Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2013 Kia Sorento submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 22 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
Steering jerks to left at highway speeds. Feels like motor driven power steering is causing this and leads to over Correctional at highway speeds. Also rear end noise when turning at slow speeds.
Engine keeps shutting off at 50 miles per hr no warning lights or engine codes, this keeps happening every two or 6 days. Mechanic replicated the issue but no engine codes were presented, so no solution. This vehicle is no save to drive. When vehicles shuts off you lose control of the steering wheel. And you can’t start the vehicle back up until you get to a full stop.
On 4/29/22 @ 215 pm whilst deselorating for an off ramp from I-57 in Mattoon IL to enter onto RTE 16. The car made a huge search and a loud knocking near could be heard from the engine compartment. The cabin began to have smoke enter from the air vents. No warning lights where illuminated on the driver's control panel. The noise stopped and the car resumed it regular forward motion. Yet large amounts of smoke could be seen coming from the rear of the car. A min or two later the car smoke got more intense and the cabin and all the drivers warning light illuminated. The car stalled and engine and steering and breaks failed to function. The car coasted to a bit and then had to be pushed off the the busy highway. A security guard from the hospital has seen the smoke coming from the car and when I opened the lock on the hood a huge cloud of smoke rose up he yelled for me to get out of the car as it was going to catch fire. I exited the car and stepped way back from it as he told me to do. He got the smoke to stop. And then looked at the cars engine compartment and said this smells very bad. He pulled the oil dip stick to check it and it smelled of gasoline. He said not to stay in the car but to await the tow truck on a lawn many feet away as he was worried it might catch fire again. The car was towed at my expence ($282.00) to a mechanic who looked at it an said we got very lucky had it not been for that officer the whole car would have caught fire. He stated the engine is seized up and needs a total long block replacement. Total cost to fix it about $5000.00 rough estimate.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN THE RAIN, THE BATTERY FAILURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE LOSS POWER STEERING ASSIST. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WERE NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.
VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AFTER PULLING INTO MY GARAGE, TURNED VEHICLE OFF - KEY WOULD NOT COME OUT OF IGNITION, RESTARTED CAR, BACKED UP, PULLED STRAIGHT FORWARD, MADE SURE WHEEL WAS STRAIGHT, PLACED IN PARK, TURNED OFF IGNITION, KEY WOULD NOT COME OUT OF IGNITION. RESTARTED CAR, BACKED UP, PULLED FORWARD AGAIN AND PARKED, FINALLY ABLE TO REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION. THANKFULLY I WAS HOME AND WAS ABLE TO REMOVE KEY. THIS HAS HAPPED MANY TIMES ON THIS VEHICLE, SOME OF WHICH I HAVE REPORTED ALREADY.
PARKED VEHICLE IN GARAGE (FLAT SURFACE), PUT IN PARK, TURNED OFF VEHICLE; THE IGNITION KEY WOULD NOT TURN BACK TO THE LOCK POSITION, TURNED BACK ON, STRAIGHTED STEERING WHEEL, TOOK OUT OF PARK, PUT BACK IN PARK, TURNED VEHICLE OFF, PULLED BACK ON STEERING WHEEL, PUSHED IN BRAKE AND KEY WOULDN'T COME OUT. ATTEMPTED THIS A 3RD TIME BUT BACKED UP & THEN FORWARD AND FINALLY ABLE TO REMOVE KEY. HAS HAPPENED MANY OTHER TIMES.
