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

WHILE BRAKING TO SLOW FOR A STOP SIGN, MY 2011 SORENTO TURNED OFF. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY AND THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. WE MOVED CROSS COUNTRY DAY AFTER THE DEALERSHIP RELEASED THE CAR. IN OUR NEW STATE, THE SORENTO SHUT OFF MULTIPLE TIMES, IN MULTIPLE LOCATIONS. IN TRAFFIC, IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, PARKING LOTS, ETC. THE CAR IS ALWAYS MOVING WHEN IT SHUTS OFF. I TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THEY FOUND NO ISSUES. I HAVE NOW, SINCE JANUARY 2013, TAKEN THE SORENTO TO THE DEALERSHIP FOUR TIMES. I AM TAKING IT IN TODAY FOR THE FIFTH TIME, AFTER THE CAR HAS SHUT OFF TWICE THIS PAST WEEKEND. THIS ISSUE HAS OCCURRED MORE TIMES THAN I CAN COUNT. I HAVE HAD A CASE OPEN WITH KIA, BUT THEY CLOSED IT AFTER THE DEALERSHIP COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. ON THREE OCCASIONS, I CAME QUITE CLOSE TO HITTING PEOPLE WHILE TURNING IN PARKING LOTS, BECAUSE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY GOES OUT WHEN THE CAR SHUTS OFF. THIS MORNING, THE CAR SHUT OFF IN A SCHOOL PARKING LOT DURING DROP OFF, WITH KIDS WALKING THROUGH THE LOT. IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10552712

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE DOES NOT WANT TO GO INTO/OUT OF GEAR. WHEN STARING IN THE MORNING, I OFTEN HAVE TO PUMP BRAKES, OR TURN CAR OFF AND RE-START IN ORDER TO GET THE CAR TO MOVE INTO REVERSE. ON ONE OCCASION, IT WOULD NOT MOVE OUT OF DRIVE AND INTO PARK. WHILE THIS HASN'T CAUSED ANY ACCIDENTS/INJURIES, IT COULD HAVE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. HAD MY TEENAGED DAUGHTER BEEN DRIVING IT AT ANY OF THE TIMES THAT THE VEHICLE DIDN'T COOPERATE AND MOVE OUT OF DRIVE, IT COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10505554

REVERSED CAR FROM MY DRIVEWAY. FELT AS IF I HAD CRASHED INTO SOMETHING (HEARD LOUD GRINDING SOUND). PUT THE CAR INTO DRIVE AND CAME TO STOP. UPON PRESSING THE BRAKES, FELT AS IF THE ABS HAD ENGAGED AND GRIPPED ALL FOUR WHEELS. HEARD LOUD GRINDING SOUND AND CAR JOLTED (AS BRAKES WERE PRESSED). I HAD MY FIVE YEAR OLD AND THREE OLD SONS WITH ME; THEY SCREAMED FROM THE JOLT. I SLOWLY RELEASED THE BREAKS AND APPLIED THE BREAKS AGAIN, AND SAME THING OCCURRED ONLY WITH LESS FORCE. TURNED OFF THE CAR AND CALLED FOR TOWING. ALSO, A HOWLING WHINING NOISE IS HEARD INSIDE THE CAR. THE DEALERSHIP HAD IT FOR TWO WEEKS, AND UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF THE FIELD ENGINEER THEY REPLACED THE TRANSFER CASE. THE HOWLING/WHINING NOISE CONTINUES. THE DEALERSHIP REALLY TRIED TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. THE MANAGER HERSELF TEST DROVE THE CAR AND ALSO HEARD THE WHINING/HOWLING SOUND. I DID CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER, BUT FRANKLY FELT DISAPPOINTED. I HAD ASKED IF ANYONE HAS CALLED IN WITH SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND WAS NOT GIVEN AN ANSWER. I FEEL UNSAFE AND VERY ANXIOUS ABOUT DRIVING THE CAR. THEY DEALERSHIP STATED THE BREAKS WERE FINE, AND THAT NO ERROR CODE WAS DETECTED. I WAS NOT GIVEN A DEFINITIVE ANSWER AS TO WHAT CAUSED THE BREAKS TO BEHAVE THIS WAY OR WHAT IS THE HOWLING NOISE THAT IS OCCURRING. THIS IS THE THIRD MAJOR ISSUE WE HAD WITH THIS CAR. I HAVE AN AWD VEHICLE AND THE CURRENT RECALL ONLY COVERS THE 2WD ISSUE (THAT ALSO HAS THIS HOWLING SOUND). I HAVE READ NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS IN WHICH OTHER 2011 AWD SORENTOS ARE HAVING SIMILAR ISSUES. PLEASE INVESTIGATE; SOMEONE COULD BE SERIOUSLY HURT OR WORSE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10503033

