids were not in the car at the time. It was above their car seats.

The backup camera on the trunk of the 2023 kia sorrento has fallen out. It is attached only by the wires. Apparently, my specific vehicle is not a part of the initial recall; however, the camera has fallen out and is now hanging. I do not feel as though I should be responsible for this repair as it is due to a manufacturing issue.

I am filing a safety complaint regarding my vehicle following service performed at a kia dealership. My vehicle was returned to me on April 25, 2026, after being at the dealership for approximately one week. When it was returned, it had missing bolts/screws that were not missing prior to the service visit and were not related to the reason I originally brought the vehicle in. The missing components create a safety concern, and I do not feel safe operating the vehicle in its current condition. This issue was reported immediately. My husband left a voicemail with the dealership (evans kia) reporting the problem, and I reported the issue to kia America that following Monday. Since then, I have made multiple attempts to resolve this issue through kia America. I opened a case on April 17, 2026, and have followed up several times. The case has been escalated multiple times (including April 22 and April 28). I was informed that kia America also reached out to the dealership, but despite this, I have not received any direct response from the dealership or instructions to bring the vehicle in for repair. Despite clearly stating that the vehicle may be unsafe to drive, there has been no urgency in correcting the issue. I am requesting that this matter be reviewed as a potential safety concern involving improper vehicle servicing and release of a potentially unsafe vehicle. I can provide photos and documentation showing the missing bolts/screws if needed.

On my way home Friday evening from work. After exiting the expressway , I made a right turn on the street going towards my house. My steering wheel locked to the right and almost caused me to run into another car. If I had not be driving slow than the speed limit or still on the expressway, this would have been a very bad accident, if not fatal! this is after the dealership made repairs on my vehicle and deemed it safe to drive.

This car has been at the dealership twice in not even 2 years. I've only had it not even 3 years. The check engine light comes on and starts shaking. In June of 2025, a tune up was performed due to a cylinder 4 misfire code. P030400 in April of 2026, the same exact thing happened. Dealership said misfire on cylinder 4. Loss of oil would cause the engine to lock up causing harm to me and other people on the road. I am constantly putting oil in this car!!.

Sunroof exploded when driving sounded like a shotgun. This is a known issue by kia. The glass blow upward.

I had got off work and got inside my vehicle,a 2026 kia Sorento and when I started my vehicle the back window sporadically shattered and I do have cctv of it as well.

The issue is the front grill design. Kia left the radiator completely exposed behind the grill with no protective barrier. Over time, dust, debris, and rocks collect and pass right through, causing serious damage to the radiator. Based on my experience and the experiences of hundreds of other owners, you will likely need to replace your entire radiator within the first three years of ownership. It is not covered under warranty. You will be expected to pay out of pocket in my case, $1,350, for damage caused by their faulty design. The "solution" owners are left with? going on amazon and purchasing a metal mesh grill guard to install yourself, just to protect a part that should have been protected from the factory. A consumer should not have to modify a brand-new vehicle to prevent a critical component from being destroyed under normal driving conditions. If the grill had been designed properly in the first place, none of this would be necessary.

I've never had a problem staying awake driving. I don't have this problem in my vehicles or other vehicles. Every time I drove the car. I could not stay awake. I ve driven the car about 5xs. I would fall asleep and not even realize it. Now fell asleep driving the car two nights ago. No warnings went off and I drove over one lane and off into the center medium. No lane change warnings went off. But I truly believe there's something more going on with the car that's making people fall asleep. My neighbor rode with me to the store in it (14 miles ) she was falling asleep. She wasn't one bit tired when we left my house. Once we got out of the car and we're changing the oil on it, we walked over to the store a couple blocks away. We were fine. Got back in the car. Started driving it home and both of us were falling asleep. There was something wrong with this car.

See all problems of the 2018 Kia Motor Sorento 🔎.

Shift arm gear stuck- unable to shift from park to drive to neutral, reverse, etc.

See all problems of the 2015 Kia Motor Sorento 🔎.

I own a 2015 kia Sorento with snow white pearl paint. The paint is prematurely peeling/delaminating from multiple areas of the vehicle despite normal maintenance and no accident damage. The vehicle was inspected by a kia dealership, and I was informed that the condition appears to be a paint defect rather than normal wear and tear. The paint failure is occurring in a manner consistent with numerous complaints from other kia owners involving snow white pearl paint adhesion failure. The peeling paint affects the appearance and value of the vehicle and continues to spread. In areas around the roofline/windshield pillars, exposed surfaces may also create long-term corrosion concerns and potential visibility/safety issues. Kia has acknowledged my complaint under case #26008837 but has not agreed to repair the defect. I am submitting this complaint because this appears to be a widespread manufacturer paint defect affecting kia vehicles with snow white pearl paint.

