2007 Kia Sorento: jerking or lurching

Filed Apr 7, 2017 · Electrical · TX

When car is in motion even when cruise control is on going over 30 miles an hour, there will be a hesitation in forward motion. Its not a transmission jerk. Its a pause while in motion. The headlights also do the same when on. They will be on normal then go dim while in motion. We have trouble shooted and no codes come up. We believe it is an electrical issue. We have only had vehichle for 2 yrs and its done this every since we had it but its gotten worse. Wasnt as noticable when we purchased but it wasnt being driven for long distances. Now it has been drove on long trips and is very noticeable. Feels like the car will just stop/shut down in motion.

Filed Sep 10, 2014 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · 47,760 miles · CO

I own a 2007 kia sorento lx with 47,760 miles on it currently (today's date 09/10/2014). The first symptoms happened a few months ago where my car would hesitate upon acceleration and/or I would be traveling between 30-45 MPH and the car would begin bucking/jerking for a few seconds. This was very intermittent and random. If I took my foot off the gas pedal, then reapplied the gas the car would be fine. Then that symptom went away and I gained a new symptom. I was driving approximately 30 MPH, when all of the sudden my ecs off light and check engine light came on simultaneously, and I instantly lost power/acceleration. It appears that when this happens the car goes into "limp home" mode? It has happened twice to me in the past 3 days. This is very dangerous because the loss of power/acceleration is instant, it happens without warning, and it does not matter how fast you are going. This could cause loss of life if it happens on a highway at a high rate of speed. All of these symptoms began to appear right after I had the recalls done on my vehicle (I.e. Brake switch and ECM upgrade). My car was fine before I had the recalls done.

Filed Jul 21, 2011 · Transmission · 30,000 miles · OR · crash

My 2007 kia sorento was involved in two accidents in 2009-10. Both were as a result of a faulty 4-wheel drive mechanism. When we purchased the car in 2007, we reported to the dealership that when the car was in 4-wheel drive and stopped to turn, it made a jerking movement that was dangerous. We were told it operated as designed. On february 21, 2010, I was turning into my garage in central oregon on ice, the car was in 4-wheel drive and it made a series of lurching movements which caused the car to slide into the garage wall. I still have the dent in the passenger door from that incident. On october 27, 2009 on my way to work, I noticed the temperature was 31 degrees, and put my ("on the fly" 4-wheel drive) car into 4-wheel drive. I immediately went into a 360 spin on a highway. I was driving approximately 40 miles an hour. All four tires were flat when I landed in the dirt on the side of the road. The dealership told me this car isn't an "on the fly" 4-wheel drive even though the manual says it is. I reported both of these accidents to kia safety headquarters. They tell me the car operates as designed, and therefore are not concerned. I am very concerned that someone will die in one of these 2007 kia's when using 4-wheel drive. I know that kia redesigned the sorento in 2008 to be all wheel, and it doesn't have this design defect . However, what about all of us who drive in cold, icy weather many days of the year and need our 4-wheel drive? Do we just hope the jerking motion when we are stopped and turning will not cause us to slide into something? Do we stop every time we need to put our "on the fly" four wheel drive in play? Kia needs to fix our cars so they are safe for the entire 100,000 mile warranty period!

Filed May 10, 2010 · Transmission · 58,000 miles · SC

Tl* the contact owns a 2007 kia sorrento. While driving at speeds of 35 MPH, the vehicle abnormally began jerking violently and stalled. The vehicle was towed to the dealer yet the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was left in the dealer's possession where the contact was awaiting further diagnostic testing. The current and failure mileages were 58,000.

Filed Jul 22, 2008 · Airbags, Electrical · 600 miles · AL · crash · 1 injury

Tl*the contact owns a 2007 kia sorento. Three days after purchasing the vehicle, the air bag light illuminated, which indicated that the passenger side air bag was deactivated. While driving between 40-45 MPH, the vehicle hesitated and jerked. When the vehicle is stopped at a stop sign or a red light, the exterior lights shut off. The contact has had to strike the dashboard in order to get the air conditioning to work. In addition, none of the windows will roll down. The blinkers, turn signal, and cruise control do not work. After owning the vehicle for ten months, the alternator had to be replaced and it currently needs to be replaced again. The rails to step up into the vehicle had to be replaced twice. During a crash with a deer, both the driver's and passenger side air bags failed to deployed and the seat belts did not work. As a result, the passenger sustained a broken arm. On two occasions, when the vehicle was taken to the dealer, the contact was informed that the tires needed to be rotated and aligned. On the third occasion, she was informed that the vehicle was out of warranty. Since owning the vehicle, she has been to the dealer several times with many complaints, but they have never made any repairs. A hyundai inspector stated that the entire vehicle was out of specifications. The failure mileage was 600. Updated 09/23/08. *lj the consumer hit a deer and the air bags did not deploy and the seat belts did not perform as they were designed. The transmission would delay in shifting and would not shift in the correct gear. Updated 09/24/08.