THIS IS APPROXIMATE FOR THE DATES BUT IF FURTHER PROOF IS NEEDED THEN I AM ON TOP OF IT! NOW MATTER AT HAND...I DROPPED MY 20011 KIA SORENTO BASE XL, AKA MS SILVIA, OFF TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP, ORIGINAL OWNERS OF MS SILVIA, FOR THE 2ND (SECOND) TIME FOR BRAKE ISSUES. 1ST (FIRST) TIME, AROUND 10-12 MS SILVIA GOT NEW CALIPERS AND MASTER CYLINDER AND THE DATE WAS ABOUT 2 (TWO) MTHS BEFORE THIS TIME, WHICH MS SILVIA HAS BEEN IN THE KIA HOSPITAL/SERVICE DEPT SINCE 12-21-12 FOR THE 2ND (SECOND) TIME FOR THE VERY SAME REASON... CALIPERS AND MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED. DEALERSHIP SAYS, "...BAD PARTS...." I AM VERY WORRIED SINCE A RECALL WAS ISSUED THROUGH YOUR ORGANIZATION BACK IN NOV 2010 FOR CALIPERS FOR THIS VERY MAKE, MODEL & YR, THIS WAS NEVER BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION, BY THE DEALERSHIP, TILL I DID SOME SNOOPING THIS TIME ON MY OWN. AND WOW... ALL I WANT IS A DEPENDABLE & SAFE VEHICLE TO CONDUCT MY LIFE. I AM IN FEAR THIS COULD HAPPEN AGAIN AND WONDERING IF OTHERS ARE SUFFERING IN SILENCE AND IF THIS NEEDS TO BE RESEARCHED AGAIN...PLEASE HELP ME IN THE MEAN TIME I AM LETTING MY CAR INSURANCE CARRIER KNOW ABOUT THIS ISSUE ALSO, JUST IN CASE MS SILVIA CAN'T DO WHAT'S REQUIRED OF HER FOR ME ON A DAILY BASES AND MAYBE INVOLVES OTHERS OF INNOCENCE.... I AM SCHEDULED TO PICK UP MS SILVIA UP TODAY...CROSSING MY FINGERS THAT MS SILVIA IS IN GOOD WORKING ORDER....HELP PLEASE... *TR

NHTSA ODI 10492225

I BOUGHT MY 2011 KIA SORENTO PREOWNED CERTIFIED CAR ON 12/07/2012, THE NEXT EVENING 12/08/2012 I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM TOWN AND ABOUT ONE BLOCK BEFORE I GOT TO MY RESIDENCE I HEARD A NOISE LIKE SOMETHING HIT THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR. I THEN TURNED INTO MY DRIVEWAY AND AS I BEGAN TO COME TO A STOP I REALIZED I HAD NO BRAKES IN TURN HITTING ANOTHER PERSONS CAR THAT WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY. 911 WAS CALLED BECAUSE MY SON AND MYSELF WERE INJURED, AS THE FIRE DEPARTMENT INSPECTED THE CAR HE FOUND ON THE DRIVERS FRONT WHEEL THAT MOST OF THE BRAKE HAD FALLEN APART, THE BRAKE FLUID WAS LOW ALSO, LATER ONE OF THE BRAKE PADS WAS FOUND ON THE ROAD NOT FAR FROM MY DRIVEWAY NONE OF THE OTHER MISSING PARTS WERE FOUND. I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO TALK TO KIA AND THEY DON'T SEEM TO CARE NOR HAVE THEY TRIED TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM AFTER A SOLID MONTH. TODAY WHEN I WAS LOOKING UP A PHONE # FOR YET ANOTHER KIA DEPT I FOUND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR 2011 KIA SORENTO FOR THE EXACT SAME THING WITH MY CAR. KIA'S "PREOWNED CERTIFIED" PROGRAM GUARANTEES THAT THE CAR WENT THROUGH A 150 POINT INSPECTION BRAKES BEING A TOP PRIORITY. ALL THEY WILL SAY IS THEY CAN FIX MY SMASHED CAR AND THAT'S IT, I WAS LEAD BELIEVE I WAS BUYING A "CERTIFIED 150 POINT INSPECTED" CAR WHICH WAS NOT THE CASE. THE CAR IS NOT SAFE I WANT WHAT I WAS TOLD I WAS BUYING. THANK YOU *TR

