My 2023 Kia Sorento has experienced repeated failures involving the engine, transmission/powertrain, and electrical wiring system. The vehicle has been inspected and repaired multiple times by authorized Kia dealerships, including Kia of Round Rock and Clay Cooley Kia in Irving, and the repair history and vehicle are available for inspection upon request. The most serious incident occurred on XXX, while I was driving on the [XXX]. The vehicle suddenly lost acceleration, began smoking, and experienced a catastrophic engine-related failure, creating a serious safety concern while I was traveling on a high-speed roadway. The vehicle had to be towed to Clay Cooley Kia, where it remained for approximately three months and the engine and related components were replaced. After receiving the vehicle back on XXX, a significant oil leak developed approximately five days later. The vehicle was returned for service, the problem was confirmed, and it ultimately required a transmission replacement. On approximately XXX, multiple/all dashboard warning lights illuminated, and Kia subsequently replaced the wiring harness. The vehicle continued to experience problems and was towed to Kia again. In XXX, Kia determined that another transmission replacement was necessary. The vehicle has now had three transmissions associated with it, in addition to the replacement engine and wiring harness. XXX, the vehicle is still malfunctioning despite being on its third transmission. Current symptoms include the RPMs suddenly surging/revving higher than expected, jerking while driving, and a noticeable delay between pressing the accelerator and the vehicle accelerating. These symptoms create a safety concern because I cannot confidently predict how the vehicle will respond when accelerating, merging into traffic, crossing an intersection, or traveling at highway speeds. I am concerned that the repeated engine failure. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11763054 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

On multiple occasions, my 2023 Kia Sorento has experienced an intermittent failure where numerous dashboard warning lights and alerts illuminate and the engine will not start. During the failure, the brake pedal becomes very stiff and the vehicle cannot be shifted out of Park. The problem is unpredictable and has left the vehicle disabled. The vehicle was taken to a Kia dealership for diagnosis. The dealer initially stated that the battery was not properly secured and was moving around, possibly contacting nearby electrical components. They told me the issue had been repaired. However, when I returned to pick up the vehicle, the exact same failure occurred again in the dealership parking lot before I was able to leave. The warning lights came on and, after the vehicle was turned off, it would not restart. The dealer has therefore been able to directly observe the repeated failure. The exact component causing the malfunction is still unknown. I am concerned that this may be an electrical or grounding issue and that the vehicle could become disabled unexpectedly while in use.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11759161 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

The brakes failed; they felt spongy, as if my foot were pressing directly against the road. The car accelerated and I headed toward a wall; the sensors didn't stop the vehicle. It came to a halt against the wall after the impact. I was on my way to the repair shop for a scheduled appointment due to electrical problems.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11757893 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

The contact owns a 2023 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, there was an abnormal squealing sound coming from the steering wheel and the steering wheel was difficult to turn. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact stated that the vehicle received an unstated repair; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 1,328.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11562990 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

I own two Nuna RAVA car seats, and both have developed unraveling/tearing of the two-point harness buckle/strap between the child’s legs. One seat had noticeable tearing, which prompted me to closely inspect the second seat, where I found the same area beginning to unravel. I contacted Nuna and was initially advised to use glue or tape on the damaged area. After expressing my safety concerns about that, Nuna acknowledged that the damage is a safety hazard and instructed me to discontinue use of both seats. However, they refused to repair or replace the seats and instead offered a 10% discount toward purchasing a new seat. I am concerned that the same safety-critical component is failing on two separate car seats and that Nuna is acknowledging the hazard while requiring me to pay hundreds of dollars to replace the seats. Both seats are still within the expected usable life of the product. I believe this warrants investigation as a potential safety defect.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11761341 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

The panoramic sunroof on my 2023 Kia Sorento intermittently fails to close. When commanded to close, the glass travels most of the way, then stops or reverses before reaching the fully closed position. It frequently takes many repeated attempts. In some cases the panel will not seat at all until the vehicle is driven over rough pavement, and the resulting vibration allows it to complete closure. The malfunction is accompanied by a loud grinding or scraping noise from the roof assembly during travel. This condition has been present since I purchased the vehicle new. The sunroof has seen very limited use. Safety risk: the glass panel cannot be reliably secured. An open or unseated panoramic panel at highway speed presents a risk of water intrusion, wind loading on an unsecured glass panel, and loss of roof structure integrity. Repeatedly operating the switch and monitoring the panel while driving is a significant distraction from the driving task, and driving specifically to induce vibration in order to force closure is itself an unsafe workaround. Dealer history: I have reported this to a Kia dealership on multiple occasions. I was told there is no defect and that the cause is debris, which is inconsistent with a vehicle purchased new with minimal sunroof use. On one visit the dealer cleaned the assembly as a goodwill gesture. This did not correct the noise or the closure failure. The vehicle was returned to me as repaired while the noise and the failure to close were both still present. Kia issued Technical Service Bulletin BOD125 (Rev 1, 02/27/2017) describing a slow-to-close condition and abnormal closing noise on the prior-generation Sorento (UMa), remedied by cleaning and lubricating the rear guide rails and replacing the rear tilt levers. My vehicle exhibits the same failure mode described in that bulletin. The component is available for inspection on request. No warning lamps or messages preceded or accompanied the failure.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11751824 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

I believe my car should be in the ac recall for faulty ac motor/wire harness due to my ac is only cooling on passenger side. Blowing hot on driver. I’m afraid it may catch fire as I read this can happen.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11756282 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov