What 875 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Kia Sorento Plug-in Hybrid

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the rod bearings were knocking, and the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 15V626000 (Power Train), 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic), and 20V750000 (Engine). The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The contact called the warranty company which declined the repairs. The failure mileage was approximately 106,000.

NHTSA ODI 11709737

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sorento. While the contact's son was driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that the traction control and ABS warning lights were illuminated. In addition, the contact stated that the vehicle stalled and went into LIMP Mode. The vehicle was driven to the residence. The contact used a portable diagnostic machine and retrieved DTC: C1613,C1205, C1206, C1207, C1208, C1210 and C1211. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 204,000.

NHTSA ODI 11689440

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sorento. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: [XXX] (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) and for NHTSA Campaign Number: [XXX] (Power Train) however, when the contact attempted to set up a recall appointment the contact was told that the recalls only applied to vehicle in the United States and not Puerto Rico. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11579339

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that after shifting into reverse(R) and parking the vehicle, the vehicle was then shifted into neutral; however, the vehicle reversed instead. The driver quickly shifted the vehicle into a drive; however, the vehicle stalled. The contact then shifted the vehicle into the park(P) then turned off the vehicle. The contact was able to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was towed to the dealer to be diagnosed and the contact was informed that the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage 75,000.

NHTSA ODI 11519815

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving at an unknown speed, there was an abnormal knocking noise detected. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that there was plenty of fluids in the vehicle however, the rod bearings needed to be replaced. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 81,000.

NHTSA ODI 11429401

CAR STALLS OUT WHILE DRIVING THEN I HAVE TO PULL OVER AND RESTART IT AND IT HAS A JERKING TO IT WHEN THIS HAPPENS

NHTSA ODI 11404770

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE UNDER NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS THE TACHOMETER WILL DROP TO ZERO AND THE CAR WILL START TO SPUTTER AND STALL. THIS OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY SOMETIMES WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY SOMETIMES AT STOP LIGHTS OR STOP SIGNS. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 142K MILES AND HAS HAD THE CAM SENSORS REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIP BUT IS STILL HAVING ISSUES THAT THEY DON'T WANT TO TRACK DOWN.

NHTSA ODI 11386997

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ROLL FORWARD WHEN THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION, WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V626000 (POWER TRAIN). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GUNTHER KIA (1900 S STATE RD 7, FORT LAUDERDALE, FL 33317) TO BE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE SAME DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE RECALL REPAIR WAS A ONE-TIME FREE REPAIR. NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER HOWEVER, THE PHONE NUMBER PROVIDED WAS FOR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000.

NHTSA ODI 11327938

HAD TWO MOTORS REPLACED. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER CRUMBLED WHEN MECHANICS REPLACED MOTOR NOW WANT TO CHARGE ME 3000 WHY WOULD THIS CRUMBLE AND SHOULD BE REPLACED AS ENGINE PROBABALY DAMAGED IT MAY HAVE EVEN CAUGHT FIRE AND DIDN'T KNOW

NHTSA ODI 11279442

LAST JULY MY HUSBAND HAD CHANGED MY BRAKES AND THEN WENT FOR A TEST DRIVE JUST TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING WAS WORKING PROPERLY. WELL, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING. CALLED KIA AND HAD IT TOWED THERE(UNREIMBURSED) REPLACED ENGINE TOLD THEM THAT SOMETIMES THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HESITATE TO SHIFT INTO GEAR. KIA SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. NOW, A YEAR LATER STILL TRANS PROBLEM. TOOK TO MASTER MECHANIC THAT HAS A TRANS SHOP AND THAT HAS BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR OVER 40 YEARS. HE SAID IT NEEDED A SOFTWARE UPDATE FROM KIA FOR A HARD TRANSMISSIKN SHIFT. CALLED KIA THEY SAID THEY HAD TO "RESEARCH PROBLEM", BUT HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING. ALSO, MY CAR SHUTS OFF IF I HAVE TO DO A HARD BRAKE EVEN AFTER MY ENGINE BEING REPLACED. ALSO, MY GAS LID WONT OPEN, MY MIRRORS HAD STOPPED MOVING AND MY WINDOWS ALL STOPPED WORKING. HAVING MAJOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH FUSE BOX. APPARENTLY SOMETHING IS NOT GROUNDED CORRECTLY KIA AND IS SHORTING OUT ALL MY FUSES. BUT I HAVE TO PAY ALL THIS MONEY TO HAVE A CAR THAT IS BARELY THAT OLD HAVE SO MANY PROBLEMS. IF I COULD SUE THEM FOR DAMAGES UNDER LEMON LAW I WOULD. VERY UPSET AND SCARED TO DRIVE CAR AND I HAVE A TEN YEAR THAT IS ALWAYS IN THE CAR WITH ME. PLEASE INVESTIGATE