NHTSA ODI 10492038

I BOUGHT MY 2011 KIA SORENTO PREOWNED CERTIFIED CAR ON 12/07/2012, THE NEXT EVENING 12/08/2012 I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM TOWN AND ABOUT ONE BLOCK BEFORE I GOT TO MY RESIDENCE I HEARD A NOISE LIKE SOMETHING HIT THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR. I THEN TURNED INTO MY DRIVEWAY AND AS I BEGAN TO COME TO A STOP I REALIZED I HAD NO BRAKES IN TURN HITTING ANOTHER PERSONS CAR THAT WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY. 911 WAS CALLED BECAUSE MY SON AND MYSELF WERE INJURED, AS THE FIRE DEPARTMENT INSPECTED THE CAR HE FOUND ON THE DRIVERS FRONT WHEEL THAT MOST OF THE BRAKE HAD FALLEN APART, THE BRAKE FLUID WAS LOW ALSO, LATER ONE OF THE BRAKE PADS WAS FOUND ON THE ROAD NOT FAR FROM MY DRIVEWAY NONE OF THE OTHER MISSING PARTS WERE FOUND. I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO TALK TO KIA AND THEY DON'T SEEM TO CARE NOR HAVE THEY TRIED TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM AFTER A SOLID MONTH. TODAY WHEN I WAS LOOKING UP A PHONE # FOR YET ANOTHER KIA DEPT I FOUND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR 2011 KIA SORENTO FOR THE EXACT SAME THING WITH MY CAR. KIA'S "PREOWNED CERTIFIED" PROGRAM GUARANTEES THAT THE CAR WENT THROUGH A 150 POINT INSPECTION BRAKES BEING A TOP PRIORITY. ALL THEY WILL SAY IS THEY CAN FIX MY SMASHED CAR AND THATS IT, I WAS LEAD BELIEVE I WAS BUYING A "CERTIFIED 150 POINT INSPECTED" CAR WHICH WAS NOT THE CASE. THE CAR IS NOT SAFE I WANT WHAT I WAS TOLD I WAS BUYING. THANK YOU *TR

NHTSA ODI 10492039

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD FAILED TO ILLUMINATE, CAUSING THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD TO GO BLACK WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE GLOW PLUG. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. AN ENGINEER WAS REQUESTED TO FURTHER INSPECT THE VEHICLE HOWEVER, HE WAS ALSO UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. AFTER INSPECTION, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO OPERATE AS DESIGNED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD A SPONGY FEEL TO IT. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V599000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER) AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INFORMED HIM THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 42,000.

NHTSA ODI 10484958

MY BRAKES WILL GO TO THE FLOOR EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, SOMETIME THE CAR IS NOT RUNNING AND I JUST PRESS THE PEDAL TO START THE CAR, OTHER TIME THE CAR IS MOVING ALL I HAVE TO DO TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM IS PUMP THE BRAKE 1 TIME AND EVERYTHING IS FINE AGAIN. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALER TWICE FOR THIS PROBLEM AND THE LAST TIME THIS IS THE ANSWER I GOT.(KIA TECHLINE STATES THAT IT IS NORMAL FOR THE BRAKE PETAL TO TRAVEL TO THE FLOOR AT TIMES. TECHLINE STATES THAT AS LONG AS THE VEHICLE WILL HOLD STILL AND WILL STOP WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THIS IS NORMAL. PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE SYSTEM SEEMS GOOD. I HAVE CALL KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND I AM WAITING FOR A REPLY. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10483960

