Owner-reported complaints naming the driver-assistance system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2009 Kia Sorento submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 13 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
Currently my ESC OFF warning light is lit on my dash, and while lit my vehicle has trouble accelerating from 0 to 40 mph. The warning light goes on and off at random. I have had the accelerator pedal assembly replacement in 2015 and 2019 due to the same issue. It is NOW happening again in 2022!!!. Is this a design flaw issue? It's definitely a safety issue! How can consumers be protected from these issues?
VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT 65 MPH AND THE ESC LIGHT CAME ON SLOWING THE VEHICLE TO 30 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. WE WERE ALMOST HIT FROM BEHIND. THIS IS HAPPENING 2-3 TIMES A DAY. VEHICLE HAS TO BE TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED EVERY TIME. THIS IS A LIFE THREATENING INCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. TAKEN TO DEALER NO RECALL. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION EVERY TIME THE ESC/ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON.
LESS THAN A WEEK AFTER GETTING THIS CAR, IT STARTED HAVING INTERMITTENT NO ACCELERATION! THE FIRST CODES WERE 02 SENSOR BUT IT WAS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM, I ONLY DROVE THE CAR 1000 NO IN A YEAR AND I JUST HAD IT REPAIRED I THOUGHT UNDER WARRANTY WITH TRANSMISSION CODES AS WELL AS A.C. WHICH WAS FIXED, BUT 2ND TIME DRIVING AND SAME THING, I COULD PUSH THE THROTTLE TO THE FLOOR AND NOT GO OVER 10MPH! I HAVE SEEN SO MANY OF SAME COMPLAINT! I HAVE NEARLY BEEN CRASHED INTO MULTIPLE TIMES, HAD TO PULL OFF INTERSTATE...I HAVE CALLED FREEDOM KIA AND DIDN'T GET CALL BACK AS PROMISED. I AM SCARED TO DRIVE THIS CAR AND SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE NOW! I AM DISABLED, AND HAVE A GRANDBABY! WHY ARE YOU PEOPLE NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THIS?? YOUR JOB IS TO PROTECT US! THE WARRANTY IS UP IN 10DAYS AND IT'S NOT GOING TO BE FIXED AS YOU CAN SEE BY SO MANY COMPLAINTS! I WANT ACTION NOW WITH THE KIA DEALERSHIP. IF I GET IN AN ACCIDENT, THERE WILL BE MANY LAWSUITS, INCLUDING YOU FOR NOT DOING YOUR JOBS!
MY 2009 KIA SORENTO,I WAS DRIVING DOWN MAIN ROAD GOING ABOUT 55 WHEN ALL SUDDEN MY POWER DROPPED TO ABOUT 20,LUCKY I WAS NOT ON INTERSTATE ARE PULLING ON TO INTERSTATE,HAD TO HAVE TOWED IN,SAID SOMETHING TO DO WITH GAS PEDAL,WELL THOUGHT WAS FIXED,NOPE,I HAVE HAD CAR FOR A YEAR AND HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES,IT IS A RECURRING PROBLEM,I AM SCARED TO DRIVE IT BUT IN TOWN AND BACK,PAYING 400 A MONTH FOR 5 YEARS FOR A CAR I AM SCARED TO DRIVE,IF THIS IS A RECURRING THING,WHY DOES KIA NOT FIX THIS PROBLEM,I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER KIA WHEN THEY DON'T STAND BEHIND THERE PTODUCT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA SORENTO. WHILE REVERSING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO SHIFT THE GEAR INTO DRIVE AND THE ESC SENSOR ILLUMINATED. PREVIOUSLY, THE ESC INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE TURNING A CORNER. