2017 Kia SORENTO: complaints, problems and recalls

SUNROOF SPONTANEOUSLY IMPLODED WHILE DRIVING AT SLOW SPEED ON NEIGHBORHOOD STREET. A BRIEF INTERNET SEARCH HAS INDICATED THAT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT ON SORENTOS AND HAS HAPPENED TO NUMEROUS OTHERS. THIS VEHICLE IS ONLY 2 MONTHS OLD.

Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10908489 at NHTSA ↗

PROBLEM: INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH ADVANCED SMART CRUISE CONTROL AND AUTONOMOUS BRAKING ON A NEW 2017 KIA SORENTO WITH LESS THAN 500 MILES. WHAT HAPPENED: WHEN USING THE ADVANCED SMART CONTROL FEATURE, AS EXPLAINED TO ME BY THE DEALER, THE MANUAL, AND KIA VIDEOS, THE CAR WILL STOP AUTONOMOUSLY WHEN APPROACHING A CAR AT A STOP LIGHT. MY KIA STOPS AUTONOMOUSLY MOST OF THE TIME, BUT NOT ALL OF THE TIME. ON THREE OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING WITH SMART CRUISE CONTROL, ON A STRAIGHT ROAD ON A CLEAR DAY, MY KIA SLOWED DOWN BUT DID NOT STOP, CAUSING M…

Owner-reported narrative. 400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10917367 at NHTSA ↗

PROBLEM: INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH ADVANCED SMART CRUISE CONTROL AND AUTONOMOUS BRAKING ON A NEW 2017 KIA SORENTO WITH LESS THAN 1100 MILES. WHAT HAPPENED: WHEN USING THE ADVANCED SMART CONTROL FEATURE, THE SMART CRUISE CONTROL WILL SHUT DOWN RANDOMLY. ON FOUR OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING WITH SMART CRUISE CONTROL, ON A HIGHWAY ON A CLEAR DAY, MY KIA'S DASHBOARD LIT UP WITH "CHECK SMART CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM." THESE ADDITIONAL WARNING LIGHTS LIT UP ON THE DASHBOARD: ANTI-LOCK BRAKE WARNING LIGHT, ELECTRONIC BRAKE FORCE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM WARNI…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,099 miles reported. Look up ODI 10917569 at NHTSA ↗

PROBLEM: WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN VERY SLOW STOP AND GO TRAFFIC THE ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE ENGAGED. I WAS UNABLE TO DISENGAGE THE ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE BY PRESSING THE BUTTON. TO GET THE CAR TO MOVE FORWARD I HAD TO SHUT THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON. CONCERNED THAT THE ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE COULD ENGAGE ON ITS ON AT ANY TIME AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS ALSO RELATED TO THE ISSUE WITH THE SMART CRUISE CONTROL. THE SMART CRUISE CONTROL WAS ON, BUT THE DASHBOARD DID NO LIGHT UP AND THE CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT TURN OFF A…

Owner-reported narrative. 5,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10917574 at NHTSA ↗

1.) DRIVING VEHICLE AT HIGHWAY SPEED. NOTICED PARKING BRAKE LIGHT ON (HAD NOT EXPLICITLY ENGAGED BRAKE). TRIED TO DISENGAGE PARKING BRAKE, AND THE LIGHT STAYED ON. PULLED OVER, PUT CAR IN PARK. TRIED TO DISENGAGE AGAIN, STILL WOULD NOT. TURNED CAR OFF, ON AGAIN, WAS ABLE TO DISENGAGE. 2.) DRIVING CITY ROAD, APP 40MPH, ACCELERATOR PEDDLE BECAME PHYSICALLY STUCK, TOOK FOOT OFF PEDDLE, PEDDLE STAYED IN POSITION AND CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. TRIED TO GENTLY PUSH PEDDLE, BUT IT WOULD NOT DISENGAGE. TAPPED PEDDLE HARD AND IT CAME LOOSE. THIS HA…

Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10940441 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP MANUALLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AUTONOMOUS EMERGENCY BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10945678 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER, AND TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE HOSE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL OTHER TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FIVE OTHER TIMES BUT THERE WAS NO REMEDY TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWAR…

Owner-reported narrative. 418 miles reported. Look up ODI 10947789 at NHTSA ↗

THIS PROBLEM IS IDENTICAL TO NHTSA ID NUMBER 10917569. ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS THE SMART CRUISE CONTROL/ABS/STABILITY CONTROL WARNING: BASICALLY ALL WARNING LIGHTS LIT ON THE DASHBOARD. CAR HAD LESS THAN 500 MILES, DOING 65MPH ON A CLEAR DAY. STOPPED AND RESTARTED CAR, ALL LIGHT S CLEARED. DEALER FOUND NO CODES STORED. SO FAR IT HAS ONLY HAPPENED WHEN USING THE LDWS. LEAVE IT OFF IT NEVER OCCURS.

Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10948107 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2016-11-30 (November 30, 2016)

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Sorento vehicles manufactured October 27, 2014, to August 25, 2016, and 2017 Sportage vehicles manufactured December 10, 2015, to August 26, 2016. The affected vehicles are equipped with an accessory trailer hitch wiring harness that, due to a malfunction of the tow hitch module, may result in the trailer brake lights being constantly illuminated. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, " Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Consequence: If the trailer brake lights stay illuminated while being used, other drivers may be confused, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the trailer tow hitch harness, free of charge. The recall began January 18, 2017. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC142.

Reported: 2017-09-21 (September 21, 2017)

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017 Sorento vehicles equipped with 3.3L engines. The engine crankshaft may have been improperly heat treated and may fail.

Consequence: If the crankshaft fails, the engine will stall, increasing the risk of a crash. A failed crankshaft also increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the crankshaft, and, as necessary, replace the engine sub assembly, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2017. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC153.

Reported: 2018-12-19 (December 19, 2018)

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Optima, 2012-2017 Sorento and 2011-2018 Sportage vehicles that previously received an engine replacement under recall number 17V-224, warranty, or the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) Product Improvement Campaign. The high pressure fuel pipe that connects to the fuel pump outlet may have been damaged, misaligned or improperly torqued during the engine replacement procedure, possibly causing a fuel leak.

Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Kia has notified owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pipe, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC172.

Reported: 2022-09-19 (September 19, 2022)

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Sorento, 2021-2022 Sorento Hybrid (HEV), 2022-2023 Sorento Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV), and 2017-2022 Sportage vehicles equipped with a tow hitch harness installed as original equipment, or purchased as an accessory through a Kia dealership. Debris and moisture accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (PCB) may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire.

Consequence: A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will inspect the vehicle, and, as necessary, replace the fuse and/or tow hitch harness module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 11, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC249.