What 1,516 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Kia Sorento Phev

DRIVING DOWN HWY. O IN ORRICK MO WITH TWO OTHER PASSENGERS MY DAUGHTER 15 AND MY GRANDDAUGHTER 5. AROUND 5PM SATURDAY HUNE 2ND A SMELL OF SMOKE CAME THROUGH FRONT VENTS. AS I STARTED TO PULL OVER A SWOOSH SOUND CAME FROM THE CAR AND FLAMES SHOT OUT OF THE HOOD OF THE CAR. THEN FROM UNDER THE DASH INSIDE. THROUGH THE CAR IN PARK AND OPEN THE DOOR. RAN TO GET MY GRANDDAUGHTER OUT OF HER CAR SEAT AND A THIRD PASSENGER MY DAUGHTER GOT OUT OF THE BACKSEAT AS WELL. WITH IN MINUTES THE CAR WAS TOTALLY IN FLAMES.*DT VIN UNKNOWN. CONSUMER STATED SHE SUFFERED 2ND DEGREE BURNS. *JB

NHTSA ODI 11217527

'TAMARA RECALL' I WAS TRAVELING UP THE INTERSTATE SLIGHTLY UPHILL AT 55 MILES AN HOUR WHEN I BEGIN TO LOSE POWER\SPEED AND BEFORE I COULD GET IT TO THE SHOULDER IT LOST ALL POWER TO GATHER AND SMOKE STARTED COMING IN THE AC VENT WHEN I GOT IT STOPPED AND OPEN THE HOOD IT WAS BURNING AT THE BACK RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE MOTOR ON SOME WIRING HARNESS I WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT I LATER WAS TOLD THAT IT HAD THROWN A ROD AND WAS MOST LIKELY THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE

NHTSA ODI 11205122

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE SLIGHTLY UPHILL. AT ABOUT 55 MPH WHEN MY SORENTO BEGAN TO LOOSE POWER/SPEED. BEFORE I COULD PULL OFF ONTO THE SHOULDER SMOKE BEGAN COMING IN THROUGH THE A.C VENTS. WHEN I REACHED THE SHOULDER AND OPENED THE HOOD THE BACK RIGHT END OF THE MOTOR WAS ON FIRE FROM THE WIRING HARNESSES. I WAS ABLE TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. UPIN A MECHANIC LOOKING AT IT I WAS TOLD IT HAD THROWN A ROD AND MOST LIKELY THE FIRE.

NHTSA ODI 11205127

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE PRODUCED A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING 35-48 MPH, A DEER JUMPED OUT INTO THE STREET. THE CONTACT SWERVED AND CRASHED INTO A GUARDRAIL. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO FUCCILLO KIA (3900 STATE ST, SCHENECTADY, NY 12304, (518) 847-0800) WHERE THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE CONTACT SHOULD HAVE THE VEHICLE SERVICED AT THE DEALER'S COLLISION SHOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO HAVE THE BODY DAMAGE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ODI 11197364