ATTEMPTED TO PARK CAR WHILE WAITING FOR A RELATIVE TO GET OFF WORK. CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT TO REVERSE OR PARK- NO FURTHER THAN NEUTRAL. WAS ABLE TO PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL AND BRAKE TO STOP CAR. AFTER DROPPING RELATIVE OFF AT HOME (HAD TO STOP CAR IN SAME MANNER AS ABOVE), HAD TO STOP IN A NEAR EMPTY PARKING LOT, AS I STILL WAS UNABLE TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE OR PARK. CONTACTED KIA DEALERSHIP BY PHONE AND WAS TOLD BY REPRESENTATIVE TO PUMP THE BREAK SEVERAL TIMES IN ORDER TO SHIFT THE CAR TO NEUTRAL/PARK. DID NOT WORK. WAS TOLD BY REP THAT THE BRAKING "SOLENOID" ? (SPELLING?) HAS MALFUNCTIONED AND THAT I SHOULD USE SOMETHING LIKE A SMALL SCREWDRIVER TO PUSH DOWN A BUTTON IN A SMALL BOX AT THE TOP RIGHT OF THE SHIFTER. FURTHER STATED THAT THIS WOULD RELEASE THE BREAK SO THAT THE CAR COULD BE PUT IN PARK. WAS TOLD THAT CAR WOULD NOW BE UNABLE TO BE TAKEN OUT OF PARK UNLESS THE SAME PROCESS WAS REPEATED. I'VE OWNED THIS VEHICLE JUST OVER 3 MONTHS. CERTIFIED PER-OWED. LESS THAN 34000 MILES. WILL ATTEMPT TO TAKE TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. UNAWARE IF SERVICE CENTER WILL REPAIR ON SATURDAY. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED, BUT IT WAS QUICKLY REMEDIED WHEN I CUT THE CAR OFF AND TURNED IT BACK ON WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE. THOUGHT IT WAS A FLUKE UNTIL TODAY. SHOULD HAVE KEPT MY 2006. THIS IS MY 3RD KIA. 1ST VEHICLE WITH AN ISSUE LIKE THIS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10483901

WHEN SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE, VEHICLE CLUNKS AND THEN JOLTS FORWARD. WHEN SHIFTING INTO DRIVE,VEHICLE WHINES, DOESN'T MOVE AND SO I THEN SHIFT BACK INTO PARK WHICH RESULTS IN CLUNKING NOISE. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES. I BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF MY DEALERSHIP ON 8/28/12 AND THEY COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM AT THAT TIME. I WAS ADVISED TO KEEP A LOG OF WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURS WHICH IS OFTEN BUT INTERMITTENT. JUST RECENTLY VEHICLE LOST POWER AT A STOP SIGN (HAD PLENTY OF GAS IN TANK) AND AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO KEEP IT RUNNING IT JOLTED FORWARD AND RAN FINE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10477987

THE INCLINE CONTROL LIGHT & THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON FOR NO REASON. I WAS PARKING MY VEHICLE ON A FLAT SURFACE AND WHEN THESE LIGHTS WERE ON I WAS UNABLE TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK OR REVERSE. I HAD TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. I THEN HAD TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, THE CONTROL AND TRACTION LIGHTS WERE NOT ON AND I WAS ABLE TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK. I WENT DIRECTLY TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT I MADE THE PURCHASE FROM AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT IN THE BRAKE LINE WHERE THERE IS A SHORT IN THE LINE THAT CAUSES THE COMPUTER TO THINK THE BREAK IS NOT PRESSED DOWN ENOUGH, THEREFORE CONFUSING THE COMPUTER INTO THINKING IT SHOULD APPLY THE INCLINE AND TRACTION CONTROL AND PREVENTS THE VEHICLE FROM BEING PUT IN REVERSE OR PARK. I WAS TOLD THAT BY TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF WHILE IN NEUTRAL LIKE I DID WILL SOMETIMES RESET THE COMPUTER. I WAS TOLD THERE IS ALSO A LITTLE BOX THAT HAS A VERY SMALL SLIT IN IT AND IF I COULD FIND SOMETHING TO FIT INTO IT THAT WOULD GO DOWN ABOUT 6 INCHES, THAT WOULD ALSO RESET IT. HOWEVER, THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF WHAT ONE WOULD USE TO DO THAT WITH. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO NEED TO FIX THIS VERY COMMON PROBLEM. I ASKED IF THIS WOULD EVENTUALLY MESS UP THE DRIVE SHAFT, COMPUTER SYSTEM, OR TRANSMISSION AND WAS ASSURED IT WOULD NOT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10476496

