Other Fuel System Problems of Kia Motor Sorento - part 1

I am submitting a formal safety complaint regarding my 2022 kia Sorento, which is experiencing a dangerous and recurring loss of engine power during acceleration. This issue presents a significant safety hazard, particularly during situations requiring immediate acceleration such as highway merging, crossing intersections, and passing traffic.

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Upper fuel pump module, on top of fuel tank, is leaking fuel from a crack in fuel pump port where fuel hose connects. Fuel can be seen on top of upper fuel pump module and can be seen leaking from fuel pump port, and can be seen on exterior of gas tank. Also fuel odors were present. This could be a fire hazard. The manufacturer issued TSB fue 064 for this exact issue for vehicles produced from March 31, 2017 through July 24, 2019. Local dealer will not cover the vehicle because it was manufactured in February of 2017. The vehicle has not been inspected by manufacturer, police, of insurance company. There were no warning lamps, messages prior to failure. The symptoms were fuel on top of module, fuel odor, and fuel stain on exterior side of fuel tank.

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The system that failed is the high-pressure fuel pump and the intake fuel pump. The fuel system pressure is too low, and the cold start fuel pressure is too high. This is defective because I purchased the car used in November 2023. The car is a safety risk as it stalled immediately yesterday while I was driving with my children and it began smelling like gas fumes from exhaust. The vehicle has been diagnosed by a certified mechanic at mike and nick's tires and services in canyon country, California no warning lights or messages appeared prior to the failure. The engine light came on as soon as the car began to stall and shake/lose power.

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Component: 2. 5l t-gdi engine failed completely at 102,971 miles, requiring full replacement (~$8,000). Vehicle available for inspection at [xxx] kia, [xxx] . Safety risk: engine lost power during normal operation. Sudden, uncontrolled loss of engine power creates a direct collision risk at highway speeds for the driver, passengers, and surrounding vehicles. Confirmed by dealer: mark kia performed a borescope inspection on April 10, 2026 confirming cylinder wall scoring, oil-fouled pistons, and worn honing patterns across multiple cylinders. Findings are consistent with kia TSB eng235 (January 2022), which documents a defective pcv check valve on 2021–2022 Sorento 2. 5t engines allowing oil to contaminate combustion chambers. Vehicle was serviced exclusively at mark kia for all 17 visits since 2021. TSB eng235 does not appear in any service record. Prior symptoms: no warning lamps or messages before failure. A certified 36-point inspection one week prior showed zero cautions. Spark plugs replaced at 74,534 miles (Jan 2025) were found fouled at ~102,000 miles, only 28,000 miles later — indicating silent, progressive oil contamination. The defect is undetectable by the driver until catastrophic failure. Kia America has not responded to two formal written dispute requests (case #xxx, April–may 2026). Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Timeline of maintenance & failure: • October [year]: I purc timeline of maintenance & failure: • October [year]: I purchased this vehicle. • February 11, 2026: I performed a full oil service (documented receipt attached). • April 3, 2026: while transporting my two grandsons—one of whom has autism—the vehicle suffered total engine failure while in traffic. • the safety defect: despite the engine running out of oil, the vehicle provided zero warning lights or signals. No "low oil pressure" light or "check engine" light ever appeared. This "silent failure" left me stranded in a high-risk traffic situation with a child who has special needs, as I had no warning to pull over safely. • April 8, 2026: the kia dealership confirmed the engine is seized. Improper handling of the claim: the dealership is currently refusing to honor warranty extension wty026 (15-year/150,000-mile oil pressure switch). Their refusal is based on an outdated service sticker in the window that is over 9,000 miles old, while they are ignoring my verified paper receipt from February 11, which proves the vehicle was serviced less than two months ago. The dealership is requesting a full breakdown (teardown) of the engine at my expense to determine the cause. It is my position that requiring a consumer to pay for a mechanical breakdown is an unreasonable barrier to a warranty claim—especially when they have not yet performed non-invasive diagnostic tests, such as a videoscope/borescope inspection, to check for the known oil pressure switch leak covered under wty026. Significant safety concern: the failure of the oil pressure switch (wty026) to trigger a dashboard warning is a critical safety defect. This failure led directly to a seized engine while I was transporting children. I am requesting that the department of transportation investigate this safety-system failure and that kia corporate override the dealership’s request for a consumer-funded teardown, given that I have provided proof of maintenanc.