2011 KIA SORENTO WAS PARKED IN THE ATTACHED GARAGE AT 7:30 PM. IT HAD A NEARLY FULL TANK OF GAS. NO PROBLEMS WERE NOTED. MY SON WENT CYCLING THE NEXT MORNING AT 5:30 AM AND RETURNED AT 7:30 AM. HE WENT INTO THE GARAGE TO TURN ON SPRINKLER SYSTEM. NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY WAS NOTICED. AT APPROXIMATELY 7:45 AM HE STARTED TAKING A SHOWER. A FEW MINUTES LATER HE HEARD A LOUD POP. THEN A FEW MINUTES LATER ANOTHER LOUD POP. THEN A FEW SECONDS LATER THE LIGHTS WENT OUT. THEN HE HEARD A LOUD BANGING AT THE FRONT DOOR. A MAN WAS YELLING THAT THE GARAGE WAS ON FIRE. MY SON AND ANOTHER YOUNG MAN WHO WAS RENTING ONE OF THE BEDROOMS IN THE HOUSE ESCAPED WITHOUT INJURY. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE BUT THE CAR THE ATTACHED GARAGE WERE COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE REST OF HOUSE SUFFERED EXTENSIVE SMOKE AND WATER DAMAGE. SEE ATTACHED PICTURE TAKEN AT 7:59 AM. GARAGE IS TOTALLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. FIRE INVESTIGATORS DETERMINED THAT THE FIRE APPEARED TO BE CENTER AT THE FRONT OF THE 2011 KIA SORENTO. THE CAR WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED. INVESTIGATORS HIRED BY THE HOME INSURANCE COMPANY WERE NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT COMPONENT IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FAILED AND CAUSED THE FIRE. NOT ENOUGH LEFT TO BE CERTAIN. KIA MOTORS USA HAS STONEWALLED US ALL THE WAY. THEY SENT PEOPLE TWICE TO MAKE SURE THERE WAS NOT SOMETHING ELSE IN THE GARAGE TO BLAME THE FIRE ON AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THE FIRE INVESTIGATORS MADE A DEFINITIVE DETERMINATION OF OF WHAT COMPONENT FAILED OR OTHERWISE HAD TO SAY IT WAS UNDETERMINED. THEY ALSO HIRED A LOCAL LAW FIRM TO OBSERVE ALL THE INVESTIGATION EFFORTS. INTIMIDATION AND STONEWALLING IS WHAT KIA HAS PROVIDED TO US. MY CONCERN IS THAT SOMEONE IS GOING TO HAVE TO DIE BEFORE KIA AND HYUNDAI ADMIT THEY HAVE DEFECT IN THEIR ENGINE MANUFACTURING PROCESS AND GET IT FIXED.

NHTSA ODI 11173061

RECALL!!!WHEN ACCELERATING MORE THAN 60-80 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE, THE ECO SENSOR LIGHT POPS ON AND MY SUV JERKS BACK THEN PICKS UP SPEED CAUSING THE BACK OF MY HEAD TO HIT YOUR HEAD RESTRAINT. IT IS VERY SCARY!!!!

NHTSA ODI 11157246

VEHICLES CAUGHT FIRE, HAD PULLED IN THE PARKING LOT AT WORK AND SMOKE BEGAN TO COME FROM UNDER THE HOOD ON THE VEHICLE. WITHIN SECONDS FLAMES HAD ERUPTED AND FRONT END OF CAR WAS COMPLETELY ENGULFED BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD ARRIVED. VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS.

NHTSA ODI 11133458

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY LOCKED UP(STOPPED) AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. SHE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THEN WITHIN MINUTES THE ENGINE WAS IN COMPLETE FLAMES. PRIOR TO THIS THERE WHERE NEVER ANY SIGNS OF THE CAR RUNNING OR DRIVING LIKE THERE WHERE GOING TO BE PROBLEMS. I'VE NEVER HAD ANY MECHANICAL ISSUES AT ALL ASIDE FROM THIS INCIDENT. THIS HAS COME COMPLETELY OUT OF NOWHERE UNEXPECTEDLY.