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT; HOWEVER, THE ACCELERATION WAS VERY SLOW. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (KIA OF CHATTANOOGA LOCATED AT 2136 CHAPMAN RD, CHATTANOOGA, TN, 37421) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ESC NEEDED TO BE RESET AND OR REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 53,900.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA SORENTO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE BRAKES DISENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED IN A FORWARD MOTION VOLUNTARILY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL WAS FAILING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 67 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MILEAGE DROPPED FROM 67 MPH TO APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE PEDAL ASSEMBLY SHORTED OUT. THE THROTTLE PEDAL WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE CONTACT REFERENCED A RECALL ON THE 2016 MODEL (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V089000); HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000. UPDATED 09/29/16*LJ *JS
SHORTLY AFTER BUYING SUV IN 2009 WE EXPERIENCED "QUERKY" STUFF LIKE DOORS RELOCKING, DOME LIGHT S COMING ON, BACK HATCH UNLOCKING ALL THIS HAPPENING ON THEIR OWN!! I KEPT TELLING THE DEALERSHIP AT OIL CHANGES! THEY KEPT IGNORING IT ALL! NOV 1, 2009 KIA ELECTRIC SYSTEM SERVICE BULLETIN #282603 (TS B-044) ISSUED. SEPTEMBER THE CHECK ENGINE AND ESC OFF LIGHTS STARTED COMING ON TOGETHER, SUV IMMEDIATELY DECENDS TO 15-20 MPH! YOU CAN'T GIVE IT GAS, ONLY RPMS RISE HIGH! GAS IS EATEN UP! COAST TO SIDE, SIT A FEW TO 20 MINUTES. MAYBE BOTH OR ESC OFF LIGHT(S) GO OUT AND YOU PROCEED. HAVE NOTICED A BUCK FEELING BEFORE LIGHT(S) ARE COMING ON AT TIMES. CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS MAY STAY ON FOR A WHILE OR NOT. HABITUALLY ERRATIC WHEN LIGHTS COME ON, CAN BE EVERY MILE TO SEVERAL MILES! LAST WEEK SUV WITH OUT THESE LIGHTS STARTED RUNNING REAL ROUGH AT IDLE AND DRIVING. TO THE POINT OF REVING OVER 2000 RPMS BUT ACTED LIKE BEING HELD BACK! I HAVE BEEN RELUCTANT TO DRIVE IT MUCH IN FEAR OF THE ADVANCING ISSUES AND HURTING THE POWER TRAIN! AT IDLE RANGE IS 300 ' 1,800+ RPMS, MECHANIC WITNESSED THE VARYING RPMS WHEN CODE 1611 (TIME OUT:ECM,PCM,TCM ISSUE) CAME UP ON SNAP-ON'S CODE READER. SUV HAS BABY MILES OF 29,884 NOW 30,004 TODAY. ALL SUV'S ON FORUMS ARE OVER 50,000 MILES! ~ LOW IDLE KIA CALLS FOR TPS REPLACEMENT ~ SEPTEMBER 7, 2011. MY SUV THROWS P1295/P2135/P2106 CODES LISTED IN THIS! CALLS FOR THE ECM BE REPROGRAMED USING THE GDS (GLOBAL DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM). REF: 044 BULLETIN. DRIVING YOU CAN FEEL THE ENGINE SLOW DOWN TO ALMOST STALLING BUT CATCHES ITSELF AND KEEPS RUNNING. 1ST TIME THIS HAPPENED I WAS DOING 55MPH AND FOUND I WAS SLOWING REAL FAST WITH TRAFFIC COMING UP BEHIND ME. I NOW HAVE TO RIDE WITH 4 WAY FLASHERS TO BE SAFE! CHK ENG ON WHEN KEY IS TURNED ON AT TIMES NOW. TOWED 1X, DRIVE A MILE SIT MINUTES REPEAT'D 8X. ISSUES ARE PROGRESSING!
