What 248 owners told NHTSA about the 2018 Kia Sorento Plug-in Hybrid

OVER THE LAST 6 MONTHS MY KIA HAS STARTED TO ACT LIKE IT IS GOING TO DIE OR STALL WHILE DRIVING AND/OR IDLING. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT VARIOUS DIFFERENT SPEEDS. I TOOK MY KIA INTO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND EXPLAINED WHAT WAS HAPPENING. THEY RAN SOME DIAGNOSTIC TESTS AND STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE IT. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NEVER COMES ON. IN DECEMBER, I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE ENGINE CONTROL UNIT. THIS RECALL WAS COMPLETED AND NOW LESS THAN A MONTH LATER THE SHAKING LIKE MY CAR IS GOING TO STALL IS STILL HAPPENING INTERMITTENTLY. RECENTLY, THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED STICKING. WHILE I AM DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES ME OVER ADJUST TO KEEP THE CAR GOING STRAIGHT. YOU CAN FEEL THE STICKING AS YOU HAVE TO CONSTANTLY ADJUST THE STEERING WHEEL RIGHT OR LEFT. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME I AM DRIVING, WHETHER ON THE HIGHWAY OR SIDE STREETS.

NHTSA ODI 11180896

I WAS DRIVING ON A STATE HWY ABOUT THREE MILES FROM HOME GOING 50 MPH. I WAS THE SOLE OCCUPANT IN THE VEHICLE WHEN I BEGAN TO SMELL SMOKE. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE HWY. AND TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. I OPENED MY DOOR AND OPENED THE HOOD FROM THE INSIDE. WHEN I DID, FLAMES AND SMOKE BEGAN TO SHOOT OUT FROM THE HOOD AND I HEARD A LOUD POP. I EXITED THE VEHICLE AND WITHIN SECONDS, THE WHOLE CAR WAS CONSUMED WITH FIRE. I CALLED 911 AND REPORTED A VEHICLE ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND EMS BOTH RESPONDED WITHIN MINUTES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO PUT OUT THE FIRE BUT NOT BEFORE IT WAS A COMPLETE LOSS. AFTER THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED, I NOTED ALL THE DOORS AND THE HATCH HAD LOCKED AT SOME POINT DURING THE FIRE. I CONTACTED CUMBERLAND KIA WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE TO NOTIFY THEM OF WHAT HAPPENED AND THEY TOOK POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE THAT AFTERNOON.

NHTSA ODI 11152866