2023 kia Sorento rear camera mounting bracket broke. There was are recall sc280 in 2023. Rear camera recently fell out of housing unit and is hanging. Still under warranty, dealership and kia America refusing to cover and pay for issue. Want a new housing unit and brackets because it is similar to recall noticed.

The panoramic sunroof randomly exploded while driving down the highway. Nothing around us or above us to cause it. Myself, my [xxx] pregnant wife, and [xxx] daughter were in the car and had glass rain down on us after the very loud boom. We almost wrecked. The issue has not yet been inspected by the dealership but I understand this to not be uncommon. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

In September 2025, an authorized kia dealership performed recall sc284xm (hecu electrical short fire risk) on this 2012 kia Sorento. During the repair, the dealership disconnected the battery, resetting the pcm/ecu and clearing all obd-ii readiness monitors including the oxygen sensor monitor. Despite driving hundreds of miles afterward, the O2 sensor monitor has not reached a ready state. A malfunctioning or unmonitored oxygen sensor creates a direct safety risk — the pcm cannot properly regulate the fuel-air mixture, increasing the risk of catalytic converter overheating, engine damage, and potential fire. The vehicle cannot pass California's mandatory smog inspection and the registration has lapsed, forcing the owner to operate an unregistered vehicle or go without transportation entirely. The dealership has verbally confirmed this is a known model-year defect — the root cause is a software condition requiring a pcm reflash, not achievable through normal drive cycles. This is the second occurrence; the identical failure happened in 2022 after a prior battery disconnect on this vehicle. The vehicle is now held at the dealership 11+ days with no update, no loaner, and an ~$460 estimate for repairs caused entirely by kia's own recall service. A vehicle actively subject to a fire-risk recall (sc284) was returned to an owner in a condition where the engine management system cannot be properly monitored — compounding the original safety risk rather than resolving it. All this an yet a no no-cost remedy has been issued. This vehicle has been subject to five NHTSA recalls: sc200 (engine fire), sc147 (engine bearing), sc284 (hecu fire), sc172 (fuel pipe fire), and brake-shift interlock defect. Simultaneous complaints filed with kia consumer affairs and CA bureau of automotive repair (ref: xxx). Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

See all problems of the 2012 Kia Motor Sorento 🔎.

When I turned my car on and started to drive, an orange a popped up and started blinking. It looked like the automatic stop and start light. My car would not shift and I could not go above 60 mph. I had to turn my car off and turn it back on for it to stop doing what it was doing.

During my recent oil change, I was informed that the oil pan gasket appears to be leaking. I understand that this issue has been subject to prior investigations, and I am reporting it. .

See all problems of the 2021 Kia Motor Sorento 🔎.

February 23 2026: discoverd the rear window had imploded on its own overnight. Investigated with the neighbor's ring camera to see if there was suspicious activity overnight and found there was none. I had the glass replaced. I thought this was bizarre to have a window implode but didn't think anything else. March 17, 2026: driving home from an errand the rear window imploded again with the most impressive sound-like a gunshot- and the window bits sprayed inside the vehicle. The sound was so loud my ears rang for approx 2 hours afterwards. I have the repair people coming out again, but am working with the local kia dealership to source the reason for the issue. This is no longer a one-off problem, but a particular car defect. There have been no warnings or extreme weather temperature changes that could factor into the problem. The incidents are sudden and without warning or reason. I have photographs from both incidents.

I am submitting a safety complaint regarding a **2017 kia Sorento sxl** equipped with a **3. 3l lambda v6 engine**, which experienced **sudden and catastrophic engine failure** at approximately *,000 miles**. Prior to failure, the vehicle exhibited **progressively worsening engine knocking and vibration**, indicating internal engine damage. Despite these warning signs, the failure occurred **abruptly while driving at highway speed**, resulting in a **sudden loss of power**. This incident created an **immediate safety hazard**, as I was traveling in active traffic and was forced to quickly maneuver to avoid surrounding vehicles. The unexpected loss of propulsion significantly increased the risk of a collision. The nature of the failure appears to be consistent with **internal engine component failure (such as connecting rod bearing failure)**, which is not typical for a properly maintained modern engine at this mileage. Importantly, my vehicle was manufactured in **November 2016**, placing it within an early production period for this engine. There is evidence from technical service information and consumer reports suggesting a **pattern of premature internal engine failures** in this engine family, particularly involving * bearing wear leading to catastrophic failure**. This raises concern that the issue may represent a **systemic defect** rather than normal wear and tear. I am concerned that other vehicles with this engine may experience similar failures **without sufficient warning**, potentially resulting in dangerous driving situations, especially at highway speeds. I am requesting that NHTSA: • review this incident as a **potential safety-related defect** • evaluate whether similar complaints exist involving the **3. 3l kia lambda v6 engine** • determine if an **investigation or recall** is warranted I am able to provide supporting documentation, including maintenance records, diagnostic findings, and repair estimates upon request.