ALMOST A YEAR AGO, I WAS DRIVING ON THE TURNPIKE WITH A POSTED 65 MPH WHEN MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON AND THE ESC OFF LIGHT LIGHTS UP ON THE DASH. I STARTED LOSING ACCELERATION AND COULDN'T GO ABOVE 40 MPH. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND CONTACTED THE GARAGE. THEY TOLD ME TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND RESTART IT. THE ESC OFF LIGHT WENT OUT AND I WAS ABLE TO ACCELERATE NORMALLY BUT, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON FOR 2 MORE DAYS. EVERYTHING WAS FINE UNTIL 8 MONTHS LATER WHEN MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND ESC OFF LIGHT LIT UP AGAIN AND I COULDN'T ACCELERATE PAST 40 MPH. HOWEVER, THIS TIME I HAD TO PULL OVER - TURN OFF THE CAR - RESTART MY CAR( 6 TIMES) TO TURN OFF THE ESC OFF LIGHT!!! TWICE THIS JULY THE SAME SITUATION HAPPENED AND I TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE. OF COURSE ALL LIGHTS WERE OUT AT THE TIME. THERE WERE ERROR CODES ON THE COMPUTER BUT WHILE CONVERSING WITH THE TECHNICIANS THEY BELIEVE IT'S A FAULTY GAS PEDAL/ACCELERATOR AND NOT TIRE/BRAKE SENSOR CODES. I WAS GIVEN A QUOTE OF $350 FOR REPLACEMENT HOWEVER THIS IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE AND I FEEL THE CONSUMER SHOULDN'T BE RESPONSIBLE FOR CORRECTING THIS PROBLEM AND IT SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUE. MY PARTICULAR CASE HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN LESS THAN A YEAR. OBVIOUSLY, THERE ARE MANY OTHER CONSUMERS HAVING THE SAME DEFECT ISSUE. IT'S NOT SAFE IF YOUR ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION CAN ONLY ACCELERATE TO 40 MPH ON A DANGEROUS ROAD TRAVELED BY COMMUTERS AND BIG RIGS GOING AS HIGH AS 80 MPH OR MORE. THIS IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN! KIA IS PLAYING WITH PEOPLES LIVES HERE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE KIA AND THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY ISSUE...OBVIOUSLY IT'S NOT STABLE. MA 10/8 UPDATED 3/22/2016*JS UPDATED 12/13/2017*CN
ESC OFF SENSOR AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON WHEN STARTING VEHICLE OR WHEN IN MOTION/DRIVING. ESC OFF ILLUMINATES FOLLOWED BY COMPLETE LOSS OF ACCELERATION. WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH TO 70 MPH LIGHT APPEARS AND QUICKLY LOOSES LACK OF THROTTLE ACCELERATION POWR. I'VE HAD THIS HAPPEN (10 PLUS TIMES) SINCE I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE IN 2012 PRE-OWNED FROM KIA DEALERSHIP IN CAPE CORAL,FL. TONIGHT 5/12/15 I WAS HEADING ON HIGHWAY AND STOPPED 3 TIMES EVERY 2 TO 4 MILES (LOST POWER) IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC.. FINALLY,VEHICLE CAME BACK ON MORE FOR ABOUT 10 MILES, WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY GOING 65 TO 70 MPHS VEHICLE SHOWED ESC OFF LIGHT AND LOST ACCELERATION THEN POWER... NO ACCIDENT JUST SWERVED ALOT..