On 3-21-26 I noticed the smell of gasoline after driving the vehicle. Upon inspection a noticeable fuel leak from the top of the fuel tank was evident from underneath the vehicle. Further inspection found fuel leakage at the fuel pump outlet line. After online research it was found that other vehicles of this type have hairline cracks on the fuel pump outlet causing fuel to spray out under pressure. Fuel pump assembly replacement has repaired the problem. No indication other than the smell of gasoline was noted at any time. This is a safety hazard that should be addressed ASAP. Part removed has only been inspected by me. Part is available. If I had not been diligent in addressing this problem the consequences could have been catastrophic. The fuel outlet on a high pressure pump should have never been allowed to be made of plastic. People's lives are at risk!.

Referencing report [xxx] we are having issues getting the fuel filling door to open. We have unlocked the car, several times, but it will not open. We had to pry it open so we could fill the tank and have left it open since as to not have the issue again. Part number in question - 81560r5000 there are other recalls on the car that we need to get taken care of. Is this another one in addition? information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

The issue appears to involve the electric oil pump and related components. My 2021 kia Sorento had a recall for the electric oil pump that was marked “completed” in January 2023; however, the dealership only performed a software update and did not replace any mechanical components because no fault code was present at that time. Beginning around October 2025, the vehicle started experiencing drivability issues including hesitation and bogging down when accelerating from a stop. A dealership representative later stated the electric oil pump and housing likely need replacement and that the transmission may also be affected. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. This issue creates a safety risk because the vehicle frequently hesitates or bogs down when attempting to accelerate, especially when pulling into highway traffic. When pressing the accelerator, the vehicle sometimes struggles to engage and move forward, which increases the risk of a collision. I brought the vehicle to kia of rbc and spoke with service advisor justin hawkins. At the time of inspection, the check engine light had turned off and I was told they could not diagnose or repair the issue unless the warning light was active. I was instructed to continue driving the vehicle until the light returns. During a later conversation, dealership staff indicated the electric oil pump and housing likely need replacement and that the transmission may also require replacement, but they could not confirm this without the warning light being present.

This has been occurring intermittently since my 2021 kia Sorento reached approx. 15k miles and now has 26,600 miles. There are no lights or indicators on the dash letting me know anything is wrong. When the vehicle is stopped at a traffic light or stopped in heavy traffic, the vehicle will start idling high and shaking and the engine will seize up. I am not able to steer, the brakes lock up, I cannot accelerate, all functionality is lost. The only thing I can do is put the vehicle in park (in heavy traffic) and shut the car off and wait a minute and turn it back on and it seems to reset itself. This is extremely dangerous for myself and my passengers (some of which are children) and can cause a serious accident. At no point should I ever need to be concerned with my vehicle seizing up in the middle of the road and having to park and restart my car. This has happened on several occasions already. I have taken my car to 2 separate kia dealerships to address this problem I have been experiencing. The first dealership failed to attempt to duplicate the problem and instead informed me the firmware update the performed from a previous recall should remedy the problem. It did not. Then I recently took it to another kia dealer in another state and explained the situation. I specifically asked them to take the vehicle for a test drive and they argued with me that my battery was low and needed to be replaced and it would not be covered under the warranty. I have been driving this vehicle for a while and it has been having this issue around 15k miles so I know it is not the battery. They totally disregarded the safely of myself and my family and only focused on making money for themselves. This is a serious safety issue with this vehicle and has continuously been swept under the rug by kia. Even the customer service is rude and I have reported this to them and asked for an escalation to their consumer affairs dept and have received no response.

I was driving everithing was normal but suddenly the light of the engine was on and the car lost power and the engine shut off everything happened in like one second, dont let me time or opportunity to think something safe, it was a lot of traffict on the street and the car behind almost crash on me. It was like a nigthmare.

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).

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Car would randomly stall and jerk while accelerating. Unsafe to drive. May cause accident. Having to constantly set hazard lights to prevent accident.

See all problems of the 2019 Kia Motor Sorento 🔎.

