2008 Kia Sorento Complaint Log

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND SUDDENLY THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER AN OCCUPANT WAS SEATED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE AIR BAG SENSOR. THE AIR BAG SENSOR AND PAD WERE REPLACED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR IDENTICAL FAILURES; HOWEVER, THERE WERE NO RESOLUTIONS. THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND AN ENGINEER CONDUCTED AN INSPECTION ON THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAG SENSOR WAS REPROGRAMMED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 4,400.

MY 22 YR SON. WAS DRIVING A KIA SORENTO, AT HIGHWAY SPEED ON 11/27/08 ON I-10 W IN HOUSTON, TX, JUST EAST OF LOOP 610. THE VEHICLE WAS A RENTAL FROM ENTERPRISE RENTAL CAR AND HAD CA. 4000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. MY SON REPORTS HEARING A LOUD BOOM FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND IMMEDIATELY NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD VENTS. HE IMMEDIATELY PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE MEDIAN SHOULDER AND EXITED THE VEHICLE, NOTICING DARK SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD, THEN FLAMES. HE PROMPTLY CALLED 911. THE OPERATOR SAID SHE HAD HIS VEHICLE FIRE ON THE OVERHEAD HIGHWAY CAMERA. MY SON IS A CULINARY STUDENT AND RAPIDLY RETRIEVED HIS VALUABLE KNIFE ROLL FROM THE REAR SEAT FLOORBOARD, BUT WAS UNABLE TO GET ANYTHING ELSE FROM THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE HEAT AND SMOKE. HE SAYS THE FD ARRIVED WITHIN 5 MINS AND DOUSED THE ENGINE FIRE. THERE WAS EXTENSIVE FIRE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND LESS SO TO THE REAR PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. MY SON IS SMART, QUICK AND AGILE. THUS, HE SUFFERED NO PHYSICAL INJURY, BUT WAS QUITE DISTRAUGHT. HE WILL DO WELL. I AM AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN WITH 20 YRS OF EXPERIENCE. I HAVE VERY SERIOUS CONCERNS REGARDING THIS APPARENT CATASTROPHIC FAILURE THAT RAPIDLY RESULTED IN AN ENGINE AND VEHICLE FIRE. IT IS APPARENT THAT A DEFINITELY ADVERSE OUTCOME, INCLUDING SERIOUS INJURY AND/OR DEATH COULD RESULT IF THE OCCUPANTS WERE ELDERLY OR A FAMILY WITH CHILDREN IN PROPER RESTRAINTS, BOOSTER OR INFANT SEATS. ADDITIONALLY, MY SON REACTED RAPIDLY AND IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER. ANOTHER TRAGIC SCENARIO COULD OCCUR IF THERE WERE A NARROW OR NO SHOULDER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR REVIEW AND ACTION. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL INCREASE IN BRAKING DISTANCE. THE CONTACT CHANGED THE BRAKES AND ROTORS BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

I HAVE 2008 KIA SORENTO. ON THE EVENING I BOUGHT THE CAR, I WAS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SIDE AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON STATING THAT THE AIRBAG WAS OFF. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THERE IS A NATIONWIDE BACKORDER FOR THE PART AND NOT TO ALLOW ANYONE TO SIT IN THE FRONT SEAT. THIS WAS A MONTH AGO THEY STILL CANNOT GET THE PART. I WILL BE TAKING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THIS FRIDAY TO SEE IF THEY CAN RESET THE COMPUTER. THEY SAID THEY HAVE HAD ALOT OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS PROBLEM. *TR

THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG IS TURNED OFF WHEN AN ADULT SETS IN THE SEAT. THE OCS MISS CLASSIFIES THE ADULT IN THE FRONT SEAT AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON WHICH TURNS THE FRONT AND THE SIDE AIR BAG OFF. KIA HAS A RECALL CAMPAIGN FOR CERTAIN SORENTOS TO BE REPROGRAMMED. HOWEVER WHEN I TOOK MY CAR TO THE KIA DEALER I WAS TOLD THAT MY VIN NUMBER WAS NOT IN THE RECALL EVEN THOUGH I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THEY TOLD ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPROGRAMMING MY SELF. THIS DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME BECAUSE MY SORENTO WAS MANUFACTURED WITHIN THE RECALL DATES AND HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. I FEEL THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN AND SHOULD ME PAID FOR MY KIA MOTORS. *TR

JUST PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2008 KIA SORENTO. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG ONLY ACTIVATES 50% OF THE TIME WHEN A PASSENGER IS IN THE SEAT. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND DEALER COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. RETURNED VEHICLE TO DEALER A 2ND TIME WITH A PASSENGER SEATED IN THE SEAT AND THE AIR BAG WAS NOT ACTIVATED. THE SERVICE MANAGER ACTUALLY WITNESSED A 150LB PASSENGER PROPERLY SEATED IN THE SEAT AND THE AIR BAG WAS NOT ACTIVATED. THEY KEPT THE VEHICLE 5 ADDITIONAL DAYS. THEY RAN DIAGNOSTICS AND CONTACTED KIA. KIA WOULD NOT AUTHORIZE A REPAIR SINCE ALL THE DIAGNOSTICS PASSED EVEN THOUGH THE SERVICE MANAGER PERSONALLY WITNESSED IT NOT WORKING. THE DEALER STATES THAT KIA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD REMAIN ILLUMINATED REGARDLESS IF A PASSENGER WAS SEATING IN THE SEAT. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, BUT THE FAILURE STILL OCCURS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 871 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200.