NHTSA ODI 11242679

DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE OR IN TOWN, I LOSE ALL POWER WITH NO WARNING OTHER THAN A JERK THAT FEELS LIKE I HAVE BEEN HIT IN THE REAR. THEN IT GOES DEAD. I CRANK IT BACK UP AND IT RUNS FOR A WHILE THEN REPEATS. I TOOK TO KIA DEALERSHIP AND LEFT IT TODAY, BUT THEY ARE SAYING IT IS NOT PART OF A RECALL, AFTER KIA CORP. TOLD MY FATHER LAST WEEK THAT IT WAS A RECALL ON THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE. IT IS THERE NOW TO BE CHECKED 1ST THING IN THE MORNING.

NHTSA ODI 11241882

FOLLOWING AN OIL CHANGE AND MULTI-POINT INSPECTION, THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT CUSTOMER ADVISOR INFORMED ME THAT THE KIA TECHNICIAN REPORTED THAT THE RIGHT FRONT AXLE ON MY KIA 2012 SORENTO IS LEAKING AND LOOSING GREASE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. FURTHERMORE, SHE TOLD ME THAT THIS PROBLEM TENDED TO OCCUR AFTER A NUMBER OF MILES HAD BEEN INCURRED ON KIA SORENTOS.

NHTSA ODI 11240336

STEERING WHEEL SHAKING WHEN DRIVING ALSO THE BOOT IS CRACKED AND AFFECTING THE BALL JOINTS ENGINE IS LEAKING OIL FROM UNDERNEATH ENGINE

NHTSA ODI 11228546

MY WIFE AND I HAVE BEEN DRIVING THIS VEHICLE FOR OVER 2 YEARS NOW. ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO, THIS BANGING NOISE STARTED WHICH FELT LIKE WE HIT SOMETHING OR AN OBJECT THE ROAD (JUST ONE BIG BANG NOISE). THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED WE TOOK IT THE AAA AND THEY SERVICED IT AND MADE SOME REPAIRS TO IT AND REPLACED SOME PARTS. THE NOISE WENT AWAY AND NOW (FEB 2019), I AM DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 60 MILES PER HOUR AND IT CAME BACK AND HAPPENED THREE TIMES ALREADY. UPON RESEARCHING THE CAUSE OF THIS ISSUE, I AM HERE ON THIS SITE TRYING TO FIND ANSWERS FOR THESE ISSUES. NOW, I DO NOT WANT OUR CAR TO CATCH FIRE SINCE I'VE READ A FEW PEOPLE WERE EXPERIENCING THIS HORRIFYING PREDICAMENT. WHAT ARE WE TO DO? WILL KIA TAKE CARE OF THIS ISSUE BEFORE SOMETHING WORSE HAPPENED? IT SEEMS TO BE CASE WITH THESE RECALLS, SOMETHING TERRIBLE HAS TO HAPPEN.