I am reporting a loss of propulsion event in a 2025 kia Sorento s awd. The vehicle experienced a sudden loss of drive power when pressing the accelerator. The engine did not respond normally and the vehicle entered a reduced power (limp mode) condition. Stopping in the middle of major intersections, [xxx] and then [xxx] and [xxx] at 4:30 pm. This vehicle is subject to recall 25v548 involving engine connecting rod bolts, which warns of possible engine damage and loss of propulsion. The dealership (gettel kia of bradenton, FL) stated they were unable to duplicate the issue. The recall language states that engine damage or loss of propulsion may occur and could create a safety hazard. This event occurred at approximately moving from a stop position to ? mph on [xxx]] with approximately 1,936 miles on the vehicle. As I drove it home it would disengage and reengage. I am concerned about the safety of continued operation given the recall notice and the propulsion failure experienced. VIN: [xxx] please advise. [xxx] [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

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The vehicle has less than 75k miles, and I am the second owner. I was driving, and the vehicle lost power. Creating a traumatic experience that could have been fatal. After kia had inspected the vehicle, I was informed that I needed a new engine and it would cost 8k or more, and my extended warranty would not cover it. Kia has current recalls for similar issues.

The fuel door actuator failed. The gas door would not open due to the actuator being seized shut, preventing access to the fuel tank. This vehicle does not have a manual release mechanism, so there was no alternative way to open the fuel door. The dealership confirmed the actuator malfunction. My family’s safety was put at risk because we were unable to refuel the vehicle. The incident occurred during extremely cold weather, with a windchill of approximately -8°f. Due to the inability to add fuel, we were at risk of running out of gas and losing heat in the vehicle, which could have resulted in a dangerous exposure situation. There were no warning lights or messages indicating a problem prior to the failure. The issue was first noticed when attempting to refuel and the fuel door would not open.

To the office of defects investigation, I am submitting this formal complaint regarding NHTSA recall 22v703000 (kia recall sc249) involving my 2020 kia Sorento (VIN: [xxx] ). This recall identifies a fire risk due to a potential electrical short in the tow hitch harness module. The recall notice specifically warns that a vehicle fire may occur while parked or driving. After receiving the recall notification, we made multiple attempts to schedule the required repair with pompano kia, the authorized dealership in our area. Despite repeated efforts, we were not provided with a confirmed repair appointment, and the recall remained incomplete. On [1-19-2026], before the recall remedy was performed, the vehicle caught fire while being driven on a highway in florida. The vehicle became fully engulfed and was declared a total loss. Law enforcement and/or fire services responded. The incident appears consistent with the fire risk described in the recall. Following the incident, we visited the dealership to report the fire and the unresolved recall. We were told the matter would be reviewed and that we would receive a follow-up call. No follow-up was received. Attempts to contact the dealership through publicly listed email addresses resulted in delivery failure notices. According to NHTSA records, this recall affects tens of thousands of vehicles nationwide. We are concerned about: • timeliness and availability of recall repairs • dealership accessibility and communication • risk to consumers when recall remedies are not completed before failure occurs we also attempted to consult several attorneys regarding this incident. We were advised that due to the volume of recall-related fire cases involving this manufacturer, representation may not be feasible unless severe bodily injury is involved. This further raises concern about the scale and seriousness of the issue. We respectfully request that NHTSA review: • whether recall 22v703000 is being remedied information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information.

I was driving my car on [xxx] and my car suddenly lost power and when I pressed the gas pedal the rpm quickly increased but the car was hesitating between gears and not engaging. Shortly thereafter a malfunction code showed up on my car screen along with an engine warning indicator. The code was dct p193b79. That code indicates a high pressure electric oil pump performance issue pointing to problems with the 8wdct; the same issue and symptoms associated with the recall bulletin for the 2021 kia Sorento transmission. When I brought it to ken gariff kia in phoenix arizona they stated there is no such recall for my vehicle with this problem and that since I have 76000 miles on the car it is not covered. I feel that this repair falls squarely within the scope of the recall for the kia transmission and would like it replaced at the manufacturers expense. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

