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

CAR THRUSTED FORWARD, BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING UNCONTROLLED MINOR DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE!! WAS STOPPED AT MY MAILBOX WHEN THIS HAPPENED!! $3000 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO MY KIA SORENTO

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA SORENTO. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO OPEN THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR, THE DOOR HANDLE FRACTURED AND DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE HEADLAMP AND ELECTRICAL COMPONENT MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE HEADLAMP WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE DEALER DECLINED TO REPAIR THE DOOR HANDLE FREE OF CHARGE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000.

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THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN AND CAUGHT FIRE ON RURAL ROADS ABOUT 50MPH.THE DOG AND MY SIGNIFICANT OTHER WERE ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND MY S.O.'S QUICK THINKING...SNOW IN THE ENGINE HELPED EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES. A GAME WARDEN ARRIVED AND THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A KIA DEALERSHIP WHO REPLACED THE ENTIRE ENGINE FREE OF COST.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SOUND FOLLOWED BY A LOUD METAL NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD WHERE THE CONTACT NOTICED OIL DRIPPING UNDER THE VEHICLE AND THE ENGINE WAS HOT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

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I'VE HAD MY 2013 KIA SORENTO FOR JUST OVER 3 YEARS. I WAS IN A ONE CAR ACCIDENT AND MY SEATBELT DIDN'T RETRACT AND MY AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. I BROKE MY STERNUM AND HAVE BACK PROBLEMS. THE PROBLEMS I'VE HAD WITH MY SORENTO ARE REPLACING HEADLIGHTS, I HAD TO GET A NEW BATTERY AND BRAKES AFTER ONE YEAR. MY AIRBAG LIGHT DOESN'T GO OFF RIGHT AWAY. BEFORE MY ACCIDENT IT WAS IN THE SHOP BECAUSE MY AIRBAG LIGHT STAYED ON. NOW I HAVE NO POWER ALL MY LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING. WHEN I PUT THE TRUCK IN DRIVE AND TURN IT OFF, I CAN'T TAKE THE KEY OUT I HAVE TO PUT IT BACK IN PARK AGAIN. MY SORENTO WAS SHAKING AND MAKING NOISE WHEN THE LIGJTS STOPPED WORKING. I HAVE NO TEMP GAGE AT ALL.

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MY WAS REMOVING GROCERIES FROM HER NEW KIA WHEN IT STARTED TO ROLL AWAY WHILE THE CAR WAS IN PARK. WE CHECK KIA DEALER WE WERE ALL WAS ON WITH THE CAR THE PROBLEM HAD TO BE DIVER ERROR. THEN ON OR ABOUT NOVEMBER 20, 2015 WE RECEIVED A RECALLED FOR A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM THAT ALLOW THE KIA TO SLIDE OUT OF PARK AND INTO REVERSE WITH THE BREAK PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED.

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HIT MY BRAKES GOING ROUGHLY 30MPG (I WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ON THE TOLLWAY WITH LOTS OF BRAKING AND GOING FOR SEVERAL MINUTES ALREADY), THE ABS WAS TRIGGERED AS THE CAR WAS MAKING THE JERKING/THUMPING (HOWEVER YOU DESCRIBE FEEL OF ABS), I SHOULD HAVE HAD ENOUGH SPACE TO STOP, BUT MY CAR WAS ACCELERATING IT SEEMED AT THE SAME TIME, I HIT A CAR IN FRONT OF ME, AND IT CONTINUED, LURCHED FORWARD AND HIT THE CAR A SECOND TIME ALL WHILE THE BRAKE (ONLY) WAS BEING DEPRESSED. THAT FINALLY STOPPED THE CAR. THE OTHER DRIVER THOUGHT I WAS HIT FROM BEHIND TOO SINCE THERE WERE TWO HITS...BUT I FELT THE LURCHING AND ALSO THERE IS NO DAMAGE TO THE BACK OF MY CAR, PROVING IT WAS MY CAR. THIS IS DANGEROUS!!! AFTER READING ONLINE I SEE MANY COMPLAINTS OF KIA'S LURCHING AND ACCELERATING WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. MANY ACCIDENTS REPORTED WHILE PARKING AND THE CAR ACCELERATES SO QUICKLY IT JUMPS A CURB, HITS A TREE, OR ANOTHER CAR OR OTHER SUCH INCIDENTS. IT IS CLEAR AFTER SEARCHING "KIA SORENTO 2013 ACCELERATING WHILE BRAKING AT THE SAME TIME", THERE ARE LOTS OF REPORTS ON CAR GURUS.COM OF THIS DANGEROUS DEFECT.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONTACT MERGED THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLES OCCUPANTS WERE EVACUATED. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DEEMED TOTALED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,307.