See all problems of the 2017 Kia Motor Sorento 🔎.

On [xxx] at [xxx] my vehicle caught fire while it was driving on [xxx] in new jersey. The vehicle had approximately 120,000 miles at the time. The fire appeared to start under the vehicle on the driver side. Prior to the fire, there was no issues or lights on the dash and nothing appeared while driving. The fire resulted in my whole car being totaled and towed away to a yard. I am concerned this fire may have been caused by a mechanical or electrical defect and poses a serious safety risk. I am requesting that this incident be reviewed and investigated for potential safety defects or recall. Name : [xxx] phone: [xxx] email: [xxx] address : [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

While driving on the interstate at 70 mph the front part of the panoramic sunroof exploded. There was no debris or road hazards that caused it.

Dear sir or madam, I am submitting a formal safety complaint to the national highway traffic safety administration regarding my kia Sorento. Over the past six months, this vehicle has required replacement of the engine, transmission control module (tcm), and the entire transmission. Although the engine and transmission were replaced at no cost to me, the extent of these major repairs within such a short period raises serious concerns about the vehicle’s overall safety and reliability. In mid-January, shortly after picking up the vehicle from the dealership following the transmission replacement, the vehicle suddenly stalled while I was driving through an intersection. The engine lost power without warning, leaving me stopped in active traffic. To get the vehicle moving again, I had to shift into park, turn the engine completely off, and then restart it before it would drive again. This unexpected loss of power in the middle of an intersection created a dangerous situation with oncoming traffic approaching. Thankfully, my children were not in the vehicle at the time. After repeated major component failures and this stalling incident, I no longer feel safe driving this vehicle. A vehicle that loses power without warning poses a serious risk to the driver, passengers, and other motorists. I respectfully request a thorough investigation into this matter, including whether there are known defects, recalls, or related complaints involving this model. I am prepared to provide repair records and documentation upon request. Sincerely, [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

This is the 4th time car is unable to start after being parked for one day and it had to be jump starting. At first I thought it was some accessory, specifically a dashcam and aftermarket ambient lights, so I disconnected both and I even turned off the wireless charging pad and disable the function to turn the lights on when doors open and it didn't help, dead car again after 1 day parked. Car was purchased new in August of 2025 and this issue started this past January coincidentally after an ota update in December. Today, I got the 12v battery tested at my local advance auto parts and battery health came out good, battery level was low (as supposed after a jump start) and it only recommended a recharge. So the issue lies inside the electrical system of the car and to my surprise this parasitic draw is not new, in online forums a lot of owners talk and complaint about this specific issue, even here I found a similar complaint and I wonder why there's not at least a technical bulletin from kia addressing this issue. Finding out the cause of the battery draining fast is imperative because if overlook this can evolve into something more serious because we don't know what it is that is "always on" drawing big amounts of power and can clearly be classified as a fire hazard. I remember having the same issue with my old car, a 2019 kia Sorento ex, and it was solved with a simple computer update (not the map or infotainment update), it was a firmware only available at the dealership. I just hope this could be the case this time and kia can respond in a timely manner to solve this issue.

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? —-the radiator how was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? ——possible fire and engine damage has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? —— dealer stated rock chip damage. Contesting as manufacturer defect. They should be a plate to protect from this. Advertisement show vehicles off road so how can a normal highway driving cause this type of alleged damage. Is there no manufacturer design to prevent this flaw. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? ——no were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? —— yes, warning message on 3/21/26.

Component/system affected: unknown – suspected fuel system or related component due to strong gasoline odor. Vehicle is available for inspection upon request. What happened: there is a strong gasoline odor specifically at the front driver’s side wheel well/tire area. The odor is also noticeable under the hood. The smell is present while the vehicle is parked (I had to move it out of the garage) and after driving. No visible fuel leaks or puddles have been observed under the vehicle. Safety risk: gasoline fumes create a potential fire hazard and pose a risk of accident. The odor is now also noticeable inside the vehicle, which increases concern for occupant safety. Confirmation by service centers: the problem has been reproduced and confirmed by independent service centers. Two separate auto mechanic shops inspected the vehicle and both confirmed smelling gasoline, but neither could identify the source of the odor or any mechanical defect. Inspections by others: the vehicle has been inspected by two independent mechanics only. It has not yet been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives. Warning lamps or symptoms: no warning lights or dashboard messages have appeared. The only symptom is a persistent gasoline odor. Timeline: the odor was first noticed on 02/19/2026 and has continued since that date. Vehicle information: 2020 kia Sorento VIN: [xxx] mileage: approximately 87,438 miles used for local commuting to work and school. Vehicle is garage-kept and receives regular maintenance at certified auto mechanic shops. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

See all problems of the 2020 Kia Motor Sorento 🔎.