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NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

10 crash reports19 fire reports10 injury reports

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

14 reports

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7,500 miles · Nov 8, 2019

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

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ON AUGUST 25, 2019, WHILE DRIVING HOME TO NEW YORK, MY WIFE SAT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND MY DAUGHTER SAT IN THE SECOND ROW SEAT BEHIND MY WIFE, I STOPPED AT A REST STOP FOR GASOLINE AT ABOUT 12:15 PM AS I PULLED INTO THE AREA WITH MY FOOT ON THE BREAK TO SLOW DOWN, THE CAR SURGED FORWARD AND I PRESSED HARD TO STOP THE CAR. IT STOPPED. ON THE SAME DAY, AT 4:17 PM, I PULLED INTO A SUNOCO GAS STATION. WITH MY FOOT ON THE BREAK AS I PULLED INTO THE STATION, THE CAR SURGED, I PRESSED HARD AND THE CAR SLOWED DOWN. I SLOWLY PULLED AROUND THE TWO OCCUPIED PUMPS AND PULLED BEHIND THE OTHER PUMPS. (TIME-4:19PM) A CAR WAS AT THE FIRST PUMP AND A MAN WAS STANDING AT HIS GAS TANK PUMPING GAS. WITH MY FOOT ON THE BREAK, I SLOWLY MOVED BEHIND HIS CAR AT ABOUT 2 MPH AND THE CAR ACCELERATED. I PUSHED HARD ON THE BREAK. THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AND HIT THE PROTECTIVE BARRIER SURROUNDING THE GAS PUMP. BOTH FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. FORTUNATELY, NO ONE WAS INJURED. THE CAR WAS TOWED. MY INSURANCE COMPANY, ALLSTATE DECLARED THE CAR 'TOTALED.' INCLUDED IN A SERVICE WAS A RECALL FOR A COMPUTER MECHANISM C/S: SA387 UM TCU LOGIC IMPROVEMENT DTC P0741. KIA TOLD ME IT WAS RELATED TO THE TRANSMISSION. DID THIS RECALL REPLACEMENT CONTRIBUTE TO THE ACCIDENT? I TOLD KIA CENTRAL ALSO THAT THE FCA (FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE ASSIST) DID NOT ENGAGE ON AUGUST 16. DID THIS MALFUNCTION CONTRIBUTE TO THE ACCIDENT? THESE CONCERNS WERE NEVER ADDRESSED OR INVESTIGATED BY KIA MOTORS. NUMEROUS CALLS TO KIA CENTRAL AND TO KIA CONSUMER ASSISTANCE CENTER WERE ATTEMPTED WITHOUT RESOLUTION AND MOST TIMES IGNORED. ON SEPTEMBER 24, KIA FROM CENTRAL CALLED ME TO INFORM ME THAT THE CASE WAS CLOSED. KIA DID NOT EVALUATE THE CAR OR AMELIORATE THE SITUATION. KIA NEEDS TO INVESTIGATE THE 2019 KIA SORRENTO FOR MALFUNCTIONING PERFORMANCE. PEOPLE COULD GET SERIOUSLY INJURED OR DIE! *JS

NHTSA ODI #11278855

10,500 miles · Sep 16, 2019

Vehicle Speed Control

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 KIA SORENTO. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND AND THEN SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED ALL THE TIME EVER SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN APRIL OF 2019. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO STEVE HANN AUTO GROUP (1730 S 1ST ST, YAKIMA, WA 98901) ON THREE OCCASIONS, BUT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO REPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,500.

NHTSA ODI #11255880

45 miles · Jun 6, 2019

Vehicle Speed Control

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WE PURCHASED A 2019 KIA SORENTO SXL ON MAY 4, 2019, AND TOOK DELIVERY ON MAY 6, 2019. THE FIRST DAY THAT I DROVE THE CAR IT STUMBLED WHEN I TRIED TO PULL OUT FROM A STOP. I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE A FLUKE OR A COMPUTER LEARNING EVENT BUT IT CONTINUES TO HAPPEN OCCASIONALLY. WE HAVE HAD TWO CLOSE CALLS TRYING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC WHEN THE CAR STARTS TO PULL-OUT THEN IT STUMBLES WITH NO ACCELERATOR RESPONSE FOR A FEW SECONDS, THEN IT TAKES OFF LIKE A SHOT. I JOINED THE KIA FORUM TO SEE IF ANYONE ELSE REPORTED THIS HAPPENING AND FOUND THAT SEVERAL OWNERS HAD THE SAME COMPLAINT. THEY ALL SAY THAT THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMS THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG AND THAT THE VEHICLE IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. WE NOW OWN A CAR THAT WE ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE BECAUSE IT HAPPENS SPORADICALLY AND YOU CANNOT PREDICT WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. I CALLED JIM SHORKEY KIA AND EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD THAT PEOPLE HAVE TO LEARN HOW ELECTRIC THROTTLE CONTROLS (FLY-BY-WIRE) OPERATE. THAT IS GARBAGE BECAUSE OUR 2011 EQUINOX AND MY 2014 CADILLAC CTS SPORTWAGON ARE BOTH FLY BY WIRE AND NEITHER OF THEM HAS EVER EXHIBITED THIS PHENOMENON. WHEN JIM SHORKEY CHECKED FOR CODES AND DROVE THE CAR FOR 11 MILES THEY TOLD ME THAT THE NEW 8-SPEED TRANSMISSION MIGHT BE THE PROBLEM BUT THERE NO PROGRAMMING UPDATES FOR IT YET. I KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT CARS HAVING WORKED AS A MECHANIC FOR OVER 50 YEARS AND AM POSITIVE THAT THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. I BELIEVE IT TO BE IN THE REDUNDANT APP SENSOR TO THE THROTTLE MOTOR AND COMPUTER CONTROL SYSTEM. I AM AFRAID THAT THIS WILL RESULT IN ACCIDENTS WITH SEVERE INJURIES AND DAMAGE. I FEEL THAT KIA SHOULD RECALL THESE CARS AND FIND A PROPER FIX.

