What 788 owners told NHTSA about the 2017 Kia Sorento Plug-in Hybrid

The contact owns a 2017 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 mph when the vehicle began to lag in acceleration when attempting to go uphill. The driver noticed a spark within the instrument panel directly behind the steering wheel. The driver then immediately pulled over and both the driver and the passenger (the contact) exited the vehicle. The vehicle then caught fire. The fire department showed and distinguished the fire. A report was made. There were no injuries. The vehicle was towed and deemed totaled. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was contacted and made aware of the failure. A case was opened regarding the matter. The approximate failure mileage was unknown

NHTSA ODI 11445485

I was in a wreck in a 2017 Kia Sorento lx on sept 27,2021. Somehow ended on opposite side of road hit a culvert was thrown in air and bounced rolled tumbled all directions all air bags deployed but the steering wheel and dash. I ended up with my L1 lumbar burst and shattered. The state trooper that was there even noticed the nondeployed airbags. The owners manual and Internet says if steering wheel airbag doesn’t deploy can result in severe spinal injury. The car is totaled but I’m sure someone could still check it out. I am in a backbrace unable to lift up to a gallon of milk or able to stand or walk very long. And can’t bewithout brace on.

NHTSA ODI 11437409

The contact owns a 2017 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while his wife was approaching at slow speeding into a carport when she depressed the brake pedal but the vehicle accelerated independently and crashed into the back wall of the carport. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The air bags did not deploy. The contact stated not one sustained any injuries or seek medical attention. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was still at the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 15,322.

NHTSA ODI 11428961

On May 18,2021 my Kia Sorento SXL AWD V6 caught on fire for unknown reason. I was driving with windows open sunroof open and cruise set. Not a single warning light or any weird sounds at all. A car pulled up yelling at me that my car was on fire to pull over off the interstate. I saw nor smelled any smoke anywhere but then I saw a cop had someone pulled over so I figured it would be safe since I was an alone female and it was car of males yelling at me to pull over. As soon as I got out and walked to the front of the car there was still no smoke but flames and what I assumed was plastic dripping from the entire underneath. At this time flames shot out from all around the hood and up the windshield as it instantly shattered. As I ran for my life as stuff kept exploding the state trooper had already called for help so fire department arrived in less then 3 min but my car was gone in less than 45 seconds after I stepped out. I am mentally and physically hurt but luckily only a burn the size of a quarter on my wrist but due to shock while watching my car burn and explode my legs gave out and I sat down hard so 5 days after the fire my legs have recovered from running up an incline for my life but my back pain has only increased. But insurance only covers injuries from the car so running from exploding cars and getting injured is not their problem. Just like Kia allowing all of us Sorento owners to drive our family and loved ones around on a bomb waiting to blow at any moment isn’t their problem either. I have now seen at least 8 2017 Sorento sxl unexplained fire complaints all ending in total loss while only looking on this site and one other site. I have pictures and videos of the fire and how close I was to being in the car as u can see my hoodie laying in front of the car on fire too. Fire started on passenger side of motor just like the defect they supposedly fixed in 2014. If anyone else especially the grandchildren that can’t get themselves out of would have died

NHTSA ODI 11418407

AUTOMATIC REAR LIFTGATE CLOSED ON MY HAND AND DID NOT RELEASE. SENSORS DID NOT ACTIVATE. CAR WAS PARKED ON A DESERTED RESIDENTIAL STREET, ENGINE WAS NOT RUNNING.I COULD NOT REACH HATCH TO OPEN THE DOOR. FORTUNATELY, I HAD SOMEONE WITH ME. I HAD TO SEEK MEDICAL SERVICES AND PHYSICAL THERAPY. HAND INJURY WILL RESULT IN LIFELONG DISCOMFORT. KIA WAS NOTIFIED AS WAS MY AUTO INSURANCE COMPANY. I WAS ADVISED TO GET A SAFETY CHECK AT THE DEALERSHIP, BUT BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC I AM ISOLATING AND AVOIDING EXPOSURES.

NHTSA ODI 11403353

WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET ENGINE STARTED TO MAKE LOUD NOISE AND STALLED COASTED TO A PARKING LOT. NOTICED SMOKE GOT OUT TO FIND THE ENGINE ENGULFED IN FLAMES.

