What 1,236 owners told NHTSA about the 2016 Kia Sorento

My 2016 Kia Sorento was stolen because it wasn’t updated and also the engine caught fire because it wasn’t updated

NHTSA ODI 11733870

I was backing up a residential driveway. My backup camera showed my wheels were in line. My steering wheel turned and my car had a sudden unintended acceleration. My car destroyed a double steel garage door. Pushed a parked vehicle forward approximately 10-12”. The vehicle crushed a riding lawn mower, pushing the mower through a sheet rock wall. If anyone had been in this area of the garage, they could have possibly suffered serious injury or even fatality. I am trying to arrange to have my vehicle taken to local Kia dealership for diagnostic testing. At this time, the vehicle has not been inspected. There were no warning signs that appeared and I did not hear my backup camera alert.

NHTSA ODI 11518870

TRACTION CONTROL - OUR VEHICLE HAS SUSTAINED TWO INCIDENTS INVOLVING THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM. THE FIRST INCIDENT INVOLVED THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ON THE DASH ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF THEN BACK ON THE LIGHT WOULD GO OFF. THE DEALERSHIP EVALUATED THE PROBLEM BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE INCIDENT. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER, THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AT APPROXIMATELY 25-30 MPH, IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD, IN A MODERATE RIGHT HAND TURN, AND THE TRACTION LIGHT CAME ON DURING THE TURN. THE VEHICLE BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE WHEN THE VEHICLE STEERED TOWARDS THE RIGHT AND FORCED US TO STRIKE A CURB CAUSING STEERING AND WHEEL DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKE AGAIN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. WE WERE TOLD THE STEERING SENSOR HAD FAILED BUT THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE WHETHER THIS OCCURRED AS A RESULT OF THE COLLISION OR IF IT FAILED AND CAUSED THE COLLISION. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE KIA DEALERSHIP FOR SEVEN DAYS, THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT RESPONDED TO ATTEMPT TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND DOWNLOAD DATA FROM THE VEHICLE'S COMPUTER BUT WE HAVE NOT HEARD THE STATUS AS OF THE 8TH DAY. WE ARE CONCERNED FOR OBVIOUS REASONS AND FEEL THERE'S AN ISSUE AFFECTING THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM WHICH AFFECTS THE STEERING. NOW THAT A COLLISION HAS RESULTED IN THE FAILURE OF THE SYSTEM, IT HAS BEEN VERY DIFFICULT TO GATHER INFORMATION FROM KIA AND FEEL THERE MAY BE OTHER INCIDENTS THAT HAVE BEEN OVERLOOKED AS SIMPLE COLLISIONS. NO DOCUMENTATION HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY THE DEALERSHIP RELATIVE TO EITHER INCIDENT AT THIS TIME.

NHTSA ODI 10995636