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I TOOK T\HE VEHICLE TO A NON DEALER LOCATION TO BE INSPECTED AFTER HAVING MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY BEING FAULTY. UPON INSPECTION I WAS NOTIFIED BY THE MECHANIC ON DUTY THAT THE WIRING ASSEMBLY WAS ACTUALLY MELTING , A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. BECAUSE THIS BEING A FIRE HAZARD HE WAS UNABLE TO REPLACE THE BULBS FOR ME AND SAID HE FELT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE IT WOULD PLACE MYSELF, MY FAMILY AND OTHERS ON THE HIGHWAY AT RISK. HE PROCEEDED TO SHOW ME THE PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM HAS RESULTED IN MY HAVING TO REPLACE THE BULBS FIVE TIMES IN THE PAST ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AND AT LEAST TWICE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE DEALER HAD TO REPLACE THE WIRING ASSEMBLY ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DUE TO THE SAME PROBLEM. HAVE ALSO PROVIDED A PICTURE OF THE REPAIR NOTE OF THE PROBLEM ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO PROVIDING A CLIP SHOWING THAT ACCORDING TO THEIR INSPECTION MY LIGHTS WERE IN WORKING ORDER WHEN IN ACTUALITY THEY WERE NOT. LASTLY NOTING SEVERAL ELECTRICAL ISSUES REMAIN IN ADDITION TO HAVING TO REPLACE THE BATTERY AS IT IS BEING CONTINUALLY DRAWN FROM DUE TO THESE ISSUES.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA SORENTO. APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS AFTER THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, SHE BEGAN SMELLING TAR. THE VEHICLE WS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE HEADLIGHTS BURNED OUT. THE DEALER REPLACED THE HEADLIGHTS AND STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT DID NOT RECEIVE ANY RECALL NOTICE. APPROXIMATELY THREE WEEKS AGO, THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE DRIVER SEAT BEGAN TO BURN, JAMMING THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. THE CONTACT CALLED 911 AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AWAY BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE VIN AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000.

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DRIVING ON ROUTE 55 S IN NEW JERSEY AROUND 3:00 PM , SUNNY DAY BETWEEN EXIT 53 A AND 53 B WINDOWS UP SUN ROOF CLOSED AND AIR CONDITIONING ON WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN OUR SUN ROOF IMPLODED ONTO MY WIFE AND I. WE WERE IN THE PASSING LANE AT THAT TIME AND HAD TO THINK QUICK AS TO WHAT JUST HAPPENED AND PROCEEDED TO REMOVE OURSELVES FROM THE HIGHWAY AND OFF TO THE SIDE . WE CALLED OUR INSURANCE COMPANY LOOKING FOR ADVICE ON WHAT TO DO, BUT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO RECOMMEND ANY SO WE THEN CALLED 911 AND THE OPERATOR THERE CONTACTED SOMEONE FORM NJDOT WHO RESPONDED TO OUR NEEDS . MY WIFE AND I WERE COVERED IN GLASS WITH A FEW CUTS AND BRUISES BUT NOTHING TO SERIOUS COMPARED TO LOSING CONTROL OF YOUR VEHICLE AND CREATING A NIGHTMARE FOR POTENTIALLY MANY OTHERS AND OURSELVES . WE STARTED TO REMOVE THE GLASS AND WHEN HELP ARRIVED HE HAD SOME DUCT TAPE SO WE COULD TAPE THE SUN VISOR WHICH IS ONLY CLOTH CLOSED . WE JUST STARTED OUR VACATION AND WHAT A RIDE SO FAR ! AFTER THE NJDOT MAN HELPED TO GET US SECURED AS GOOD AS HE COULD WE TRAVELED TO OUR DESTINATION AND STOPPED BY A HOME DEPOT TO PURCHASE A MOVERS CARDBOARD BOX , HEAVY CONTRACTOR DEBRIS BAGS AND MORE DUCT TAPE TO BUTTON EVERYTHING UP . WE THEN CONTACTED KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE TO ADVISE OF THE OCCURRENCE. UPDATED 09/17/15*LJ...UPDATED 10/27/15 *BF *CN

