What 977 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Kia Sorento Plug-in Hybrid

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A METAL NOISE OCCURRED COMING FROM THE ENGINE. AFTER DRIVING FOUR MILES, THE FELT AS IF IT WAS LOSING POWER AND SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE REAR. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, THE VEHICLE SEIZED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECOME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT PUSHED THE VEHICLE INTO A PARKING LOT. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THERE WAS LEAK OF OIL ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE AND ALSO ANTIFREEZE LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKE TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT REFERENCE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

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JULY 3, 2020 CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE. ENGINE REPLACE 2017. LESS THAN 40,000 MILES ON NEW MOTOR. 2019 HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP RECALLED. IT WAS INSPECTED AND REPLACED.

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INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY.SOMEONE HIT ME VERY HARD LOST CONTROL OF THEIR VEHICLE. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT ALL.

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I HAD A POWER TRAIN RECALL ON MY VEHICLE. TOOK TO A KIA REPAIR SHOP AND THEY DID NOTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST AND I'M VERY DISTRAUGHT ABOUT IT. WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE DOESN'T HAVE ANY POWER TO ACCELERATE. THEY SAID IT WAS A REA SAFETY PROBLEM AND THE COMPUTER WILL NOT ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE. IM READY TO TAKE WHOM EVER TO COURT TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM.

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DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND ALL OF A SUDDEN OUR KIA STARTED MAKING A KNOCKING SOUND IN THE ENGINE. WE SLOWED DOWN AND STARTED TO PULL OVER WHEN WE HEAR PIECES OF OUR CAR BREAKING OFF AND SAW A HUGE CLOUD OF WHITE SMOKE. WHEN WE PULLED OVER AND GOT OUT OF THE CAR, THE WHOLE UNDERNEATH OF THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. THE ENGINE WAS SEIZING AND CAUSED THE BEARING TO PUNCH A HOLE INTO THE ENGINE. THE PARTS WE HEAR FLYING OFF WERE ACTUALLY PIECES OF THE ENGINE EXTERIOR, WHICH CAUSED SPARKS AND IGNITED THE FIRE WHEN THE ENGINE OIL STARTED POURING OUT. THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING AND WE HAVE KEPT UP ON MAINTENANCE. LESS THAN 100K MILES. VIN IS NOT PART OF ENGINE RECALL, HOWEVER IT IS CLEAR UPON LITTLE RESEARCH THAT KIA KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, THEY DON'T CARE, AND THEY ARE DOING LITTLE TO FIX IT. IT'S OBVIOUSLY A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE, THESE ARE PEOPLE'S LIVES WE'RE PUTTING AT STAKE AND THESE CARS NEED OFF THE ROAD. THEY ARE NOT SAFE. PLEASE HELP THE PUBLIC DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT VISUALLY INSPECTED THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE BUT WAS UNSURE AS TO WHERE THE SMOKE ORIGINATED FROM. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED, WHICH WAS STILL PENDING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. KIA OF CERRITOS LOCATED AT 18201 STUDEBAKER RD, CERRITOS, CA 90703, (562) 860-2424, WAS CONTACTED AND NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED AND NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

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CAR BURST INTO FLAMES WITHOUT ANY WARNING.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO TURN RIGHT, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE DROVE OFF THE ROAD AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 65,000.

