NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
242 reports62,000 miles · Jun 24, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling
AUTO LOSING SPEED ON ACCELERATION AND CAR RUNNING POORLY, THEN QUIT COMPLETELY. HAD TOWED TO NEAREST SHOP FOR REPAIR. ALSO HAD TIMING BELT CHANGED AT THE SAME TIME, PER KIAS REQUIRED MAINTENANCE AT 60,000 MI. ON FEB. 18, 2011, REPAIRS WERE MADE: CRANKSHAFT BOLT WAS GONE AND COTTER PIN SHEERED OFF. THESE ITEMS WERE FIXED ALONG W…
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AUTO LOSING SPEED ON ACCELERATION AND CAR RUNNING POORLY, THEN QUIT COMPLETELY. HAD TOWED TO NEAREST SHOP FOR REPAIR. ALSO HAD TIMING BELT CHANGED AT THE SAME TIME, PER KIAS REQUIRED MAINTENANCE AT 60,000 MI. ON FEB. 18, 2011, REPAIRS WERE MADE: CRANKSHAFT BOLT WAS GONE AND COTTER PIN SHEERED OFF. THESE ITEMS WERE FIXED ALONG W/TIMING BELT REPLACEMENT.. JUNE 15, 2011, CAR LOSING SPEED ON ACCELERATION AND RUNNING VERY BADLY. I WAS ON HIGHWAY. I DID MAKE IT HOME. I HAD AAA COME AND TOW IT TO MY NORMAL REPAIR SHOP, THE DORSCH KIA DEALER. DORSCH OPENED HER UP AND SAID BOLTS WERE NOT TIGHTENED DOWN PROPERLY. MEANTIME, PERFORMANCE AUTO WERE I ORIGINALLY TOOK MY CAR SHOWED ME A BULLETIN ON MY MAKE AND MODEL THAT SHOWED ISSUES WITH THIS BOLT STRETCHING AND COMING OFF AND OR CRACKING OFF. FURTHER, THEY WILL NOT REPLACE ANY PARTS OR LABOR BECAUSE IT IS KIA'S ISSUE THEY SAID. NOW MY CAR IS AT KIA DEALERSHIP AND MY POCKETS ARE EMPTY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10408765
91,134 miles · Jun 4, 2011
Exterior Lighting
I PURCHASED A 2006 KIA SORENTO BACK IN FEBRUARY 2011. SINCE I HAVE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE I HAVE REPLACED THE HEADLIGHTS. 3 TIMES. EVERY FAILURE OCCURRED ON INTERSTATE 64. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO HAVE THEM CHANGED WHERE THEY HAVE NOT TOUCHED THE LAMPS AND HAVE COMPLETED A PROPER INSTALL. IT APPEARS THAT FOR A SECOND THE VEHIC…
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I PURCHASED A 2006 KIA SORENTO BACK IN FEBRUARY 2011. SINCE I HAVE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE I HAVE REPLACED THE HEADLIGHTS. 3 TIMES. EVERY FAILURE OCCURRED ON INTERSTATE 64. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO HAVE THEM CHANGED WHERE THEY HAVE NOT TOUCHED THE LAMPS AND HAVE COMPLETED A PROPER INSTALL. IT APPEARS THAT FOR A SECOND THE VEHICLE HAS NO POWER AND THE HEADLIGHTS FLASH OFF THEN ON. THE HEADLIGHTS GOING ON THEN BACK ON IS A REGULAR OCCURRENCE. THE LAST OCCURRENCE YESTERDAY 6/3/2011 HAPPENED ABOUT 2 AM WHILE DRIVING THROUGH DANIEL BOONE NATIONAL FOREST AND MADE THE VEHICLE UN-DRIVABLE UNTIL DAYTIME HOURS WHEN IT COULD BE SAFELY DRIVEN TO A SHOP FOR THE HEADLIGHTS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN AND LEFT MY FAMILY STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD UNABLE TO SEE TO DRIVE HOME FOR APPROXIMATELY SOME 45 MILES FROM OUR HOME. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10404426
63,000 miles · Jun 2, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling
FITTING THAT CONNECTS HOSE TO RADIATOR SNAPPED IN HALF CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK AND ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. INFORMED BY REPAIR SHOP THAT THIS CAN BE TEMPORARILY FIXED BY INSTALLING A BRASS FITTING USING EPOXY BUT THAT THE ONLY PERMANENT REPAIR IS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE RADIATOR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10404123
75,000 miles · May 26, 2011
Exterior Lighting
HAD THE CAR 2 YEARS AND HAVE TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT BULBS 3 TIMES. REPLACED WITHIN LAST 5 MONTHS AND NOW ARE OUT AGAIN. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10402859
39,404 miles · May 25, 2011
Exterior Lighting
HEADLIGHTS (LOW BEAM), TAIL LIGHTS KEEP BURNING OUT EVERY TWO TO THREE MONTHS CONSISTENTLY. ALWAYS HAVE TO REPLACE WHICH IS NOT ONLY EXPENSIVE BUT A DANGER TO MYSELF AND OTHER DRIVERS. CAR IS A 2006 KIA SORENTO EX. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10402755
50,000 miles · May 19, 2011
Exterior LightingInterior Lighting
EXTERIOR LIGHTS NEED TO BE REPLACED OFTEN, ALSO DOME LIGHT INSIDE VEHICLE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10402078
98,601 miles · May 16, 2011
Exterior LightingInterior Lighting
WHEN I TURN ON MY HEADLIGHTS, MY INTERIOR LIGHTS STAY ON AND WILL NOT TURN OFF. I HAVE HAD TO TAKE OUT THE FUSE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM WITH MY INTERIOR LIGHTS STAYING ON. IT HAPPENED SUDDENLY AND I CANNOT SEEM TO GET IT RESOLVED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10401067
62,491 miles · May 8, 2011
Power Train
BOLT SHEARED CAUSING THE HARMONIC BALANCER TO FALL OFF CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE BECAME VERY HARD TO STEER. CLEARLY THIS VEHICLE CAN NOT BE SAFE TO DRIVE IF BOLTS THAT HOLD THE ENGINE AND STEERING JUST SHEAR OFF. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10399490
57,000 miles · May 4, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling
CRANKSHAFT TORQUE BOLT SHEARED OFF CAUSING THE BRAKING AND STEERING TO BECOME STIFF RESULTING IN GREATLY DIMINISHED CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE PULLEY ASSEMBLY BEGAN TO SQUEAL RESULTING IN PARKING THE VEHICLE UNTIL IT WAS TIME TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE OF THE CONCERN. ENROUTE TO THE DEALERSHIP THE BRAKE AND …