ON 9/19/2012 AT 12:17 PM I TOOK A FRANTIC CALL FROM MY WIFE. SHE HAD JUST STOPPED TO FILL UP WITH GAS, GOT BACK ON THE INTERSTATE AND SET THE CRUISE CONTROL AT AROUND 75 MPH. SHORTLY AFTERWARDS THE FRONT END STARTED SHAKING AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO LOSE SPEED. SHE SHUT OFF THE CRUISE AND WAS LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO PULL OVER WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. IT WAS ALREADY GOING OVER 80 MPH WHEN SHE CALLED. I TOLD HER TO STAND ON THE BRAKES-NO EFFECT. I TOLD HER TO PUT HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND TO PUSH AND HOLD THE START BUTTON FOR 10 SECONDS-NOTHING (THAT IS THE OVERRIDE TO GET THE CAR STARTED WHEN THE BRAKE SWITCH MALFUNCTIONS-WE HAD JUST HAD IT REPLACED AT THE DEALERSHIP 2 WEEKS PRIOR). I TOLD HER TO SHIFT IT INTO NEUTRAL-THE SHIFTER IS LOCKED IN DRIVE. I TOLD HER TO SHIFT TO A LOWER GEAR-IT WON'T MOVE. AFTER 4 MINUTES THE CAR WAS GOING OVER 85 MPH-I TOLD HER TO HANG UP & CALL 911 AS SHE COULD TELL THEM WHERE SHE WAS MUCH BETTER THAN I COULD. A FEW MINUTES LATER I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE HIGHWAY PATROL-THEY HAD 2 CRUISERS ON THE INTERSTATE WITH HER TRYING TO CLEAR TRAFFIC AHEAD OF HER. I ASKED IF THEY COULD GET A CRUISER AHEAD OF HER AND LET HER NOSE UP BEHIND IT AND THEN USE THE CRUISER TO STOP HER. EVIDENTLY THEY DIDN'T LIKE THAT IDEA OR IT IS AGAINST POLICY BECAUSE THEY NEVER DID TRY THAT. THE DISPATCHER HAD TO HANG UP TO CONCENTRATE ON THE SITUATION AT HAND. I NOW HAD THE DISPATCHER'S NUMBER SO I COULD CALL HER BACK. AT ONE POINT I CALLED BACK AND SUGGESTED THAT SHE ENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL AND TRY TO SLOW THE CAR WITH IT. MY WIFE DOES NOT REMEMBER EVER TRYING THIS. THIS WENT ON FOR ABOUT 45 MINUTES AT SPEEDS UP TO 119 MPH. AT THE END ONE OF THE OFFICERS TOLD HER TO PUT HER LEFT FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND PULL UP ON THE ACCELERATOR WITH HER RIGHT FOOT AT THE SAME TIME. SHE WENT FROM OVER 100 MPH TO UNDER 50 MPH INSTANTLY, LET GO OF THE PEDALS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10473983

WAS DRIVING ALONG AT ABOUT 35MPH AND NOTICED A VEHICLE TURNING IN FRONT OF ME. I BRAKE TO STOP OR SLOW DOWN AT LEAST. THE BRAKES FAILED COMPLETELY, NO BRAKES, DID NOT STOP VEHICLE. IT WAS LIKE THE ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM WAS TRYING TO WORK, BUT WORKED FAULTY, ALMOST IN A REVERSE FASHION. I PRESSED BRAKE PEDAL TO NO AVAIL, LIKE IT WAS SLIPPING, BUT NOTHING TO SLIP ON. LONG STORY SHORT I ENDED UP GOING IN THE DITCH TO AVOID RUNNING INTO THE VEHICLE. PREVIOUS TO THIS ABOUT 2MONTHS THE SHIFTER WOULD NOT GO INTO THE PARK POSITION, NO MATTER WHAT I TRIED, THANKFULLY I WAS NEAR THE DEALERSHIP. THEY REPLACED THE BRAKE CONTROLLER AND IT SEEMED TO FIX THE PROBLEM UNTIL NOW. FURTHERMORE, WHEN I GO AROUND A CORNER AT A REASONABLE SPEED THE ENGINE KILLS POWER FOR A SPLIT SECOND, AND THE ANTI-SWAY LIGHTS KICK ON. THIS SEEMS TO BE MORE OF A SAFETY CONCERN THAN A SAFETY FIX. I FEEL HAVING 3 SERIOUS POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING SITUATIONS IN THE LAST 3 MONTHS MERITS FURTHER INVESTIGATION INTO THIS MODEL OF KIA, BEFORE IT LITERALLY IS KILLED IN ACTION, KIA. I RECENTLY WATCH THE NEWS AND SAW A STUCK ACCELERATOR PROBLEM ON THIS MODEL AS WELL, HOPE YOU WILL TAKE ACTION. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10472767