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DATE OF INCIDENT 1/31/2019. VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE IN ENGINE AREA. DRIVING DOWN RURAL 2-LANE ROAD, NO TRAFFIC, DRY CONDITIONS, CLOUDY; HEARD 'POP', SMOKE AND FLAMES CAME OUT FROM UNDER HOOD, COULD NOT ACCELERATE. CAR FULLY ENGULFED SHORTLY THEREAFTER. SAME DAY, JUST 50 MILES AWAY, ANOTHER KIA SORENTO, SAME EXPERIENCE. WITNESSES STATE THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL STORIES REGARDING KIA ENGINE FIRES 'ALL OVER THE NEWS' WITHIN JUST THE PAST 2 WEEKS! THAT VERY SAME NIGHT OF MY FIRE, WESH 2 LOCAL NEWS RAN A STORY AND IS INVESTIGATING. ALSO, IN TOWN JUST HALF HOUR AWAY - HOUSE IGNITED FROM CAR FIRE. LASTLY, DAUGHTER KNOWS SOMEONE ACROSS COUNTRY IN OREGON WHO PULLED INTO DRIVEWAY AND ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. ALL KIA'S!!! RECENT ARTICLE IN USA TODAY (JAN 16) SAFETY GROUP FIGHTING TO HAVE 3 MILLION KIAS RECALLED. I FILED A CLAIM W KIA, CASE #13032230. I PLUGGED IN MY VIN AND IT DOES NOT SHOW ANY ACTIVE RECALLS BUT THIS IS CLEARLY IDENTICAL TO WHAT COUNTLESS OTHERS ARE EXPERIENCING. I'M SO AFRAID THEY WILL DO EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO GET OUT OF TAKING RESPONSIBILITY. THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED!!! SOMEONE IS GOING TO BE KILLED! I HAVE UNBELIEVABLE PHOTOS THAT SHOW PROGRESSION OF FIRE - FROM THE VERY INITIAL START TO WHAT IS LEFT OF VEHICLE. UNABLE TO LOAD; SAYS FILE IS TOO BIG. ONE YA

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THERE WAS A BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER FENLY KIA (5325 WEST SAHARA AVE LAS VEGAS, NV 89146) WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATED THE FAILURE. APPROXIMATELY 3 WEEKS LATER AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, A WHINING NOISE WAS PRESENT AND SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,500.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE ENGINE EXPLODED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT PIECES OF THE ENGINE SHOT OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. NEITHER A POLICE NOR A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DENNIS DILLON KIA (9501 W FAIRVIEW AVE, SUITE B, BOISE, ID 83704, (208) 314-3403) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

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ON 11/22/2018 MY KIA SORENTO CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. TOTAL LOSS

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 KIA SORENTO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED RUNNING AND, IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. FROM THE FUSE BOX. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE DEALER (MATT TAYLOR KIA, 2784 N COLUMBUS ST, LANCASTER, OH 43130, (740)-204-6590) WAS CONTACTED TO SCHEDULE A DIAGNOSTIC APPOINTMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000. *TT CONSUMER STATED CAR WAS PARKED WHEN SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF THE CAR. UPDATED 02/01/19*JB

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DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND CAR COUGHT FIRE. IF IT WASN'T FOR THE CAR NEXT TO US WHO SIGNALED TO PULL OVER WE WOULD HAVE BEEN TOAST.

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CLOCK SPRING BROKE AND AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY.

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SPONTANEOUS VEHICLE FIRE. TRAVELING ON US-27 IN FLORIDA, STOPPED AT RED LIGHT AND SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD, PROCEEDED THROUGH THE LIGHT ONCE IT TURNED GREEN TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY WHEN SMOKE STARTED THROUGH THE VENTS AND FLAMES CAME OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD AS WELL. CAR BECAME DISABLED AND 3 OF US JUMPED OUT AND RAN DOWN THE ROAD, AWAY FROM THE CAR. THE ENTIRE CAR WENT UP IN FLAMES IN A MATTER OF SECONDS FROM EXITING.

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DRIVING AUTO ON I-75 SOUTH NEAR FT. MYERS, FL, CAR ENGINE SPONTANEOUSLY CAUGHT FIRE. ENTIRE AUTO BURNED TO NOTHING BUT METAL. BOTH MYSELF AND MY WIFE WERE ABLE TO OPEN THE DOORS AND GET OUT ALTHOUGH ALL POWER WAS LOST AS WE WERE PULLING OVER THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. WITHIN FOUR MINUTES THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FIRE.

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MY CAR 2013 KIA SORENTO BURNT UP !!

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. AFTER STOPPING AND CHECKING UNDER THE HOOD, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO KOONS KIA (9610 REISTERSTOWN RD, OWINGS MILLS, MD) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE WAS BLOWN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA SORENTO. WHILE THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS IDLING AT A STOP LIGHT, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO ITS REAR. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD, NECK, AND LOWER BACK. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD, NECK, AND ARM THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTOMOTIVE SHOP. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000.