NHTSA ODI 11176439

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED WITH 98K+ MILES ON IT FROM STEVENS CREEK SUBARU. THEY DID NOT DISCLOSE ANY RECALLS NOR ANY ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE. THIS WEEK, I BEGAN HEARING A CLICKING NOISE IN THE GEAR SHIFT CONSOLE EVERY TIME I BRAKED. ITS SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING HITTING PIECE OF PLASTIC. IT HASN'T CHANGED THE PERFORMANCE OF THE CAR THAT I CAN EASILY TELL. HOWEVER, THIS EVENING, MY MAINTENANCE LIGHT CAME ON AND IS NOT TURNING OFF. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THE CAR WAS SERVICED BEFORE I DROVE OFF THE LOT, BUT GIVEN IT DIDN'T EVEN HAVE WASHER FLUID, I'M NOT CONVINCED IT WAS SERVICED PROPERLY. I'M ALSO NOTICING THAT THE VEHICLE DOESN'T SHIFT EASILY WHEN I AM NEEDING TO PICK-UP SPEED WHEN ENTERING THE HIGHWAY. THE SHIFT TRANSITION ISN'T SMOOTH. ANOTHER ISSUE IS THE HEAT FEATURE ON THE DRIVER SEAT DOES NOT WORK - IT WORKED A WEEK PRIOR WHEN I TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11174900

I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR MY VEHICLE. I WAS DEPLOYED FROM 2013-2015 AND DIDN'T HAVE A PHYSICAL ADDRESS AND I WOULD LIKE TO GET THE ISSUE FIXED.

NHTSA ODI 11143412

CAR REPAIRED BY RECALL DUE TO NOISES IN THE MOTOR. MOTOR CHANGED. NOISES CONTINUED. CAR BROKE DOWN IN THE HIGHWAY. LOST POWER AND IT WAS IN FUMES AND SMOKE. LIVES IN DANGER. CAR TOWED TO KIA SERVICE IN LIBERTYVILLE , IL. STAFF INDICATED THAT PISTONS BLEW UP.. WHOLE MOTOR CHANGED AGAIN. AFTER THREE WEEKS CAR DID NOT WORK AT AND.. BROKE IN THE NIGHT WHILE MY WIFE WAS GOING TO TAKE CARE OF AN EMERGENCY CALL TO A HOSPITAL. KIA TOWED AGAIN. MOTOR CHANGED THIRD TIME. AT SERVICE SINCE JULY 19, 2018. IT HAS BEEN PROMISED TO BE DELIVERED TO ME AGAIN TOMORROW WEDNESDAY 8/14/208. FAMILY AND MYSELF AFRAID TO RIDE THE KIA SORENTO AGAIN. CAR WITH NOISES SINCE 2016. THEY HAVE BEEN USING REBUILT PART TO CHANGE THE MOTOR. CURRENT MILES 82,000.

NHTSA ODI 11119874

CAR CAN SHIFT OUT OF PARK WITHOUT BREAKS BEING ENGAGED. I CAN MOVE MY GEAR SHIFT INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE WITHOUT PUSHING MY BREAK. THIS INCLUDES WITH MY CAR RUNNING OR NOT.

NHTSA ODI 11114995

MY VEHICLE IS CONSUMING OIL. EVERY 1000 MILES I AM HAVING TO TOP IT OFF TO KEEP IT FROM RUNNING DANGEROUSLY LOW AND SEIZING UP. THERE IS NO INDICATION OF A LEAK SO IT IS AN INTERNAL PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE IS ALSO SLUGGISH UPON ACCELERATION. SOMETIMES THE RPM GAUGE IS A ZERO WHEN I AM DRIVING AT 40 PLUS SPEEDS.. PRESENTLY I AM THE KIA DEALER IS CONDUCTING AN OIL COMSUMPTION TEST. I WILL UPLOAD RESULTS.

NHTSA ODI 11112218

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN EXTREMELY LOUD AND ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE AND ENGINE INDICATORS ILLUMINATED, AND THE VEHICLE DROVE ROUGHLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND 15V626000 (POWER TRAIN), BUT THE CONTACT HAD NOT RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI 11084913