I SUDDENLY LOST POWER OR CONTROL TO THE GAS. I COASTED THE CAR TO MY WORK A FEW MILES AWAY IN OSSEO, WI. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A NEARBY GARAGE, THE LOFT SERVICE CENTER IN OSSEO, WI. THEY HOOKED IT UP TO A COMPUTER AND COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. 10/7/14 THE SAME THING HAPPENED. MY HUSBAND AND I WERE ON A TRIP AND LOST POWER, COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD ABOUT EVERY 20 TO 40 MILES FOR ABOUT 300 MILES UNTIL WE GOT TO THE KIA PRESTIGE IN EAU CLAIRE, WI. THROTTLE BODY SENSOR WAS REPLACED. 4/20/15 SAME THING HAPPENED. I PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT. SHUT OFF THE CAR. WHEN IT WAS RESTARTED, I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT TO KIA PRESTIGE IN EAU CLAIRE, WI. REPLACED THROTTLE BODY AND AIR SENSOR TO AIR FILTER COST $1298. PARTS ARE ONLY GUARANTEED FOR ONE YEAR. I WAS TOLD THIS COULD HAPPEN AGAIN FOR MANY REASONS. I AM AFRAID THIS IS UNSAFE AND I COULD BE REAR-ENDED THE NEXT TIME IT HAPPENS. I CALLED THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-333-4542 AND HAVE A CASE NO. [XXX]. THEY WOULD NOT TELL ME IF THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM OR HOW TO FIX IT. I SEE MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ONLINE. I HAD A KIA RONDO BEFORE THIS AND IT HAPPENED WITH THIS CAR AS WELL. I SEE THIS AS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE AND JUST DON'T WANT TO DIE OR HAVE MY GRANDCHILDREN DIE BECAUSE THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
I WAS DRIVING ALONG A STATE HIGHWAY WHEN MY CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER. "ESC OFF" LITE UP ON THE DASH AS DID AN ANTI LOCK BRAKE LIGHT. I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO A SAFE PLACE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I SHUT THE CAR OFF AND TRIED TO RESTART IT TWICE WITH NO RETURN OF THE POWER. THE ENGINE WOULD RUN BUT DID NOT RESPOND TO THE ACCELERATOR. I SHUT THE CAR OFF AND CALLED FOR A TOW. WHEN THEY ARRIVED 45 MINS LATER HE STARTED THE CAR AND IT WORKED FINE EXCEPT THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. I WAS THEN ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR HOME. I HAD A MECHANIC CHECK THE CAR AND WAS TOLD ALL HE COULD FIND WAS A CODE THAT INDICATED THERE HAD BEEN SOME PROBLEM WITH THE ESC AND THAT THAT PROBLEM HAD SHUT THE GAS OFF TO THE ENGINE. HE RESET THE SYSTEM AND EVERYTHING SEEMED FINE FOR 5 DAYS OR ABOUT 260 MILES. THEN IT OCCURRED AGAIN IN A SITUATION OF INCREASED TRAFFIC. I WAS AGAIN ABLE TO SAFELY GET OFF THE ROAD AND AFTER WAITING ABOUT 10 MINS WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR AND DRIVE HOME. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT IF THIS OCCURRED AT A HIGHER SPEED I WOULD END UP IN AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE KIA DEALER NEXT WEEK, BUT WILL BE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE TO GET MY CAR TO THEM. IT APPEARS THERE HAVE BEEN OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE ADVISE ME IF YOU ARE INVESTIGATING THIS PROBLEM. *TR
WHEN MERGING ONTO THE INTERSTATE (INCREASING SPEED FROM 25MPH AND UP) VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPS AND DOESN'T ALLOW ME TO ACCELERATE AND THE ESC OFF ILLUMINATES ON THE DASH AS WELL AS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. IN ORDER TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE I HAVE TO MOVE OFF OF THE HWY INTO THE EMERGENCY LANE, PUT ON MY FLASHERS, TURN OFF THE VEHICLE, RESTART THE VEHICLE, AND PRESS THE ESC OFF BUTTON. THE VEHICLE THEN STARTS AND I SLOWLY MERGE BACK ONTO THE HWY CAUTIOUS NOT TO ACCELERATE TOO QUICKLY AS THE ENTIRE PROCESS WOULD OCCUR AGAIN. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS IT OCCURS WHEN AN INCREASE IN SPEED IS NEEDED AND IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. I HAVE TAKEN MY VEHICLE IN TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP, THEY 'TIGHTENED SOME WIRES" AND LITERALLY THE NEXT DAY IT OCCURRED AGAIN. *TR
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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