Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES, AIR | |||
| 07/15/2006 | 11/25/2003 | ||
| While driving on saturday, 7/15/06, i noticed a high pitched noise while steering. i was under the impression that the power steering fluid was low. after having an oil change and capping off my fluids, the noise continues and remains while driving. it is loud enough to hear over the radio and the air conditioner at the same time. i have placed this car in the shop for numerous repairs since its purchase in 2003 and have spent countless amounts of money on various problems, including replacing the bulbs, repairing the braks, the check engine light coming on immediately after purchase, the air bag sensor remains on and the list goes on and on. i have placed numerous complains to kia directly as well as filed a compliant with the better business bureau to no avail. it would be my assumption that kia will only be concerned about fixing these issues or recalling these vehicles only after some serious incidents have occurred. | |||
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | |||
| 01/05/2007 | 45000 | 1 | 09/28/2003 |
| 2003 kia sorrento-there has been no crash==the drive line from the rear makes a noisy thump almost every time i step on the brakes and release them--kia service in middletown, ny service manager and kia zone rep state that is normal operation of vehicle--i disagree and informed them i will be taking vehicle to another mechanic,i have been driving for 34 years and never encountered this situation in a vehicle. *jb | |||
| 08/12/2006 | 27903 | 1 | 05/08/2003 |
| Dt*: the contact stated while driving various speeds a noise and a vibration was noticed. upon further inspection, unusual wear on the inner tread of the front tires was also noticed. the vehicle was driven to the dealer who could not duplicate the problem. updated 9/11/2006 - the left front strut was noisy due to loose bottom strut bolt. the dealer tightened end and secured bolt. the consumer felt vibration in brake pedal when reversing and making turns. the dealer resurfaced the brake rotors and pads. the vibration returned. the dealer indicated that the rotors were warped and replaced them. the vehicle's engine made noise. the dealer adjusted all the belts. the cd player would not eject properly. *nm | |||
| 10/22/2004 | 4 | ||
| Purchased 2003 sorento only to find the brakes and rotors need replaced every 8,000 miles a costly figure to go along. the car was taken to merchants due to the braking system they indicated nothing was found and all was good only to leave the station paying the price for tire balance/front end job/brake bleeding/and turning of rotors lets not forget they replaced front brakes for $1,000. just to leave and have the problem still the jerking,shaking when applying brakes when speeds 30 miles per hr when applying brakes the car felt as if it were to fall apart. i called the facility back and they wouldn't warrant the service. i then called kia of westminster md where i was told to bring the car back and they would review the problem and give me a call, again the back brakes this time and the rotors were pulled and replaced to get a bill of $400 and above. was only out of the shop for less then 5,000 miles and it started all over again. i called the dealership to report this and they brought the car back in just to do the back all over again, but i was warned that if it goes again i would have to have this replaced both front/back and they would have to charge me. well guess what ????? we haven't even put 8,000 miles on the car and it's going on a spell again. i haven't decided what i'm going to do as of yet - i do need a 4x4 due to the winter and getting back and forth to work. luckily my father has offered to do the work for me just buy the parts maybe it will last longer this time. i have to buy my son a car we know which not to buy- i've read hundreds of complaints on the kia which ever model and it seems they all have the same problems and the biggest is that the manufacturer hasn't noted any for recall - wouldn't you think brake loss of unable to control the car when braking would throw up red flags ------i guess they don't care who they hurt. i have told everyone i know that this isn't a good product to buy. luckily i've stopped many from making a mistake. *nm | |||
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - ANTILOCK | |||
| 09/01/2005 | 1 | ||
| Dt: the consumer's vehicle was making a clicking noise, took it to the dealer. they said the caliper was missing and brakes were gone. also, they said the indicator light was missing on the vehicle. the consumer purchased this vehicle nine months ago from the kia dealer, and they said this was not covered under the warranty. the dealer refused to fix the vehicle because the indicator light was missing. the consumer started noticing this on september 1, 2005 took vehicle to dealer soon as the consumer noticed this. *ak | |||
| 06/15/2004 | 6000 | 25 | 08/24/2003 |
| Accelerate after stopping, pressing brake pedal hard, vehicle leaped forward. *bf when beginning to accelerate after stopping suddenly or pressing on the brake pedal hard, the vehicle leaps forward with a force that feels like you just got rear ended . *tc | |||
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - FOUNDATION COMPONENTS - DISC - CALIPER | |||