HELLO, I AM 2ND OWNER @51,000 K WITH NO KNOWN ACCIDENTS TO THIS SUV. FROM 51,073K I DISCOVERED THE 2ND ROW SEAT LATCH WAS FAULTY AND I COULDN'T FOLD THE SEAT DOWN. I HAD THE LATCH REPLACED AND IT WAS FINE AND ONLY USED IT ABOUT EIGHT IMES. THEN @ 68,000K FOUND IT WAS USING/ BURNING OIL. THE REPAIR COST QUOTED FOR THIS IS $3,600. EVER SINCE I'VE HAD TO ADD UP TO FOUR QUARTS OF 5W20 BETWEEN OIL CHANGES. AT 85,000K THE SAME SEAT LATCH QUIT WORKING AGAIN. I WAS QUOTED $110 FOR THE REPLACEMENT LATCH AND BOOK INSTALL CALLS FOR 3.1 HOURS EQUALLING CLOSE TO $340. ALSO FROM 87,000K TO CURRENT (116,007K) THERE HAS BEEN A SLURRY OF SEEMINGLY RANDOM ODDITIES: A) THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAS HAD FIVE GLITCHES. MOMENTS LASTING LESS THAN 40 SEC. WHERE ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS FLASH AND CHIMES SOUND, COMPLETELY OUT OF THE BLUE. IT HAS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING, WHILE PARKED BUT RUNNING AND WHEN STARTING AFTER GETTING FUEL. B) THE IGNITION SWITCH STICKS OCC. WHICH SOUNDS THE 'KEY IN' CHIME AND PREVENTS DOORS FROM LOCKING. C) THERE IS AN INSANE AMOUNT OF AIR FLOW COMING IN AROUND THE DOOR HINGE AREAS, CENTER CONSOLE/ ARM REST AND BENEATH THE SEATS; FRONT AND BACK. TEMPORARY FIX, IN THE IA WINTERS MY CHILDREN AND I HAVE BLANKETS OVER OUR LAPS AND BEHIND OUR LEGS...AND THE EXTRA WINTER GARM IS STRATEGICALLY PLACED TO TRY AND BLOCK AIR FLOW. D)THE MOTOR MAKES A PING/ KNOCK, METAL ON METAL SOUND @69K. FRESH TO 72HR OIL ITS FINE.E) THE DRIVER AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON @115,996K. I DROVE TO TOWN, 7.4 MILES, THE LIGHT WAS OFF, NOTHING WRONG. I PARKED, LEFT SUV RUNNING AT THE GAS, RAN INSIDE TO GRAB COFFEE AND DOUGHNUTS, CAME OUT LESS THAN FIVE MINS LATER AND SAW THE LIGHT ON. STAYED ON AFTER I BUCKLED. THANKFULLY IT'S NOT FLASHING, JUST ON, AS OF 7:36AM ON 3/31/18. PLEASE HELP. I'M ONE ADULT TRYING TO CARE FOR TWO KIDS. MY CHILDREN AND OTHER DRIVERS NEED BETTER SAFETY THAN THIS. THANK YOU

NHTSA ODI 11082346

WHEN YOU ARE SLOWING DOWN FROM ANY SPEED GREATER THAN 20 MPH TO MAKE A STOP, WHILE PRESSING THE BREAK THERE IS A CLICKING SOUND COMING FROM GEAR SHIFTER AREA. EVERY TIME WHEN UNDER APPRO 10 MPH THIS CLICKING HAPPENS. THIS HAPPENS EVERY DAY SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT IT.

NHTSA ODI 11063839

I HAPPENED UPON THIS WEBSITE AND DISCOVERED THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL FROM OCTOBER, 2015 AND I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED. I READ TO FILE A COMPLAINT IF I HADN'T BEEN NOTIFIED.

NHTSA ODI 11054024

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE IS LOCKED IN 4TH GEAR WHILE IN DRIVE. CAN NOT MANUALLY SHIFT UP OR DOWN.

NHTSA ODI 11001619

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE MOTOR SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN AND WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE SERVICED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND 15V626000 (POWER TRAIN), BUT THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RECEIVE THE REMEDY AND PARTS FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MEDVED KIA (11201 W INTERSTATE 70 FRONTAGE RD N, WHEAT RIDGE, CO 80033, (303) 421-0100). THE CONTACT WAS WAITING ON A RESPONSE FROM THE MANUFACTURER TO PROVIDE A REMEDY FOR THE TWO RECALL REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD RESPOND, BUT THE CONTACT HAD NOT RECEIVED THE REPAIRS SINCE JUNE OF 2016. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI 11000841