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

The contact owned a 2013 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH and towing a trailer, he heard a loud abnormal sound emanating from the rear of the vehicle. After which, the instrument panel behaved erratically, then the vehicle lost all motive power, and the contact observed smoke entering the interior of the vehicle. The contact stated that he was able to coast to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle failed to shift into park. After some time, the contact observed the vehicle engulfed in flames originating from an unknown location. Local emergency services were called and were able to extinguish the flames. A fire and police report was filed, but no injuries were reported. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard and deemed a total loss. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 133,000.

NHTSA ODI 11552699

On 4/29/22 @ 215 pm whilst deselorating for an off ramp from I-57 in Mattoon IL to enter onto RTE 16. The car made a huge search and a loud knocking near could be heard from the engine compartment. The cabin began to have smoke enter from the air vents. No warning lights where illuminated on the driver's control panel. The noise stopped and the car resumed it regular forward motion. Yet large amounts of smoke could be seen coming from the rear of the car. A min or two later the car smoke got more intense and the cabin and all the drivers warning light illuminated. The car stalled and engine and steering and breaks failed to function. The car coasted to a bit and then had to be pushed off the the busy highway. A security guard from the hospital has seen the smoke coming from the car and when I opened the lock on the hood a huge cloud of smoke rose up he yelled for me to get out of the car as it was going to catch fire. I exited the car and stepped way back from it as he told me to do. He got the smoke to stop. And then looked at the cars engine compartment and said this smells very bad. He pulled the oil dip stick to check it and it smelled of gasoline. He said not to stay in the car but to await the tow truck on a lawn many feet away as he was worried it might catch fire again. The car was towed at my expence ($282.00) to a mechanic who looked at it an said we got very lucky had it not been for that officer the whole car would have caught fire. He stated the engine is seized up and needs a total long block replacement. Total cost to fix it about $5000.00 rough estimate.

NHTSA ODI 11462899

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.

NHTSA ODI 11268232

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.

NHTSA ODI 10958524

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

NHTSA ODI 10605721