Comments: 1-15, 16-30, 31-45, 46-60, 61-75, 76-77
Similar issues here with our '05 Sorento; seems we need to replace the rotors every 9,000 miles, but our dealer was gracious enough to do it despite warranty running out after 12,000 miles. However, we again have the same problem and this time the dealer will not warranty the item, so they turned the rotors for us, yet within a few months they were warped. We are researching now after market rotors to replace the POS parts Kia uses that were designed for their little compact cars. No more Kias for me.
I bought a KIA Sorento new back in 2003. Since then I have had to replace numerous headlamps and tail lights. But the Kicker is I have had to replace not 1 or 2 but 3 radiator overflow tanks, causing my engine to overheat. Each one has had a crack in the bottom of the tanks. The latest one just happening in the beginning of Oct. 2007. This one cost me $327.04. The only thing that I keep hearing is well that part is not in warranty anymore. How about you just admit that there is a problem with that overflow tank.
Update 10/08/2007. Six days out of the shop and now the oil light keeps going on and off and the engine was making loud ticking noises. I just had it towed to a Kia dealer. Again. Gosh, lets see I bet they tell me that because the overflow tank isn't covered by the warranty anymore that I will have to pay to fix this problem.
I also called and complained to Kia customer service. Very polite, but got no help whatsoever. I'm considering contacting a Lawyer to resolve this issue. I can see having a problem once, but not three times. This part is defective and Kia needs to come forward and fix this problem once and for all. When I bought this car I paid good money for it. Now, I wish they would stand behind their product and show just how they care about Customer Satisfaction.
Bill
We have a 2004 KIA Sorento 4 wh, dr.. It's a good car & my wife likes it. But yes, we had all kinds of problems. In 3 months after purchase the instrument panel lights went out, blank at nights. Took it to be repaired, & took about a month & 1/2 before the parts came in, dealer fixed it, but the CD player didn't work. Took almost 2 months before the new CD player came in.
Everything was going good for the first year we had it then panel lights went out again. Dealer found a shortage wire in the door. Fixed it. Then my head lights went out, while driving at night on the winding roads to where we live. I took the car in the next day & again they had to order the parts. Another month or so. Everytime I ask them how long it's going to take for the parts to come in, they say they don't know, they have to order it from the mainland. I told them "you sure not from North Korea"?? This is made in Korea, right??
Well, anyway, now my check engine lights are on now and other problems are popping, like a rattle noise from the rear of the car, brake lights problems, (replacing bulbs often). We are planning to go back to the Ford dealership, cause I think it's American.
Kimo from Hana Hawaii.
We purchased our 05 Sorento in late 04. Here's what we've had to deal with:
Clock: With 4 miles on the odometer, would not keep time. Reset every time the engine was turned off. Dealership fixed the problem. Covered under warranty.
Fuel injector stuck open: Nine months after purchase. KIA sent a wrecker and towed the truck to the dealership. We had to find a ride home, but, the next day the dealership provided us with a car to use while they repaired ours.
Covered under warranty. Since then, every time we start the engine a horrible odor comes out of the air vents.
Check Engine Light: Been in the shop three times for this. It's always an emissions evaporation leak somewhere. Covered under warranty.
Rear rotors: Yes, the rear, not the front had to be replaced at 42,000 miles. NOT covered by warranty.
Headlights and fog lamps: Replaced too many times to recall.
We've discussed this with the dealership service manager and they do not take ownership of the problem. Not covered under warranty.
Regarding the above comments about odometer readings; I too, have noticed the same thing. In the car we owned before the KIA, a trip to my son's school was 11 miles. I clocked the mileage this week in the KIA - shows 12.5 miles. And, my husband has noticed that the trip meter resets itself after a certain number of miles and/or time.
We have also made 3 trips to the dealership for recalls.
Our next vehicle will not be a KIA.
Kia Sorento 2.5XS 2004
Bought the car in March 2006
Took in to dealers for service April 2006
April 2006 first sign of problem when making a slow turn car would come to a halt as though seizing up. I had to accelerate forward to clear the problem. 4 visits to dealer and drive out with Manager the fault could not be found Manager did not have a lot of time to give.
July 2006 mechanic witnessed fault and car taken in for repair. They changed the ECU which has nothing to do with transmission.
Problem was still happening intermittently.
I mentioned to dealer about problem and possible causes.
I e mailed and spoke to him about other Kia users who had reviewed with similar problems.
Asked if he was in touch with Kia Technical.
I was back to dealers every month. One time in dealers car park the problem occurred I asked a mechanic to take a look at problem, but he said he did not do Sorentos. Being concerned that I was not receiving best advice I contacted Kia stating that I had a fault and car was coming out of warranty.
I was told that as long as fault had been there previously I would have no problem in it being repaired. My fears were allayed at this point.
I was told by KCS to let the dealer have the car for a couple of days to test.
Car was given to dealer for a service and to find the problem. I believe car was only taken out once and they could not find the problem.
I was then informed by dealer to keep driving the car and once the fault was more prominent to bring it back.
I rang dealer and KCS approx every month to inform them of how many times the fault was occurring.
Eventually problem was occurring every day got to dealer September 2006 and was able to show mechanic the fault that he has diagnosed as the Differential.
Guess what Kia say its out of warranty and will only pay 35% of parts. I have sent a letter off to Kia. If anyone has a problem during warranty make sure they fix it. Anyone had a problem and ended up out of warranty?