WE EXPERIENCED LITERALLY EVERYTHING DESCRIBED ON THE LAST LETTER FOR THE RECALL ON OUR 2013 KIA SORENTO'S ECU, INCLUDING THE VEHICLE SHUTTING OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF ACTIVE INTERSECTIONS, HIGHWAY, AND NORMAL DRIVING OPERATION(S). MY WIFE AND I OWN A VEHICLE (2013 KIA SORENTO), THAT IS THE SUBJECT OF YOUR "VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN TO UPDATE THE ENGINE CONTROL UNIT (ECU)". AFTER THE ECU UNIT WAS REPLACED WE RECEIVED THE ATTACHED LETTER FROM KIA THAT STATES HE HAS A WARRANTY ON THE ENGINE FOR AS LONG AS WE OWN THE VEHICLE. DESPITE THIS LETTER, WE'VE BEEN TOLD BY KIA USA CORPORATE AND LITHIA KIA OF ANCHORAGE THAT OUR VEHICLE IS NO LONGER COVERED BY A WARRANTY DUE TO MILEAGE. I EXPECT SOMEONE IN A HIGHER LEVEL MANAGEMENT TO EXPLAIN, ASFORMERLY REQUESTED. AS OF DECEMBER 23, 2019, WE HAD OUR VEHICLE TOWED TO LITHIA KIA OF ANCHORAGE TO ATTEMPT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED, AND COMMUNICATE WITH KIA USA. KIA HAS DECIDED TO STOP COMMUNICATING WITH US AND WILL NOT SHARE ANY INFORMATION WITH OUR LAW FIRM, PER THEIR OWN GUIDANCE. WE ARE HOPING THIS WILL COMPLETE THIS TEDIOUS METHOD OF VEHICLE REPAIR(S). KIA NEEDS TO EXPLAIN TO US WHY IT WILL NOT HONOR THE WARRANTY AS STATED IN THE LETTER. I AM A RETIRED DISABLED VETERAN AND CAN BE REACHED AT ANY HOUR. PER MY LAW FIRM'S INSTRUCTION(S), WE HAVE CONTACTED AND FILED A CLAIM THROUGH THE STATE OF ALASKA ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE AS WELL.
I WAS DRIVING DOWN RT 121 AT ABOUT 45/50 MILES PER HOUR, ON A STRAIGHT SECTION OF ROAD, WHEN THE AUTOMOBILE JUST DIED. I MANAGED TO COAST INTO A SAFE AREA. THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING. ATTEMPTED TO GET A BATTERY BOOST AND THE TOW TRUCK OPERATOR SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS TURNING OVER DRY BUT WOULD NOT START. THEN THE CAR WAS TOWED TO MECHANIC FALLS GARAGE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO TURN RIGHT, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE DROVE OFF THE ROAD AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 65,000.
AS I WAS TRYING TO PARK I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND APPLY THE BREAK AND PUT IT DOWN INTO DRIVE AS I DROPPED IT TO DRIVE I HEARD A LOUD BANG. ONCE THE BANG HAPPEN THE FRONT LEFT DRIVER'S TIRE SEIZED UP CAR STARTED ACCELERATED BUT WE'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE THE RIGHT TIRE FACING FORWARD THE LEFT TIRE FACING 45 TO THE WEST. AFTER FURTHER EXAMINATION IT LOOKS LIKE THE AXLE HAD BEEN RIPPED RIPPED FROM THE TRANSMISSION AS THERE WAS NOTICEABLY TRANSMISSION FLUID ON THE AXLE
NO OIL LEAK BUT EVERY OIL CHANG THERE IS NO OIL STEERING IS JUST NOT RIGHT
I WAS TRAVELING DOWN A ROUTE 30 IN GREENSBURG, PA AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH. THERE WAS A SLIGHT CLICKING NOISE AND THEN SILENCE. NO NOISE. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE GAS PEDAL WOULD NOT WORK. THE POWER STEERING WOULD NOT WORK. I WAS ABLE TO COAST INTO THE MALL PARKING LOT. I HAD MY VEHICLE TOWED TO ALLWINE CURRY AUTO SEVICE, A LOCAL GARAGE, FOR EVALUATION. I WAS TOLD THAT THE ENGINE WAS SHOT AND THAT A USED ONE COULD BE INSTALLED FOR $3500. WE PURCHASED OUR VEHICLE USED FROM SMAIL KIA IN MAY 2017. WE HAVE OUR OIL CHANGED EVERY 6000 MILES. WE HAVE NOT HAD A OIL LIGHT COME ON OR ANY WARNING THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM.