NHTSA ODI 11385812

2017 KIA SORENTO. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS MASSIVE FUEL LEAK ENGINE FIRE. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE LEAKED TWO GALLONS OF FUEL ONTO THE ENGINE COVER. THE VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED ALONG WITH SOME PERSONAL ITEMS. *JS

NHTSA ODI 11361814

I WAS DRIVING TO MY HOUSE FROM MY CABIN AFTER TWO HOURS OF DRIVING I WAS AT A STOPLIGHT AND THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON SO I DECIDED TO KEEP GOING AND TAKE THE NEXT EXIT TO SEE IF I NEEDED OIL..BUT I NEVER MADE IT. MY SON THANKFULLY ROLLED HIS WINDOW AND WAS LIKE MOM THE CAR IS ON FIRE, I THEN TRIED TO PUT THE BREAKS ON BUT THEY DIDN'T WORK SO WE SLOWLY COASTED DOWN TO ABOUT 10-20 AND I WAS LIKE GET OUT. SO HE JUMPED OUT THE MOVING,ON FIRE CAR. HE SUFFERED FROM ROAD RASH. LONG STORY SHORT BY THE FLAMES WERE SO BIG ON THE DRIVES SIDE THAT MY SENSES FINALLY CAME TOGETHER AND SLAMMED THE CAR IN PARK TO STOP IT AND I CRAWLED OUT THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. BY THE TIME THE FIREMEN CAME TO PUT OUT THE FIRE THE CAR WAS BASICALLY TO THE FRAME.

NHTSA ODI 11351492

MY DAD 74 YEARS OLD HAD AN ACCIDENT LAST MONTH WHILE HE WAS DRIVING THIS CAR ON I90 HIGHWAY.HE TOLD ME THAT A CAR HIT FROM BEHIND OF HIM WHILE HE WAS SLOWING DOWN DUE TO TRAFFIC AND HIS FOOT WAS ON BREAK PEDAL TO SLOW DOWN. WHEN HE GOT HIT FROM BEHIND, HE PUSHED BREAK HARD SO HE WOULDN'T HIT A CAR IN FROM OF HIM BUT BREAK PEDAL AND GAS PEDAL PUSHED TOGETHER AND HE COULD NOT STOP ON TIME AND HIT A CAR IN FRONT OF HIM. I HAVE CONFIRMED LATER WITH KIA DEALER IF THE LOCATION OF BREAK PEDAL AND GAS PEDAL LOCATION WAS CORRECT AND THEY TOLD ME IT CAN NOT BE ADJUST SO IT CAN PREVENT THOSE TWO PEDALS PUSHED TOGETHER WHEN YOU HIT THE BREAK.MY DAD IS VERY SCARE TO DRIVE THAT KNOWING THE CAR CAN PUSH BREAK AND GAS PEDAL TOGETHER WHEN YOU NEED TO STOP. I HAVE CHECKED MY SELF IT COULD HAPPEN VERY EASY AND VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. I HAVE CONTACT KIA FOR HELP BUT THEY JUST TOLD ME IT IS WAY IT IS AND ASK ME TO FILE COMPLAINTS WITH YOU.

NHTSA ODI 11316628

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT THE HEADLIGHTS WILL TURN OFF AND ON USUALLY LAST 10 TO 15 SECONDS, DOES THIS AT ALL SPEEDS AND AND ALL ROADS. WILL CAUSE YOU TO LOOSE SIGHT OF ROAD ON NON LIT ROADS. THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 10 TIMES IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS

NHTSA ODI 11297150

I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT ON A CITY STREET AND STRUCK HEAD ON BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DAMAGE IS SHOWN BELOW IN THE UPLOADED IMAGE. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.

NHTSA ODI 11243358

JULY 20, 2019: CAR FIRE: DRIVING BACK FROM NEW JERSEY SHORE (65 MPH), 11:00 AM, 96 DEGREES, SORENTO ENGINE MADE A NOISE, AND I COULD SMELL SMOKE AND SAW WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. I GRABBED MY DAUGHTERS AND EXITED THE VEHICLE WATCHING THE ENTIRE SUV, AND ALL THE CONTENTS FROM OUR TRIP GO UP IN FLAMES IN LESS THAN 12 MINUTES. VERY TRAUMATIC FOR THE GIRLS AND ME.

NHTSA ODI 11240493

WE DROVE HOME FROM A WEEKEND OUT OF TOWN. THE TRIP TOOK 5 HOURS. WHEN WE ARRIVED HOME I LET THE DOGS OUT OF THE CAR, GRABBED TWO SUIT CASES AND BROUGHT THEM INTO THE HOUSE. WHEN I WENT OUTSIDE TO FINISH UNPACKING THE CAR (5 MINUTES LATER) THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES AT THIS POINT I HAD MY WIFE CALL 911 AND TRIED TO GET THINGS OUT OF MY CAR THIS WAS IMPOSSIBLE. WE LOST THE KIA AND ANOTHER CAR IT WAS PARKED NEXT TO AS WELL AS SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO OUR HOME. THE CAR WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY AND WAS TURNED OFF 5 MINUTES PRIOR TO DISCOVERING THE FIRE. WITHIN 15 MINUTES BOTH CARS AND MY GARAGE WERE IN FLAMES.