I am submitting a complaint regarding a 2021 kia Sorento sx that experienced a premature and catastrophic transmission failure at approximately 76,000 miles. The vehicle developed loss of power, hesitation, and erratic shifting at low speeds (0–30 mph), creating a potentially dangerous condition when attempting to accelerate into traffic or cross intersections. A kia dealership diagnosed the issue as tcm code p193b79 and determined that the failure involved an internal high-pressure oil pump within the transmission, requiring full transmission replacement. This failure occurred despite proper maintenance and completion of kia’s sc250 software update, which appears to address transmission-related drivability concerns. My maintenance records confirm compliance with manufacturer recommendations. The symptoms and failure mode closely align with the type of transmission issues addressed in kia service campaigns and recalls (including scn-520), yet kia has refused to provide coverage or reimbursement, stating that my specific diagnostic code does not exactly match the recall criteria. As a result, I was forced to pay approximately $5,300 out of pocket for a full transmission replacement on a vehicle with relatively low mileage. This raises serious concerns that: * the underlying transmission issue may extend beyond the narrow criteria defined in the recall * software updates may not fully address an underlying mechanical defect * consumers may be experiencing similar failures without coverage additionally, the loss of power and hesitation at low speeds presents a clear safety risk, particularly in normal driving conditions. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate whether transmission failures in the 2021 kia Sorento are broader than currently recognized and whether affected consumers should receive expanded coverage or reimbursement.

While driving, have had the engine of my 25 Sorento hybrid stop working. An emergency notice comes on the screen (see photo) stating to pull over safely. The hybrid system error message has come on 4-5 times in the last month. The vehicle will not drive more than 15-20 miles per hour and has virtually no acceleration making it very dangerous to drive in or around high speed/traffic areas. Took it to a local kia dealership where I was told nothing was wrong and their only guess was that it was related to the battery and cold weather. The same messaged/incident has happened 2x since bringing it into the dealership. With the most recent being 1/22/26. Problem first arose on 1/9/26. There are dozens of reports of this in online threads over the past few months with kia hybrid engines.

Oil consumption, causing 8 spark plugs and dangerous driving. Refusing to cover under warranty.

My car having gas leak under hood. Strong gas smell comes from ac vent. Its a safety hazard.

See all problems of the 2014 Kia Motor Sorento 🔎.

2019 with 56,000 miles and the oil pressure sensor and the fuel pump need replacing. Both items should be considered part of the powertrain but of course they’re not. Called corporate but got the “there is no recall” monologue from their representatives. Needless to say, I won’t make the same mistake with my next purchase.

On 3 separate occasions, while idling, the engine will sputter as if it’s about to cut off. The rpm will rise and fall and the engine will rev up and down and finally it will quiet down. Once the light is green, it is able to drive as normal. At the next light the same thing happens and the engine revs up and down sounds like it’s about to die. At a certain point the car will lose propulsion,(hard to notice at first when it’s stop and go traffic) even with the pedal all the way down, making it difficult to drive at a safe speed. The car will operate this way in a very limited capacity w stuttered propulsion for a minute or two then a warning symbol and alarm sounds letting me know there is a safety issue with the hybrid system and to stop safely. The car then becomes completely unresponsive and you must stop immediately and shut the car off. Once restarted the car jolts back up and operates somewhat normally.

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Incident #1: [xxx] the vehicle would not accelerate after coming to a stop at an intersection. The vehicle would not exceed 20 mph with oncoming traffic from both the east and west as I was turning west from a north bound road. On coming traffic was traveling between 45 and 50 mph. I was clearly nearly broadsided. The car displayed flashing lights on the dash as I was attempting to accelerate. Depressing the accelerator did not increase my speed. The car kept at a 20 mph speed for the 1/2 mile I traveled to pull off the road in a safe location, causing traffic to be disrupted until I could pull off the highway I had the car towed to the kia of round rock dealership November 17th. The car remained at kia until December 3rd where they were unable to duplicate the problem. I requested the problem be referred to kia in California. Kia of CA was totally unresponsive when the problem could not be duplicated. Incident #2 [xxx] vehicle failed to respond to accelerate after stopping before attempting to enter a four lane highway. (no traffic was visible. ) the car would not accelerate more than 20 mpr, the speed limit was 55 mph. For the 1. 5 mile trip home, I turned on my hazard lights, kept to the right and flagged traffic around me. The car never exceeded 20 mph. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

See all problems of the 2023 Kia Motor Sorento 🔎.

While driving from phoenix to tucson in midday traffic, the vehicle displayed a "check transmission" error message. Immediately following this warning, the vehicle experienced a significant loss of motive power while navigating a busy intersection. The car would not shift gears appropriately to maintain speed or move out of the path of traffic, which created an immediate risk of a collision. I was able to avoid an accident, but the vehicle's inability to accelerate or change gears left me stranded in a hazardous location. Component failed: transmission/transmission control module. Safety risk: the sudden loss of power in an intersection put me and other drivers at risk of a high-speed side-impact or rear-end collision. Warning symptoms: the "check transmission" message appeared moments before the failure. Inspection status: we have had the recall taken care of on January 25 , 2023 with 8810 miles at peoria kia initially. The incident happened on December 6, 2025 and the vehicle was taken to royal kia on December 6, 2025 for inspection. ".

