2023 Kia Sorento

Faulty fuel injectors are causing consistent engine misfires and occasionally causing the check engine light to illuminate and for the vehicle to reduce power greatly. This poses a great safety risk to both myself and other drivers on the road because in the event of a large misfire, my vehicle suddenly slows and I have to navigate to the shoulder of the road. A Kia dealership has confirmed that the cause of these misfires is due to a faulty fuel injector that begins to work inconsistently above 3000 RPM. This issue began shortly after the vehicle was purchased in 2023, but due to the dealerships inability to replicate the issue it went without correction. In the recent year, this issue has increased greatly and it is now a consistent issue and this is why it was able to be diagnosed now. This is a very common and widespread issue amongst other individual with vehicles with the same engine.

I am submitting a vehicle safety and certification concern regarding a 2023 Kia Sorento Hybrid that was marketed and offered for sale as a Kia Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) vehicle by Shawnee Mission Kia, 7951 Shawnee Mission Pkwy, Mission, KS 66202. On [XXX], during an in-person inspection of the vehicle prior to purchase, I observed conditions inconsistent with expected Certified Pre-Owned inspection and preparation standards, including inverter coolant below the minimum level, engine oil materially above the normal operating range, and deteriorated windshield wiper condition. A third-party witness was present during the inspection. Because the vehicle was being represented as Certified Pre-Owned, I requested the vehicle’s CPO inspection checklist and supporting inspection documentation from dealership personnel. The requested documentation was not provided despite multiple follow-up requests. Subsequent written communications from dealership management acknowledged failures in dealership standards and handling related to the matter. After a formal complaint was submitted to the dealership’s corporate parent, the dealership’s General Manager responded in writing that an internal review had been initiated concerning CPO preparation and documentation practices. The requested inspection and service documentation were still not produced. The dealership later confirmed in writing that the vehicle “has since sold.” I am submitting this complaint because the vehicle was represented to consumers as Certified Pre-Owned despite observed maintenance and inspection concerns affecting vehicle condition and safety-related systems, while supporting certification documentation was not produced upon request. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

All lights came on the dashboard including the check engine light and I could not accelerate. I had to pull over and turn car off and on to get it to accelerate. It poses a very serious threat as you can not accelerate at all and can be rearended. Kia has fixed the throttle twice and have told me 2 other times they can not replicate the issue. It clears out by the time I am able to bring it to the dealership. This issues has happened 4 times starting at 9,000 miles and most recently at 21,000 miles.

Immediately after a dealership-performed warranty repair, the vehicle experienced a severe safety‑critical failure at highway speed. The vehicle began shaking violently, produced loud knocking and impact noises, and metal pieces fell from the underside. The failure occurred without warning and created an immediate loss of safe drivability. The dealership later documented that an engine mount (‘lower dog bone mount’) had not been torqued to specification, which allowed the engine to shift back and forth under load. This improper torque caused the violent shaking, metal impacts, and falling metal. The problem was confirmed by the dealership, but no corrective repair was performed. Only a single bolt was re‑torqued, and no inspection was done to determine the extent of damage, the source of the falling metal, or the cause of the knocking. The vehicle was returned in an unsafe condition and has not been driven since. The vehicle had to be towed directly from the highway due to the severity of the failure, and it was delivered straight to the dealership because it was unsafe to operate. The vehicle remains available for inspection.

The issue is the front grill design. Kia left the radiator completely exposed behind the grill with no protective barrier. Over time, dust, debris, and rocks collect and pass right through, causing serious damage to the radiator. Based on my experience and the experiences of hundreds of other owners, you will likely need to replace your entire radiator within the first three years of ownership. It is not covered under warranty. You will be expected to pay out of pocket in my case, $1,350, for damage caused by their faulty design. The "solution" owners are left with? Going on Amazon and purchasing a metal mesh grill guard to install yourself, just to protect a part that should have been protected from the factory. A consumer should not have to modify a brand-new vehicle to prevent a critical component from being destroyed under normal driving conditions. If the grill had been designed properly in the first place, none of this would be necessary.

The backup camera on the trunk of the 2023 Kia Sorrento has fallen out. It is attached only by the wires. Apparently, my specific vehicle is not a part of the initial recall; however, the camera has fallen out and is now hanging. I do not feel as though I should be responsible for this repair as it is due to a manufacturing issue.