NHTSA ODI 11232238

THE FRONT SEAT HEAD RESTS PUSH THE HEAD WAY TOO FAR FORWARD AND ACTUALLY HURT MY NECK/SHOULDERS WHEN DRIVING. MANUAL SAYS SOME MODELS HAVE FORE-AFT ADJUSTABLE HEADREST. UNFORTUNATELY MINE DO NOT, AS I FOUND OUT WELL AFTER I PURCHASED THE SUV. DID SEE SAME ITEM IN ONLINE DISCUSSIONS. MY FIX AS SUGGESTED IN ONLINE FORUM, WAS TO TURN THE HEADREST AROUND BACKWARDS. AT LEAST THAT PREVENTED FROM THE EXTREME HEAD FORWARD POSITION, BUT ALSO HAD TO STRAP AN ADDITIONAL CUSHION SO THAT IT WAS NOT TOO FAR BACK, AS WHEN YOU TURN BACKWARDS IT GOES EXTREMELY FAR BACK. THIS IS A KNOWN ONLINE ISSUE AND KIA SHOULD SUPPLY A PROPER ADJUSTABLE HEADREST AS THIS WOULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE IN AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI 11230405

WHILE EXITING A HIGHWAY, HEARD A NOISE. STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT. ENGINE STALLED, ALL WARNING LIGHTS LIT UP. SMOKE SEEN IN REARVIEW MIRRORS. CAME TO A STOP AND DISCOVERED A FIRE UNDER THE ENGINE. CAR WAS ENGULFED WITHIN 7 MINUTES. TOTAL LOSS, NOTHING LEFT.

NHTSA ODI 11230523

ON MAY 9, 2018 I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE WHEN FOR NO REASON AT ALL THE AEB SYSTEM ALARM SOUNDED AND LOCKED UP ALL 4 WHEELS. THE ROADS WERE WET AND IT WAS RAINING LIGHTLY. I WAS TRAVELING APROX 40MPH AND WAS NOT BRAKING AT THE TIME. WHEN THIS HAPPENED I COULD NOT GET THEM TO RELEASE. I TRIED ACCELERATING WHICH ONLY REVVED THE ENGINE. I ALSO TRIED TAPPING THE BRAKES WHICH DID NOTHING. THIS RESULTED IN SOMEONE REAR ENDING ME. WHEN THE VEHICLE REAR ENDED ME THAT IS WHEN THE BRAKES RELEASED.I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED IT FROM. SINCE THEN THE DEALERSHIP HAS INSPECTED IT PER KIA'S INSTRUCTION AND KIA SENT AN ENGINEER OUT ON JUNE 7TH TO RETRIEVE THE DATE FROM THE EDR. I WAS TOLD BY AN INDIVIDUAL AT THE BODY SHOP FOR THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE EDR SHOWED NO INFORMATION AND THAT THE TECHS HAVE FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH MY VEHICLE. I HAD BEEN IN COMMUNICATION WITH A MAN NAMED ALEX VILALPANDO FROM KIA USA PRIOR TO THEM SENDING SOMEONE OUT AND HAVE LEFT HIM SEVERAL MESSAGES TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH MY VEHICLE. I AM ALSO AWARE OF 2 TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS REGARDING THE AEB SYSTEM BUT WAS TOLD BY THE AUTO BODY WORKER THAT THEY SAID THEY DID NOT APPLY TO WHAT HAPPENED. I AM SKEPTICAL TO TAKE THIS VEHICLE BACK FOR FEAR THAT IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. THERE IS NO POSSIBLE WAY THAT THE VEHICLES COMPUTER SYSTEM OR EDR SHOWED NOTHING WHEN ITS OBVIOUS SOMETHING HAPPENED. I ALSO REQUESTED A COPY OF THE EDR FINDINGS AND HAVE YET TO RECEIVE ANYTHING.I AM GETTING NO HELP OR ANSWERS FROM KIA AND DONT KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO. I HAVE PAID OUT OF POCKET FOR A RENTAL CAR AND AGAIN AM GETTING NO HELP FROM KIA. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND NO ONE IS GIVING ME ANY ANSWERS. I TRIED CONTACTING KIA AGAIN TODAY AND EACH TIME I GOT SOMEONE ON THE PHONE AND THEY STARTED READING THE NOTES I WAS HUNG UP ON THIS HAPPENED 3 TIMES.

