What 745 owners told NHTSA about the 2015 Kia Sorento

Cut off in middle of the interstate start smoking

NHTSA ODI 11678103

I was on the highway with my family, when we started to smell smoke,and the car began to slow down I proceeded to get off the highway to pull over to the side the of the road oil light came on and some more signal came on .so my son told me to open the hood it was dark so I could not find the latch so he bent his head down and that’s when he seen fire he told everyone to get out the car.!,,,and we got away from the car that’s when the whole car blew up.very dramatic night in which I had my grand babies,the fire fighter believes it was electric all,my insurance I missed my payment day..so I had no insurance and I have no car.

NHTSA ODI 11575588

traveling back from Panama City Beach, on 10/14/2022 Florida with a destination of [XXX]. At approximately 2:15pm, I had to pull off on the median of interstate 65 North bound at mile marker 123 in Greenville, Alabama due to mechanical failure of my 2015 Kia Sorento. The vehicle was smoking/caught fire and had become inoperable. I had my kids get out A.S.A.P. A good citizen called for help. Two Law enforcement cars and a fire engine arrived. Due to the trauma it caused on my kids a police officer provided transportation for us to the Quality Inn Hotel in Greenville, Alabama. Later that evening we ordered a pizza from Papa John’s for something to eat (receipt information included along with bank transaction page). We attempted to leave Greenville, Alabama and return home in a rental car while repairs were done to the Kia. We were informed by Enterprise rental in Greenville, Alabama that they were closed over the weekend and would not have anything available until Monday, October 17th, 2022. Unfortunately Enterprise Rental was the only rental car business in Greenville, Alabama and we would be stuck at the Quality Inn until Monday, October 17th, 2022. It was at that point that Amy my father drove down from Ringgold, GA to pick my kids up and take them home while I waited for repairs to be done to the Kia or to get a rental car, whichever would come first. On Monday, October the 17th, I was informed that repairs to the 2015 Kia Sorento would be prolonged. I then obtained a rental car from Enterprise Rental in Greenville, Alabama , and I continued onto to my original destination towards Ringgold, GA. I arrived at our intended destination late on the night of October 17th, 2022. During our trip home, we were advised that the 2015 Kia Sorento would be towed to Brewbaker Kia at 222 Eastern Blvd, Montgomery, AL 36117. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI 11517824

RETURNING FROM A TRIP TO CALIFORNIA, THE KIA HAD JUST TURNED OVER 30000 MILES ON THE KS TURNPIKE WHEN THE ENGINE OIL LIGHT CAME ON. WE STOPPED AND CHECKED THE OIL, IT WAS FINE. WE HAD HAD THE OIL CHANGED BEFORE THE TRIP SO IT HAD LESS THAN 3000 MILES. AFTER CHECKING THE OIL, WE RESUMED THE TRIP. WITHIN A MILE WE HEARD A KNOCKING SOUND, THE CAR DIED, WE PULLED OVER AND THE CAR ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. CALLED 911, WITHIN 15 MINUTES THE FIREMEN ARRIVED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. ONE OF THE FIREMEN SAID IT LOOKED ELECTRICAL AND SEEMED TO BE CENTERED IN THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE, THE FAN BLADES WERE MELTED AND ALL WIRES AND ALL RUBBER HOSING MELTED. KIA REFUSED TO COVER THE WARRANTY AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY SAID THE CAR WAS TOTALED. I'VE ENCLOSED PICTURE OF THE FIRE AND THE DAMAGE.

NHTSA ODI 10897802