I have a 2005 Sorento. At 300 miles front rotors were replaced. They have also been machined twice, are bad again at 25000 miles and back rotors were rusted and machined once. I was told they come over the ocean on a boat and that is why they rusted. Was at a dealership for oil change and the tech told me he just replaced rotors on a Sorento with 156 miles on it. Brand NEW CAR
People really need to get the media involved so that maybe we can get something done about this. I am sooooo sorry I sold my Durango. I called the main kia number and they document, but are absolutely no help and deny there is a problem.
I owe a 2006 KIA Sorento, the front rotors need replacement after 14,000 miles, they started wobbling after 10,000 miles, the pads show minimal wear. For some reason the factory rep agreed to replace them! This seems like a recurrent problem, based on previous comments. so I will be seeing it again. Is there a good after market replacement?
I own a Sorento '05 and have had front and rear lights replaced too many to count. Front rotors twice--first near 10,000 and warranty covered, second at 74000. Clock and interior lighting died at 75000 too. The warranty has so many loop-holes. Lots of people ask me if I would recommend the KIA and my response is absolutely not.
I purchased a 2006 Kia Sorento EX at $28,000. I have has nothing, but grief with the brakes! I was told that the REAR brake rotors are warped and need to be replaced, but that it will not be covered under warranty since the car is now one month over being a "year old" (however, it has less than 12,000 miles on it. The Kia service manager said he has never heard of this problem before regarding the rotors being warped and wearing out at this low mileage. However, it appears he is blowing smoke up my butt after reading all of these comments! I'm not sure if it's consoling to read these comments or if it angers me further... I would love to sell this and get a different car...
We bought a 2003 KIA Sorento and it has been I nightmare. Why won't KIA recall this SUV? We have made three payments on it and had to pay out every time to have something fixed; first was the coolant bottle, 2nd was the power steering pump, 3rd is the switch for the 4 wheel drive.
After reading all the comments about the rotors, I'm almost afraid to say I've never had that particular problem, but I'm going around with KIA about my transmission. It won't go into passing gear after the car warms up, or if it does, it won't go back into 4th. I have an '06 Sorento, my second one. My 2003 was perfect, and I cry every night that I turned it in on this nightmare. I sometimes end up going 30 mph up the mountain in the truck lane because my car simply loses power. I've had it checked twice by KIA and they deny there's a problem, tell me to pull to the side of the road, turn it off, then turn it back on. Balderdash!! I tell them I have to drive the mountain every day to get to work and it's a dangerous position they have me in, but they don't care. They said at first that it was a software problem, the computer's setting for tranny fluid was too low, so it went into "save" mode. Then they said that it was an altitude problem. So I asked, don't you sell Sorentos in Colorado? Do you have special settings for cars sold there?
Bottom line is, they refuse to take responsibility for their junk cars and I'll never buy another KIA as long as I live. They're junk and the 100,000 mile/10 year warranty is like toilet paper. They won't honor it. At this point I've gotten my attorney involved.
I have a 2003 Kia Sorento. I just hit 69,000 today... and the check engine light came on... exactly at 69,000! Is this a pre-programmed thing to get it up on the dealer hoist for a diagnostic, followed by a hefty bill?!? I have an extended warranty, but still take it to my mechanic because my dealership is so ineffective it's not even funny.
The vibrating brakes have been an issue since about a year into owning it. The dealer says there's nothing that can be done to fix it. All of the hinge covers in the cargo bay have broken off (and there hasn't been hardly a thing put in the cargo bay that could have caused this). I'm on my third set of low beams and on my second set of tail lights. The wiper motor burned out within the first year. The dealer did get me a rental, but it was part of my extended warranty.
Finally, the clock constantly lost or gained time within a week of driving it off the lot. After three replacements, I'm happy to report that my clock is running like a champ.
I have an '05 Sorento. Purchased new. It now has 44,000 (96,000kms). I will agree with the headlight issues. Fortunately, there was a recall and the wiring harness has been replaced and touch wood - no more headlight burnouts. The brakes have never been done. Pads & rotors are like new. It has had a door handle replaced and the wiper linkage fixed. It is now in the shop for cold start value rattle. It will be interesting to see what they find.
All in all, I can't complain about the SUV, but would I buy another? Not likely. The maintenance costs are too rich for my blood. I mean $280 for spark plugs and $700 for a timing change!!!
I own a 2003 Kia Sorento and have owned it from day one. I have experienced most of the nightmares others have spoken of on here plus a few. I estimate that in the last 1 year I have one very close to $5000 in repairs on this heap of junk. I have replaced the heater core (over $1000 and 2 weeks in the shop) to have it come out with the air bag light on. Of course they didn't mess up the airbag when they took out the dash to fix the heater core so I had to pay another grand for that. Then some sensor on the engine went and the plastic radiator had a hole too. Another grand down the drain. Nothing is ever covered under warranty and now my engine light and 4 wheel drive lights are on. With this vehicle the problems just never end and are never covered. I would never recommend this car or brand. Customer service is a joke too.
We own a 2005 KIA Sorento, and brake rotors at 9000 miles is a problem that is common, head light bulbs blown and tail light bulbs blown is common.Interior light not coming on when door is opened is common and dealer will fix, a DIODE goes bad.Now at 52000 miles soon it will be time for a timing belt change and another power train fluid change this will cost about $1100 and that is ridiculous.Popping noise in right rear of sorento with sport rails is NOW after about 4 complaints being corrected by a running rail mounting kit change.The wife likes the suv and fuel mileage is about 17,BUT I think I will trade it in on something other than a KIA.Headlight problem is helped with Sylvania bulbs and do NOT use blue xenons, I have had best l;uck with halogen bulbs.