| 09/01/2005 | 1 | ||
| Dt: the consumer's vehicle was making a clicking noise, took it to the dealer. they said the caliper was missing and brakes were gone. also, they said the indicator light was missing on the vehicle. the consumer purchased this vehicle nine months ago from the kia dealer, and they said this was not covered under the warranty. the dealer refused to fix the vehicle because the indicator light was missing. the consumer started noticing this on september 1, 2005 took vehicle to dealer soon as the consumer noticed this. *ak | |||
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - FOUNDATION COMPONENTS - DISC - PADS | |||
| 12/20/2003 | 20000 | 1 | 09/08/2002 |
| Front brake rotors and pads had to be replaced by dealer after only 20,000 miles. dealer said that this is a common problem for the sorento. *la | |||
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - FOUNDATION COMPONENTS - DISC - ROTOR | |||
| 10/07/2006 | 2 | 11/28/2002 | |
| 2003 sorento ex purchased new. replaced the left front rotor about 3 months ago, but breaking has returned to signs of a warped rotor again. vibration in the steering wheel when brakes are applied and loud noise in front wheel area (non-metal) sound. car has new brake pads and recent alignment. rotors are not lasting. *nm | |||
| 07/21/2006 | 25000 | 6 | 06/09/2004 |
| I purchased my 2003 kia sorento with 17,000 miles on it. i am the second owner. since i have had this car, i have had to replace and/or resurface my rotors and brake pads at least 6 times in two years. i have talked to two kia dealerships (one in clarksville, tn - the other in memphis, tn) and both lied to me and said they didn't see that type of problem ever. i have taken my car to two other mechanics that i trust and they have turned my rotors, replaced my rotors with genuine kia parts and nothing seems to help. just this week, i had to take my car in again. at that time, my mechanic talked to our local kia dealership, who then told him that they now see this problem frequently. i am tired of spending my own money on this problem that is obviously a kia defect. kia knows this is a problem and something needs to be done. i will never buy a kia again. i only wish i had researched this problem before i bought my car. then i would have found out that there was a class action lawsuit against kia at one time over their sephia having the same exact problems. my husband has a 1995 ford ranger and we've never had to do any brake repair. | |||
| 03/06/2006 | 1 | 07/21/2003 | |
| Rotors warp and cause a vibration during braking. front rotors had to be resurfaced at 18,000 miles. at 41,000 miles, front rotors had to be replaced and rear rotors turned. i am taking it in again at 51,000 because vibration has returned. *nm | |||
| 04/01/2005 | 16000 | 2 | 09/30/2004 |
| Rotors warping at 16000 miles causing high shudder at stopping. repair by dealer at a cost and it is happening again at 27000 miles have talked to other sorento owners and some have experienced same problem. *jb | |||
| 05/25/2005 | 33288 | 1 | 08/09/2003 |
| We had a vibration in the front end of the car when we stopped. we took it to the local kia dealer. we were told that the rotors were warped. we bought the car new, it only had 33,000 miles on it. was told that the rotors warranty was 5yr/50000 miles, but only on defects. since most rotors wear out at 65k or 70k miles i said it was a defect. dealer refused repair under warranty. called kia national office, was told they can't make dealer do repairs, its up to the dealer to decide if warranty or not! kia does not back up the warranty's and will not support consumers. | |||
| 08/16/2004 | 2 | 10/18/2003 | |
| Brake rotors are warping every few thousand miles. within 16,000 miles of use, rotors have been resurfaced twice, and are in need of it once again. although this condition is covered under warranty, kia refused to honor it.*ak | |||
| 04/09/2004 | 7 | ||
| When depressing the brakes at low speeds vehicle vibrated. consumer took the vehicle to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that the front brake rotors needed to be replaced. the consumer stated that the front brake rotors had been replaced on six separate occasions, and problem recurred. *ak | |||
| 04/16/2004 | 12505 | 2 | 08/19/2003 |
| At 12000 miles i have had to have the front brake rotors on my 2003 kia sorento machined twice due to warping and resultant brake pulsing/vibration. due to required rotor thickness, the next episode will necessitate rotor replacement. the need to do this at such low mileage indicates a severe deficiency, probably relating to faulty design or a metallurgical problem with the rotors. the sorento is a new model and i suspect that as miles are accumulated this problem will become more evident fleet-wide. i am submitting this complaint due to the critical nature of the brake system and the high potential for disaster resulting from any kind of brake malfunction. there is anecdotal evidence that i am not the only sorento owner encountering this difficulty. *la | |||
| 12/20/2003 | 20000 | 1 | 09/08/2002 |
| Front brake rotors and pads had to be replaced by dealer after only 20,000 miles. dealer said that this is a common problem for the sorento. *la | |||