NHTSA ODI 11128568

AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 6 MILES TO A LOCAL STORE NEARBY AND BACK HOME AS I PULLED MY CAR INTO MY PARKING SPOT BLACK SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM THE HOOD SO I TURNED THE CAR OFF WAITED UNTIL THE SMOKE STOPPED AND LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD TO SEE IF I COULD TELL WHAT WAS SMOKING. EVERYTHING APPEARED FINE AND I MADE SURE TO CHECK ALL OF MY FLUID LEVELS AND OIL WHICH WERE ALL FULL. LATER THAT DAY MAYBE 4 HOURS LATER I DROVE ABOUT 15 MILES TO MY SISTERS HOUSE AND AGAIN AS I WAS PARKING MY CAR THE BLACK SMOKE STARTED AGAIN FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I PROCEEDED TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND LOOK UNDER THE HOOD AGAIN AFTER THE SMOKE CLEARED. LESS THAN 5 MINUTES LATER THE WAS A LOUD POPPING NOISE FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND BY THE TIME I RAN OUTSIDE TO SEE THE ENTIRE FRONT PART OF MY CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES HOWEVER THE WINDOWS WERE UP SO THE FLAMES WERE CONTAINED INSIDE THE CAR AND UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME MINUTES LATER AND PUT THE FIRE OUT AND I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED DUE TO THE FRONT TIRES MELTING FROM THE FIRE. I HAD IT TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I'D PURCHASED IT ONLY 5 MONTHS BEFORE AND LET THEM AND FINANCING COMPANY KNOW. NO ONE COULD EXPLAIN WHY MY CAR SPONTANEOUSLY COMBUSTED LIKE A BOMB WHILE PARKED AND TURNED OFF. I'M REPORTING THIS INCIDENT BECAUSE I DO NOT BELIEVE IT WAS A FREAK ACCIDENT I BELIEVE THESE VEHICLES SHOULD DEFINITELY BE INVESTIGATED BEFORE SOMEONE LOSES THEIR LIFE.

NHTSA ODI 11114289

THE ENGINE STARTED ON FIRE IN FEBRUARY 2018 AT THREE WEEKS TRYING KIA HELP ME FIX THE SEDONA IN FARMINGTON NEW MEXICO WE TOOK IT AND FIXED IT WHEN I WENT AND PICKED IT UP THE KEY IN FARMINGTON FIXED IT ENGINE WASN'T TIGHT THOSE BOLTS MISSING AND YOU MOVE THE CAR ON THE STREET IN THE SUV SHAKE AND RATTLE IN THE ENGINE SO I CALL KIA THE 800-NUMBER I SPOKE TO [XXX] HIS NUMBER IS [XXX] I HAD A HARD TIME WITH HIM TOO IT TOOK TWO MONTHS FOR THEM TO WORK ON IT NOW I'M TRYING TO GET MY MONEY BACK FROM RENTING A CAR I TRY TO TAKE IT BACK TO HIM BECAUSE THE ENGINE LIGHT WILL STAY ON MY GRANDBABIES ARE VERY SCARED TO GET IN THE VEHICLE I TOLD HIM HE SAYS GRADUALLY THEY'LL GET BETTER WELL ANOTHER WORDS HE DIDN'T CARE LESS I'M NOT SURE WHAT I SHOULD DO I HOPE THIS ONE SOMEONE FROM HERE CAN HELP ME MY NUMBER IS [XXX] MY NAME IS [XXX] ALBUQUERQUE NEW MEXICO THANK YOU PLEASE CALL ME BACK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI 11111767

MY KIA WAS BEING DETAILS, THE PERSON DETAILING THE VEHICLE GOT INTO THE VEHICLE. HE PUSHED THE START BUTTON DIDN'T START THE VEHICLE. HE STARTED IT BY INSERTING THE FOB IN THE CONSOLE. THE VEHICLE STARTED AT HIGH RPMS, DRIVER HAD HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE, PLACED THE CAR INTO REVERSE AND THE CAR EXITED THE GARAGE AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, DRIVER APPLIED BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKES THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK HE TRIED TO STEER THE VEHICLE AWAY FROM THE CREEK THE STEERING DID NOT WORK.. THE VEHICLE DID STOP AFTER IT CRASHED INTO THE CREEK THAT WAS NEAR THE BUSINESS. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURY TO HIS HEAD WHEN HE TRIED TO EXIT THE VEHICLE AFTER IT ENTERED THE CREEK. VEHICLE WAS PULLED FROM THE CREEK. DRIVER DID SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION AT A LOCAL HOSPITAL.

NHTSA ODI 11074522

WHILE RETURNING FROM MY AUNTS FUNERAL IN KANSAS, MAKING MY WAY TO GEORGIA. THE CAR BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN AND STOP, ON THE HIGHWAY. THEN IT CUT OFF, WOULDN'T START OR MOVE. THERE WAS THIS WHINING AND CLANKING SOUND, WHITE SMOKE AND FIRE SHOT OUT FROM UNDER THE CAR, AS I WAS TOLD BY A PERSON THAT WAS PASSING BY, HE STOPPED TO MAKE SURE THAT I GOT OUT OF THE CAR. IT JUST GOT TO 130,000 MILES. HAD IT TOWED TO A SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ENGINE WAS GONE.