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KIA REPLACED MY ENGINE TWICE, DUE TO OIL CONSUMPTION. A MONTH AFTER THE FIRST ENGINE REPLACEMENT, I HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS.. SMOKE COMING OUT OF EXHAUST, LOSS OF POWER, STALLING AND OIL CONSUMPTION. I WAS IN AND OUT OF KIA'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THEY TOLD ME NOTHING WAS WRONG! I MOVED FROM CO TO NE, MY HUSBAND AND I HAD TO ADD OIL EVERY 100 MILES, WITH SMOKE COMING OUT OF EXHAUST AND STALLING. LINCOLN NE KIA FOUND AN OIL LEAK AT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD RIGHT AWAY! KIA INSTRUCTS THEN TO REPLACE MY ENGINE AGAIN! ONCE THEY REPLACED ENGINE, THEY STILL SAW THE LEAK AT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WITH RESULTED IN MORE GUESSING AND PARTS. THE DAY AFTER I PICKED IT UP, MY HUSBAND AND I WENT OUT TO DINNER AND MY SORENTO DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. RIGHT AWAY CALLED AND GOT IT BACK IN. AT FIRST THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE, HOWEVER AFTER TAKING IT 50 MILES, IT DIED 3 TIMES. THEY STILL CAN'T FIND ANYTHING, BUT FEEL IT MAY BE THE THROTTLE BODY. THEY PUT A USED ONE ON AND HAVE ME DRIVE IT A FEW WEEKS, IT DIDN'T DIE DURING THAT TIME, SO THEY ORDERED A NEW ONE AND INSTALLED. A MONTH LATER I DRIVE TO CO, I BREAK DOWN, IT'S TOWED BACK AND KIA CAN'T FIND ANYTHING. I DRIVE IT AND IT DIES 1/2 DOZEN MORE TIMES, EACH TIME I TAKE IT RIGHT IN, BUT THE CODE HAS CLEARED AND THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING! FINALLY, IT DOES AND THE LIGHT STAYS ON, IT SHOWS IT'S THE MAP SENSOR. KIA HAS A SPECIALIST COME OUT TO INSTALL THAT AND INSPECT MY CAR. THEY SAY IT'S FIXED AND SAFE. I DRIVE TO CO ON 9/22/17, 2 MONTHS LATER AND MY ENGINE CATCHES ON FIRE. I LOSS MY BRAKES, CAN'T PUT IT IN PARK AND EMERGENCY BRAKE WON'T WORK. FLAMES ARE EVERYWHERE, SMOKE FILLING MY CAR. I JUMP OUT OF MY BURNING, MOVING CAR AND SECONDS LATER THE WHOLE THING ENGULFS IN FLAMES! MOST HORRIFIC, AWFUL THING EVER! I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE MINOR INJURIES. MY MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL STATE ARE A MESS! KIA WON'T DO ANYTHING!

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA SORENTO. WHILE THE CONTACT'S SPOUSE WAS DRIVING 7 MPH, THE ENGINE INADVERTENTLY REVVED. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND FAILED TO RESPOND. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT'S SPOUSE SUSTAINED BRUISING TO HER CHEST, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000. UPDATED 10/12/17*LJ UPDATED 10/12/2017*JS

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA SORENTO. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, BLACK SMOKE APPEARED UNDER THE HOOD AND THE MUFFLER THAT EMITTED THROUGH THE VENTS INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND CALLED AN UNKNOWN LOCAL KIA DEALER LOCATED IN SALEM, OR WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE REPAIR FEES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT SHE DID NOT CHANGE THE OIL WHEN NEEDED; THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT MAKE ANY REPAIRS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

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CAR HAS 45K MILES. TOTAL LOSS DUE TO ENGINE FIRE. OIL PAN FAILURE. CAUSE AND ORIGIN REPORT PENDING

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THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE TRAVELING DOWN THE INTERSTATE

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