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CRANKSHAFT TORQUE BOLT SHEARED OFF CAUSING THE BRAKING AND STEERING TO BECOME STIFF RESULTING IN GREATLY DIMINISHED CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE PULLEY ASSEMBLY BEGAN TO SQUEAL RESULTING IN PARKING THE VEHICLE UNTIL IT WAS TIME TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE OF THE CONCERN. ENROUTE TO THE DEALERSHIP THE BRAKE AND ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED AND BRAKING BECAME SLUGGISH AND STEERING APPEARED TO BE STIFF. WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND I OPENED THE HOOD SEEING THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT HAD COME OFF. THE FOLLOWING DAY THE DEALERSHIP NOTIFIED ME THAT THE CRANKSHAFT TORQUE BOLT HAD SHEARED OFF AND THEY WERE CALLING KIA TO DETERMINE A FIX FOR REPLACING THE BOLT OR IF THE ENGINE WOULD NEED REPLACED. AFTER SOME BRIEF RESEARCH THIS APPEARS TO BE A RECURRING PROBLEM FOR SEVERAL KIA MODELS AND MODEL YEARS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10399105
58,000 miles · Apr 20, 2011
Exterior LightingVisibility
HEADLIGHTS BLOWING ALL THE TIME. ALSO THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAVE LOST THERE PARK POSITION AND WHEN THEY ARE TURNED OFF THEY STOP IN FRONT OF THE DRIVERS LINE OF SIGHT AND MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE WHAT IS GOING ON AROUND YOU WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE TALKED TO SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL AND YEAR AS MINE AN…
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HEADLIGHTS BLOWING ALL THE TIME. ALSO THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAVE LOST THERE PARK POSITION AND WHEN THEY ARE TURNED OFF THEY STOP IN FRONT OF THE DRIVERS LINE OF SIGHT AND MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE WHAT IS GOING ON AROUND YOU WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE TALKED TO SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL AND YEAR AS MINE AND THEY ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10396973
NHTSA investigations
1DP21003 · Throttle Control System Vulnerabilities
Opened Nov 12, 2021 · Closed Jun 20, 2023
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:throttle
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a petition letter dated October 10, 2021, requesting an investigation of possible defects in the electronic throttle control (ETC) system on certain Kia vehicles resulting in the opening of DP21-003. Accordingly, Model Year (MY) 2005-2016 Kia Optima/K5, MY 2006-2015 Kia Sorento, MY 2007-2016 Hyundai Elantra, MY 2007-2016 Hyundai Santa Fe, MY 2006-2015 Hyundai Sonatas are all part of the subject population. The petition was originally filed as a Vehicle Owner Questionnaire that can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under reference (ODI) number 11439675.On November 12, 2021, ODI opened Defect Petition DP21-003 to evaluate the petitioner?s request. ODI performed trend analyses of the VOQs related to vehicle speed control issues for all the subject vehicles and found that none of the 52 Model/Model Year Hyundai/Kia vehicles demonstrated any actionable trend that warranted an investigation.Petitioners submitted 1119 VOQs and non-VOQ cases in which sudden uncommanded acceleration (SUA) or loss of motive power (LOMP) incidents were alleged.For the 1119 reports, 220 were incidents involving crashes, from which 69 subject Hyundai-Kia vehicles were inspected by Hyundai/Kia dealer technicians, Hyundai/Kia engineers, and/or third-party representatives.ODI found the inspections identified no vehicle defects related to the ETC system.Of the 220 crash-involved reports, 13 Event Data Recorder (EDR) records were downloaded successfully and 11 of those indicated driver error: (i.e.) pedal misapplication.A condition where the accelerator pedal is mistakenly applied instead of the brake pedal when the driver wants to stop the vehicle.In addition, ODI reviewed a scientific journal paper published in Forensic Science International in 2016 by Mr. Park et al ., as well as related test videos. ODI does not believe there is any evidence of uncontrollable SUA occurrences in any of the tests reviewed. NHTSA's Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance (OVSC) reviewed the allegations regarding the potential noncompliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 124.Based on the information provided, the Agency concludes there is insufficient information for us to determine if a possible non-compliance exists.Finally, both Hyundai and Kia informed ODI that all their vehicles manufactured after 2012 were equipped with an ETC management system, in which the engine speed will go to idle when the system sees signals from both the brake pedal and accelerator pedal at the same time; this is commonly known as the brake-throttle override system.After thoroughly assessing the material submitted by the petitioner, information already in NHTSA's possession, information submitted by Hyundai and Kia in response to an Information Request letter, and the potential risks to safety implicated by the petitioner's allegation, NHTSA does not believe that a formal investigation is warranted. After full consideration of appropriate factors, the petition is denied. A Federal Register Notice (FRN) further detailing NHTSA?s reasons for denial of the petition will be published.
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