MY HUSBAND WAS ON PRIVATE PROPERTY. HE GOT IN THE CAR, PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND BACKED UP. HE HEARD A LOUD POP. HE PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE, AND HIS FOOT WAS STILL ON THE BRAKE. THE CAR BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN WITH HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE UNTIL THE VEHICLE GOT UP TO 60 MILES PER HOUR. TRYING NOT TO HIT THE HOUSE, OR THE PERSON OUTSIDE OF THE PROPERTY HE MANEUVERED THE CAR INTO THE BACK YARD. THE CAR WAS STEADILY PICKING UP SPEED AND HIS FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE THE ENTIRE TIME. HE COULD NOT GET THE GEAR TO SHIFT OR THE BRAKES TO WORK. THE VEHICLE STRUCK A TREE AND THAT IMPEDED THE MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE. HE TURNED THE CAR OFF AND GOT OUT OF IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10470459

STABILITY CONTROL AND DOWNHILL ASSIST LIGHTS ILLUMINATE WHILE DRIVING. THEN WHEN STOPPED, CAR WILL NOT GO PAST NEUTRAL WHEN TRYING TO SHIFT INTO PARK. ALSO, WHEN DRIVING, THE BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT WORK IMMEDIATELY WHEN PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. CAR WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK AFTER STARTED AND STABILITY CONTROL AND DOWNHILL ASSIST LIGHTS ARE ILLUMINATED. LOCATED SWITCH AT THE UPPER PART OF THE BRAKE PEDAL AND WHILE CAR WAS IN NEUTRAL, WITH PARKING BRAKE ON, WAS ABLE TO BUMP THE SWITCH BOX AND THEN SHIFT CAR INTO PARK. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10468885

VEHICLE UNABLE TO START, EVEN WITH KEY IN 'HOLSTER' IN GLOVE BOX. VEHICLE BRAKE APPEARED TO BE PRESSED DOWN ALREADY AND NO REACTION WHEN START BUTTON WAS PUSHED. THIS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES OVER A 3 DAY PERIOD. AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS OVER TWO DAYS, THE VEHICLE STARTED. TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP WHO DETECTED NOTHING AND WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE SITUATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10468503

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 35 MPH WHEN THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT THEN PROCEEDED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 15,235.

NHTSA ODI 10460454

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING MY OUR 2011 KIA SORENTO AT AROUND 55 MPH ENTERING THE HIGHWAY WHEN SHE SUDDENLY LOST POWER. SHE TRIED TO USE BOTH THE BRAKES AND ACCELERATOR AND FOUND THAT NEITHER OF THEM WORKED. THE CAR SLOWED TO ABOUT 5-10MPH BEFORE EVENTUALLY STOPPING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, AS SHE HAD BEEN UNABLE TO PULL THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES OF TRYING, SHE WAS EVENTUALLY ABLE TO GET THE CAR RESTARTED AND DRIVE THE REST OF THE WAY HOME. SHE DOES RECALL THAT THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW APPEARED TO BE WORKING. THE CAR WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP IMMEDIATELY THE DAY AFTER THIS HAPPENED. HOWEVER, THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPRODUCE WHAT HAPPENED TO THE CAR. THEY DID UPDATE THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE SOFTWARE. WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR SITUATION CLOSELY. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10456589

