2021 KIA SORENTO Complaints

Our Kia lost power on the highway in a construction site and we had to coast until we finally were able to pull over in a safe place. This has happened a few times before but Kia says they can't do anything unless it can be duplicated.

I was driving on the highway, and all of the sudden the car started losing power, it would not respond to the accelerator pedal. It slowed down to 10-15 mph and would not go faster. I was lucky that the drivers behind me were able to slow their cars without hitting me.

On [XXX] we were driving the Kia at slow speed due to snow on the road when a warning light came on which we think said hybrid vehicle failure pull over. The car stopped and the traffic lane with the engine off. The car would not start and we were exposed to traffic. Fortunately, we were on a country road at the time about a mile from our house and we were not struck by following vehicle when the car shut off and stopped in the traffic lane. If we had been on a beltway with 60 or 65 mph traffic obviously the result would’ve been quite different. Because I felt the vehicle was not safe to drive. I had it towed to the Kia dealer in Salisbury Pocahontas Kia, who have not been able to duplicate the problem and have also not been able to tell us what was wrong with the Kia to cause this problem in the first place. Unless there is a clear reason why this happened And it can be fixed then we have no reason to believe this would not happen again and endanger our safety. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The contact owns a 2021 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost drive power temporarily. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with loss of transmission oil pump pressure. The dealer updated the transmission control unit software under NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V760000 (Power Train); however, the failure persisted. The dealer informed the contact that the failure was not related to the recall. The contact stated that the recall remedy also involved the transmission replacement. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.

There is a malfunction in the vehicles.computer system that gives a warning about low coolant level for the hybrid battery. It's been been seen by the KIA dealer and the issue keeps arriving.

I experienced a loss of drive power while on a busy street. Often while shifting into gear, the transmission will not engage. Luckily, this hasn't happened on a freeway. I have brought the vehicle into my dealership, however they can't replicate the issue, therefore, I feel unsafe continuing to drive. There was a recall on this issue, but I've been told my VIN is not effected by this recall. I understand that, however I am experiencing the issue of losing drive power, which can cause a serious incident.

I unable to accelerate to merge on to the highway. This is the second time that my car was unable to accelerate and kick into gear. The first time was in 2021/2022 a few months after getting the car.

Subject: Urgent Safety Concern with Kia Sorento Transmission Recall (SC250) Dear NHTSA, On [XXX], my 2021 Kia Sorento began exhibiting multiple mechanical issues detailed in Kia’s SC250 campaign [XXX] ). While driving, the check engine light came on with a “low transmission fluid pressure” warning, followed by power loss and gear disengagement. Kia (Russ Darrow Kia Waukesha, WI) advised a software update for the transmission’s electric oil pump as a likely fix, but even after the update, I continued experiencing power loss and disengagement. I brought up the similarities between my vehicle’s issues and the SC250 campaign, but Kia said my warranty was void due to the car’s rebuilt title (which I knew), despite it being only three years old with 30,000 miles. I informed Kia that federal law under the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act requires car manufacturers to repair safety-related recalls at no charge to the owner. Kia stated the recall had been “closed” by a 2022 software update, releasing them from further responsibility. I then asked if Kia would have covered repairs if I hadn’t installed the software update in 2022 when the recall was issued. Kia suggested it might have, but since the recall is now closed, I would need to cover the repairs myself. This stance feels misleading, as it suggests no real incentive to comply with recalls until a problem physically manifests. I also took the vehicle to a transmission shop, where they confirmed that the issues matched those in the SC250 campaign. I am reaching out to NHTSA for assistance, as this situation raises significant concerns about the recall’s effectiveness in ensuring safety and addressing the actual defect. I appreciate any guidance or help NHTSA can offer in resolving this issue. Thank you for your attention. Sincerely, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Spark plug housing- causes vehicle to misfire. Which caused me to be stranded on side of the interstate. A valve burning the oil out of the engine that has caused issues numerous times. The dealership has tried repairing the vehicle numerous times but the issue persists.

Pearl white paint is peeling on vehicle. Had no idea this a very large issue until I started looking more into as it has began to peel in large chunks.