Vehicle was statiomary and not on. Started smoking from dash and smoke coming out door, caught on fire went up to the roof and across to the passenger seat. When fire department came they had to cut open the hood, car randomly started while on fire to unhook the battery.
2011 Kia Sorento electrical complaints
Page 6 of 9: complaints 131 to 160 of 246, newest first, as owners wrote them.
The electrical malfunction of the airbag has drained and caused the battery to go dead. Also has messed up the controls in the steering wheel.
Headlight housing has become overheated and melted causing me to replace one headlight at $900. When it happened again I spliced the new housing yet the bulb keeps blowing needing replaced. There is knocking in the engine that gets worse when my speed increases and have been told that it sounds like the engine is not getting enough oil. The head gasket has been replaced and it still seems to be burning or losing oil. The indicator lights on the dashboard all randomly come on and then go off. While driving the car seemed to lose power at times then would die at a stop light. This all has been going on for the past six months or more. In the past year I have paid $1900 plus on random repairs
We have replaced the alternator several times in the past year.
Power door locks do not lock, by door button, by remote key fob or more importantly when the car is taken out of the park position. Doors do successfully unlock via remote, door button and when the car is put into the parked position. Doors can only be locked manually.
Low beam assembly wiring on both low beams has melted. This has been reported in numerous car blogs as a known issue.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 kia sorento. While driving 30 MPH, the air bag warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer (jim ellis kia of kennesaw, 1221 auto park drive northwest, kennesaw, ga 30144) where it was diagnosed that the clockspring needed replacement. The contact stated that the clockspring was replaced, but was concerned that the air bag inflator was not also replaced. The contact was also concerned that the vehicle might have an electrical failure because the headlights failed to illuminate and the headlight bulbs had been replaced several times. The same dealer stated that the air bag warning indicator would remain illuminated because there was also a failure with the air bag sensor in the seats. The contact stated that the air bag sensor in the seats was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was made aware of the failures and informed the contact that she would be responsible for the cost of the air bag seat sensor replacement. The failure mileage was 96,000.
Both low headlight bulbs have gone out many times. Despite being replaced, they continue not to work. The wiring seems to have a short in it because when it is wiggled the light comes on but goes right back out. The socket is very hot to touch and smells hot. I'm afraid the wiring will cause a fire. This has happened to both front low beam lights. Most recently today to the passenger side light. I currently have two non workable low lights
The past two weeks or so, the left side steering wheel controls have not been working properly. The volume up button is turning the volume down. I have researched and found out that many other people with all types of kia vehicles are having this problem. For most, it has turned out to be a defective or faulty clock-spring in the steering wheel. I contacted the dealership and they acted stunned. It can't be a secret because so many other complaints are out there online. It says I have zero active recalls at this moment, when I just received a recall in the mail this week for the door latches in my 2011 kia sorento. That makes me believe there is a communication problem somewhere. The last time I took it in for a recall, the center console panel didn't get put back together properly and it doesn't fit down over my cupholders properly. It left a gap under the radio panel because of it. I will bring this to the dealerships attention again when I take it in for my most recent recall letter. However, this steering control problem is happening far more than it should, so there should be a recall for the owners. If the clock-spring is defective and someone is in an accident while turning their steering wheel, then the air bag is not going to deploy, which could result in a loss of life. That is a safety concern, and it should be a top priority for kia motors to issue the recall!!! It happens to me when I am in motion and also while I am parked.
Was driving my kia and suddenly could no longer drive pulled over n traffic and could only put the e brake on. Nothing else would go in to gear drive reverse and the brakes were not working properly. So put the e brake on and called tow truck..took it to made in america made in japan..and the say its the input shaft..exactly described on recall for my VIN # [xxx] . Manufacture call#sc124. The federal safety agency# 15v626 .this happened on 225 placerville rd folsom on friday 1/5/2017 .its currently still at made in america made in japan..please contact. Me a.s.a.p [xxx] . [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
There have been 2 instances where most or all the warning lights came on while driving. Both times I have been on the highway at normal steady speeds. The first time they stayed on for the duration of the ride, which was about 40 minutes, and then were off by the next morning when I drove the car again. The second time I turned the car off and back on to see if that would reset it, but they were still on, and stayed on until later that evening. I didn't notice any performance issues, but I was on an interstate road in good dry normal driving conditions. These 2 occurrances have happened within the past year, and as recently as a month ago.
