2021 KIA SORENTO Complaints

Driving @70 miles per hour complete loss of transmission ...this is not a safe car to drive ..

We had just received our Sorento back from being in the shop for 4 months due to being in an accident. Part of the repair work was to have the software updated and reprogrammed at a Kia dealership, which was completed. We picked up the car on Tuesday, Feb 15, 2022, and on Wednesday, Feb. 16, as we were traveling down hwy 27 in Lake Wales, FL, the alert began to ding and the hybrid warning came on, as well as other lights (I can't remember which ones). The car lost acceleration capability, but as we slowed and turned down another road, the car began to slightly accelerate very slowly. We were able to travel another mile, when the acceleration completely stopped. We pulled over to the side of the road and put the car in park. The engine was very rough. The message came on to leave vehicle in park to charge the hybrid battery. When we did that, the engine started for about 5 seconds, then shut off. We attempted this two more times, with the same results. We also tried to jump the car, according to the operator's manual, but it didn't work. We had to have the car towed to the dealership.

On January 17th at approximately 1 pm I was driving on Rt. 12 in Cordelia, California when I heard a loud explosion coming from the car's rooftop. I pulled over and discovered that my closed sunroof had shattered. There was no indication whatsoever that anything hit the glass. There were no vehicles in either direction less than 1200-1500 feet from my car when the sunroof class exploded. I assumed this would have been a warrantee claim as the car just approached one year old. Unfortunately, the manufacturer, Kia, denied the claim. I am now appealing the denial. Needless to say, I will never be comfortable driving this car with the sunshade open since that is what saved us from the shattered glass.

Exploding Panoramic Sunroof: Was driving about 50 miles per hour on a highway in Northern California. No other vehicles within 1200-1500 feet in either direction. Was not driving under an overpass when we suddenly heard a large explosion and a rush of air. We pulled over to the side of the road and noticed that the sunroof glass had exploded and was completely shattered. We strongly believe it was NOT a result of an impact from a foreign object unless it literally fell out of the sky which seems extremely remote. We heard nothing until the explosion. No other damage to the car's hood or roof. No indication whatsoever that anything hit the car. The car manufacture, KIA, denied the claim. Fortunately no one was hurt since we had the sunshade closed and no other cars were nearby to get hit by the shattered glass. This could have been a dangerous situation.

I noticed a clicking sound coming from the front driver's side wheel well. I also noticed a burning smell coming from the engine after driving the car for 10-15 minutes. Shortly thereafter, while driving the vehicle the RPMs seemed too high for the power being put out in the vehicle. It was also acting sluggish and felt like it was going to stall when at a stop sometimes. At one point, the check engine light came on but then went off after driving it for a few miles. I took it to the dealer's service department and they discovered that there was a fault in the transmission and it needed to be replaced. This is a 2021 Kia Sorento with only 6,500 miles on it.

When making a turn and accelerating from a stop (pulling out into traffic from a parking lot), if there is any loose gravel or potholes, the traction control system engages and renders the vehicle unable to accelerate. This has almost caused accidents on multiple occasions and has been described by other drivers on this forum: https://www.kia-forums.com/threads/sporadic-issue-no-acceleration-from-stop.350565/page-7#post-2083617

Tonight was the first time I drive this car in the snow. I was going downhill doing 5 miles per hour, I even downshifted to hold vehicle back, and the brakes totally locked up on me. I couldn't turn the car, it slid straight across the road, at a "T" intersection, and I crashed into a sign, and continued to slide down a hill on someone's property. In all my years driving this has NEVER happened to me. We have been complaining to Kia about the brake system on this car for months. Something is wrong with this car.

1/2/22 HORN-when I attempted to lay on it due to being cut-off, it was at this time, and continues to be inoperable. 1/4/22 Reported to Destination Kia, Service Department, Albany, NY. ACCELERATION-When pulling onto a major highway where the speed limit is 55mph, from an entrance ramp, my vehicle would not accel above 32mph. I do not recall any warning lamps. I was forced to pull off to the shoulder of the highway where I shut my car off and restarted it. The problem corrected itself. On the second occasion, I was driving in an area where the speed limit is 30mph, my vehicle would not accel (I cannot remember my speed); I do not recall any warning lamps. I was again forced to pull over to the side of the roadway where I shut my car off and restarted it. The problem again corrected itself. 1/4/22 Reported to Destination Kia, Service Department, Albany, NY Kia cannot get me in for service until February 2022 due to a staff shortage! Unacceptable due to the two (2) severe safety concerns.

Vehicle loses all power at random. First incident was dangerous merging into traffic. The vehicle remains in this condition until restarted. Dealer found no code problems. There are lots of issues with this vehicle and failing transmissions.

The car drifts from right to left all the time on any road surface. This was addressed at about 2,000 miles months ago and they could not get it to steer straight. I brought this up on the oil change visit and the tech never addressed this at all ! The dual clutch transmission does not shift properly. The vehicle larches hard into reverse, feels like it will sometimes stall when starting out from a stop sign or traffic light. (This is dangerous) The idle goes up and down from 750 RPM to 1,100 RPM when the car comes to a stop. (This is dangerous) The brakes feel like they are weak. (This is uncomfortable at best) There is a lot of wind noise at 45 MPH and up. Had you do a $65.00 oil change. When I got home, I checked the oil and it's at least 1/8 quart short. I have not had time to come back for your techs to add more oil yet. So, your tech did not address issues (1) (2) (3) (4) at all. Instead, he wrote up the issue (2) as being normal for that type of transmission. After your service advisor Joshua Mills saw I was very dissatisfied with the lazy diagnosis, he took me to J.D. McClure with the list of problems I had outlined to your company. JD explained he was brand new at KIA and did not have KIA experience which was disheartening at best. I asked that he contact KIA corporate to have a certified KIA rep come look at this vehicle. He assured me he would do so and call me back to see if and when a rep can come look at my vehicle. As of today, he has not called me. Yesterday my wife Ann called right after she used the vehicle and experienced a lot of potential stalling issues and spoke with Christina. She explained that all principles were in a morning meeting but she would tell JD about your issue and have him call you. He did not call !!! What are you going to do about these issues ??? These issues are all over the KIA forums and registered complaints are listed on the N.T.S.B. (National transportation safety board) on all of the above.