2008 KIA SORENTO Complaints

THE PASSENGER SIDE "AIR BAG TURNED OFF" SIGN COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY EVEN WHEN AN ADULT IS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AT THE STARTING THE VEHICLE AND TAKES SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO GET DOWN AND GET BACK IN TO TURN THE SIGN OFF. OCCASIONALLY, THIS SIGN LIGHTS UP WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND IT IS SCARY AT THAT TIME AND NOT POSSIBLE TO TAKE ANY MEASURES AT THE TIME. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO KIA DEALERSHIP AND DIRECTLY TO KIA COMPANY. I WAS TOLD TO GIVE THEM PICTURES TAKEN OF THE LIGHTED SIGN WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND THERE WAS PASSENGER IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. I PROVIDE SUCH PICTURES TOO. HOWEVER, THE DEALER AFTER KEEPING THE VEHICLE FOR OVER A WEEK AT A TIME TOLD US THEY ARE UNABLE TO REPEAT THE PROBLEM AND THAT WE SHOULD KEEP THE LEATHER SEATS TREATED WITH SMOOTHING TREATMENT. THIS IS SCARY SITUATION THAT KIA IS AWARE OF BUT NOT WILLING TO ADDRESS IT.

VEHICLE LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING 30MPH SINCE THEN IT WILL START NOW BUT SHUTS OFF AFTER A BLOCK'S DRIVE. LIMPED IT HOME AND HAVE BEEN READING ON LINE THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON PROBLEM. WE'VE HAD IT IN FOR RECALL (FRONT SEATBELT LIGHT) AND THE ESC LIGHT ILLUMINATION WAS DISMISSED AT THAT TIME.

WE HEARD GRINDING NOISES WHEN DRIVING OUR 2008 KIA SORENTO. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN PULLING, JERKING, AND LUNGING. WE NOTICED NICKEL-SIZE CHIPPED PIECES OF METAL IN THE DRIVE THAT HAD FALLEN FROM UNDERNEATH THE CAR. WE TOWED THE CAR TO OUR LOCAL AUTO REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE RIGHT WHEEL BEARING HAD DISINTEGRATED; THE ROTOR AND HUB TO RIDE INTO THE CALIPER AND SEIZE--THE WHEEL WAS WITHIN SECONDS OF FLYING OFF THE AXLE. THEY HAD DIFFICULTY FINDING PARTS BECAUSE THIS SEEMED TO HAVE BEEN A COMMON PROBLEM WITH KIA SORENTOS. I CONTACTED THE NEWLY OPENED KIA DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE RECENT CAR REPAIR AND THAT AFTER HEARING OF THE DIFFICULTY IN FINDING PARTS AND BEING TOLD THAT THIS HAS BEEN A COMMON PROBLEM, I WAS EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THIS REPAIR. I WAS TOLD THAT THE ENTIRE REPAIR IS COVERED UNDER THE 100,000 MILE WARRANTY (MILEAGE ON THE KIA WAS 90,317). I WAS DIRECTED TO KIA OF AMERICA (1-800-333-4542) TO SUBMIT A REIMBURSEMENT REQUEST FOR THE REPAIR. MY CLAIM WAS DENIED SIMPLY BECAUSE WE HAD NOT TAKEN THE CAR TO A KIA DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. I ASKED FOR AN APPEAL AND WAS DIRECTED TO THE REGIONAL OFFICE. THE KIA REPRESENTATIVE MISTAKENLY STATED THAT WE HAD SAID WE KNOWINGLY WERE AWARE THAT THE CAR WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BUT WE TOOK THE CAR ELSEWHERE. I STATED THIS WAS INCORRECT--THAT WE HAD NO IDEA WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS AND THAT WE TOOK IT TO THE SAME PLACE WE ALWAYS GO. I ASSURED KIA OF AMERICA, IF WE HAD KNOWN THAT THE REPAIR WAS COVERED BY A WARRANTY, WE WOULD HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE NEWLY OPENED KIA DEALERSHIP. BOTTOM LINE: KIA OF AMERICA DOES NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR WARRANTY. OUR MAJOR CONCERN IS WITH THE SAFETY OF OUR FAMILY AND DRIVING A WELL-MAINTENANCED CAR. OUR REQUEST IS THAT KIA OF AMERICA HONOR THE WARRANTY. PLEASE INVESTIGATE WHY A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED ON THIS CONCERN. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF WAS DISPLAYED ACROSS THE MESSAGE BOARD. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V473000 (AIR BAGS) BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS WITH THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPIED, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SYSTEM FAILED AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 151,000. UPDATED. 06/09/15 *TA THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO THE LIGHT NOT GOING OFF. UPDATED 08/04/15*JB