My vehicle has an ongoing acceleration problem that feels like the engine and transmission are not communicating correctly. There are times when the vehicle will not accelerate even though the rpms increase. Instead of picking up speed, it feels like the engine is pulling the vehicle back. This creates hesitation and uncertainty about whether the car will respond when I press the accelerator. This happens most noticeably at lower speeds (around 30–40 mph, often near 30 mph), where the rpms may rise on their own even if I am maintaining steady pressure on the gas pedal. It also occurs when I need to accelerate quickly — such as merging onto the freeway or joining the flow of traffic — and the vehicle feels like it resists gaining speed. Even when I press the pedal gradually and correctly, the vehicle struggles to accelerate and the engine revs without the car moving forward as it should. I reported this to the dealership. They ran diagnostics and told me no issues were detected. They also stated they cannot take action unless they can re-create the problem themselves. Because this does not happen every time, recreating it on command is very unlikely, leaving me without a solution. This is a safety concern because hesitation or failure to accelerate properly during merging or crossing traffic increases the risk of collisions. The problem remains unresolved.

The vehicle is a 2016 kia Sorento equipped with a 2. 0l turbo theta ii engine subject to the ksds (knock sensor detection system) safety recall. The original engine was replaced at approximately 70,000 miles under kia’s engine service program. The replacement engine currently has approximately 32,000 miles. The vehicle developed internal engine damage diagnosed by a kia dealership as a burnt exhaust valve. A burnt exhaust valve indicates abnormal combustion conditions such as lean operation, pre-ignition, detonation, timing deviation, injector malfunction, or lubrication failure. These are conditions the ksds recall was intended to detect and mitigate. Kia consumer affairs denied warranty coverage, stating that the extended warranty applies only to rod bearing failure and that no further escalation would be pursued. Kia consumer affairs declined to escalate the matter for district parts & service manager review and directed the owner back to the dealership. During the prior engine replacement, the dipstick was observed to be glued in place, raising concerns regarding oil level accuracy and lubrication integrity on the replacement engine. This complaint is submitted due to concern that a ksds safety recall-related engine failure involving abnormal combustion was not properly reviewed or escalated, and that recall procedures were not administered in accordance with their intent.

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I am submitting a formal written complaint to supplement my existing NHTSA safety report id 11702339 regarding a serious fuel system defect on my 2013 kia Sorento. My car began experiencing sluggish starting, sputtering during acceleration, stalling at stop signs and traffic lights, and a strong fuel odor. A check engine light subsequently illuminated, and due to safety concerns, the vehicle was towed to a kia dealership for diagnosis. The dealership confirmed and documented fuel leakage from the high-pressure fuel pressure regulator and fuel contamination in the engine oil. This defect presents a serious safety risks: increased risk of engine fire due to fuel leakage, unexpected loss of power while stopped or in traffic, and increased likelihood of a collision due to engine stalling. This vehicle previously had its engine replaced under a kia recall in 2020, making this failure particularly concerning. Fuel system failures and post-recall engine-related defects have been the subject of multiple kia recalls, service campaigns, and NHTSA investigations involving engine fires and fuel leaks. Despite the dealership's documented diagnosis and clear safety implications, kia consumer affairs denied recall coverage and refused to assist with repair costs, stating this is not a recall-related issue. The estimated repair cost exceeds $1,700, and the vehicle remains unsafe and undrivable. Given the confirmed fuel leakage, fuel contamination of engine oil, prior recall engine replacement, repeated stalling events, and kia's refusal to acknowledge responsibility, I respectfully request that NHTSA review this case as part of a potential defect trend, particularly involving high-pressure fuel system components on kia Sorento vehicles with prior recall engine replacements. I am submitting this complaint to ensure this safety issue is formally documented, investigated, and considered for further action to protect consumers. Thank you for your attention to this serious safety matter.

