Jun 5, 2026Engine & coolingFuel systemFire
The contact owned a 2017 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact noticed an abnormal fuel odor, and there was white smoke coming from underneath the hood. The contact was able to safely pull into a driveway, and the contact noticed flames coming out of the hood. The contact stated that the fire caused property damage to the driveway, including debris and burn marks. The entire vehicle was engulfed in fire and deemed destroyed. The fire department extinguished the fire. A fire department incident report was filed. The police arrived at the scene, assisted in directing traffic, but did not file a report. The contact further stated that while attempting to exit the vehicle, the contact's mother fell on the ground. No medical treatment was sought, and no injuries directly related to the vehicle fire were reported. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.
NHTSA ODI 11742388
Jan 5, 2022Electrical systemEngineFuel systemFire
I WAS LEAVING MY COUSINS APARTMENT COMPLEX WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED. I ATTEMPTED TO TRY TO START THE VEHICLE AGAIN BUT IT WOULD NOT TURN OVER. ALL THE LIGHTS IN THE VEHICLE WERE ON AND THE RADIO WAS STILL PLAYING SO IT DID NOT APPEAR TO BE THE BATTERY. I ATTEMPTED TO TRY AND START THE VEHICLE AGAIN AND NOTICED GRAY SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I THEN BEGAN TO SMELL SOMETHING BURNING, SO I EXITED THE VEHICLE AND POPPED THE HOOD. I THEN NOTICED A FIRE COMING FROM THE ENGINE BEHIND THE AIR FILTER COMPONET. ABOUT 10 SECONDS LATER I HEARD A POP AND TOOK OFF RUNNING TO A SAFER LOCATION AND CALLED 911. THE FIRE THEN BEGAN TO GROW BIGGER AND THE WHOLE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WAS IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED AND PUT THE FIRE OUT. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS THAT CAME ON. IF I HAD NOT EXITED THE VEHICLE WHEN I DID I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN SEVERLY BURNT AS THE WHOLE FRONT WINDSHIELD SHATTERED AND THE DASH WAS MELTED AND FRONT SEATS WERE BURNT.
NHTSA ODI 11446409
May 24, 2021EngineFuel systemFire1 injury
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
Oct 5, 2020Fuel systemEngineFire
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