AFTER USING BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN, ACCELERATOR HESITATES. NEED TO PUSH GAS PEDAL DOWN SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE ACCELERATING (IT BECOMES "DEAD"). HAS OCCURRED AT LEAST 6 TIMES IF NOT MORE. REPORTED IT TO DEALERSHIP TWICE AND THEY ATTRIBUTED IT TO THE FACT THAT IF YOU USE TWO FEET TO DRIVE (LEFT FOOT ON BRAKE - RIGHT ON GAS) AND IF THERE IS A CHANCE THAT LEFT FOOT MAY BE SLIGHTLY TOUCHING BRAKE PEDAL, THEN THE COMPUTER IS "CONFUSED". NOT AN ACCEPTABLE ANSWER. SOME PEOPLE DO DRIVE THIS WAY AND THIS SHOULD BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT. IT IS A SAFETY RISK AND A NEAR RISK ON A COUPLE INSTANCES. KIA NEEDS TO BE ACCOUNTABLE AND ADDRESS THIS SITUATION. *JS

NHTSA ODI 10455961

AFTER THE FIRST DEALER OIL CHANGE I BEGAN GETTING LIFTER NOISE ON ENGINE START UP THAT WOULD LAST FOR MINUTES. THE PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN WORSE. DEALER REFUSES TO AKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM AND NOW I HAVE PUT A NON-OP ON MY BRAND NEW 2011 SORENTO BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. TRIED TO GET THIS RESOLVED WITH A LAWYER AND THE COMPANY REFUSED TO TAKE THE CAR BACK. I HAVE BEEN FORCED TO RETAIN A LEMON LAW ATTORNEY TO GET THIS RESOLVED. KIA MOTORS DOES NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR WARRANTY. MY CAR WAS IN AND OUT OF DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS WITH AN ARRAY OF PROBLEMS. THE INTERIOR CLOTH AROUND THE REAR HATCH IS COMING APART AND THE CAR WAS IN THE SHOP 3 TIMES FOR IT AND IT WAS NEVER FIXED. THE LAST DEALER SAID THAT THEY HAVE TO GET "SPECIAL PERMISSION" TO FIX THIS EVEN THOUGH THE CAR IS UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY. THE BRAKES ARE GETTING VERY SPONGY,AND THEY ARE STILL NOT FIXED. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR OVER 70 DAYS ON AND OFF WITH MOST OF MY COMPLAINTS BEING IGNORED. ONE OF MY ORIGINAL COMPLAINTS WAS A GLARE OFF THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER THAT BLINDS THE DRIVER ON SUNNY DAYS. I ALMOST HIT ANOTHER CAR WHEN I WAS MOMENTARILY BLINDED BY THE "CHROME RINGS" AROUND THE CLUSTER WHILE FLASHED IN THE EYES AS I WAS GOING AROUND A CURVE. THEY SAID THAT THEY COULD NOT CORRECT THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE IT WAS AN "ENGINEERING" PROBLEM. THE BLUETOOTH STILL DOES NOT WORK CORRECTLY,AND I AM STILL GETTING WARNING LIGHTS THAT GO ON AND OFF,INCLUDING LOW TIRE PRESSURE (WHEN THE TIRES ARE FINE) AS WELL AS AN EMISSIONS LIGHT AND A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT . THERE ARE MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR AND IT IS PARKED BECAUSE OF THEM. THE CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE,AND I SUBMIT THAT THE COMPANY KNOWS A LOT MORE ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS THAN THEY ARE LETTING ON.

NHTSA ODI 10420280

BOUGHT NEW 2011 KIA SORENTO IN FEBRUARY AND HAVE 11,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE TAKEN IT IN SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE PUSH TO START TAKING A BIT TO START. IT SEEMS AS IF SOMETIMES IT IS NOT GOING TO START. TOOK IT IN AT 8000 MILES AND THEY SAID IT WAS A BRAKE SENSOR AND THE PART WAS ON BACK ORDER. JUST GOT THAT FIXED WITH 11,000 MILES ON IT. TOOK KIA IN THIS WEEK FOR A NOISE IN THE FRONT WHEEL BECAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE THE WHEEL IS GOING TO FALL OFF. PROBLEM WAS NOT FIXED. SAID KIA WAS WORKING TO RESOLVE ISSUE WITH BRAKE PAD BUT THAT IT WAS SAFE FOR ME TO DRIVE AND THAT NOTHING WOULD HAPPEN. NOT TO HAPPY ABOUT MY SERVICE NOT GETTING TAKING CARE OF WHEN I TAKE IT IN. APPARENTLY THEY NEED TO JUST REPLACE OUR CARS IF THEY CAN'T FIX IT. I DON'T APPRECIATE BUYING A $27,000 CAR AND BEING TOLD THAT THEY ARE WORKING ON A SOLUTION. VERY DISAPPOINTED IN MY NEW KIA ALREADY HAVING ALL THESE PROBLEMS AND ONLY 11,000 MILES ON IT. *KB