NHTSA ODI 11073341

AFTER DRIVING 8 MILES TO MY DESTINATION I PARKED THE CAR AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. I IMMEDIATELY SAW AND SMELLED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I GOT OUT, CALLED 911, AND BEGAN TO SEE FLAMES. THE POLICE ARRIVED IN LESS THAN 5 MINUTES BUT BY THEN THE HOOD OF THE CAR WAS ON FIRE AND BY THE TIME THE FIREFIGHTERS ARRIVED THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY IN FLAMES. THERE WAS NEVER A WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD TO INDICATE ANYTHING WAS WRONG. WE ALWAYS TAKE IT IN FOR ALL ITS ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND CHECKUPS WITH THE KIA DEALER. IT WAS JUST INTO THE DEALER 2 WEEKS AGO.

NHTSA ODI 10991332

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT IT WAS LOW ON OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BEARING WAS FAULTY AND CAUSED AN OIL LEAK. THERE WAS SLUDGE IN THE MOTOR, WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPIAGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

NHTSA ODI 10971641

TL* THE CONTACT A CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED AND THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED INTO PARK. THE VEHICLE ABRUPTLY MOVED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO A CEMENT WALL. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE CONTACT SUFFERED INJURIES TO THE LEFT KNEE THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE DETAILS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,614. UPDATED 1/15/16 *CN; UPDATED 04/20/18*JB *CN

NHTSA ODI 10782936

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. UPON PULLING THE VEHICLE OVER, IT WAS FURTHER NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT A ROD FRACTURED INTO THE ENGINE AFFECTING THE OTHER COMPONENTS CAUSED A FIRE. ALSO, THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE PISTONS MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED BUT FURTHER EXTENSIVE DIAGNOSIS WAS REQUIRED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V388000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000.

NHTSA ODI 10694186

A VEHICLE ABRUPTLY STOPPED TO TURN LEFT AND I HAD TO SWERVE TO AVOID REAR-ENDING IT RESULTING IN HEAD ON COLLISION WITH A UTILITY POLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10676576

WHILE DRIVING ON LIGHT, NEW SNOW MY CAR HAD SUDDENLY SKIDDED SLIGHTLY, NO OVER-CORRECTING, I SIMPLY GOT THE CAR BACK IN CONTROL WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY SHOT FORWARD, STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND STARTED RACING DOWN THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE STREET INTO THE EMBANKMENT! I HAD PULLED THE CAR TO THE LEFT AND HAD THE BRAKES PUSHED ALL THE WAY DOWN (AND BOTH FEET INCLUDING ALL MY WEIGHT ON THEM) UNTIL MY CAR CRASHED COMPLETELY INTO A TREE! THE TIRES WERE STILL SPINNING WHEN THE CAR STOPPED AND MY FEET WERE ON THE BRAKES! IT WAS ALSO HARD TO GET THE CAR OUT OF DRIVE AND INTO PARK --- WHEN I WAS ABLE TO PUSH THE CAR INTO PARK I QUICKLY TOOK THE KEYS OUT. THE 2011 KIA SORENTO AND SUDDEN ACCELERATION SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM AND SHOULD SERIOUSLY BE LOOKED INTO. YES, I WAS INJURED AND THANKFULLY A TREE STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND NO ONE ELSE WAS HURT! *TR

NHTSA ODI 10663971

OUR KIA WENT UP IN FLAMES LAST SUNDAY. IT HAD BEEN IN THE SHOP ON THURSDAY BEFORE. HERE IS THE ARTICLE THAT GOT ME THINKING IT WAS UNDER A RECALL. HTTP://MONEY.CNN.COM/2010/09/03/AUTOS/HYUNDAI_KIA_RECALL/INDEX.HTM. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10661186