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED, CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE WALL, AND FLIPPED OVER. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT SUSTAINED LACERATIONS AND CONTUSIONS THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

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DRIVER AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY RIGHT SOME THING TORE THRU RIGHT SIDE CAUSING 2ED BURNS ON RIGHT REST AND CUT ON RIGHT FOREARM

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA SORENTO. WHILE TURNING INTO A PARKING LOT DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A METAL POLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A CRACKED STERNUM, NECK AND BACK PAINS THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED A BACK INJURY THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT FOUR ADDITIONAL PASSENGERS SUSTAINED MINOR ABRASIONS THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000. UPDATED 09/01/2015*LJ MA 09/03/15 UPDATED 12/7/2015 *JS

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MY AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY WHEN I HIT A PERSON IN THE REAR AFTER SEVERELY DAMAGED FRONT END OF MY VEHICLE AND PARTS BEING SHOVED INTO THE MOTOR AND THE MOTOR RECEIVED A CRACK IN THE BLOCK. *TR

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I WAS GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH AND IT JUST CUTS OFF, THE ENGINE STOPS. IT HAS DOWN THIS SEVERAL TIMES ON THE HIGHWAY JUST CUTS OFF. WONT GO, AND ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. I PULL OFF THE ROAD AND LET IT SIT FOR AWHILE AND THEN START THE CAR AND IT DOES FINE FOR AWHILE . UNTIL THE NEXT TIME IT DOES IT AGAIN, I HAVE HAD IT TO THE KIA DEALER THREE TIMES . THE FIRST TIME I HAD IT TOWED THERE, IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THEY CANT SEEM TO FIGURE IT OUT. I HAVE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM KIA TELLING ME THAT OTHER KIA OWNERS ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND I SHOULD TAKE IT IN TO HAVE IT CHECKED. I HAVE DONE SO BUT STILL NOT FIXED. I GOT REAR ENDED BECAUSE THE ENGINE JUST STOPPED, THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM!!! *TR

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THE TRAFFIC LIGHT FOR MY DAUGHTER'S VEHICLE TURNED GREEN. SHE PROCEEDED INTO THE INTERSECTION. AND ENDED UP CRASHING INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT RAN THR RED LIGHT. MY DAUGHTER'S VEHICLE SUSTAINED HEAVY DAMAGE TO THE ENTIRE FRONT END . HOWEVER THERE WAS NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. WE ARE VERY CONCERNED DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE DONE TO THE VEHICLE . AND WE WISH TO PUT IT ON REPORT SO THAT SOMEONE CAN INVESTIGATE IF THERE MAY BE A DEFECT IN THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. *TR