NHTSA ODI 10416806

WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL FOR NO APPARENT REASON EVEN THOUGH THE DOWNHILL ASSIST SWITCH IS TURNED OFF, THE CAR STARTS BRAKING BY ITSELF AS IF THE HILL BRAKE ASSIST SWITCH WAS TURNED ON. THIS HAPPENS MOST OF THE TIME AND ALMOST CAUSED A CRASH FROM SOMEONE HITTING MY REAR END SINCE THE BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT COME ON. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10406249

DISCOVERED SEVERAL DAYS AFTER ALMOST HAVING ACCIDENT, KIA WAS EQUIPPED WITH "SMART BRAKE" WITH NO WARNING FROM DEALER . IF YOU HAPPEN TO HAVE LIGHT PRESSURE ON ACCELERATOR & BRAKE, YOU CANNOT ACCELERATE AGAIN UNTIL YOU TAKE YOUR FOOT COMPLETELY OFF ACCELERATOR PEDAL . I DISCOVERED THIS ABOUT 2 DAYS AFTER PURCHASING VEHICLE AS I TRIED TO ENTER US 19 A 6 LANE HIGHWAY; LUCKY THERE WAS A CENTER TURN LANE OR I WOULD HAVE COLLIDED WITH A 18 WHEEL SAND TRUCK AND A SURE DEATH . TOOK ME SEVERAL DAYS OF DRIVING VEHICLE TO DIAGNOSIS PROBLEM .. I HAVE DRIVEN APPROX 55 YRS AND NO ACCIDENT SO MY METHOD OF DRIVING USING BOTH FEET HAS PROVEN SAFE FOR ME .. I REPORTED THIS TO KIA OF LAGRANGE, GA. AND ""TRIED TO GET THEM TO NOTE THIS PROBLEM ON SERVICE RECORD " AS I FEEL IT DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE ! I WANT THIS ON RECORD IN THE EVENT THIS SAFETY BRAKE CAUSES ME TO HAVE A ACCIDENT .. AND REST ASSURED I WILL FILE A LEGAL SUIT WHICH I ALSO TOLD THIS DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT

NHTSA ODI 10403274

2011 KIA SORENTO. CONSUMER WRITES REGARDING PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE WITHIN THE FIRST 2 MONTHS OF PURCHASE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. IT WOULD DOWN SHIFT UNEXPECTEDLY AND THEN JERK AND JOLT. THERE WERE TIMES WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND FOR A SHORT PERIOD BEFORE THE VEHICLE REVVED UP AND ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE ALSO PULLED TO THE RIGHT AND THERE WAS A BAD GRINDING/RUBBING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, ALONG WITH SPONGY BRAKES WHICH WAS A PROBLEM FROM THE START. THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHE STARTED THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WENT OUT, THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW SWITCH WAS FAULTY AND THE BACK-UP CAMERA STOPPED WORKING. *JB

NHTSA ODI 10380656

ON JAN 12,2011 I WAS COMING DOWN MY DRIVEWAY. I TRIED TO APPLY BRAKES AND IT FELT LIKE THEY WEREN'T WORKING. THE DRIVEWAY WAS ICE COVERED SO I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS THE ICY ROADS. THE CAR WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN OR STOP. THE CAR WAS SLIDING TOWARDS THE EDGE OF THE HILL, I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TO TRY TO AVOID GOING OVER THE HILL AND THE TAIL OF THE CAR WENT OVER AND THEN WE ROLLED. IT ROLLED PROBABLY TWICE AND CAME TO REST ON ITS TOP. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THAT I HAD FELT THAT THE BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. AFTER THE WRECK I SAW THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS CAR AND THEN I THOUGHT, MAYBE IT WASN'T MY IMAGINATION AFTER ALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10378451