NHTSA ODI 11101439

THE VEHICLE DID NOT FUNCTION WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AT 60 MPH. THE ENGINE RPM'S DROPPPED FROM 4,000 TO 1,000 AND THE ACCELERATOR AND TRANSMISSION WAS NOT RESPONDING. THE VEHICLE TOOK MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO BE OPERATED NORMALLY. THE DEALER COULD NOT REPLICATE THE CONDITION UPON A TEST DRIVE BY THEIR TECNICIAN. THIS FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. NOTE: ACCORDING TO THE NHTSA, THIS IS THE EXACT SAME THING THAT HAS HAPPENED AND BEEN REPORTED BY OWNERS OF KIA OPTIMAS. THE DEALER ORDERED A HOSE ASSEMBLY AIR INTAKE PART TO BE INSTALLED UPON ARRIVAL UNDER SA303 PROCEDURE BUT DENIES IT HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE ACCELERATION PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 11080096

VEHICLE WAS PARKED, AND RUNNING, ON SLOPED DRIVEWAY. MY WIFE, WHO HAD EXITED THE CAR, RETURNED TO TURN THE CAR OFF. SHE OPENED THE DOOR AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. THE CAR THEN BEGAN ROLLING DOWN THE DRIVEWAY. THE CAR DOOR WAS STILL OPEN AND MY WIFE ENDED UP RUNNING BACKWARDS WITH THE CAR, WHICH WENT INTO A STREET AND HIT A CURB. THE DOOR HIT MY MY WIFE IN THE HEAD CAUSING HER TO FALL. SHE SUSTAINED ROAD RASH ABRASIONS ON HER HIP AND SHOULDER. SHE HAS NO RECOLLECTION OF THE INCIDENT. SHE SPENT A NIGHT IN THE HOSPITAL AND HAD TO UNDERGO A CT SCAN, BRAIN MRI, EEG AND HIP XRAY. ALL THOSE TURNED OUT NEGATIVE. THE DIAGNOSIS FROM THE DOCTOR WAS TRANSIENT GLOBAL AMNESIA.

NHTSA ODI 11056570

LR SEAT BELT BAYONET FAILED TO RETURN TO FLAT, WHEN PASSENGER ENTERED CAR, DURING TURNING AND TWISTING GETTING IN, HEAD STRUCK BAYONET CAUSING CONCUSSION.

NHTSA ODI 11039263

THIS KIA SORENTO MAKES A VERY HIGH OVER-REVVING NOISE WHILE DRIVING UP THE STREET. THE KIA OFTEN SEEMS TO TRY TO FIND THE GEAR IT NEEDS TO BE IN WHILE DRIVING AND MAKES A LOUD ENGINE NOISE WHEN GOING UP HILL OR DRIVING MORE THAN 20 MPH. THIS KIA ALSO MAKES A INTERNAL CLICKING NOISE WHEN MAKING RIGHT TURNS, WHICH IS OFTEN WORSE WHEN TURNING ON AN INCLINE. THE ENGINE HAS A LOUD RATTLE NOISE WHEN STARTED AND THE CAR IS OFTEN HARD TO START, MEANING WHEN I TURN THE IGNITION KEY, THE CAR MAY START 50 PERCENT OF THE TIME ON THE FIRST START.

NHTSA ODI 11034181

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 KIA SORENTO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OUTSIDE OF AN AUTO BODY SHOP OVER THE WEEKEND, THE CENTER CONSOLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MELTED CENTER CONSOLE AND BURNT DRIVER SIDE SEAT WERE DISCOVERED BY AN AUTO BODY TECHNICIAN. A POLICE REPORT AND A FIRE REPORT WERE NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC OR DEALER TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE IF THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER FOR AN INSPECTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000. *LN CONSUMER STATED WIRING FAILURES WITH WINDOW, TRUNK AND CONSOLE. UPDATED 8/22/18*JB THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. *JS

NHTSA ODI 11033119

AFTER 650 MILES: MERGING ONTO A HIGHWAY: ENGINE RATTLED. ENGINE DIED. WE COASTED TO THE SHOULDER. WE STOPPED. I PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK. SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. LOOKING UNDERNEATH, WE SAW THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. INITIALLY THE FIRE WAS UNDER THE ENGINE. WE GOT AWAY FROM THE CAR AND CALLED 911. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND PUT IT OUT. BY THIS POINT IT BURNED THE FRONT 2/3 OF THE CAR. THE CAR GOT TOWED TO AN AUTOMOTIVE TOWING PLACE.

NHTSA ODI 11003183