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WE HAVE OWNED OUR KIA FOR 9 MONTHS, IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP AT LEAST 4 TIMES AND NOW ITS IN THE SHOP AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WILL COME TO A COMPLETE STOP WHEN GOING FULL SPEED, WE WERE GOING 45MPH FOR THE LAST INCIDENT AND THE KIA CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP OUT OF NO WHERE AND THE ENGINE SHUT WAS STILL ON BUT IDLE HIGH AND WOULD NOT GO ANYWHERE UNTIL YOU TURNED THE KIA OFF, WAITED FOR 15-20MINS FOR IT TO "REPROGRAM" AND THEN IT HAD ENOUGH POWER TO MOVE SLOWLY OUT OF THE ROAD. AFTER GETTING IT HOME MY HUSBAND CALLED THE DEALERSHIP THE FIRST TIME AND THEY HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS WRONG SO THEY SENT US TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP WHO SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG AT THE TIME BUT IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN TO BRING IT BACK, WELL 9 MONTHS LATER WE ARE STILL HAVING ISSUES AND ARE NOT ABLE TO DRIVE IT WITHOUT FEAR THAT IT WILL JUST RANDOMLY SHUT DOWN IN THE ROADWAY. THE ONE TIME IT DID IT WE WERE ON THE INTERSTATE, AS A PARENT MY KIDS CAN NOT RIDE IN A VEHICLE THAT KEEPS DOING THIS AND KIA WILL NOT FIX THE ISSUE. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HE DROVE AT 65 MPH, THE SUNROOF EXPLODED. THE CONTACT SUFFERED CUTS TO HIS HANDS. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUFFERED CUTS ON THE BACK AND HANDS. THE PASSENGER IN THE REAR SUFFERED CUTS TO THE HANDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 26,700.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S DOOR WOULD STRIKE HIM IN THE FOREHEAD WHENEVER ENTERING THE VEHICLE .THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE EDGES AROUND THE DOOR WERE SHARP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000. *TR

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I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND TURNING SLIGHTLY TO THE LEFT, I ATTEMPTED TO STOP MY 2013 KIA SORENTO BY PRESSING THE BRAKES BUT IT WOULD NOT STOP. IT CONTINUED TO COAST BACKWARDS WITHOUT STOPPING EVEN THOUGH I CONTINUED TO PRESS BRAKES NUMEROUS TIMES.. THE BRAKE PEDAL ITSELF WOULD NOT GO ALL THE WAY DOWN WHILE I PRESSED DOWN. THE CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN AND THE BACKUP SENSOR DID NOT SOUND AS IT CONTINUED TO BACK INTO MY NEIGHBORS FENCE. NOTE THAT I COULD SEE THE BACKUP CAMERA WAS WORKING BUT HAD NO CONTROL OF CAR STOPPING, ALSO THE CAR WAS PURCHASED ONLY 5 MONTHS AGO. *TR

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THE FRONT PORTION OF THE PANORAMIC SUNROOF ON MY KIA SORENTO 2013 EXPLODED WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR. I DID NOT SEE ANYTHING COMING TOWARDS THE CAR THAT COULD HAVE HIT THE SUNROOF. THE DAYS WAS APPROX 90 DEGREES AND THE CAR HAD BEEN HOUSED IN AN INTERIOR GARAGE ALL DAY. I HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES, I DID NOT GO THROUGH AN UNDERPASS BEFORE THE INCIDENT, MY SPEED WAS APPROX 50 MPH. THE SUNROOF WAS PARTIALLY OPEN AT THE TIME. THERE WAS A VERY LOUD SOUND THEN SHARDS OF GLASS EVERYWHERE. I PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY AND DID NOT SEE ANYTHING ON TOP OF THE CAR THAT WOULD INDICATE IT WAS HIT BY SOMETHING. I HAD MINOR CUTS AND AFTER CLEARING THE GLASS DROVE IT RIGHT BACK TO THE DEALER. IT'S REPAIRED NOW BUT THOUGHT I WOULD POST SINCE THERE IS AN INVESTIGATION INTO A HYUNDAI MODEL WITH A SIMILAR PROBLEM. *TR

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