Filed Jan 4, 2008 · Acceleration · 1,050 miles · LA

I bought my 2007 kia sorento in october 2007, and I have had it into the shop more times then I can count for a violent jerking, stuttering, stalling. Each time I take it in the service department drives it and tells me they can't find anything wrong with it. I had it in a couple of weeks ago and they adjusted the air intake valve which helped but did not solve the problem. If they can't fix it soon it will be pushed off a cliff....

Filed Dec 21, 2007 · Transmission · 7,800 miles · WA

I have a two wheel drive 2007 kia sorento. When I drive between 35 and 50 MPH the car begins to jerk, sometimes violently. I have taken it twice to the dealer to have it looked at. The dealer has contacted kia engineers who say that the jerking is within acceptable parameters and nothing will be done to fix the problem. They have described the problem as being called a fish bite. The invoice for service states that "this is normal tcc lock up at lower speeds low RPM in lockup."

Filed Oct 30, 2007 · Transmission · 110 miles · NC

In july, 2007, I purchased a 2007 kia sorento. On my first occasion to drive on the interstate, coming home from work, I encountered a major shudder or jerking when traveling at approximately 35 MPH. The interstate was very show traveling due to an accident. When I tried to accelerate, the car shuddered (or jerked) several times extremely hard but then straightened out. The hard shudders occur at approximately 35 to 45 MPH. Also, when traveling with the cruise control engaged, if I have to disengage the cruise control due to slowing traffic, I press the middle cruise control button and take over manually. When traffic picks back up, I press the "resume" button, again...the shudder. The shudder or jerking always happens upon acceleration. When attempting a hill at 35 to 45 MPH, the car loses power all together and really struggles until reaching the top. I had contacted the dealership and taken the sorento in for repair. The service manager drove the car, did in fact experience the shudder, but was unable to come up with a solution to fix it. He contacted his district manager who said he was working a car with the same problem and was trying to find a "cure." I have taken my car back to the dealership and even drove with the service manager. He acknowledges the problem but, again, at this time, there is no solution as to how to fix it. I contacted kia headquarters to see if they were working on trying to find a solution to fix the shudder. I was told that this is probably a characteristic of the car and would be considered "normal" performance for the sorento. I find this totally unacceptable. I had driven a loaner sorento when mine was in for maintenance and it did not do the shudder. I am very disappointed with my sorento and am considering trading again.

Filed Oct 5, 2007 · Transmission · 959 miles · WA

Tl*the contact owns a 2007 kia sorento. While driving at various speeds, mainly between 42 and 45 MPH, the vehicle jerks and vibrates. The vehicle has been taken to the dealer on four occasions. The second time, the dealer replaced the driveshaft, however, the failure still persists. The current mileage was 1,600 and failure mileage was 959. Updated 12-12-07. *kb the dealer wasn't sure what the problem was. They stated the problem may be a software or torque converter issue. Updated

Filed Apr 5, 2007 · Transmission · 100 miles · NC

I purchased a 2007 kia sorento on 1/6/07 from chris leith kia in wake forest, nc. Not long after I bought it, I noticed that it frequently jerked when accelerating at higher rates of speed. On 1/11/07, I took the car back to the dealer and complained of the problem. At that time they told me it was the electronic throttle body which was self adjusting ,and would fix itself as I drove it. The vehicle continued to struggle, so I took it back to kia on 3/5/07. They had the vehicle for 3 days. After correspondence with kia, I was told to come pick up the vehicle. They told me that kia was aware of the problem and that they were working on a solution. It is believed to be a software issue. As of today, 4/5/07, I still have no solution to my problem. I have been in touch with the dealer, and have been told that they are still working on a solution. I am very frustrated! A brand new vehicle should not run like this!!!