WHEN SHARPLY TURNING RIGHT INTO A PARKING SPOT THERE IS LOUD KNOCK SEEMINGLY COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I CHECKED THIS SITE FOR ANY RECALL NOTICES AND READ THE FOLLOWING RECALL: NHTSA RECALL NUMBER: 17V-224, RECALL DATE: MARCH 31, 2017, MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER: SC147 WHICH EFFECTS THIS SORT OF ISSUE. I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED ANY NOTICES FROM KIA INFORMING ME OF THIS SAFETY HAZARD OR AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE IT FIXED.
I HAVE REPEATEDLY CONTACTED KIA CORPORATE AND THE DEALERSHIP REGARDING AN AXLE ISSUE. IT IS THE SAME EXACT ISSUE THAT NHSTA HAS ISSUED A RECALL NOTICE FOR 2014 MODEL VEHICLES. MY AXLE IS IN JEOPARDY OF FRACTURING - COMPANY WILL NOT REPAIR THE ISSUE BECAUSE THEY SAY 2013S AREN'T COVERED. SUMMARY: KIA MOTORS CORP. IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2014 FRONT WHEEL DRIVE SORENTO VEHICLES MANUFACTURED JANUARY 7, 2013, THROUGH MARCH 12, 2013; AND EQUIPPED WITH 2.4 LITER ENGINES. DUE TO A MANUFACTURING ISSUE, THE RIGHT FRONT AXLE SHAFT MAY FRACTURE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES, BUT THEY FAILED TO RESPOND. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO STEER THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER, BUT THE STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP AND WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AFTER THE SECOND ATTEMPT. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER (KIA WEST COUNTY), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000.
I BOUGHT A 2013 KIA SORENTO LAST NIGHT SATURDAY 12/19/2015 AND THE PAPERWORK DID NOT GET COMPLETE UNTIL AFTER 10:30PM. THE SALESMAN STATED THAT ALL COMPONENTS HAD BEEN CHECKED AND THAT ALL WAS GOOD. I LIVE A HOUR AWAY FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND WHEN I WAS ON 290 HEADING EAST AT ABOUT 70 MPH, WHEN I NOTICED THAT MY DASH AND RADIO PANEL LIGHTS START FLICKERING, MY MOTOR FELT LIKE IT IDLED DOWN A LITTLE BUT THEN IT WAS OK, BUT THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND ALL THE LIGHTS IN THE RADIO AREA, STEERING WHEEL AND SPEEDOMETER AREA TURNED OFF AND IT LOST A LITTLE POWER BUT THEN THEY ALL CAME BACK ON AND I MADE IT HOME, THEN ON 12/20/15 I WAS DRIVING INTO TOWN AND AFTER ABOUT 10 MILES AT 75 MPH MY INSIDE LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING AGAIN, AND THEN WENT TOTALLY DARK. I DIDN'T LOSE ANY POWER THIS TIME BUT I'M STARTING TO FEEL PRETTY RIPPED OFF. I ALSO NOTICED TODAY THAT WHILE DRIVING ON HWY THAT WHEN YOU COME UP TO A CURVE TO THE RIGHT, THE VEHICLE JERKS TO FAR AND I ENDED UP IN THE OTHER LANE. THANK GOD THAT NO CAR WAS THERE. *DT
ENGINE SIMPLY STOPPED WHILE DRIVING RESULTING IN LOSS OF BRAKING AND STEERING CONTROL. ALL INDICATOR LIGHTS ON DASHBOARD CAME ON WHEN THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. COASTED TO A STOP, PUT TRANSMISSION IN PARK AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE. TOOK THE CAR TO KIA DEALER WHO SAID IT NEEDED A SOFTWARE UPDATE WHICH WAS PERFORMED. THE SAME PROBLEM OF THE ENGINE SHUTTING OFF HAPPENED THE VERY NEXT DAY. TAKING THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER TODAY. *TR
MY AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY WHEN I HIT A PERSON IN THE REAR AFTER SEVERELY DAMAGED FRONT END OF MY VEHICLE AND PARTS BEING SHOVED INTO THE MOTOR AND THE MOTOR RECEIVED A CRACK IN THE BLOCK. *TR