NHTSA ODI #11218381

Mileage unknown · May 9, 2019

Vehicle Speed Control

WHEN CRUISE CONTROL IS SET THE VEHICLE WILL WITHOUT WARNING SURGE , JERK AND JUMP. THE RPM NEEDLE WILL SHOW ACCELERATION. THIS HAPPENS WITHOUT NOTICE AND NOT ON ANY INCLINE OR DECLINES, ON STRAIGHT AWAYS. THIS HAPPENS AT ANY SPEED WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL IS SET.

NHTSA ODI #11206517

Official recalls

23V639000 · Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera

Sep 15, 2023

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2019 Sorento vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, water may leak into the rearview camera, which can cause the rearview camera image not to appear on the display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A rearview camera that does not display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rearview camera and add additional water proofing to the camera harness, or replace the camera as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 8, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC282.

22V703000 · Trailer Hitches

Sep 19, 2022

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Sorento, 2021-2022 Sorento Hybrid (HEV), 2022-2023 Sorento Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV), and 2017-2022 Sportage vehicles equipped with a tow hitch harness installed as original equipment, or purchased as an accessory through a Kia dealership. Debris and moisture accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (PCB) may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will inspect the vehicle, and, as necessary, replace the fuse and/or tow hitch harness module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 11, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC249.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

DP22003 · Loss Of Motive Power

Opened Sep 12, 2022 · Closed Dec 12, 2023

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated July 13, 2022, petitioning the Agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain Hyundai Motor America, Inc. and Kia America, Inc. vehicles spanning Model Years (MY) 2005-2021. The Petitioners cited examples of complaints indicating that the subject vehicles were experiencing rapid loss of engine oil due to oil drain plug back outs, resulting in loss of motive power and/or catastrophic engine damage. Additional complaints were provided which alleged that the oil drain pans lack sufficient structural integrity and are susceptible to cracking. The petition itself can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI number 11481745. On September 12, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Defect Petition (DP22-003) to evaluate the Petitioners’ request. The Petitioners have provided additional complaints within four supplemental letters dated January 31, 2023, March 21, 2023, May 23, 2023, and August 4, 2023. ODI’s evaluation included the review and analysis of the complaints and supporting information submitted by the Petitioners, as well as additional complaints submitted directly to NHTSA which referenced either the oil drain plug or a crack in the oil pan. After reviewing the available data, ODI has not identified evidence that would support opening a defect investigation into the oil drain pan assemblies of the subject vehicles. Based on a review of the available information, a loss of motive power resulting from an oil drain plug back out has not occurred between the initial sale of a vehicle and the completion of its first oil change. If during an oil change service, a technician fails to remove the existing drain plug gasket before installing a new gasket, it is likely that a proper seal between the drain plug and the oil pan will not be made. An improper seal between the drain plug and oil pan could lead to the backing out on the drain plug, resulting in the sudden loss of oil while driving. Additionally, the provided examples of oil pan cracks were localized to the immediate vicinity of the oil drain plug and/or appeared to be the result of direct-contact with a tool during servicing. There is no information to support that a vehicle-based defect exists relating to the oil pan assembly, and instead the documented incidents are related to the failure to follow the proper maintenance procedures during oil change service. In October 2023, Hyundai published a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) that provided detailed instructions for oil change service on its gasoline powered vehicles, specifically highlighting the need to remove and replace the existing drain plug gasket prior to reinstalling the drain plug. After a thorough review of the material submitted by the petitioner, the information already in NHTSA's possession, and the potential risks to motor vehicle safety implicated by the petitioners' allegations, NHTSA does not believe that a formal investigation is warranted. Therefore, the petition is denied. A Federal Register Notice (FRN) further detailing NHTSA’s reasons for denial of the petition will be published. The reference numbers for the complaints to NHTSA cited by the petitioner can be found in the petition submission documents in the public file for DP22-003. To review those complaints and the additional complaints ODI added to its evaluation which are cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.

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