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I am reporting a safety defect on my 2013 kia Sorento (VIN: [xxx] ). Before the failure, the vehicle began experiencing sluggish starting, sputtering during acceleration, stalling when stopped at traffic lights or stop signs, a noticeable fuel odor, and eventually a check engine light. These symptoms increased over several days, and once the check engine light illuminated, we had the vehicle towed to a kia dealership for diagnosis. At the dealership, the problem was confirmed and reproduced by their technicians. They diagnosed: •fuel leakage from the high-pressure fuel pressure regulator •fuel contamination in the engine oil these components and diagnostic findings are available for inspection upon request. This issue poses a significant safety risk. Fuel leakage and fuel-in-oil contamination increase the potential for an engine fire, and the hesitation, sputtering, and stalling at intersections present a risk of unexpected loss of power in traffic, which could result in a collision. The vehicle previously had its engine replaced under a kia recall in 2020, and the current symptoms are consistent with known kia engine and fuel system defects addressed in past recalls and technical service bulletins. The vehicle has been inspected only by the dealership so far; it has not yet been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives. Kia consumer affairs has been contacted and is reviewing the case. I am requesting that NHTSA review this issue as a potential defect trend involving the high-pressure fuel system on this model, especially in vehicles with prior recall-related engine replacements. Documentation from the dealership, including the diagnostic report and repair estimate, is available upon request. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Check engine light came on indicating a problem with cylinder 4(p0304). Replaced all spark plugs and coil pack to no avail. Car still struggles to accelerate even though light has went out. Especially noticeable at higher speeds.

Car has sensor issues. It ran into pole and median after defective collision assist said sensor was blocked. Has emission leak. Second vehicle I had with that and they wont cover under warranty. Kia refuses to by back a car do not feel safe driving. They refuse to fix things under warranty. The refuse to do anything about sensors, says its the safety features and they cannot remove them. Only offered me 19k for car. Why would I be upside down for a car that was sold to me with safety features issues. .

Vehicle: 2016 kia Sorento, VIN [xxx] incident date: November 13, 2025 incident location: durham, nc (3828 guess rd) cause of loss: engine fire, confirmed by durham fire department report (incident #253663) as "originated from under the hood. " technical narrative & symptoms (critical for liability): I am filing this complaint to report a catastrophic vehicle fire that I believe is directly linked to multiple acknowledged manufacturing defects that create a fire risk in kia vehicles. Abs/traction control light warning (direct fire risk symptom): immediately prior to the loss, the abs and traction control warning lights were constantly illuminated. This is a known precursor symptom for the defective hydraulic electronic control unit (hecu) or abs module short-circuit, which has been cited in numerous kia fire recalls (e. G. , NHTSA 20v019, 20v519). The fire's origin under the hood is consistent with this component failure. Prior engine failures (systemic defect history): this vehicle has a history of catastrophic manufacturing defects: the engine assembly was replaced in 2023 due to the known theta ii rod bearing failure. The knock sensor was replaced in September 2025 as part of the ksds product improvement campaign, demonstrating the vehicle was still under active service for critical engine monitoring defects just weeks before the fire. Potential tow hitch wiring fire risk: the vehicle was fully engulfed, but the fire may also be linked to the defect cited in NHTSA recall 22v703 (tow hitch wiring harness short circuit, which also poses a fire risk). I require a full investigation into this defect leading to compensation for the total loss of the vehicle and consequential damages. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

My vehicle has a slow speed pick up and I’m getting code p0018 and has very rough idling !.

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There is a safety recall concerning fire hazard during normal operation. Kia is refusing to buyback the inoperable vehicle.

While on the road driving at 35 mph, the vehicle started to "bog" and losing power and/or acceleration. Had to immediately drive off the road as there were several vehicles behind. As soon as driving off the road, the vehicle died down and would not start again. The check engine light came on. After several minutes the vehicle started again and drove to a secure area to call the tow truck. If the vehicle died down while in traffic, it would have caused an accident involving several vehicles. If it happened on the freeway, it would have caused a "major accident". The vehicle was towed to the vehicle dealership. It was determined by the vehicle dealership that the "high pressure fuel pump" was faulty and had to be replaced. It took four (4) months for the replacement part to arrive. Another similar dealer said that there were "55 other vehicle owners" waiting on the same part nationwide. It must be an "inherent problem" with the high pressure fuel pump. After replacing the high pressure fuel pump, the vehicle was operating normally.

See all problems of the 2018 Kia Motor Sorento 🔎.