THE TRAFFIC LIGHT FOR MY DAUGHTER'S VEHICLE TURNED GREEN. SHE PROCEEDED INTO THE INTERSECTION. AND ENDED UP CRASHING INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT RAN THR RED LIGHT. MY DAUGHTER'S VEHICLE SUSTAINED HEAVY DAMAGE TO THE ENTIRE FRONT END . HOWEVER THERE WAS NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. WE ARE VERY CONCERNED DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE DONE TO THE VEHICLE . AND WE WISH TO PUT IT ON REPORT SO THAT SOMEONE CAN INVESTIGATE IF THERE MAY BE A DEFECT IN THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. *TR
I HAVE A 2013 KIA SORENTO V-6. APPROX. 6 MTHS INTO OWNING THE VEHICLE, WHILE ACCELERATING TO TURN RIGHT AFTER STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN, THE ENGINE DIED AND CAR LOST ALL POWER. THE CAR WAS STUCK AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE 1/2 WAY INTO THE LANE OF TRAFFIC. I WAS LUCKY THAT NO-ONE WAS COMING OR I WOULD HAVE BEEN T-BONED. THE CAR DASH WAS COMPLETELY DARK WITH NO LIGHTS WHATSOEVER, NO BRAKES AND NO STEERING (SINCE BOTH ARE POWER). I HAD NO IDEA WHAT HAPPENED AND HAD A LOT OF TROUBLE GETTING THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL TO ATTEMPT RE-START. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, IT FINALLY DID RE-START. TOOK IT TO KIA WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. SECOND TIME (11 MTHS), I WAS ACCELERATING FROM STOPPING AT A STOP LIGHT - ENGINE DIED AND CAR LOST ALL POWER, NO STEERING OR BRAKES - NO DASH LIGHTS. CARS HAD TO GO AROUND ME AND I WAS PRAYING I DIDN'T GET REAR-ENDED. AGAIN, CAR STARTED AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THIRD TIME (12 MTHS), WAS AT THE BOTTOM OF A FREEWAY OFF-RAMP. ATTEMPTED TO GO AFTER LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND ENGINE DIED - AGAIN LOST ALL POWER - NO DASH LIGHTS, STEERING OR BRAKES - CARS HAD TO GO AROUND ME. FOURTH TIME (17 MTHS) STALLED IN PARKING LOT WHEN I STOPPED AT INTERSECTION TO TURN LEFT - SAME SYMPTOMS. THIS CAR IS DANGEROUS! KIA NEEDS TO RECALL AND CORRECT THIS PROBLEM BEFORE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT OCCURS AND SOMEONE DIES. I'M AFRAID EVERY TIME I DRIVE IT. HUGE SAFETY ISSUE! NHTSA, PLEASE DO SOMETHING. *TR
HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY IGNITION SWITCH, STEERING COLUMN NOT UNLOCKING ON MY 2013 KIA SORRENTO. PUT THE KEY IN, WOULD NOT TURN. FINALLY, I JERKED ON THE STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH, IT FINALLY TURNED. THEN, MY SISTERS 2013 KIA-OPTIMA DID THE SAME THING ABOUT A WEEK AGO! I CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT BECAUSE THE WHEELS WERE TURN THAT THIS WOULD CAUSE THIS TO HAPPEN. I INFORMED HIM THAT IN BOTH CASES, THE VEHICLES WERE IN THE GARAGE, ON FLAT SERVICE, WHEELS POINTING STRAIGHT. WAS TOLD IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN, BRING IT IN. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING, HE FELT A SHIMMY THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE OF WHAT EXACT REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 600 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,400. ...UPDATED 10/19/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD IDLE IN A ROUGH MANNER. WHEN AT A STOP. UPDATED 10/25/12
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.
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