WE WERE DRIVING ON A BUSY FREEWAY ON THE WAY TO WORK, THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED GETTING STIFF SO WE SLOWED DOWN AND MOVED OVER TO THE FAR RIGHT. THE CAR DIED BUT WE WERE ABLE TO COAST OVER OUT OF TRAFFIC THOUGH THE BACK OF THE CAR WAS STILL NOT OUT ALL THE WAY DUE TO THE ANGLE. WE WERE NOT ABLE TO STEER AND STRAIGHTEN THE CAR. THE CAR WOULD NOT START. WE CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO JUMP THE CAR. IT WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC. THE ENGINE WAS LOCKED. THE MECHANIC SAID A SCREW BROKE OFF. THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE CRANKSHAFT. I HAD TO GET A NEW ENGINE PUT IN AT THE COST OF JUST OVER $2400. *JS

WAS DRIVING AT A 35 MPH SPEED WHEN I TRIED TO BREAK AND INSTEAD THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED CAUSING ME TO HIT THE VEHICLE I FRONT OF ME. IT WAS AT THE SHOP FOR REPAIR FOR A WEEK THE BREAKS WHERE CHECKED. 2 HOURS AFTER THE CAR WAS OUT THE SHOP I WAS TURNING WHEN INSTEAD OF BREAKING IT ACCELERATES AGAIN CAUSING THE VEH TO LOOSE CONTROL AND HIT THE CURB. I ONLY HAD THE SUB FOR 3 MONTHS AND NEARLY CAUSE ACCIDENTS 3 TIMES... ALSO ON THE HIGHWAY THE BRAKES WON'T WORK I HAVE TO PRESS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL VERY HARD AND STILL TAKES A LONG TIME TO BRAKE. THE VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE AT ALL. *TR

FOR YEARS NOW I HAVE REPLACED LIGHTS ON THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE REPLACED HEADLIGHTS AT LEAST 15 TIMES AND BRAKE LIGHTS ABOUT 20 TIMES. ON AT LEAST 5 OCCASIONS ALL LIGHTS BURNED OUT AT ONCE.. THE FUSES AND RELAYS HAVE NEVER BEEN BAD BECAUSE WHEN I REPLACE THE LIGHTS THEY WORK.SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND I HAVE KNOWN MANY OTHER KIA OWNERS TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM BUT THE DEALERSHIP SAYS NOTHING IS WRONG. I CAN'T AFFORD ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH MY 2008 KIA, FIRST IT WAS THE FRONT ROTORS REPLACED THREE TIMES WITHIN 3 MOS. AFTER MULTIPLE DIAGNOSES TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD ACCELERATION PROBLEMS, I JUST PUT 800.00 IN NEW ROTORS AND TIRES AND FUEL/AIR INDUCTION SERVICES. THEN THE OTHER DAY DRIVING 45 MPH THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE, MAKING A THUD THUD THUD NOISE IN THE FRONT END, FELT LIKE I HAD A FLAT TIRE, I PULLED OVER, NO FLAT TIRES. I STARTED DRIVING AGAIN AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN, WORSE THAN THE FIRST TIME IT SOUNDED LIKE A HELICOPTER IN MY VEHICLE AND IT VIBRATED AND WHILE SLOWLY DRIVING IT FELT LIKE IT WAS GLIDING. I WAS AFRAID THE WHEELS WERE GOING TO FALL OFF, I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER IMMEDIATELY AND THEY CALLED ME LATER WITH THE DIAGNOSES OF A CARRIER BEARING COMING APART, THE CARRIER BEARINGS ARE NOT ABLE TO BE REPLACED ALONE, THE WHOLE DRIVE SHAFT HAS TO BE REPLACED AS IN THIS MODEL IT IS ALL ONE PIECE. TO REPLACE THE DRIVE SHAFT IT WILL COST $1100.00 TO REPLACE. I DECLINED THE REPAIRS I CAN NOT AFFORD THAT, ESPECIALLY AFTER ALL THE MONEY I HAVE HAD TO INVEST IN THIS VEHICLE JUST TO KEEP IT RUNNING. I FEEL KIA SHOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCTS, I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER KIA. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME IN THIS MATTER. *TR

FOR THE 3RD TIME IN AS MANY YEARS, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND ESC LIGHT COME ON AT THE SAME TIME CAUSING THE CAR TO GO INTO LIMP MODE. SOMETIMES IT WILL RESET IF YOU TURN THE CAR OFF AND RESTART. HAVE REPLACE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. SEE THIS IS A COMMON THEME WITH THIS CAR. I HAVE NO IDEA WHY IT HAS NOT BECOME A RECALL. WHEN LOSING ALL POWER ON HWY IN TRAFFIC THIS IS SURE TO BECOME A FATALITY ISSUE BEFORE LONG. I WOULD THINK THE COMPANY WOULD RATHER RECALL BEFORE IT BECOMES A LAWSUIT.. *TR