I have owned this vechicle since it was new. Kia has replaced at least 3 rear view cameras in my rear lift gate. The last one was on 2/10/2016. Now this camera is malfunctioning, all I see is interference. I can't see anything passing across the rear of my vechicle like a child or short adult. Kia can't develop a functioning camera so theyshould have to keep replacing them until they do. I wouldn't have purchased this vechicle without a camera it's rear window is very high. This is a daily ongoing problem.
For several months now, the dashboard warning lights have come on, usually four at a time as I'm driving. It seems to happen most often when it's raining. I had the kia dealer in las cruces, nm try to determine the problem when I had the car in for a couple recalls about two years ago. They could not determine the cause of the problem. About 3 months ago I had a shop with a aaa master mechanic try to determine the problem and they also could not determine the reason the warning lights were coming on. They could not find a short in the wiring that I thought might be the cause. The lights eventually go off, usually after the car has not been driven for several hours or overnight. I'm concerned that, although I've not experienced significant problems when the dash warning lights come on, could a possible real safety issue occur if one of the systems indicated by the lights actually malfunction? For a while when the lights came on, the car's steering seemed to be effected--on windy curvy roads the car would definitely over steer on curves, as though someone else were in control. I would appreciate any information you might have on similar problems and how they were corrected. Thank you.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 kia sorento. While driving various speeds, the ABS, stability control, and downhill traction warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to riverchase kia (2200 us-31, pelham, al 35124 (205) 987-6518) where it was diagnosed with a defective module that needed replacement. The vehicle was not repaired because the dealer stated that the recall expired. The contact stated that the dealer did not provide the recall information. The dealer also stated that in may of 2017, while the vehicle was at the dealer for an oil change, they checked a module that controlled the warning indicators, but the module was fine and covered it in silicone. The contact was informed that he would have to pay for the repairs. The contact was also informed that a part in the rear drum needed replacement along with the module. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failures. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.
When driving at stable speed the vehicle often "feels" as if the gas is not getting to the motor. The speed of the car varies, regardless of the amount of pressure on the gas pedal. The car also shows low tire light, along with all lights on the dashboard at random times. The lights will appear when you start the vehicle and the tire pressure light remains on at all times.
Back up camera doe's not work some times causes problem when backing up you can not judge distant behind vehicle can be dangerous when you cant see if there is a person walking behind you. Problem may be in the camera lots of the same problem is talked about on the internet by other people with the same problem.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 kia sorento. The contact stated that the instrument cluster failed and different warning indicators illuminated, such as the all wheel drive and check engine. Also, the odometer failed and the speedometer would not display speeds past 20 MPH. The vehicle was taken to three different dealers (midtown kia in tulsa, ok, boomer kia in oklahoma city, ok, and bob moore kia in oklahoma city, ok). The dealers were unable to replace the instrument cluster and reprogram it because it was against state laws. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.
Blower motor resistor found not to be working. Wondering if others have had this problem. No heat or A/C.
After driving 8 miles to my destination I parked the car and turned off the engine. I immediately saw and smelled smoke coming from under the hood. I got out, called 911, and began to see flames. The police arrived in less than 5 minutes but by then the hood of the car was on fire and by the time the firefighters arrived the car was completely in flames. There was never a warning light on the dashboard to indicate anything was wrong. We always take it in for all its routine maintenance and checkups with the kia dealer. It was just into the dealer 2 weeks ago.
Symptomatic of previous PCM/ecu failure. Pcm was replaced 3 months after purchasing 2011 kia sorento new.
Driver side front door handle wont open door.