MY 2008 KIA SORENTO'S THROTTLE ACCELERATOR SENSOR HAS GONE OUT FOR THE SECOND TIME IN A YEAR. I LOOKED THIS ISSUE UP ONLINE, SINCE THIS IS THE SECOND TIME, AND FOUND EXTENSIVE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. WHEN IT GOES OUT THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM QUITS FUNCTIONING ALSO. MY CAR HAS LESS THAN 20,000 MILES ON IT. IT HAS A LOSS OF POWER AND STABILITY CONTROL WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THE DEALERSHIP KNEW EXACTLY WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND ASK ME TO BRING IT IN. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN REPEATEDLY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL, WHICH INDICATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WAS INOPERATIVE. A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT REMEDY THE FAILURE BECAUSE THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE FOR THE SOFTWARE. THEY WOULD ALSO HAVE TO WAIT FOR A SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WERE WAITING FOR A RESPONSE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 15,557. UPDATED 06/25/08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR WAS REPAIRED. UPDATED 06/25/08. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE BRAKES SQUEAK WHEN THE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. THE SQUEAKING SOUND IS GRADUALLY BECOMING LOUDER. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THIS ISSUE FOUR OR FIVE TIMES, BUT THEY CANNOT FIND ANY FAILURES. WHILE IDLING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE DOES NOT MOVE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. THE TIRES JUST SPIN AND THEN THE VEHICLE FINALLY MOVES. THE CONTACT IS AFRAID THAT THE VEHICLE WILL BE REAR ENDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,620. UPDATED 10/20/08. *LJ

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE, SO THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER ON JANUARY 21, 2008. TWO MECHANICS TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND ACKNOWLEDGED THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THEY NEEDED TO ORDER THE CODES TO MAKE THE REPAIR. AS OF FEBRUARY 22, 2008, THE DEALER HAS YET TO CALL THE CONTACT TO SCHEDULE THE REPAIR WORK. THE DEALER INFORMED HER THAT THE VEHICLE HAD TO GET USED TO THE WAY SHE DROVE AND THAT THERE WAS NO FAILURE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. THE DEALER INFORMED HER THAT SHE HAD TO SIT IN THE VEHICLE A CERTAIN WAY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NO MATTER HOW SHE SITS, THE LIGHT REMAINS ILLUMINATED. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 4,020 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SORENTO. THE OCS MISCLASSIFIES THE PRESENCE OF CERTAIN ADULT PASSENGERS BASED ON A COMBINATION OF THEIR WEIGHT, STATURE, BODY SHAPE AND POSITION ON THE SEAT CUSHION. AS CONSEQUENCE THE AIR BAGS MAY FAIL TO DEPLOY IN A SITUATION THAT WARRANTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ONCE ACCORDING TO SERVICE BULLETIN #10030366 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE). THE REPAIR DID NOT REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 7,321. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30.

2008 KIA SORENTO FAULTY PASSENGER AIRBAG. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE AIRBAG WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. CONSUMER STATES THAT IT DOES NOT WORK WHEN HIS FATHER IS IN THE VEHICLE. *KB THE WIRING CONNECTION WAS LOOSE AND THE SENSOR WAS RESET ON THE FIRST VISIT. THE SECOND TIME, THE DEALER STATED THEY WOULD HAVE TO ORDER A CUSHION TO REPLACE THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BECAUSE THE SENSOR WAS IN THE CUSHION. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED, WHICH INDICATED THAT THE AIR BAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR FAILED. AS OF NOVEMBER 7, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 600. UPDATED 01/09/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE INCIDENT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES EVEN ON THE WAY HOME FROM CHURCH RECENTLY. UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR

WHILE DRIVING DOWN ROAD, CAR WAS BEARLY PULLING. NOTICED SMOKE ON FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF CAR. STOPPED AND CHECKED UNDER HOOD AND SAW NOTHING. WALKED AROUND CAR AND FLAMES WERE COMING OUT OF WHEEL AREA. HAD CAR TOWED. HAD NEW CALIPER, ROTOR, AND BRAKE PADS PUT ON. DROVE ABOUT A WEEK. AND BEGAN DOING THE SAME THING. HAD CAR TOWED TO MECHANIC SHOP, 4TH DAY THERE THE BRAKES WENT TOTALLY OUT. CAR CRASHED THROUGH THE DOOR OF SHOP AND HIT POLE. CAR IN STILL AT BODY SHOP SOME PARTS WERE HARD TO FIND. STILL WILL HAVE TO GET BRAKES FIXED WHEN I GET CAR THIS WEEK. I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT MY CAR SINCE JANUARY 2013. THIS IS MARCH 27TH 2013. *TR