My driver side door just stopped working from the outside. It unlocks, but the handle does not open the door. This is such an inconvenience, not to mention a safety issue. I searched and see tons of complaints about the same thing, but no recall. I am so surprised at kia for not taking responsibility
Drivers side,rear seat passenger door lock does not open from outside or inside. The door locks are electrically opened via key fob opener. I had this difficulty before but had been able to open from inside. I am fearful that the child lock on the jamb of the door may have been flipped to the locked position. In any event the door will not open. The vehicle was purchased used in aug of 2015 with 46k on odometer. The unlocking issues were noted when the vehicle was stationary as the door locks originally engaged when the transmission was placed in drive. The locking problem was likely first noted in early fall of 2016. By november of 2016 the door would neither open with the key fob button, electrical switches on the master door control on the drivers and front seat passenger interior arm rests, or the the interior passenger door handle from the inside. The remainder of the locks have not failed to open with the key fob, electric switches or with the interior door handles. This situation presents a safety concern particularly to driver's side rear passenger as exit from the vehicle through the door is not possible at this point. The situation has not yet been repaired.
This vehicle has the ABS light, traction control light, and the downhill assist lights that comes off and on whie diving the vehicle. After driving for a while than they may go off, now they are back on and they are staying on which my wife is sceptical of having on and so am I, when I checked tis problem on the internet fr complaints ther we many for this same problem and the dealers can't seem to know how to fix the issue. I wrate a letter to the kia corperate office today to see what can be don with this problem.
Push button start. Sometime it starts and some time it does not. Hit and miss. Battery replaced. Alternator replaced, starter check. Car does not always start the 1st, 2,3,4,or 5th time
Driver side door on my 2011 kia sorento stopped working yesterday,. Would not open by remote or key. I had to climb in and crawl over to drivers door to get into car. This is a serious defect that could result in death or injury to me and my passengers during a very common event in houston - flooding. If I was pinned in my car going under water and no one could open the door by any means then I would drown. Just how many complaints do u need to have to recall your obvious defect? I have seen an alarming number of people who have complained to you on the same but no actions are taken by kia to remediate this dangerous default. People have been charged up to $900 to kia dealership to fix their shoddy cost saving cheap door only to have the other door(s) on their car go out within weeks. In other words, we should always be ready for this much reported safety hazard! It is going to flood in houston tomorrow...hope I am not trapped in my car due to your negligence. Oh and there are lots of other issues that could happen, unable to get my grandchildren out of the car in a houston summer!
2011 kia sorrento/the car the lock mechanism failed. The car will not lock with the key fob or when pushing the locks in the door. Approximate failure was 80,000 miles. Took it to the dealer said I was over mileage for the repair. It will cost about $800 for repair. I am seeking advice to see if extended warranty will cover this cost. I have already replaced the front drivers door latch, I received a letter saying the repair on the locks would be done but apparently it does not cover this part. 5 year old car no locks work at all.
In the last week, the vehicle shut down completely while driving. The first time it happened on the highway while driving 70mph - the car shut off and dropped to 50mph, the steering wheel locked but it started back up. Twenty minutes later while driving 25mph on a side road, the same thing happened. And then again while in a drive thru line. This has since happened twice while on the highway. The vehicle does start back up again but it is obviously unsafe to drive, especially on the highway. After researching the issue, I found there was a recall on 2011-2013 models with the same issue. I contacted kia and was told my vehicle was not part of the recall but to bring it in and have it looked at. I have an appointment on monday, december 19, 2016 to have several other recall items corrected.
I bought my car in 2011 by 2013 the rear passenger door does not open at all, driver side wont open from out side. Then 2014 ABS light on, controls on steering wheel for phone, cruise and volume don't work. Shifting to park or drive isn't catching all the time, and door locks click open & close randomly. I do not feel safe driving my car.
Already filed complaint about 2 doors that you cannot open from the outside of the vehicle when unlocked, now I have a 3rd door that won't open from the outside while unlocked. Gonna have to climb in from the hatchback pretty soon. They all open from the inside, not the outside. So now I have to leave the child safety locks open all the time, hopefully my 3 yr olds won't pull on the door handle from the inside and fall out of the vehicle. All this within the last 3 weeks. I'm guessing somebody has to die before this will be recalled. Going to call dealer today to see what they say.
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